(c) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by 
this Act shall take effect on the date of the enactment 
of this Act and shall apply with respect to an academic 
period that begins on or after August 1, 2022. 
SEC. 5. IMPROVEMENTS TO INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY 
SERVICES USED TO PROCESS CLAIMS FOR 
EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE. 
(a) MODERN INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SERV-
ICE.—The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall implement 
an information technology service to process claims for 
educational assistance under chapters 30, 33, 35, and 36 
of title 38, United States Code, using one or more com-
mercial software systems. The Secretary shall complete 
such implementation not later than August 1, 2024. 
(b) REQUIRED CAPABILITIES.—The Secretary shall 
ensure that the modern information technology service 
under subsection (a) has the following capabilities: 
(1) As compared to legacy information tech-
nology systems— 
(A) the ability to process claims faster and 
in a more efficient manner by improving proc-
essing integration and accuracy; 
(B) improved data exchange and reporting; 
and
(C) improved customer integration and 
simplification of the online experience. 
(2) Timely communication by employees of the 
Department of Veterans Affairs to individuals and 
educational institutions using an online portal that 
can provide real-time information on claims for edu-
cational assistance. 
(3) The ability to be customized to address fu-
ture capabilities required by law. 
(4) Fully automated to the extent practicable 
for all original and supplemental claims, including 
with respect to calculating accurate awards. 
(5) The ability for individuals entitled to edu-
cational assistance to electronically apply for, with-
draw from, and amend such entitlement, and to re-
allocate a transferred entitlement. 
(6) The ability to electronically process changes 
made by educational institutions. 
(7) The ability to verify attendance at an edu-
cational institution. 
(8) The ability to process validations made by 
an educational institution. 
(c) INITIAL REPORT.—Not later than 120 days after 
the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall 
submit to the Committees on Veterans’ Affairs of the
House of Representatives and the Senate a report con-
taining information on the cost, schedule, and perform-
ance of the project for implementing such system, includ-
ing, with respect to such project, the following: 
(1) An estimate of acquisition, implementation, 
and life cycle costs (including all direct and indirect 
costs to acquire, implement, operate, and maintain 
such system). 
(2) An intended implementation schedule indi-
cating significant milestones, initial operating capa-
bility, and full operating capability or completion. 
(3) Key business, functional, or performance 
objectives. 
(4) With respect to both original claims and 
supplemental claims processed on a monthly basis, 
statistics regarding— 
(A) the number of such claims processed 
using legacy information systems; 
(B) the number of such claims that were 
off-ramped and processed manually; and 
(C) the number of such claims estimated 
to be processed using the modern information 
technology service. 
(5) The amount of savings that are estimated 
to be realized from using the modern information
technology service rather than legacy information 
technology systems. 
(6) The estimated accuracy of processing 
claims. 
(7) The estimated timeliness for— 
(A) processing original claims; and 
(B) processing supplemental claims. 
(8) A description of how the modern informa-
tion technology service will— 
(A) automate the processing of original 
claims; and 
(B) automate the processing of supple-
mental claims. 
(d) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) The term ‘‘legacy information technology 
system’’ means an information technology system 
used by the Department of Veterans Affairs to proc-
ess claims for educational assistance under chapters 
30, 33, 35, and 36 of title 38, United States Code, 
before the date on which the Secretary of Veterans 
Affairs awards a contract under subsection (a) for 
the modern information technology service. 
(2) The term ‘‘modern information technology 
service’’ means the information technology service 
implemented under subsection (a) to process claims
for educational assistance under chapters 30, 33, 35, 
and 36 of title 38, United States Code. 
SEC. 6. TIME PERIOD FOR ELIGIBILITY UNDER SURVIVORS’ 
AND DEPENDENTS’ EDUCATIONAL ASSIST-
ANCE PROGRAM OF DEPARTMENT OF VET-
ERANS AFFAIRS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 3512 of title 38, United 
States Code, is amended— 
(1) by redesignating subsection (h) as sub-
section (f); and 
(2) by adding at the end the following new sub-
section: 
‘‘(g) Notwithstanding any other provision of this sec-
tion, the following persons may be afforded educational 
assistance under this chapter at any time after August 
1, 2023, and without regard to the age of the person: 
‘‘(1) A person who first becomes an eligible per-
son on or after August 1, 2023. 
‘‘(2) A person who— 
‘‘(A) first becomes an eligible person be-
fore August 1, 2023; and 
‘‘(B) becomes 18 years of age, or com-
pletes secondary schooling, on or after August 
1, 2023.’’.
(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.—Such section is 
further amended— 
(1) in subsection (a), by striking ‘‘The edu-
cational’’ and inserting ‘‘Except as provided in sub-
section (g), the educational’’; 
(2) in subsection (b)— 
(A) in paragraph (1)(A), by inserting 
‘‘subsection (g) or’’ after ‘‘provided in’’; and 
(B) in paragraph (2), by striking ‘‘Not-
withstanding’’ and inserting ‘‘Except as pro-
vided in subsection (g), notwithstanding’’; and 
(3) in subsection (e), by striking ‘‘No person’’ 
and inserting ‘‘Except as provided in subsection (g), 
no person’’. 
SEC. 7. PILOT PROGRAM ON SHORT-TERM FELLOWSHIP 
PROGRAMS. 
(a) AUTHORITY.—The Assistant Secretary of Labor 
for Veterans’ Employment and Training shall carry out 
a pilot program under which a State may use a grant or 
contract under section 4102A(b)(5) of title 38, United 
States Code, to carry out a short-term fellowship program. 
(b) LOCATIONS; AGREEMENTS.—The Secretary shall 
select at least three, but not more than five, States to 
carry out a short-term fellowship program pursuant to 
subsection (a). Each such State shall enter into an agree-