Fly Vets Act
Bill: H.R.4874 | Sponsor: Rep. Cawthorn, Madison (R-NC)
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security

Summary:
Fly Vets Act
This bill adjusts requirements related to utilizing Department of Veterans Affairs educational assistance for flight training purposes, including by removing the requirement that an individual must possess a valid private pilot certificate and meet certain medical requirements to utilize such assistance.
Individuals enrolled in a program of education at an institution of higher learning in which flight training is required may elect to receive accelerated payments of tuition and fees if they also elect to receive educational counseling. The bill also specifies the calculation and determination of such fees, as well as the calculation of available entitlement in cases of accelerated payments.

To amend title 38, United States Code, to make certain improvements to 
    the use of educational assistance provided by the Department of 
             Veterans Affairs for flight training programs.

    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 ``Fly Vets Act''.

SEC. 2. IMPROVEMENTS TO ASSISTANCE PROVIDED FOR CERTAIN FLIGHT TRAINING 
              AND OTHER PROGRAMS OF EDUCATION.

    (a) Use of Entitlement for Private Pilot's Licenses.--Section 
3034(d) of title 38, United States Code, is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (1) by striking the semicolon and 
        inserting the following: ``and is required for the course of 
        education being pursued (including with respect to a dual 
        major, concentration, or other element a degree); and'';
            (2) by striking paragraph (2); and
            (3) by redesignating paragraph (3) as paragraph (2).
    (b) Accelerated Payments for Flight Training.--Section 3313 of such 
title is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:
    ``(m) Accelerated Payments for Certain Flight Training.--
            ``(1) Payments.--An individual enrolled in a program of 
        education pursued at an institution of higher learning in which 
        flight training is required to earn the degree being pursued 
        (including with respect to a dual major, concentration, or 
        other element of such a degree) may elect to receive 
        accelerated payments of amounts for tuition and fees determined 
        under subsection (c). The amount of each accelerated payment 
        shall be an amount equal to twice the amount for tuition and 
        fee so determined under such subsection, but the total amount 
        of such payments may not exceed the total amount of tuition and 
        fees for the program of education. The amount of monthly 
        stipends shall be determined in accordance with such subsection 
        (c) and may not be accelerated under this paragraph.
            ``(2) Educational counseling.--An individual may make an 
        election under paragraph (1) only if the individual receives 
        educational counseling under section 3697A(a) of this title.
            ``(3) Charge against entitlement.--The number of months of 
        entitlement charged an individual for accelerated payments made 
        pursuant to paragraph (1) shall be determined at the rate of 
        two months for each month in which such an accelerated payment 
        is made.''.
    (c) Flight Training at Public Institutions.--Subsection (c)(1)(A) 
of such section 3313 is amended--
            (1) in clause (i)--
                    (A) by redesignating subclauses (I) and (II) as 
                items (aa) and (bb), respectively;
                    (B) by striking ``In the case of a program of 
                education pursued at a public institution of higher 
                learning'' and inserting ``(I) Subject to subclause 
                (II), in the case of a program of education pursued at 
                a public institution of higher learning not described 
                in clause (ii)(II)(bb)''; and
                    (C) by adding at the end the following new 
                subclause:
                            ``(II) In determining the actual net cost 
                        for in-State tuition and fees pursuant to 
                        subclause (I), the Secretary may not pay for 
                        tuition and fees relating to flight 
                        training.''; and
            (2) in clause (ii)--
                    (A) in subclause (I), by redesignating items (aa) 
                and (bb) as subitems (AA) and (BB), respectively;
                    (B) in subclause (II), by redesignating items (aa) 
                and (bb) as subitems (AA) and (BB), respectively;
                    (C) by redesignating subclauses (I) and (II) as 
                items (aa) and (bb), respectively;
                    (D) by striking ``In the case of a program of 
                education pursued at a non-public or foreign 
                institution of higher learning'' and inserting ``(I) In 
                the case of a program of education described in 
                subclause (II)''; and
                    (E) by adding at the end the following new 
                subclause:
                            ``(II) A program of education described in 
                        this subclause is any of the following:
                                    ``(aa) A program of education 
                                pursued at a non-public or foreign 
                                institution of higher learning.
                                    ``(bb) A program of education 
                                pursued at a public institution of 
                                higher learning in which flight 
                                training is required to earn the degree 
                                being pursued (including with respect 
                                to a dual major, concentration, or 
                                other element of such a degree).''.
    (d) Certain Programs of Education Carried Out Under Contract.--
Section 3313(c)(1)(A)(ii)(II) of title 38, United States Code, as added 
by subsection (c)(2)(E), is amended by adding at the end the following 
new item:
                                    ``(cc) A program of education 
                                pursued at a public institution of 
                                higher learning in which the public 
                                institution of higher learning enters 
                                into a contract or agreement with an 
                                entity (other than another public 
                                institution of higher learning) to 
                                provide such program of education or a 
                                portion of such program of 
                                education.''.
    (e) Application.--
            (1) In general.--Except as provided by paragraph (2), the 
        amendments made by this section shall apply with respect to a 
        quarter, semester, or term, as applicable, commencing on or 
        after the date of the enactment of this Act.
            (2) Special rule for current students.--In the case of an 
        individual who, as of the date of the enactment of this Act, is 
        using educational assistance under chapter 33 of title 38, 
        United States Code, to pursue a course of education that 
        includes a program of education described in item (bb) or (cc) 
        of section 3313(c)(1)(A)(ii)(II) of title 38, United States 
        Code, as added by subsections (c) and (d), respectively, the 
        amendment made by such subsection shall apply with respect to a 
        quarter, semester, or term, as applicable, commencing on or 
        after the date that is two years after the date of the 
        enactment of this Act.
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