I 
115TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 3492 
To amend title 38, United States Code, to expand educational assistance 
to veterans who pursue certain apprenticeship programs, to establish 
a pilot program for veterans to pursue certification programs in computer 
numerically controlled machining, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JULY 27, 2017 
Mr. LIPINSKI (for himself, Mr. JONES, Mr. KINZINGER, Mr. HULTGREN, Ms. 
MOORE, Mr. RUSH, Mr. O’HALLERAN, Mrs. COMSTOCK, Mrs. TORRES, 
Mr. YOUNG of Alaska, and Ms. NORTON) introduced the following bill; 
which was referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs 
A BILL 
To amend title 38, United States Code, to expand edu-
cational assistance to veterans who pursue certain ap-
prenticeship programs, to establish a pilot program for 
veterans to pursue certification programs in computer 
numerically controlled machining, 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. FINDINGS. 
Congress finds the following: 
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(1) Apprenticeships can help veterans bridge 
the gap between service in the Armed Forces and ci-
vilian employment by— 
(A) receiving on-the-job training under the 
direct supervision of a professional and class-
room instruction; 
(B) implementing skills the veterans ac-
quired while in the Armed Forces; 
(C) providing practical work experience to 
the veterans; and 
(D) forming professional connections to 
fellow members of skilled occupations. 
(2) According to the Employment and Training 
Administration of the Department of Labor, in fiscal 
year 2016— 
(A) more than 21,000 apprenticeship pro-
grams across the United States are registered 
with the Administration; 
(B) approximately 1,700 new apprentice-
ship programs were established in the United 
States; 
(C) more than 206,000 individuals across 
the United States entered an apprenticeship 
program; 
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(D) more than 505,000 apprentices sought 
to acquire skills to earn the wages necessary for 
financial security; and 
(E) approximately 49,000 individuals grad-
uated from apprenticeship programs. 
SEC. 2. EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE FOR VETERANS WHO 
PURSUE 
CERTAIN 
APPRENTICESHIP 
PRO-
GRAMS. 
Section 3313(g)(3) of title 38, United States Code, 
is amended by adding at the end the following new sub-
paragraphs: 
‘‘(E) In the case of an individual pursuing 
a program of apprenticeship (that is registered 
with the Employment and Training Administra-
tion of the Department of Labor) on more than 
a half-time but less than full-time basis, an an-
nual stipend for tuition and fees not to exceed 
the lesser of— 
‘‘(i) the actual net cost for tuition and 
fees for the program of apprenticeship 
after the application of any waiver of, or 
reduction in, tuition and fees; or 
‘‘(ii) 25 percent of the amount cal-
culated under subsection (c)(1)(A)(ii). 
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‘‘(F) In the case of an individual pursuing 
a program of apprenticeship (that is registered 
with the Employment and Training Administra-
tion of the Department of Labor and for which 
the individual provides proof of current reg-
istration to the Secretary) that is not sponsored 
by the employer of the individual, an annual sti-
pend for tuition and fees not to exceed the less-
er of— 
‘‘(i) the actual net cost for tuition and 
fees for the program of apprenticeship 
after the application of any waiver of, or 
reduction in, tuition and fees; or 
‘‘(ii) 25 percent of the amount cal-
culated under subsection (c)(1)(A)(ii).’’. 
SEC. 3. SENSE OF CONGRESS. 
It is the sense of Congress that apprenticeship pro-
grams that are not sponsored by employers of participants 
in such programs should supply professional development 
resources and interview training to the participants. 
SEC. 4. PILOT PROGRAM FOR VETERANS WHO PURSUE 
COMPUTER NUMERICALLY CONTROLLED MA-
CHINING CERTIFICATIONS. 
(a) PILOT PROGRAM.—The Secretary of Veterans Af-
fairs shall carry out a pilot program under which the Sec-
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retary shall provide eligible veterans with the opportunity 
to enroll in certification programs in computer numerically 
controlled machining. 
(b) ELIGIBILITY.—For purposes of the pilot program 
under this section, an eligible veteran is a veteran who 
is entitled to educational assistance under the laws admin-
istered by the Secretary. 
(c) CONTRACTS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—For purposes of carrying out 
subsection (a), by not later than 180 days after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary 
shall seek to enter into contracts with multiple quali-
fied providers of certification programs in computer 
numerically controlled machining for the provision of 
such programs to eligible veterans under the pilot 
program. 
(2) PAYMENT OF CONTRACTORS.—A contract 
under this subsection shall provide that the Sec-
retary shall pay to a provider— 
(A) 25 percent of the cost of providing the 
certification program upon the enrollment of an 
eligible veteran in the program; 
(B) 25 percent of such cost upon the com-
pletion of the program by the veteran; and 
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(C) 50 percent of such cost upon the em-
ployment of the veteran following completion of 
the program. 
(3) QUALIFIED PROVIDERS.—For purposes of 
the pilot program, a provider of a certification pro-
gram in computer numerically controlled machining 
is qualified if the provider has been operational for 
at least two years. 
(4) TUITION
REIMBURSEMENT.—In entering 
into contracts to carry out the pilot program, the 
Secretary shall give preference to a qualified pro-
vider that offers tuition reimbursement for any stu-
dent who— 
(A) completes a certification program of-
fered by the provider; and 
(B) does not find full-time meaningful em-
ployment within the 180-day period beginning 
on the date the student completes the program. 
(d) HOUSING STIPEND.—The Secretary shall pay to 
each eligible veteran who is enrolled in a certification pro-
gram in computer numerically controlled machining under 
the pilot program on a full-time basis a monthly housing 
stipend equal to the product of— 
(1) in the case of— 
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