117TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 7939 
AN ACT 
To make permanent certain educational assistance benefits 
under the laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans 
Affairs in the case of changes to courses of education 
by reason of emergency situations, and for other pur-
poses. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS. 
(a) SHORT TITLE.—This Act may be cited as the 
‘‘Student Veteran Emergency Relief Act of 2022’’. 
(b) TABLE OF CONTENTS.—The table of contents for 
this Act is as follows: 
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents. 
Sec. 2. Educational assistance benefits during emergency situations. 
Sec. 3. Extension of time limitations for use of entitlement. 
Sec. 4. Extension of payment of vocational rehabilitation subsistence allow-
ances. 
Sec. 5. Payment of work-study allowances during emergency situations. 
Sec. 6. Payment of allowances to veterans enrolled in educational institutions 
closed for emergency situations. 
Sec. 7. Apprenticeship or on-job training requirements. 
Sec. 8. Prohibition of charge to entitlement of students unable to pursue a pro-
gram of education due to an emergency situation. 
Sec. 9. Department of Veterans Affairs approval of certain study-abroad pro-
grams. 
Sec. 10. Eligibility for educational assistance under Department of Veterans 
Affairs Post-9/11 Educational Assistance Program of certain 
individuals who receive sole survivorship discharges. 
Sec. 11. Uniform application for Department of Veterans Affairs approval of 
courses of education. 
Sec. 12. Notice requirements for Department of Veterans Affairs education sur-
veys. 
Sec. 13. Exception to requirement to submit verification of enrollment of cer-
tain individuals. 
Sec. 14. Expansion of eligibility for self-employment assistance under veteran 
readiness and employment program. 
Sec. 15. Possible definitions of certain terms relating to educational assistance. 
Sec. 16. Department of Veterans Affairs loan fees. 
Sec. 17. Termination of certain consumer contracts by servicemembers and de-
pendents who enter into contracts after receiving military or-
ders for permanent change of station but then receive stop 
movement orders due to an emergency situation. 
Sec. 18. Residence for tax purposes. 
Sec. 19. Portability of professional licenses of members of the uniformed serv-
ices and their spouses. 
Sec. 20. Determination of budgetary effects. 
SEC. 2. EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE BENEFITS DURING 
EMERGENCY SITUATIONS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 36 of title 38, United 
States Code, is amended—
(1) by redesignating subchapters I and II as 
subchapters II and III, respectively; and 
(2) by inserting before subchapter II, as so re-
designated, the following new subchapter:’’. 
‘‘SUBCHAPTER I—EMERGENCY SITUATIONS 
‘‘§ 3601. Definition of emergency situation 
‘‘In this chapter, the term ‘emergency situation’ 
means a situation that— 
‘‘(1) the President declares is an emergency; 
and 
‘‘(2) the Secretary determines is an emergency 
for purposes of the laws administered by the Sec-
retary. 
‘‘§ 3602. Continuation of educational assistance bene-
fits during emergency situations 
‘‘(a) AUTHORITY.—If the Secretary determines under 
subsection (c) that an individual is negatively affected by 
an emergency situation, the Secretary may provide edu-
cational assistance to that individual under the laws ad-
ministered by the Secretary as if such negative effects did 
not occur. The authority under this section is in addition 
to the other authorities of the Secretary to provide benefits 
in emergency situations, but in no case may the Secretary 
provide more than a total of four weeks of additional edu-
cational assistance by reason of any other such authority 
and this section. 
‘‘(b) HOUSING
AND ALLOWANCES.—In providing 
educational assistance to an individual pursuant to sub-
section (a), the Secretary may— 
‘‘(1) continue to pay a monthly housing stipend 
under chapter 33 of this title, during a month the 
individual would have been enrolled in a program of 
education or training but for the emergency situa-
tion at the same rate such stipend would have been 
payable if the individual had not been negatively af-
fected by the emergency situation, except that the 
total number of weeks for which stipends may con-
tinue to be so payable may not exceed four weeks; 
and 
‘‘(2) continue to pay payments or subsistence 
allowances under chapters 30, 31, 32, 33, and 35 of 
this title and chapter 1606 of title 10 during a 
month for a period of time that the individual would 
have been enrolled in a program of education or 
training but for the emergency situation, except that 
the total number of weeks for which payments or al-
lowances may continue to be so payable may not ex-
ceed four weeks.
‘‘(c) DETERMINATION OF NEGATIVE EFFECTS.—The 
Secretary shall determine that an individual was nega-
tively affected by an emergency situation if— 
‘‘(1) the individual is enrolled in a covered pro-
gram of education of an educational institution or 
enrolled in training at a training establishment and 
is pursuing such program or training using edu-
cational assistance under the laws administered by 
the Secretary; 
‘‘(2) the educational institution or training es-
tablishment certifies to the Secretary that such pro-
gram or training is truncated, delayed, relocated, 
canceled, partially canceled, converted from being 
on-site to being offered by distance learning, or oth-
erwise modified or made unavailable by reason of the 
emergency situation; and 
‘‘(3) the Secretary determines that the modi-
fication to such program or training specified under 
paragraph (2) would reduce the amount of edu-
cational assistance (including with respect to month-
ly housing stipends, payments, or subsistence allow-
ances) that would be payable to the individual but 
for the emergency situation. 
‘‘(d) EFFECT
ON ENTITLEMENT PERIOD.—If the 
Secretary determines that an individual who received as-
sistance under this section did not make progress toward 
the completion of the program of education in which the 
individual is enrolled during the period for which the indi-
vidual received such assistance, any assistance provided 
pursuant to this section shall not be counted for purposes 
of determining the total amount of an individual’s entitle-
ment to educational assistance, housing stipends, or pay-
ments or subsistence allowances under chapters 30, 31, 
32, and 35 of this title and chapter 1606 of title 10. 
‘‘§ 3603. Continuation of educational assistance bene-
fits for certain programs of education 
converted to distance learning by reason 
of emergency situations 
‘‘In the case of a program of education approved by 
a State approving agency, or the Secretary when acting 
in the role of a State approving agency, that is converted 
from being offered on-site at an educational institution or 
training establishment to being offered by distance learn-
ing by reason of an emergency or health-related situation, 
as determined by the Secretary, the Secretary may con-
tinue to provide educational assistance under the laws ad-
ministered by the Secretary without regard to such conver-
sion, including with respect to paying any— 
‘‘(1) monthly housing stipends under chapter 
33 of this title; or
‘‘(2) payments or subsistence allowances under 
chapters 30, 31, 32, and 35 of this title and chapter 
1606 of title 10. 
‘‘§ 3604. Effects of closure of educational institution 
and modification of courses by reason of 
emergency situation 
‘‘(a) CLOSURE OR DISAPPROVAL.—Any payment of 
educational assistance described in subsection (b) shall 
not— 
‘‘(1) be charged against any entitlement to edu-
cational assistance of the individual concerned; or 
‘‘(2) be counted against the aggregate period 
for which section 3695 of this title limits the receipt 
of educational assistance by such individual. 
‘‘(b) EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE DESCRIBED.—Sub-
ject to subsection (d), the payment of educational assist-
ance described in this subsection is the payment of such 
assistance to an individual for pursuit of a course or pro-
gram of education at an educational institution under 
chapter 30, 31, 32, 33, or 35 of this title or chapter 1606 
of title 10, if the Secretary determines that the indi-
vidual— 
‘‘(1) was unable to complete such course or pro-
gram as a result of—
‘‘(A) the closure of the educational institu-
tion, or the full or partial cancellation of a 
course or program of education, by reason of an 
emergency situation; or 
‘‘(B) the disapproval of the course or a 
course that is a necessary part of that program 
under this chapter because the course was 
modified by reason of such emergency; and 
‘‘(2) did not receive credit or lost training time, 
toward completion of the program of education being 
so pursued. 
‘‘(c) HOUSING ASSISTANCE.—In this section, edu-
cational assistance includes, as applicable— 
‘‘(1) monthly housing stipends payable under 
chapter 33 of this title for any month the individual 
would have been enrolled in a course or program of 
education; and 
‘‘(2) payments or subsistence allowances under 
chapters 30, 31, 32, and 35 of this title and chapter 
1606 of title 10 during a month the individual would 
have been enrolled in a course or program of edu-
cation. 
‘‘(d) PERIOD NOT CHARGED.—The period for which, 
by reason of this section, educational assistance is not 
charged against entitlement or counted toward the appli-
cable aggregate period under section 3695 of this title 
shall not exceed the aggregate of— 
‘‘(1) the portion of the period of enrollment in 
the course from which the individual did not receive 
credit or with respect to which the individual lost 
training time, as determined under subsection 
(b)(2); and 
‘‘(2) the period by which a monthly stipend is 
extended under section 3680(a)(2)(B) of this title. 
‘‘(e) 
CONTINUING
PURSUIT
OF
DISAPPROVED 
COURSES.—(1) The Secretary may treat a course of edu-
cation that is disapproved under this chapter as being ap-
proved under this chapter with respect to an individual 
described in paragraph (2) if the Secretary determines, 
on a programmatic basis, that— 
‘‘(A) such disapproval is the result of an action 
described in subsection (b)(1)(B); and 
‘‘(B) continuing pursuing such course is in the 
best interest of the individual. 
‘‘(2) An individual described in this paragraph is an 
individual who is pursuing a course of education at an 
educational institution under chapter 30, 31, 32, 33, or 
35 of this title or chapter 1606 of title 10, as of the date 
on which the course is disapproved as described in sub-
section (b)(1)(B).
‘‘(f) STATUS
AS FULL-TIME STUDENT
FOR PUR-
POSES OF HOUSING STIPEND CALCULATION.—In the case 
of an individual who, as of the first day of an emergency 
situation was enrolled on a full-time basis in a program 
of education and was receiving educational assistance 
under chapter 33 of this title or subsistence allowance 
under chapter 31 of this title, and for whom the Secretary 
makes a determination under subsection (b), the indi-
vidual shall be treated as an individual enrolled in a pro-
gram of education on a full-time basis for the purpose of 
calculating monthly housing stipends payable under chap-
ter 33 of this title, or subsistence allowance payable under 
chapter 31 of this title, for any month the individual is 
enrolled in the program of education on a part-time basis 
to complete any course of education that was partially or 
fully canceled by reason of the emergency situation. 
‘‘(g) NOTICE OF CLOSURES.—Not later than 5 busi-
ness days after the date on which the Secretary receives 
notice that an educational institution will close or is closed 
by reason of an emergency situation, the Secretary shall 
provide to each individual who is enrolled in a course or 
program of education at such educational institution using 
entitlement to educational assistance under chapter 30, 
31, 32, 33, or 35 of this title, or chapter 1606 of title 
10 notice of—
‘‘(1) such closure and the date of such closure; 
and 
‘‘(2) the effect of such closure on the individ-
ual’s entitlement to educational assistance pursuant 
to this section. 
‘‘§ 3605. Payment of educational assistance in cases of 
withdrawal 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—In the case of any individual who 
withdraws from a program of education or training, other 
than a program by correspondence, in an educational in-
stitution under chapter 31, 34, or 35 of this title for a 
covered reason during the period of an emergency situa-
tion, the Secretary shall find mitigating circumstances for 
purposes of section 3680(a)(1)(C)(ii) of this title. 
‘‘(b) COVERED REASON.—In this section, the term 
‘covered reason’ means any reason related to an emer-
gency situation, including— 
‘‘(1) illness, quarantine, or social distancing re-
quirements; 
‘‘(2) issues associated with accessibility; 
‘‘(3) access or availability of childcare; 
‘‘(4) providing care for a family member or co-
habitants; 
‘‘(5) change of location or residence due to the 
emergency situation or associated school closures;
‘‘(6) employment changes or financial hardship; 
and 
‘‘(7) issues associated with changes in format 
or medium of instruction.’’. 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sections 
at the beginning of such chapter is amended— 
(1) by striking the item relating to subchapter 
II and inserting the following new item: 
‘‘SUBCHAPTER III–MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS’’. 
(2) by striking the item relating to subchapter 
I and inserting the following new item: 
‘‘SUBCHAPTER II–STATE APPROVING AGENCIES’’. 
(3) by inserting before the item relating to sub-
chapter II the following new items: 
‘‘SUBCHAPTER I–EMERGENCY SITUATIONS 
‘‘3601. Definition of emergency situation. 
‘‘3602. Continuation of educational assistance benefits during emergency situa-
tions. 
‘‘3603. Continuation of educational assistance benefits for certain programs of 
education converted to distance learning by reason of emer-
gency situations. 
‘‘3604. Effects of closure of educational institution and modification of courses 
by reason of emergency situation. 
‘‘3605. Payment of educational assistance in cases of withdrawal.’’. 
(c) CONFORMING REPEALS.—The following provi-
sions of law are repealed: 
(1) Sections 1102, 1103, and 1104 of the John-
ny Isakson and David P. Roe, M.D. Veterans Health 
Care and Benefits Improvement Act of 2020 (Public 
Law 116–315).
(2) Public Law 116–128. 
SEC. 3. EXTENSION OF TIME LIMITATIONS FOR USE OF EN-
TITLEMENT. 
(a) MONTGOMERY GI BILL.—Section 3031 of title 
38, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end 
the following new subsection: 
‘‘(i) In the case of an individual eligible for edu-
cational assistance under this chapter who is prevented 
from pursuing the individual’s chosen program of edu-
cation before the expiration of the 10-year period for the 
use of entitlement under this chapter otherwise applicable 
under this section because the educational institution or 
training establishment closed (temporarily or perma-
nently) under an established policy based on an Executive 
order of the President or due to an emergency situation, 
such 10-year period— 
‘‘(1) shall not run during the period the indi-
vidual is so prevented from pursuing such program; 
and 
‘‘(2) shall again begin running on the first day 
after the individual is able to resume pursuit of a 
program of education with educational assistance 
under this chapter.’’. 
(b) POST-9/11 EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—Section 3321(b)(1) of such 
title is amended— 
(A) by inserting ‘‘(A)’’ before ‘‘Sub-
sections’’; and 
(B) by striking ‘‘and (d)’’ and inserting 
‘‘(d), and (i)’’; and by adding at the end the fol-
lowing new subparagraph: 
‘‘(B) Subsection (i) of section 3031 shall apply 
with respect to the running of the 15-year period de-
scribed in paragraphs (4)(A) and (5)(A) of this sub-
section in the same manner as such subsection ap-
plies under section 3031 with respect to the running 
of the 10-year period described in section 3031(a).’’. 
(2) TRANSFER PERIOD.—Section 3319(h)(5) of 
such title is amended— 
(A) in subparagraph (A) by inserting ‘‘or 
(C)’’ after ‘‘subparagraph (B)’’; and 
(B) by adding at the end the following new 
subparagraph: 
‘‘(C) EMERGENCY
SITUATIONS.—In any 
case in which the Secretary determines that an 
individual to whom entitlement is transferred 
under this section has been prevented from pur-
suing the individual’s chosen program of edu-
cation before the individual attains the age of
26 years because the educational institution or 
training establishment closed (temporarily or 
permanently) under an established policy based 
on an Executive order of the President or due 
to an emergency situation, the Secretary shall 
extend the period during which the individual 
may use such entitlement for a period equal to 
the number of months that the individual was 
so prevented from pursuing the program of 
education, as determined by the Secretary.’’. 
(c) VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION AND TRAINING.— 
(1) PERIOD FOR USE.—Section 3103 of such 
title is amended— 
(A) in subsection (a), by striking ‘‘or (g)’’ 
and inserting ‘‘(g), or (h)’’; and 
(B) by adding at the end the following new 
subsection: 
‘‘(h) In any case in which the Secretary determines 
that a veteran has been prevented from participating in 
a vocational rehabilitation program under this chapter 
within the twelve-year period of eligibility prescribed in 
subsection (a) due to an emergency situation, such twelve- 
year period—
‘‘(1) shall not run during the period the indi-
vidual is so prevented from participating such pro-
gram; and 
‘‘(2) shall again begin running on the first day 
after the individual is able to resume participation in 
such program.’’. 
(2) DURATION OF PROGRAM.—Section 3105(b) 
of such title is amended— 
(A) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘para-
graph (2)’’ and inserting ‘‘paragraphs (2) and 
(3)’’; and 
(B) by adding at the end the following new 
paragraph: 
‘‘(3)(A) In any case in which the Secretary deter-
mines that a veteran has been prevented from partici-
pating in counseling and placement and postplacement 
services described in section 3104(a)(2) and (5) of this 
title due to an emergency situation, the Secretary shall 
extend the period during which the Secretary may provide 
such counseling and placement and postplacement services 
for the veteran for a period equal to the number of months 
that the veteran was so prevented from participating in 
such counseling and services, as determined by the Sec-
retary.
‘‘(B) In any case in which the Secretary determines 
that a veteran has been prevented from participating in 
a vocational rehabilitation program under this chapter due 
to an emergency situation, the Secretary shall extend the 
period of the veteran’s vocational rehabilitation program 
for a period equal to the number of months that the vet-
eran was so prevented from participating in the vocational 
rehabilitation program, as determined by the Secretary.’’. 
(d) EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE FOR MEMBERS OF 
THE SELECTED RESERVE.—Section 16133(b) of title 10, 
United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the 
following new paragraph: 
‘‘(5) In any case in which the Secretary con-
cerned determines that a person entitled to edu-
cational assistance under this chapter has been pre-
vented from using such person’s entitlement due to 
an emergency situation, the Secretary concerned 
shall extend the period of entitlement prescribed in 
subsection (a) for a period equal to the number of 
months that the person was so prevented from using 
such entitlement, as determined by the Secretary.’’. 
(e) EMERGENCY SITUATION DEFINED.— 
(1) POST-9/11 EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE PRO-
GRAM.—Section 3301 of title 38, United States
Code, is amended by adding at the end the following 
new paragraph: 
‘‘(5) The term ‘emergency situation’ has the 
meaning given such term in section 3601 of this 
title.’’. 
(2) MGIB.—Section 3002 of such title is 
amended by adding at the end the following new 
paragraph: 
‘‘(9) The term ‘emergency situation’ has the 
meaning given such term in section 3601 of this 
title.’’. 
(3) VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION AND TRAIN-
ING.—Section 3101 of such title is amended by add-
ing at the end the following new paragraph: 
‘‘(10) The term ‘emergency situation’ has the 
meaning given such term in section 3601 of this 
title.’’. 
(4) EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE FOR MEMBERS 
OF
THE
SELECTED
RESERVE.—Section 16133 of 
title 10, United States Code, is amended by adding 
at the end the following new subsection: 
‘‘(c) The term ‘emergency situation’ has the meaning 
given such term in section 3601 of title 38.’’.
(f) CONFORMING REPEAL.—Section 6 of the Student 
Veteran Coronavirus Response Act of 2020 (Public Law 
116–140) is repealed. 
SEC. 4. EXTENSION OF PAYMENT OF VOCATIONAL REHA-
BILITATION SUBSISTENCE ALLOWANCES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 3104 of title 38, United 
States Code, is amended by adding at the end the fol-
lowing new subsection: 
‘‘(e) In the case of any veteran whom the Secretary 
of Veterans Affairs determines is satisfactorily following 
a program of employment services provided under sub-
section (a)(5) during the period of an emergency situation, 
the Secretary may pay the veteran a subsistence allow-
ance, as prescribed in section 3108 of this title for full- 
time training for the type of program that the veteran was 
pursuing, for two additional months, if the Secretary de-
termines that the veteran is negatively affected by the 
emergency situation.’’. 
(b) CONFORMING REPEAL.—Section 8 of the Student 
Veteran Coronavirus Response Act of 2020 (Public Law 
116–140) is repealed.
SEC. 5. PAYMENT OF WORK-STUDY ALLOWANCES DURING 
EMERGENCY SITUATIONS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 3485 of title 38, United 
States Code, is amended by adding at the end the fol-
lowing new subsection: 
‘‘(f)(1) In case of an individual who is in receipt of 
work-study allowance pursuant to an agreement described 
in subsection (a)(3) as of the date on which an emergency 
situation occurs and who is unable to continue to perform 
qualifying work-study activities described in subsection 
(a)(4) by reason of the emergency situation— 
‘‘(A) the Secretary may continue to pay work- 
study allowance under this section or make deduc-
tions described in subsection (e)(1) during the pe-
riod of such emergency situation, notwithstanding 
the inability of the individual to perform such work- 
study activities by reason of such emergency situa-
tion; and 
‘‘(B) at the option of the individual, the Sec-
retary shall extend the agreement described in sub-
section (a)(3) with the individual for any subsequent 
period of enrollment initiated during the emergency 
situation, notwithstanding the inability of the indi-
vidual to perform work-study activities described in 
subsection (a)(4) by reason of such emergency situa-
tion.
‘‘(2) The amount of work-study allowance payable to 
an individual under paragraph (1)(A) during the period 
of an emergency situation shall be an amount determined 
by the Secretary but may not exceed the amount that 
would be payable under subsection (a)(2) if the individual 
worked 25 hours per week paid during such period. 
‘‘(3) The term ‘emergency situation’ has the meaning 
given that term in section 3601 of this title.’’. 
(b) CONFORMING REPEAL.—Section 3 of the Student 
Veteran Coronavirus Response Act of 2020 (Public Law 
116–140) is repealed. 
SEC. 6. PAYMENT OF ALLOWANCES TO VETERANS EN-
ROLLED 
IN 
EDUCATIONAL 
INSTITUTIONS 
CLOSED FOR EMERGENCY SITUATIONS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 3680 of title 38, United 
States Code, is amended by adding at the end the fol-
lowing new subsection: 
‘‘(h) 
PAYMENTS
DURING
EMERGENCY
SITUA-
TIONS.—(1) The Secretary may pay allowances to an eligi-
ble veteran or eligible person under subsection (a)(2)(A), 
if the veteran or person is enrolled in a program or course 
of education that— 
‘‘(A) is provided by an educational institution 
or training establishment that is closed by reason of 
an emergency situation; or
‘‘(B) is suspended by reason of an emergency 
situation. 
‘‘(2) The total number of weeks for which allowances 
may be paid by reason of this subsection may not exceed 
four weeks. 
‘‘(3) Any amount paid under this subsection shall not 
be counted for purposes of the limitation on allowances 
under subsection (a)(2)(A).’’. 
(b) CONFORMING REPEAL.—Section 4 of the Student 
Veteran Coronavirus Response Act of 2020 (Public Law 
116–140) is repealed. 
SEC. 7. APPRENTICESHIP OR ON-JOB TRAINING REQUIRE-
MENTS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 3687(e) of title 38, 
United States Code, is amended by striking paragraph (2) 
and inserting the following new paragraph (2): 
‘‘(2)(A) Subject to subparagraphs (B) and (C), for 
any month in which an individual fails to complete 120 
hours of training, the entitlement otherwise chargeable 
under paragraph (1) shall be reduced in the same propor-
tion as the monthly training assistance allowance payable 
is reduced under subsection (b)(3). 
‘‘(B) In the case of an individual who is unemployed 
by reason of an emergency situation during any month, 
the 120-hour requirement under subparagraph (A) for
that month shall be reduced proportionately to reflect the 
individual’s period of unemployment, except that the 
amount of monthly training assistance otherwise payable 
to the individual under subsection (b)(3) shall not be re-
duced. 
‘‘(C) Any period during which an individual is unem-
ployed by reason of an emergency situation shall not— 
‘‘(i) be charged against any entitlement to edu-
cational assistance of the individual; or 
‘‘(ii) be counted against the aggregate period 
for which section 3695 of this title limits the receipt 
of educational assistance by such individual. 
‘‘(D) Any amount by which the entitlement of an in-
dividual is reduced under subparagraph (A) shall not— 
‘‘(i) be charged against any entitlement to edu-
cational assistance of the individual; or 
‘‘(ii) be counted against the aggregate period 
for which section 3695 of this title limits the receipt 
of educational assistance by such individual. 
‘‘(E) In the case of an individual who fails to com-
plete 120 hours of training during a month, but who com-
pleted more than 120 hours of training during the pre-
ceding month, the individual may apply the number of 
hours in excess of 120 that the individual completed for 
that month to the month for which the individual failed
to complete 120 hours. If the addition of such excess hours 
results in a total of 120 hours or more, the individual shall 
be treated as an individual who has completed 120 hours 
of training for that month. Any excess hours applied to 
a different month under this subparagraph may only be 
applied to one such month. 
‘‘(F) This paragraph applies to amounts described in 
section 3313(g)(3)(B)(iv) and section 3032(c)(2) of this 
title and section 16131(d)(2) of title 10. 
‘‘(G) In this paragraph: 
‘‘(i) The term ‘unemployed’ includes being fur-
loughed or being scheduled to work zero hours. 
‘‘(ii) The term ‘fails to complete 120 hours of 
training’ means, with respect to an individual, that 
during any month, the individual completes at least 
one hour, but fewer than 120 hours, of training, in-
cluding in a case in which the individual is unem-
ployed for part of, but not the whole, month.’’. 
(b) CONFORMING REPEAL.—Section 1106 of the 
Johnny Isakson and David P. Roe, M.D. Veterans Health 
Care and Benefits Improvement Act of 2020 (Public Law 
116–315) is repealed.
SEC. 8. PROHIBITION OF CHARGE TO ENTITLEMENT OF 
STUDENTS UNABLE TO PURSUE A PROGRAM 
OF EDUCATION DUE TO AN EMERGENCY SIT-
UATION. 
(a) 
PERMANENT
APPLICABILITY.—Section 
3699(b)(1) of title 38, United States Code, is amended— 
(1) in subparagraph (A), by striking ‘‘or’’ at 
the end; 
(2) in subparagraph (B)(ii), by striking ‘‘and’’ 
at the end and inserting ‘‘or’’ ; and 
(3) by adding at the end the following new sub-
paragraph: 
‘‘(C) the temporary closure of an edu-
cational institution or training establishment or 
the temporary closure or termination of a 
course or program of education by reason of an 
emergency situation; and’’. 
(b) CONFORMING REPEAL.—Section 5 of the Student 
Veteran Coronavirus Response Act of 2020 (Public Law 
116–140) is repealed. 
SEC. 9. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS APPROVAL 
OF CERTAIN STUDY-ABROAD PROGRAMS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 3680A(f) of title 38, 
United States Code, is amended— 
(1) by redesignating paragraphs (1) and (2) as 
subparagraphs (A) and (B), respectively;
(2) by striking ‘‘The Secretary’’ and inserting 
‘‘(1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), the Sec-
retary’’; and 
(3) by adding at the end the following new 
paragraph: 
‘‘(2)(A) In the case of a covered study-abroad course, 
the Secretary may approve the course for a period of not 
more than five years, if the contract or other written 
agreement under which the course is offered provides 
that— 
‘‘(i) the educational institution that offers a 
course that is approved under this chapter agrees 
to— 
‘‘(I) assume responsibility for the quality 
and content of the covered study-abroad course; 
and 
‘‘(II) serve as the certifying official for the 
course for purposes of this chapter; and 
‘‘(ii) the educational institution that offers the 
covered study-abroad course agrees to seek the ap-
proval of the course under this chapter by not later 
than five years after the date of the agreement. 
‘‘(B) In this paragraph, the term ‘covered study- 
abroad course’ means a course that—
‘‘(i) is provided as a part of a program of edu-
cation offered by an educational institution under a 
contract or other written agreement by another edu-
cational institution that offers a course that is ap-
proved under this chapter; 
‘‘(ii) is provided at a location in a foreign coun-
try; and 
‘‘(iii) has not been approved under this chap-
ter.’’. 
(b) TREATMENT OF CERTAIN COURSES.—In the case 
of any covered study-abroad course, under the meaning 
given such term in subparagraph (B) of paragraph (2) of 
subsection (f) of section 3680A of title 38, United States 
Code, as added by subsection (a), that is being offered 
under a contract or other written agreement as of the date 
of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans 
Affairs may approve such course under such paragraph 
(2) for the five-year period beginning on the date of the 
enactment of this Act, if such contract or other written 
agreement meets the criteria provided in subparagraph 
(A) of such paragraph.
SEC. 10. ELIGIBILITY FOR EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE 
UNDER DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS 
POST-9/11 EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE PRO-
GRAM OF CERTAIN INDIVIDUALS WHO RE-
CEIVE SOLE SURVIVORSHIP DISCHARGES. 
(a) SHORT TITLE.—This section may be cited as the 
‘‘Sgt. Wolf Kyle Weninger Veterans Education Fairness 
Act of 2022’’. 
(b) ELIGIBILITY.—Subsection (b)(2) of section 3311 
of title 38, United States Code, is amended— 
(1) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), 
by striking ‘‘who’’; 
(2) by redesignating subparagraphs (A) and 
(B) as clauses (i) and (ii); 
(3) by inserting before clause (i), as so redesig-
nated, the following new subparagraph (A): 
‘‘(A) who—’’; 
(4) in clause (ii), as so redesignated— 
(A) by striking ‘‘subparagraph (A)’’ and 
inserting ‘‘clause (i)’’; and 
(B) by striking the period and inserting 
‘‘or by reason of a sole survivorship discharge 
(as that term is defined in section 1174(i) of 
title 10); or’’; and 
(5) by adding at the end the following new sub-
paragraph (B):
‘‘(B) who— 
‘‘(i) commencing on or after Sep-
tember 11, 2001, completes at least 30 
continuous days of service described in 
subsection (d) (1) or (2); and 
‘‘(ii) after completion of service de-
scribed in clause (i), is discharged or re-
leased by reason of a sole survivorship dis-
charge (as that term is defined in section 
1174(i) of title 10).’’. 
(c) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—Subsection (d) of 
such section is amended by striking ‘‘The following’’ and 
inserting ‘‘Except as provided in subsection (b)(2)(B), the 
following’’. 
SEC. 11. UNIFORM APPLICATION FOR DEPARTMENT OF 
VETERANS AFFAIRS APPROVAL OF COURSES 
OF EDUCATION. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Subchapter I of chapter 36 of title 
38, United States Code, is amended by inserting after sec-
tion 3672 the following new section: 
‘‘§ 3672A. Uniform application 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—(1) The Secretary, in partner-
ship with State approving agencies, educational institu-
tions, and training establishments, shall require the use 
of a uniform application by any educational institution or
training establishment seeking the approval of a new 
course of education under this chapter. 
‘‘(2) The Secretary shall maintain one uniform appli-
cation for institutions of higher learning and one such ap-
plication for other educational institutions and training es-
tablishments. 
‘‘(3) In the case of any State that uses approval cri-
teria not covered by a uniform application under this sec-
tion, the State approving agency for that State shall re-
quire the use of the uniform application and may require 
the submittal of additional information. 
‘‘(b) REQUIREMENTS.—The uniform application re-
quired under subsection (a) shall meet the following re-
quirements: 
‘‘(1) A requirement that the appropriate execu-
tive of the educational institution or training estab-
lishment seeking the approval of a course of edu-
cation attests on behalf of the educational institution 
or training establishment that the educational insti-
tution or training establishment— 
‘‘(A) is in compliance with all applicable 
laws and regulations relating to the approval of 
courses of education under this chapter; and 
‘‘(B) during the five-year period preceding 
the date of the application—
‘‘(i) has not been subject to, or been 
party to a contract with any individual or 
entity that has been subject to, any ad-
verse administrative or judicial action 
that— 
‘‘(I) related to the instruction or 
training, including with respect to the 
quality of education, provided by the 
institution or establishment; and 
‘‘(II) resulted in a fine or penalty 
in an amount equal to or more than 
five percent of the amount of funding 
provided to the institution or estab-
lishment under title IV of the Higher 
Education Act of 1965 for the fiscal 
year preceding the year in which the 
application is submitted; or 
‘‘(ii) has not employed an individual, 
or been party to a contract with any indi-
vidual or entity, that has been convicted of 
a Federal fraud charge related to the in-
struction or training provided by the insti-
tution or establishment. 
‘‘(2) In the case of any educational institution 
or training establishment that is not participating in
title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965, a re-
quirement for the inclusion of— 
‘‘(A) a copy of— 
‘‘(i) the articles of incorporation filed 
on behalf of the institution or establish-
ment or proof of licensing to operate as an 
educational institution or training estab-
lishment in the State where the institution 
or establishment is located; and 
‘‘(ii) the financial position of the insti-
tution or establishment, as prepared by an 
appropriate third-party entity; or 
‘‘(B) other adequate evidence, as deter-
mined by the Secretary, that the institution or 
establishment is authorized to provide post-sec-
ondary education or training in the State where 
the institution or establishment is located. 
‘‘(3) In the case of any course of education that 
is offered by an educational institution or training 
establishment that has never offered a course of edu-
cation that was approved under this chapter, a re-
quirement for the inclusion of information about the 
course of education covered by the application, in-
cluding—
‘‘(A) the number of students who have en-
tered and graduated from the course during the 
preceding two-year period; and 
‘‘(B) if available, the cohort default rate 
for funds provided to the institution or estab-
lishment under title IV of the Higher Education 
Act of 1965. 
‘‘(4) In the case of any educational institution 
or training establishment that is not an institution 
of higher learning, a requirement for the inclusion 
of— 
‘‘(A) a list of individuals who will serve as 
fully qualified instructors for the course of edu-
cation, as of the date of the application, and an 
attestation that such individuals— 
‘‘(i) have a degree or other training, 
as appropriate, in the field of the course; 
‘‘(ii) effectively teach the skills offered 
under the course; and 
‘‘(iii) have demonstrated relevant in-
dustry experience in the field of the course; 
and 
‘‘(B) a list of individuals who will serve as 
career services employees for students enrolled 
in the course and an attestation that such indi-
viduals are skilled at identifying professions in 
the relevant industry that are in need of new 
employees to hire, tailoring the course of edu-
cation to meet market needs, and identifying 
the employers likely to hire graduates. 
‘‘(c) REQUIREMENTS FOR STATE APPROVING AGEN-
CIES.—During the approval process with respect to a uni-
form application submitted by an educational institution 
or training establishment, a State approving agency, or 
the Secretary when acting in the role of a State approving 
agency, shall contact the Secretary of Education to deter-
mine whether the course of education subject to such ap-
proval process has withdrawn, or been denied or sus-
pended, from receiving for benefits under title IV of the 
Higher Education Act of 1965. 
‘‘(d) APPROPRIATE EXECUTIVE.—In this section, the 
appropriate executive of an educational institution or 
training establishment is a senior executive official, senior 
administrator, owner, or operator designated by the insti-
tution or establishment.’’. 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sections 
at the beginning of such chapter is amended by inserting 
after the item relating to section 3672 the following new 
item: 
‘‘3672A. Uniform application.’’.
(c) APPLICABILITY.—The application required by 
section 3672A of title 38, United States Code, as added 
by subsection (a), shall— 
(1) be developed by not later than October 1, 
2023; and 
(2) be required for the approval of any new 
course of education proposed on or after that day. 
SEC. 12. NOTICE REQUIREMENTS FOR DEPARTMENT OF 
VETERANS AFFAIRS EDUCATION SURVEYS. 
(a) RISK-BASED SURVEY.—Section 3673A of title 38, 
United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the 
following new subsection: 
‘‘(d) NOTICE.—To the maximum amount feasible, the 
Secretary, or a State approving agency, as applicable, 
shall provide not more than one business day of notice 
to an educational institution before conducting a targeted 
risk-based survey of the institution under this section.’’. 
(b) COMPLIANCE SURVEYS.—Section 3693 of title 
38, United States Code, is amended— 
(1) by redesignating subsection (c) as sub-
section (d); and 
(2) by inserting after subsection (b) the fol-
lowing new subsection (c): 
‘‘(c) To the maximum extent feasible, the Secretary, 
or a State approving agency, as applicable, shall provide
not more than ten business days of notice to an edu-
cational institution or training establishment before con-
ducting a compliance survey of the institution or establish-
ment under this section.’’. 
SEC. 
13. 
EXCEPTION 
TO 
REQUIREMENT 
TO 
SUBMIT 
VERIFICATION OF ENROLLMENT OF CERTAIN 
INDIVIDUALS. 
Section 3313(l) of title 38, United States Code, is 
amended— 
(1) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘The Sec-
retary’’ and inserting ‘‘Except as provided in para-
graph (4), the Secretary’’; and 
(2) by striking paragraph (4) and inserting the 
following new paragraph (4): 
‘‘(4) EXCEPTION.—An educational institution is 
not required to submit verification of an individual 
under paragraph (1)(A) if— 
‘‘(A) the individual is enrolled in a course 
or program of education offered by the edu-
cational institution on at least a full-time basis 
before the date on which the individual is able 
to withdraw from the course or program of edu-
cation without penalty; 
‘‘(B) the educational institution charges 
the same amount of tuition and fees for stu-
dents who are enrolled on a full-time basis and 
students who are enrolled on a more-than-full- 
time basis; and 
‘‘(C) the individual remains enrolled in the 
course or program of education after the date 
on which the individual is able to withdraw 
from the course or program of education with-
out penalty.’’. 
SEC. 14. EXPANSION OF ELIGIBILITY FOR SELF-EMPLOY-
MENT ASSISTANCE UNDER VETERAN READI-
NESS AND EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM. 
(a) EXPANSION OF ELIGIBILITY.—Paragraph (12) of 
subsection (a) of section 3104 of title 38, United States 
Code, is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘(12) Such license fees and essential equip-
ment, supplies, and minimum stocks of materials as 
the Secretary determines to be necessary for a vet-
eran to begin self-employment and are within the 
criteria and cost limitations that the Secretary shall 
prescribe in regulations for the furnishing of such 
fees, equipment, supplies, and stocks.’’. 
(b) PRIORITY.—Subsection (c)(1) of such section is 
amended by inserting before the first period the following: 
‘‘, including with respect to providing priority for services 
under subsection (a)(12) to veterans with the most severe
service-connected disabilities who require homebound 
training or self-employment, or both homebound training 
and self-employment’’. 
(c) TECHNICAL AMENDMENTS.—Section 3117 of 
such title is amended— 
(1) in subsection (a)(2)(C), by striking ‘‘this 
clause’’ and inserting ‘‘this subparagraph’’; and 
(2) in subsection (b)— 
(A) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘insure’’ 
and inserting ‘‘ensure’’; and 
(B) in paragraph (2), by striking ‘‘clause’’ 
both places it appears and inserting ‘‘para-
graph’’. 
SEC. 15. POSSIBLE DEFINITIONS OF CERTAIN TERMS RE-
LATING TO EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE. 
Not later than 180 days after the date of the enact-
ment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall 
submit to the Committees on Veterans’ Affairs of the Sen-
ate and House of Representatives a report containing pos-
sible definitions of the Secretary for each of the following 
terms: 
(1) Student services. 
(2) Marketing. 
(3) Classroom instruction.
SEC. 16. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS LOAN FEES. 
The loan fee table in section 3729(b)(2) of title 38, 
United States Code, is amended by striking ‘‘January 14, 
2031’’ each place it appears and inserting ‘‘January 19, 
2031’’. 
SEC. 17. TERMINATION OF CERTAIN CONSUMER CON-
TRACTS BY SERVICEMEMBERS AND DEPEND-
ENTS WHO ENTER INTO CONTRACTS AFTER 
RECEIVING MILITARY ORDERS FOR PERMA-
NENT CHANGE OF STATION BUT THEN RE-
CEIVE STOP MOVEMENT ORDERS DUE TO AN 
EMERGENCY SITUATION. 
(a) 
IN
GENERAL.—Section 
305A 
of 
the 
Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (50 U.S.C. 3956) is 
amended— 
(1) in the section heading, by striking ‘‘TELE-
PHONE, 
MULTICHANNEL
VIDEO
PROGRAM-
MING, AND INTERNET ACCESS SERVICE’’ and 
inserting ‘‘CERTAIN CONSUMER’’; 
(2) in subsection (a)— 
(A) in the heading, by adding ‘‘OR DE-
PENDENT OF A SERVICEMEMBER’’ at the end; 
(B) in paragraph (1)— 
(i) by striking ‘‘after the date the 
servicemember receives military orders to 
relocate for a period of not less than 90
days to a location that does not support 
the contract.’’ and inserting ‘‘after—’’; and 
(ii) by adding at the end the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(A) the date the servicemember receives mili-
tary orders to relocate for a period of not less than 
90 days to a location that does not support the con-
tract; or 
‘‘(B) the date the servicemember, while in mili-
tary service, receives military orders for a permanent 
change of station, thereafter enters into the con-
tract, and then receives a stop movement order 
issued by the Secretary of Defense or the Secretary 
of Homeland Security in response to a local, na-
tional, or global emergency, effective for an indefi-
nite period or for a period of not less than 30 days, 
that prevents the servicemember from using the 
services provided under the contract.’’; and 
(C) in paragraph (4), by adding at the end 
the following new subparagraph: 
‘‘(D) The spouse or dependent of a service-
member, described in paragraph (1)(B), who 
accompanies such servicemember during the pe-
riod of relocation.’’;
(3) by striking subsection (b) and inserting the 
following: 
‘‘(b) COVERED CONTRACTS.—A contract described in 
this subsection is a contract— 
‘‘(1) for— 
‘‘(A) commercial mobile service; 
‘‘(B) telephone exchange service; 
‘‘(C) internet access service; 
‘‘(D) multichannel video programming 
service; 
‘‘(E) a gym membership or fitness pro-
gram; or 
‘‘(F) home security services; and 
‘‘(2) entered into by a servicemember before re-
ceiving the military orders referred to in subsection 
(a)(1).’’; and 
(4) in subsection (g)— 
(A) by redesignating paragraphs (2), (3), 
and (4) as paragraphs (3), (4), and (5), respec-
tively; and 
(B) by inserting, after paragraph (1), the 
following new paragraph (2): 
‘‘(2) The terms ‘military orders’ and ‘perma-
nent change of station’ have the meanings given 
such terms in section 305.’’.
(b) RETROACTIVE APPLICATION.—The amendments 
made by this section shall apply to stop movement orders 
issued on or after March 1, 2020. 
SEC. 18. RESIDENCE FOR TAX PURPOSES. 
Section 511(a) of the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act 
(50 U.S.C. 4001(a)) is amended by striking paragraph (2) 
and inserting the following: 
‘‘(2) SPOUSES.—A spouse of a servicemember 
shall neither lose nor acquire a residence or domicile 
for purposes of taxation with respect to the person, 
personal property, or income of the spouse by reason 
of being absent or present in any tax jurisdiction of 
the United States solely to be with the servicemem-
ber in compliance with the servicemember’s military 
orders. 
‘‘(3) ELECTION.—For any taxable year of the 
marriage, a servicemember and the spouse of such 
servicemember may elect to use for purposes of tax-
ation, regardless of the date on which the marriage 
of the servicemember and the spouse occurred, any 
of the following: 
‘‘(A) The residence or domicile of the serv-
icemember. 
‘‘(B) The residence or domicile of the 
spouse.
‘‘(C) The permanent duty station of the 
servicemember.’’. 
SEC. 19. PORTABILITY OF PROFESSIONAL LICENSES OF 
MEMBERS OF THE UNIFORMED SERVICES 
AND THEIR SPOUSES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Title VII of the Servicemembers 
Civil Relief Act (50 U.S.C. 4021 et seq.) is amended by 
inserting after section 705 (50 U.S.C. 4025) the following 
new section: 
‘‘SEC. 705A. PORTABILITY OF PROFESSIONAL LICENSES OF 
SERVICEMEMBERS AND THEIR SPOUSES. 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—In any case in which a service-
member or the spouse of a servicemember has a covered 
license and such servicemember or spouse relocates his or 
her residency because of military orders for military serv-
ice to a location that is not in the jurisdiction of the licens-
ing authority that issued the covered license, such covered 
license shall be considered valid at a similar scope of prac-
tice and in the discipline applied for in the jurisdiction 
of such new residency for the duration of such military 
orders if such servicemember or spouse— 
‘‘(1) provides a copy of such military orders to 
the licensing authority in the jurisdiction in which 
the new residency is located; 
‘‘(2) remains in good standing with—
‘‘(A) the licensing authority that issued the 
covered license; and 
‘‘(B) every other licensing authority that 
has issued to the servicemember or the spouse 
of a servicemember a license valid at a similar 
scope of practice and in the discipline applied in 
the jurisdiction of such licensing authority; 
‘‘(3) submits to the authority of the licensing 
authority in the new jurisdiction for the purposes of 
standards of practice, discipline, and fulfillment of 
any continuing education requirements. 
‘‘(b) INTERSTATE LICENSURE COMPACTS.—If a serv-
icemember or spouse of a servicemember is licensed and 
able to operate in multiple jurisdictions through an inter-
state licensure compact, with respect to services provided 
in the jurisdiction of the interstate licensure compact by 
a licensee covered by such compact, the servicemember or 
spouse of a servicemember shall be subject to the require-
ments of the compact or the applicable provisions of law 
of the applicable State and not this section. 
‘‘(c) COVERED LICENSE DEFINED.—In this section, 
the term ‘covered license’ means a professional license or 
certificate—
‘‘(1) that is in good standing with the licensing 
authority that issued such professional license or 
certificate; 
‘‘(2) that the servicemember or spouse of a 
servicemember has actively used during the two 
years immediately preceding the relocation described 
in subsection (a); and 
‘‘(3) that is not a license to practice law.’’. 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of contents 
in section 1(b) of such Act is amended by inserting after 
the item relating to section 705 the following new item: 
‘‘Sec. 705A. Portability of professional licenses of servicemembers and their 
spouses.’’. 
SEC. 20. DETERMINATION OF BUDGETARY EFFECTS. 
The budgetary effects of this Act, for the purpose of 
complying with the Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Act of 2010, 
shall be determined by reference to the latest statement 
titled ‘‘Budgetary Effects of PAYGO Legislation’’ for this 
Act, submitted for printing in the Congressional Record 
by the Chairman of the House Budget Committee, pro-
vided that such statement has been submitted prior to the 
vote on passage. 
Passed the House of Representatives September 14, 
2022. 
Attest: 
Clerk.
117TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 7939 
AN ACT 
To make permanent certain educational assistance 
benefits under the laws administered by the Sec-
retary of Veterans Affairs in the case of changes 
to courses of education by reason of emergency 
situations, and for other purposes.