I 
118TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 8661 
To amend title 38, United States Code, to make certain improvements to 
the laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs relating 
to educational assistance, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JUNE 7, 2024 
Mr. JAMES introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee 
on Veterans’ Affairs 
A BILL 
To amend title 38, United States Code, to make certain 
improvements to the laws administered by the Secretary 
of Veterans Affairs relating to educational assistance, 
and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Reforming Education 
for Veterans Act’’. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
01:44 Jul 30, 2024
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00001
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H8661.IH
H8661
ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
SEC. 2. ABSENCE FROM CERTAIN EDUCATION DUE TO CER-
TAIN SERVICE. 
(a) OPTIONS.—Section 3691A of title 38, United 
States Code, is amended by striking paragraph (1) of sub-
section (a) and inserting the following: 
‘‘(1) A covered member may, after receiving orders 
to enter a period of covered service— 
‘‘(A) withdraw from covered education; 
‘‘(B) take a leave of absence from covered edu-
cation; or 
‘‘(C) subject to subsection (d), enter into an 
agreement with the institution concerned to complete 
a course of covered education to the satisfaction of 
such institution concerned.’’. 
(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—Such subsection is 
further amended, in paragraph (2)(A), by striking ‘‘or 
takes a leave of absence’’ and inserting ‘‘, takes a leave 
of absence, or enters into an agreement’’. 
(c) AGREEMENT.—Such section is further amended 
by— 
(1) redesignating subsection (d) as subsection 
(e); and 
(2) by inserting, after subsection (c), the fol-
lowing new subsection (d): 
‘‘(d) 
AGREEMENT
WITH
INSTITUTION
CON-
CERNED.—A covered member may enter into an agree-
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
01:44 Jul 30, 2024
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H8661.IH
H8661
ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
ment under subsection (a) only if the covered member has 
completed at least half of a course of covered education.’’. 
(d) SECTION HEADING.—Such section is amended by 
striking the heading and inserting ‘‘Absence from cer-
tain education due to certain service’’. 
(e) TABLE OF SECTIONS.—The table of sections at 
the beginning of chapter 36 of such title is amended by 
striking the item relating to section 3691A and inserting 
the following new item: 
‘‘3691A. Absence from certain education due to certain service.’’. 
SEC. 3. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS COMPLIANCE 
SURVEYS. 
Section 3693 of title 38, United States Code, is 
amended— 
(1) in subsection (a), by adding at the end the 
following new paragraph: 
‘‘(3) In conducting annual compliance surveys under 
this subsection, the Secretary shall ensure that any edu-
cational institution or training establishment with multiple 
campuses is only required to complete one such survey.’’; 
and 
(2) in subsection (c)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘not more than 10 busi-
ness days of notice’’; 
(B) by striking ‘‘this section.’’ and insert-
ing ‘‘this section—’’; and 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
01:44 Jul 30, 2024
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H8661.IH
H8661
ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS
(C) by adding at the end the following new 
paragraphs: 
‘‘(1) in the case of an educational institution or 
training establishment with a time stamp database 
collection feature, not more than 15 business days of 
notice; and 
‘‘(2) in the case of any other educational insti-
tution or training establishment, not more than 10 
business days of notice.’’. 
SEC. 4. NOTIFICATION OF SCHOOL CERTIFYING OFFICIALS 
OF HANDBOOK UPDATES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 14 business days 
after updating the school certifying official handbook of 
the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Secretary of Vet-
erans Affairs shall provide notice to all school certifying 
officials of such update. 
(b) SCHOOL CERTIFYING OFFICIAL DEFINED.—The 
term ‘‘school certifying official’’ means an employee of an 
educational institution with primary responsibility for cer-
tifying veteran enrollment at the educational institution. 
Æ 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
01:44 Jul 30, 2024
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00004
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6301
E:\BILLS\H8661.IH
H8661
ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS