119TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 1458 
AN ACT 
To amend title 38, United States Code, to modify the criteria 
for approval of certain independent study programs for 
purposes of the educational assistance programs of the 
Department of Veterans Affairs. 
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 ‘‘Veterans Education 
and Technical Skills Opportunity Act of 2025’’ or the 
‘‘VETS Opportunity Act of 2025’’. 
SEC. 2. REPAYMENT OF MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES 
FOR CONTRIBUTIONS TOWARDS POST-9/11 
EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE: TIMING; MECHA-
NISM FOR INDIVIDUALS NOT ELIGIBLE FOR A 
MONTHLY HOUSING STIPEND. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Subsection (f) of section 3327 of 
title 38, United States Code, is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (3), by striking ‘‘together’’ 
and all that follows through ‘‘before’’ and inserting 
‘‘not later than 60 days after’’; and 
(2) by adding at the end the following new 
paragraph: 
‘‘(4) ADDITIONAL
ASSISTANCE
FOR
AN
INDI-
VIDUAL NOT ELIGIBLE FOR A MONTHLY HOUSING 
STIPEND.—In the case of an individual making an 
election under subsection (a) who is described by 
subparagraph (A), (C), or (E) of paragraph (1) of 
that subsection, and who is not eligible for a month-
ly stipend payable under section 3313(c) of this title, 
the educational assistance payable to the individual 
under this chapter shall be paid—
‘‘(A) in a lump sum calculated by multi-
plying— 
‘‘(i) the total amount of contributions 
described in paragraph (1)(A) with regards 
to such individual; and 
‘‘(ii) the sum of the number of 
months described in subclauses (I) and (II) 
of paragraph (1)(B)(i) with regards to 
such individual; and 
‘‘(B) to the individual not later than 60 
days after the exhaustion of the individual’s en-
titlement to educational assistance under this 
chapter.’’. 
(b) TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS
AND CONFORMING 
AMENDMENT.—Such subsection is further amended— 
(1) by striking ‘‘paragraphs (2) through (7)’’ 
and inserting ‘‘paragraphs (2) through (6)’’; and 
(2) in paragraph (1), in the heading, by insert-
ing ‘‘FOR AN INDIVIDUAL ELIGIBLE FOR A MONTHLY 
HOUSING
STIPEND’’ after ‘‘ADDITIONAL
ASSIST-
ANCE’’. 
(c) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by 
this section shall take effect on August 1, 2026.
SEC. 3. TREATMENT OF CERTAIN INDEPENDENT STUDY 
PROGRAMS UNDER EDUCATIONAL ASSIST-
ANCE PROGRAMS OF DEPARTMENT OF VET-
ERANS AFFAIRS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 3680A(a)(4)(A)(ii)(III) of 
such title is amended— 
(1) by inserting ‘‘that requires regular and sub-
stantive interaction between students and instruc-
tors’’ after ‘‘course of study’’; 
(2) in item (aa), by striking ‘‘; or’’ and insert-
ing a semicolon; 
(3) in item (bb), by striking ‘‘; and’’ and insert-
ing ‘‘; or’’; and 
(4) by adding at the end by following new item: 
‘‘(cc) an institution of high-
er education, as such term is de-
fined in section 102 of the High-
er Education Act of 1965 (20 
U.S.C. 1002), that is approved to 
participate or participating in the 
student financial assistance pro-
grams authorized by title IV of 
that Act; and’’. 
(b) APPLICABILITY.—The amendment made by sub-
section (a) shall apply with respect to a quarter, semester,