IB 
Union Calendar No. 262 
119TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 1458 
[Report No. 119–308] 
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. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
FEBRUARY 21, 2025 
Mr. CISCOMANI (for himself and Mr. DAVIS of North Carolina) introduced the 
following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs 
SEPTEMBER 26, 2025 
Additional sponsors: Mr. HUDSON, Mr. NEGUSE, Mr. VAN ORDEN, Mr. SOTO, 
Mr. MCDOWELL, Mr. MURPHY, Mr. WITTMAN, Mr. VINDMAN, and Mr. 
VASQUEZ 
SEPTEMBER 26, 2025 
Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole 
House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed 
[Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic] 
[For text of introduced bill, see copy of bill as introduced on February 21, 2025] 
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A BILL 
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. 
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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 para-
graph: 
‘‘(4) ADDITIONAL
ASSISTANCE
FOR
AN
INDI-
VIDUAL NOT ELIGIBLE FOR A MONTHLY HOUSING STI-
PEND.—In the case of an individual making an elec-
tion under subsection (a) who is described by sub-
paragraph (A), (C), or (E) of paragraph (1) of that 
subsection, and who is not eligible for a monthly sti-
pend payable under section 3313(c) of this title, the 
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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 para-
graph (1)(B)(i) with regards to such indi-
vidual; and 
‘‘(B) to the individual not later than 60 
days after the exhaustion of the individual’s enti-
tlement 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 ASSISTANCE’’. 
(c) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by this 
section shall take effect on August 1, 2025. 
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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 instructors’’ 
after ‘‘course of study’’; 
(2) in item (aa), by striking ‘‘; or’’ and inserting 
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 higher 
education, as such term is defined 
in section 102 of the Higher Edu-
cation Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 
1002), that is approved to partici-
pate or participating in the stu-
dent 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, 
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or term, as applicable, that begins on or after August 1, 
2025. 
SEC. 4. ABSENCE FROM CERTAIN EDUCATION DUE TO CER-
TAIN SERVICE. 
(a) OPTIONS.—Section 3691A of such title is amended 
by striking paragraph (1) of subsection (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— 
(1) by redesignating subsection (d) as subsection 
(e); and 
(2) by inserting, after subsection (c), the fol-
lowing new subsection (d): 
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‘‘(d) AGREEMENT WITH INSTITUTION CONCERNED.— 
A covered member may enter into an agreement under sub-
section (a) only if the covered member has completed at least 
half of a course of covered education.’’. 
(d) SECTION
HEADING.—Such section is further 
amended by striking the heading and inserting ‘‘Absence 
from certain 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 fol-
lowing new item: 
‘‘3691A. Absence from certain education due to certain service.’’. 
SEC. 5. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS COMPLIANCE 
SURVEYS. 
Section 3693 of such title is amended— 
(1) in subsection (c)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘not more than 10 business 
days of notice’’; 
(B) by striking ‘‘this section.’’ and inserting 
‘‘this section—’’; and 
(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 fewer than 10, and not more 
than 15, business days of notice; and 
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‘‘(2) in the case of any other educational institu-
tion or training establishment, not more than 10 
business days of notice.’’; and 
(2) by striking subsection (d) and inserting the 
following new subsection (d): 
‘‘(d) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
‘‘(1) The terms ‘educational institution’ and 
‘training establishment’ have the meanings given such 
terms in section 3452 of this title. 
‘‘(2) The term ‘school certifying official’ means 
an employee of an educational institution with pri-
mary responsibility for certifying veteran enrollment 
at the educational institution.’’. 
SEC. 6. 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 Veterans 
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. 
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SEC. 7. EXTENSION OF CERTAIN LIMITS ON PAYMENTS OF 
PENSION. 
Section 5503(d)(7) of title 38, United States Code, is 
amended by striking ‘‘November 30, 2031’’ and inserting 
‘‘March 31, 2033’’. 
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Union Calendar No. 262 
119TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. R. 1458 
[Report No. 119–308] 
A BILL 
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 Vet-
erans Affairs. 
SEPTEMBER 26, 2025 
Reported with an amendment, committed to the Com-
mittee of the Whole House on the State of the Union, 
and ordered to be printed 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
19:47 Sep 26, 2025
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PO 00000
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