VR&E NEED Act of 2021
Bill: S.1935 | Sponsor: Sen. Booker, Cory A. (D-NJ)
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security

Summary:
Veteran Readiness and Employment National Emergency Extended Deadline Act of 2021 or the VR&E NEED Act of 2021
This bill extends a veteran's eligibility for the Veteran Readiness and Employment program when educational institutions are temporarily or permanently closed due to an emergency situation, or there is another reason that prevents a veteran from participating.
Specifically, the period of eligibility must not run during the period the veteran is prevented from participating in the program. The period must resume on a date, determined by the Department of Veterans Affairs, that is not earlier than the first day after the veteran is able to resume participation and not later than 90 days after that day.

To amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for an extension of 
  the period of eligibility under the Department of Veterans Affairs 
training and rehabilitation program for veterans with service-connected 
 disabilities by reason of school closures due to emergency and other 
                  situations, and for other purposes.

    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 ``Veteran Readiness and Employment 
National Emergency Extended Deadline Act of 2021'' or the ``VR&E NEED 
Act of 2021''.

SEC. 2. EXTENSION OF PERIOD OF ELIGIBILITY BY REASON OF SCHOOL CLOSURES 
              DUE TO EMERGENCY AND OTHER SITUATIONS UNDER DEPARTMENT OF 
              VETERANS AFFAIRS TRAINING AND REHABILITATION PROGRAM FOR 
              VETERANS WITH SERVICE-CONNECTED DISABILITIES.

    Section 3103 of title 38, United States Code, is amended--
            (1) in subsection (a), by striking ``or (g)'' and inserting 
        ``(g), or (h)''; and
            (2) by adding at the end the following new subsection:
    ``(h)(1) In the case of a veteran who is eligible for a vocational 
rehabilitation program under this chapter and who is prevented from 
participating in the vocational rehabilitation program within the 
period of eligibility prescribed in subsection (a) because of a covered 
reason, as determined by the Secretary, such period of eligibility--
            ``(A) shall not run during the period the veteran is so 
        prevented from participating in such program; and
            ``(B) shall again begin running on a date determined by the 
        Secretary that is--
                    ``(i) not earlier than the first day after the 
                veteran is able to resume participation in a vocational 
                rehabilitation program under this chapter; and
                    ``(ii) not later than 90 days after that day.
    ``(2) In this subsection, a covered reason is--
            ``(A) the temporary or permanent closure of an educational 
        institution by reason of an emergency situation; or
            ``(B) another reason that prevents the veteran from 
        participating in the vocational rehabilitation program, as 
        determined by the Secretary.''.
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