I 
108TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 2297
To amend title 38, United States Code, to modify and improve certain 
benefits for veterans, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JUNE 2, 2003
Mr. SMITH of New Jersey (for himself, Mr. EVANS, Mr. BROWN of South 
Carolina, and Mr. MICHAUD) introduced the following bill; which was re-
ferred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs 
A BILL 
To amend title 38, United States Code, to modify and 
improve certain benefits for veterans, 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. EXPANSION OF MONTGOMERY GI BILL EDU-
CATION BENEFITS FOR CERTAIN SELF-EM-
PLOYMENT TRAINING. 
(a) SELF-EMPLOYMENT TRAINING.—Subparagraph 
(B) of section 3002(3) of title 38, United States Code, 
is amended—
(1) by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end of clause (i); 
and
(2) by adding at the end the following new 
clause: 
‘‘(iii) a program of self-employment 
on-job training approved as provided in 
section 3677(d) of this title; and’’. 
(b) PROGRAM APPROVAL.—Section 3677 of such title 
is amended—
(1) in subsections (a) and (c), by inserting 
‘‘self-employment on-job training or’’ after ‘‘(other 
than a program of’’; 
(2) in subsection (b)(1), by inserting ‘‘described 
in subsection (a)’’ after ‘‘offering training’’; and 
(3) by adding at the end the following new sub-
section: 
‘‘(d)(1) Any State approving agency may approve a 
program of self-employment on-job training for purposes 
of chapter 30 of this title only when the agency finds that 
the training is generally recognized as needed or accepted 
for purposes of obtaining licensure to engage in a self-
employment occupation or is required for ownership and 
operation of a franchise that is the objective of the train-
ing. 
‘‘(2) The training entity offering the training for 
which approval is sought under this chapter must submit 
to the State approving agency a written application for
SEC. 3. REPEAL OF EDUCATION LOAN PROGRAM. 
(a) TERMINATION OF PROGRAM.—No loans shall be 
made under subchapter III of chapter 36 of title 38, 
United States Code, after the date of the enactment of 
this Act, and such subchapter shall be repealed 90 days 
after such date of enactment. 
(b) CLOSING OF LOAN FUND.—All monies in the re-
volving fund established in the Treasury of the United 
States of America known as the ‘‘Department of Veterans 
Affairs Education Loan Fund’’ (the ‘‘Fund’’) on the day 
before the date of repeal of such subchapter III shall be 
transferred to the Department of Veterans Affairs Read-
justment Benefits Account, and the Fund shall be closed. 
(c) DISCHARGE OF LIABILITY.—The liability on any 
education loan debt outstanding under such subchapter 
III shall be discharged, and any overpayments declared 
under section 3698(e)(1) of that subchapter shall be 
waived without further process on the date funds are 
transferred as referred to in subsection (b) of this section. 
(d) TECHNICAL AMENDMENT.—On the date of repeal 
of such subchapter III, as provided herein, the table of 
sections at the beginning of chapter 36 shall be amended 
by striking the items relating to subchapter III. 
(e) 
CONFORMING
AMENDMENTS.—(1) 
Section 
3462(a) of title 38, United States Code, is amended by 
striking paragraph (2).
(2) Section 3485(e)(1) of such title is amended by 
striking ‘‘(other than an education loan under subchapter 
III)’’. 
(3) Section 3512 of such title is amended by striking 
out subsection (f). 
(4) The amendments made by paragraphs (2) and (3) 
shall take effect 90 days after the date of the enactment 
of this Act. 
SEC. 4. PERMANENT AUTHORITY FOR STATE CEMETERY 
GRANTS. 
Paragraph (2) of section 2408(a) of title 38, United 
States Code, is amended—
(1) by striking ‘‘through fiscal year 2004’’; and 
(2) by adding at the end ‘‘Funds appropriated 
under the preceding sentence shall remain available 
until expended.’’. 
SEC. 5. FORFEITURE OF BENEFITS FOR SUBVERSIVE AC-
TIVITIES. 
(a) ADDITION OF CERTAIN OFFENSES.—Paragraph 
(2) of section 6105(b) of title 38, United States Code, is 
amended—
(1) by inserting ‘‘175, 229,’’ after ‘‘sections’’; 
and 
(2) by inserting ‘‘831, 1091, 2332a, 2332b,’’ 
after ‘‘798,’’.
(b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by 
subsection (a) shall apply to claims filed after the date 
of the enactment of this Act. 
SEC. 6. EXTENSION OF MAINTENANCE REGIONAL OFFICE 
IN THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES. 
Section 315(b) of title 38, United States Code, is 
amended by striking ‘‘December 31, 2003’’ and inserting 
‘‘December 31, 2005’’.
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