I 
117TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. R. 637 
To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to provide retraining assistance 
to certain veterans unemployed by reason of the COVID–19 public health 
emergency. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
FEBRUARY 1, 2021 
Mr. BOST introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee 
on Veterans’ Affairs 
A BILL 
To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to provide re-
training assistance to certain veterans unemployed by 
reason of the COVID–19 public health emergency. 
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 Economic 
Recovery Act of 2021’’. 
SEC. 2. COVID–19 VETERAN RAPID RETRAINING ASSIST-
ANCE PROGRAM. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Veterans Affairs 
shall carry out a program under which the Secretary shall 
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provide up to 12 months of retraining assistance to an 
eligible veteran for the pursuit of a covered program of 
education. Such retraining assistance shall be in addition 
to any other entitlement to educational assistance or bene-
fits for which a veteran is, or has been, eligible. 
(b) ELIGIBLE VETERANS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—For purposes of this section, 
the term ‘‘eligible veteran’’ means a veteran who— 
(A) as of the date of the receipt by the De-
partment of Veterans Affairs of the application 
for assistance under this section, is at least 22 
years of age but not more than 66 years of age; 
(B) as of such date, is unemployed by rea-
son of the covered public health emergency, as 
certified by the veteran; 
(C) as of such date, is not eligible to re-
ceive educational assistance under chapter 30, 
31, 32, 33, or 35 of title 38, United States 
Code, or chapter 1606 of title 10, United States 
Code; 
(D) is not enrolled in any Federal or State 
jobs program; 
(E) is not in receipt of compensation for a 
service-connected disability rated totally dis-
abling by reason of unemployability; and 
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(F) will not be in receipt of unemployment 
compensation (as defined in section 85(b) of the 
Internal Revenue Code of 1986), including any 
cash benefit received pursuant to subtitle A of 
title II of division A of the CARES Act (Public 
Law 116–136), as of the first day on which the 
veteran would receive a housing stipend pay-
ment under this section. 
(2) TREATMENT OF VETERANS WHO TRANSFER 
ENTITLEMENT.—For purposes of paragraph (1)(C), 
a veteran who has transferred all of the veteran’s 
entitlement to educational assistance under section 
3319 of title 38, United States Code, shall be con-
sidered to be a veteran who is not eligible to receive 
educational assistance under chapter 33 of such 
title. 
(3) FAILURE TO COMPLETE.—A veteran who 
receives retraining assistance under this section to 
pursue a program of education and who fails to com-
plete the program of education shall not be eligible 
to receive additional assistance under this section. 
(c) COVERED PROGRAMS OF EDUCATION.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—For purposes of this section, 
a covered program of education is a program of edu-
cation (as such term is defined in section 3452(b) of 
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title 38, United States Code) for training, pursued 
on a full-time or part-time basis— 
(A) that— 
(i) is approved under chapter 36 of 
such title; 
(ii) does not lead to a bachelors or 
graduate degree; and 
(iii) is designed to provide training for 
a high-demand occupation, as determined 
under paragraph (3); or 
(B) that is a high technology program of 
education offered by a qualified provider, under 
the meaning given such terms in section 116 of 
the Harry W. Colmery Veterans Educational 
Assistance Act of 2017 (Public Law 115–48; 38 
U.S.C. 3001 note). 
(2) ACCREDITED PROGRAMS.—In the case of an 
accredited program of education, the program of 
education shall not be considered a covered program 
of education under this section if the program has 
received a show cause order from the accreditor of 
the program during the five-year period preceding 
the date of the enactment of this Act. 
(3) DETERMINATION OF HIGH-DEMAND OCCU-
PATIONS.— 
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(A) INITIAL
IMPLEMENTATION.—In car-
rying out this section, the Secretary shall use 
the list of high-demand occupations compiled by 
the Commissioner of Labor Statistics until the 
final list under subparagraph (C) is complete. 
(B) STUDY REQUIRED.—The Secretary of 
Veterans Affairs shall enter into an agreement 
with a federally funded research and develop-
ment corporation or another appropriate non- 
Department entity for the conduct of a study to 
determine which occupations are high-demand 
occupations. Such study shall be completed not 
later than 90 days after the date of the enact-
ment of this Act. 
(C) FINAL LIST.—The Secretary— 
(i) may add or remove occupation 
from the list in use pursuant to subpara-
graph (A) during the 90-day period fol-
lowing the completion of the study required 
by subparagraph (B); 
(ii) shall issue a final list of high-de-
mand occupations for use under this sec-
tion by not later than 90 days after the 
date of the completion of the study; and 
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(iii) shall make such final list publicly 
available on a website of the Department. 
(D) USE
OF
LIST.—The Secretary shall 
use the list developed under this paragraph in 
order to apply the requirement that retraining 
assistance under this section is used for train-
ing for a high-demand occupation, but the Sec-
retary may remove occupations from the list as 
the Secretary determines appropriate. 
(4) FULL-TIME
DEFINED.—For purposes of 
this subsection, the term ‘‘full-time’’ has the mean-
ing given such term under section 3688 of title 38, 
United States Code. 
(d) AMOUNT OF ASSISTANCE.— 
(1) RETRAINING ASSISTANCE.—The Secretary 
of Veterans Affairs shall provide to an eligible vet-
eran pursuing a covered program of education under 
the retraining assistance program under this section 
an amount equal to the amount of educational as-
sistance payable under section 3313(c)(1)(A) of title 
38, United States Code, for each month the veteran 
pursues the covered program of education. Such 
amount shall be payable directly to the educational 
institution offering the covered program of education 
pursued by the veteran as follows: 
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(A) 50 percent of the total amount payable 
shall be paid when the eligible veteran begins 
the program of education. 
(B) 25 percent of the total amount payable 
shall be paid when the eligible veteran com-
pletes the program of education. 
(C) 25 percent of the total amount payable 
shall be paid when the eligible veteran finds em-
ployment in a field related to the program of 
education. 
(2) FAILURE TO COMPLETE.— 
(A) PRO-RATED PAYMENTS.—In the case 
of a veteran who pursues a covered program of 
education under the retraining assistance pro-
gram under this section, but who does not com-
plete the program of education, the Secretary 
shall pay to the educational institution offering 
such program of education a pro-rated amount 
based on the number of months the veteran 
pursued the program of education in accordance 
with this paragraph. 
(B) PAYMENT
OTHERWISE
DUE
UPON 
COMPLETION
OF
PROGRAM.—The Secretary 
shall pay to the educational institution a pro- 
rated amount under paragraph (1)(B) when the 
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veteran provides notice to the educational insti-
tution that the veteran no longer intends to 
pursue the program of education. 
(C) NONRECOVERY
FROM
VETERAN.—In 
the case of a veteran referred to in subpara-
graph (A), the educational institution may not 
seek payment from the veteran for any amount 
that would have been payable under paragraph 
(1)(B) had the veteran completed the program 
of education. 
(D) PAYMENT DUE UPON EMPLOYMENT.— 
(i) VETERANS
WHO
FIND
EMPLOY-
MENT.—In the case of a veteran referred 
to in subparagraph (A) who finds employ-
ment in a field related to the program of 
education during the 180-day period begin-
ning on the date on which the veteran 
withdraws from the program of education, 
the Secretary shall pay to the educational 
institution a pro-rated amount under para-
graph (1)(C) when the veteran finds such 
employment. 
(ii) VETERANS WHO DO NOT FIND EM-
PLOYMENT.—In the case of a veteran re-
ferred to in subparagraph (A) who does 
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not find employment in a field related to 
the program of education during the 180- 
day period beginning on the date on which 
the veteran withdraws from the program of 
education— 
(I) the Secretary shall not make 
a payment to the educational institu-
tion under paragraph (1)(C); and 
(II) the educational institution 
may not seek payment from the vet-
eran for any amount that would have 
been payable under paragraph (1)(C) 
had the veteran found employment 
during such 180-day period. 
(3) HOUSING STIPEND.—For each month that 
an eligible veteran pursues a covered program of 
education under the retraining assistance program 
under this section, the Secretary shall pay to the 
veteran a monthly housing stipend in an amount 
equal to— 
(A) in the case of a covered program of 
education leading to a degree, or a covered pro-
gram of education not leading to a degree, at 
an institution of higher learning (as that term 
is defined in section 3452(f) of title 38, United 
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States Code) pursued on more than a half-time 
basis, the amount specified under subsection 
(c)(1)(B) of section 3313 of title 38, United 
States Code; 
(B) in the case of a covered program of 
education other than a program of education 
leading to a degree at an institution other than 
an institution of higher learning pursued on 
more than a half-time basis, the amount speci-
fied under subsection (g)(3)(A)(ii) of such sec-
tion; or 
(C) in the case of a covered program of 
education pursued on less than a half-time 
basis, or a covered program of education pur-
sued solely through distance learning on more 
than a half-time basis, the amount specified 
under subsection (c)(1)(B)(iii) of such section. 
(4) FAILURE
TO
FIND
EMPLOYMENT.—The 
Secretary shall not make a payment under para-
graph (1)(C) with respect to an eligible veteran who 
completes or fails to complete a program of edu-
cation under the retraining assistance program 
under this section if the veteran fails to find employ-
ment in a field related to the program of education 
within the 180-period beginning on the date on 
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which the veteran withdraws from or completes the 
program. 
(e) NO TRANSFERABILITY.—Retraining assistance 
provided under this section may not be transferred to an-
other individual. 
(f) EMPLOYMENT ASSISTANCE.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Labor shall 
contact each veteran who pursues a covered program 
of education under this section— 
(A) not later than 30 days after the date 
on which the veteran begins the program of 
education to notify the veteran of the avail-
ability of employment placement services upon 
completion of the program; and 
(B) not later than 14 days after the date 
on which the veteran completes, or terminates 
participation in, such program to facilitate the 
provision of employment placement services to 
such veteran. 
(2) PROVISION
OF
INFORMATION.—The Sec-
retary of Veterans Affairs shall provide to the Sec-
retary of Labor such information as may be nec-
essary to carry out paragraph (1). 
(g) NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION.— 
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(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Veterans 
Affairs shall seek to enter into a memorandum of 
understanding with one or more qualified nonprofit 
organizations for the purpose of facilitating the em-
ployment of veterans who participate in the retrain-
ing assistance program under this section. 
(2) QUALIFIED
NONPROFIT
ORGANIZATION.— 
For purposes of this subsection, a qualified non-
profit organization is a nonprofit organization 
that— 
(A) is an association of businesses; and 
(B) has at least two years of experience 
providing job placement services for veterans. 
(h) FOLLOW UP OUTREACH.—The Secretary of Vet-
erans Affairs, in coordination with the Secretary of Labor 
shall contact each veteran who completes a covered pro-
gram of education under the retraining assistance pro-
gram under this section 30, 60, 90, and 180 days after 
the veteran completes such program of education to ask 
the veteran about the experience of the veteran in the re-
training assistance program and the veteran’s employment 
status. 
(i) QUARTERLY REPORTS.—Not later than the date 
that is one year after the date of the enactment of this 
Act, and quarterly thereafter, the Secretary of Labor shall 
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submit to the Committees on Veterans’ Affairs of the Sen-
ate and House of Representatives a report containing the 
following information about veterans who participate in 
the retraining assistance program under this section: 
(1) The percentage of such veterans who found 
employment before the end of the second calendar 
quarter after exiting the program. 
(2) The percentage of such veterans who found 
employment before the end of the fourth calendar 
quarter after exiting the program. 
(3) The median earnings of all such veterans 
for the second quarter after exiting the program. 
(4) The percentage of such veterans who attain 
a recognized postsecondary credential during the 12- 
month period after exiting the program. 
(j) LIMITATION.—Not more than 35,000 eligible vet-
erans may receive retraining assistance under this section. 
(k) TERMINATION.—No retraining assistance may be 
paid under this section after the date that is 21 months 
after the date of the enactment of this Act. 
(l) GAO REPORT.—Not later than 180 days after the 
termination of the retraining assistance program under 
subsection (k), the Comptroller General shall submit to 
the Committees on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and 
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House of Representatives a report on the outcomes and 
effectiveness of the program. 
(m) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) The term ‘‘covered public health emer-
gency’’ means the declaration— 
(A) of a public health emergency, based on 
an outbreak of COVID–19 by the Secretary of 
Health and Human Services under section 319 
of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 
247d); or 
(B) of a domestic emergency, based on an 
outbreak of COVID–19 by the President, the 
Secretary of Homeland Security, or State, or 
local authority. 
(2) The term ‘‘veteran’’ means— 
(A) a person who served in the active mili-
tary, naval, or air service, and who was dis-
charged or released therefrom under conditions 
other than dishonorable; or 
(B) a member of a reserve component of 
the Armed Forces who performs active service 
for a period of 30 days or longer by reason of 
the covered public health emergency. 
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(3) The term ‘‘active service’’ has the meaning 
given such term in section 101 of title 10, United 
States Code. 
(n) FUNDING.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—For each fiscal year for 
which the Secretary provides retraining assistance 
under this section, such sums as may be necessary 
shall be made available for such assistance from 
funds appropriated to, or otherwise made available 
to, the Department for the payment of readjustment 
benefits. 
(2) ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS.—There is author-
ized to be appropriated $15,000,000 to carry out ad-
ministrative functions of this section. 
(o) INITIATION OF PAYMENTS.—The Secretary may 
begin providing retraining assistance under this section on 
the date that is 180 days after the date of the enactment 
of this Act. 
Æ 
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