VA Work-Study Improvement Act
Bill: H.R.9379 | Sponsor: Rep. Cartwright, Matt (D-PA)
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security

Summary:
VA Work-Study Improvement Act
This bill updates the Department of Veterans Affairs work-study program, including by increasing the number of hours an individual may work, modifying the minimum wage requirements, and implementing an electronic timesheet.

To amend title 38, United States Code, to improve the VA Work-Study 
                                program.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``VA Work-Study Improvement Act''.

SEC. 2. IMPROVEMENTS TO VA WORK-STUDY PROGRAM.

    (a) Authorized Activities.--Subsection (a)(5) of section 3485 of 
title 38, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the 
following new subparagraph:
            ``(L) Any other activity at an agency of a State or local 
        government or a nonprofit organization that would benefit, 
        directly or indirectly, veterans or members of the Armed 
        Forces.''.
    (b) Applicable Hourly Minimum Wage.--Paragraph (7) of subsection 
(a) of such section is amended to read as follows:
    ``(7) For the purposes of this subsection and subsection (e), the 
term `applicable hourly minimum wages' means the higher of the 
following wages:
            ``(A) The hourly minimum wage under section 6(a) of the 
        Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 (29 U.S.C. 206(a)).
            ``(B) The hourly minimum wage under comparable law of the 
        State in which the services are to be performed.
            ``(C) The hourly minimum wage under comparable law of the 
        local government with jurisdiction over the area in which the 
        services are to be performed.''.
    (c) Increased Number of Work Hours Authorized.--Paragraph (3) of 
such subsection is amended by striking ``25'' and inserting ``40''.
    (d) Electronic Timesheets.--Such section is amended by adding at 
the end the following new subsection:
    ``(f) The Secretary shall ensure that--
            ``(1) an individual participating in a qualifying work-
        study activity may electronically record the hours worked under 
        such activity; and
            ``(2) the supervisor of such individual may electronically 
        approve such records.''.
    (e) Publication of Data.--Such section, as amended by subsection 
(d), is further amended by adding at the end the following new 
subsection:
    ``(g) On an annual basis, the Secretary shall publish the following 
information regarding qualifying work-study activities carried out 
during the covered year:
            ``(1) The number of individuals who participated in a 
        qualifying work-study activity.
            ``(2) The demographics of such individuals.
            ``(3) A description of such activities.
            ``(4) The wages paid to such individuals.
            ``(5) The number of hours worked by such individuals.
            ``(6) A list of the participating educational 
        institutions.''.
    (f) Applicability.--The amendments made by this Act shall apply 
with respect to a payment of work-study allowance made under section 
3485 of title 38, United States Code, on or after January 1, 2025.
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