An original bill to amend chapter 33 of title 38, United States Code, to clarify and improve authorities relating to the availability of post-9/11 veterans educational assistance, and for other purposes.

SECTION 1. CLARIFICATION AND IMPROVEMENT OF AUTHORITIES RELATING TO 
              POST-9/11 EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE FOR MEMBERS OF THE ARMED 
              FORCES AND VETERANS.

    (a) Modification of Base Amounts of Educational Assistance.--
Section 3313(c)(1) of title 38, United States Code, is amended--
            (1) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``may not exceed'' and 
        all that follows and inserting ``may not exceed the amount as 
        follows:
                            ``(i) In the case of an individual enrolled 
                        in an institution of higher learning located in 
                        the United States, the maximum amount of 
                        established charges regularly charged in-State 
                        students for full-time pursuit of approved 
                        programs of education for undergraduates by the 
                        public institution of higher learning offering 
                        approved programs of education in the State in 
                        which the individual is enrolled that has the 
                        highest rate of regularly charged established 
                        charges for such programs of education among 
                        all public institutions of higher learning in 
                        such State offering such programs of education.
                            ``(ii) In the case of an individual 
                        enrolled in an institution of higher learning 
                        located in the United States who is pursuing a 
                        program of education at a branch of such 
                        institution that is located outside the United 
                        States, the maximum amount of established 
                        charges regularly charged in-State students for 
                        full-time pursuit of approved programs of 
                        education for undergraduates by the public 
                        institution of higher learning offering 
                        approved programs of education in the State in 
                        which is located the institution in which the 
                        individual is enrolled that has the highest 
                        rate of regularly charged established charges 
                        for such programs of education among all public 
                        institutions of higher learning in such State 
                        offering such programs of education.
                            ``(iii) In the case of an individual 
                        enrolled in an institution of higher learning 
                        not located in the United States, the average 
                        amount of established charges charged in-State 
                        students for full-time pursuit of approved 
                        programs of education for undergraduates by 
                        public institutions of higher learning 
                        throughout the United States during the 
                        preceding academic year.''; and
            (2) in subparagraph (B)(i), by striking ``monthly housing 
        stipend amount'' and all that follows and inserting ``monthly 
        housing stipend in an amount as follows:
                                    ``(I) In the case of an individual 
                                enrolled in an institution of higher 
                                learning located in the United States, 
                                an amount equal to the monthly amount 
                                of the basic allowance for housing 
                                payable under section 403 of title 37 
                                for a member with dependents in pay 
                                grade E-5 residing in the military 
                                housing area that encompasses all or 
                                the majority portion of the ZIP code 
                                area in which is located the 
                                institution of higher learning at which 
                                the individual is enrolled.
                                    ``(II) In the case of an individual 
                                enrolled in an institution of higher 
                                learning located outside the United 
                                States, an amount equal to the average 
                                monthly amount of the basic allowance 
                                for housing payable under section 403 
                                of title 37 for a member with 
                                dependents in pay grade E-5 residing in 
                                the continental United States.''.
    (b) Public-Private Contributions for Additional Educational 
Assistance.--
            (1) In general.--Subsection (a) of section 3317 of such 
        title is amended by striking the first sentence and inserting 
        the following new sentences: ``The Secretary shall carry out a 
        program under which a college or university (other than a 
        proprietary for-profit college or university) may, through 
        voluntary contributions, cover a portion of the established 
        charges for an approved program of education of an individual 
        entitled to educational assistance under this chapter that 
        would not otherwise be covered by section 3313(c)(1)(A). 
        Subject to subsection (d), such contributions shall be matched 
        by equivalent contributions toward such costs by the 
        Secretary.''.
            (2) Requirements for participating institutions.--
        Subsection (c) of such section is amended to read as follows:
    ``(c) Requirements for Participating Institutions.--A college or 
university participating in the program under this section shall--
            ``(1) offer the same percentage of additional assistance to 
        all individuals receiving educational assistance under this 
        section who are pursuing a program of education at the college 
        or university;
            ``(2) submit to the Secretary a report on the manner 
        (whether by direct grant, scholarship, or otherwise) by which 
        the college or university shall cover portions of the 
        established charges of individuals under the program; and
            ``(3) submit to the Secretary a report on the amount of the 
        contribution to be made by the college or university for each 
        individual covered by the program.''.
            (3) Matching contributions.--Paragraph (1) of subsection 
        (d) of such section is amended to read as follows:
            ``(1) In general.--The amount of any matching contribution 
        by the Secretary under the program under this section with 
        respect to the pursuit of a program of education by an 
        individual entitled to educational assistance under this 
        chapter may not exceed an amount equal to 50 percent of any 
        costs for tuition and mandatory fees for the individual's 
        pursuit of the program of education that are not otherwise 
        covered under section 3311(c)(1)(A).''.
            (4) Regulations.--Subsection (e) of such section is amended 
        to read as follows:
    ``(e) Regulations.--The Secretary shall prescribe regulations to 
carry out the program required by this section.''.
    (c) Interim Implementation Authority.--Section 5003 of the Post-9/
11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2008 (title V of Public Law 
110-252) is amended by striking subsection (d) and inserting the 
following new subsections:
    ``(d) Anticipation of Implementation.--The Secretary of Veterans 
Affairs shall take appropriate actions to ensure that this section and 
the amendments made by this section are implementable on the effective 
date provided in subsection (e)(1), including the prescription of such 
interim and final regulations for purposes of this section and the 
amendments made by this section as the Secretary considers appropriate.
    ``(e) Effective Date.--
            ``(1) In general.--Except as provided in paragraph (2), 
        this section and the amendments made by this section shall take 
        effect on August 1, 2009.
            ``(2) Implementation.--Subsection (d) shall take effect on 
        the date of the enactment of this Act.''.
    (d) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall take 
effect on June 30, 2008, as if included in the Post-9/11 Veterans 
Educational Assistance Act of 2008, to which such amendments relate.

Summary: Revises the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) program of educational assistance for veterans who have served in the Armed Forces since September 11, 2001, to provide the maximum rates to be paid to individuals pursuing programs of education outside the United States at branches of educational institutions: (1) based in the United States; and (2) not based in the United States.

Allows only public and private nonprofit institutions of higher education to participate in a VA program of public-private contributions for additional educational assistance for such veterans. Requires participating colleges and universities to: (1) report to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs on the manner in which the college or university would provide such additional assistance, and the amount provided to each participant; and (2) provide the same amount of additional assistance to all veterans receiving assistance at such college or university.

Requires the VA to ensure that the Post-9/11 educational assistance program can be implemented by August 1, 2009. Provides authority for interim regulations.