Guard and Reserve GI Bill Parity Act of 2021
Bill: H.R.1836 | Sponsor: Rep. Levin, Mike (D-CA)
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security

Summary:
Guard and Reserve GI Bill Parity Act of 2021
This bill expands eligibility for Post-9/11 GI Bill educational assistance and addresses other Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) programs and benefits. Specifically, the bill expands the type of duty that is eligible for such educational assistance.
Beginning on August 1, 2025, types of duty eligible for educational assistance benefits include (1) active duty for training performed by a member of the Armed Forces on or after this date, and (2) active duty for training occurring before this date only if the individual is a member on or after this date. Furthermore, beginning on August 1, 2032, duty eligible for these benefits includes active or inactive duty training performed by a member of the Armed Forces before, on, or after August 1, 2032.
Educational assistance eligibility for individuals who performed qualifying types of duty as provided in the bill before August 1, 2025, expires on the latter of (1) August 1, 2040, or (2) the end of the 15-year period after their discharge or release from the Armed Forces. For individuals who performed such duty on or after August 1, 2025, educational assistance eligibility does not expire. Furthermore, the bill provides for the expiration of eligibility applicable to individuals subject to two different periods of eligible duty.
The bill also makes adjustments to certain loan fees under the VA home loan program, including the fee for an interest rate reduction refinancing loan.
Additionally, the VA must provide information to new veterans that includes a description of the medical care, services, and other benefits they are entitled to through the VA.

To amend title 38, United States Code, to ensure that the time during 
  which members of the Armed Forces serve on active duty for training 
 qualifies for educational assistance under the Post-9/11 Educational 
Assistance Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs, 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 ``Guard and Reserve GI Bill Parity Act 
of 2021''.

SEC. 2. POST-9/11 EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE FOR CERTAIN RESERVE AND 
              NATIONAL GUARD DUTY.

    (a) Other Qualifying Duty.--Section 3311(b) of title 38, United 
States Code, is amended--
            (1) by striking ``(including'' each place it appears and 
        inserting ``(including other qualifying duty and'';
            (2) by striking ``(excluding'' each place it appears and 
        inserting ``(including other qualifying duty but excluding''; 
        and
            (3) in paragraph (2), by inserting ``or other qualifying 
        duty'' after ``active duty'' both places it appears.
    (b) Other Qualifying Duty Defined.--Section 3301 of such title is 
amended--
            (1) by redesignating paragraphs (3) and (4) as paragraphs 
        (4) and (5), respectively; and
            (2) by inserting after paragraph (2) the following new 
        paragraph:
            ``(3) The term `other qualifying duty' means the following:
                    ``(A) During the period beginning on August 1, 
                2025, and ending on July 31, 2032, active duty for 
                training performed by a member of the Armed Forces--
                            ``(i) on or after August 1, 2025; or
                            ``(ii) before August 1, 2025, if such 
                        individual is a member of the Armed Forces on 
                        or after such date.
                    ``(B) On or after August 1, 2032, duty performed 
                before, on, or after such date that is--
                            ``(i) active duty for training performed by 
                        a member of the Armed Forces; or
                            ``(ii) inactive duty training performed by 
                        a member of the Armed Forces.''.
    (c) Time Limitation for Use of Entitlement for Other Qualifying 
Duty.--Section 3321 of such title is amended--
            (1) in subsection (a)--
                    (A) in paragraph (1), by striking ``; or'' and 
                inserting a semicolon;
                    (B) in paragraph (2), by striking the period at the 
                end and inserting ``; or''; and
                    (C) by adding at the end the following new 
                paragraph:
            ``(3) in the case of an individual whose entitlement is 
        based on other qualifying duty performed--
                    ``(A) before August 1, 2025, expires on the latter 
                of--
                            ``(i) the end of the 15-year period 
                        beginning on the date of the discharge or 
                        release of such individual from the Armed 
                        Forces; or
                            ``(ii) August 1, 2040; or
                    ``(B) on or after August 1, 2025, shall not 
                expire.''; and
            (2) in subsection (b), by adding at the end the following 
        new paragraph:
            ``(6) Individuals subject to two periods.--In the case of 
        an individual subject to periods under paragraphs (1) and 
        (3)(A) of subsection (a), the period under such paragraph 
        (3)(A) shall apply to such individual's entitlement.''.

SEC. 3. MODIFICATION OF CERTAIN HOUSING LOAN FEES.

    (a) Extension.--The loan fee table in section 3729(b)(2) of title 
38, United States Code, is amended by striking ``January 14, 2031'' 
each place it appears and inserting ``October 1, 2031''.
    (b) IRRRL Rate.--The item in subparagraph (E) of the loan fee table 
under such section is amended to read as follows:


 
 
------------------------------------------------------------------------
``(E)(i) Interest rate reduction          0.85         0.85           NA
 refinancing loan (closed on or
 after July 1, 2022, and before
 October 1, 2030)................
(ii) Interest rate reduction              0.50         0.50        NA''.
 refinancing loan (closed during
 a period not covered by clause
 (i))............................
------------------------------------------------------------------------

SEC. 4. PROVISION OF INFORMATION TO VETERANS DURING TRANSITION TO 
              CIVILIAN LIFE.

    (a) Requirement.--In providing information to new veterans 
regarding benefits administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, 
the Secretary shall ensure that the information includes the following:
            (1) A description of the medical care and services for 
        which the veteran will be eligible under chapter 17 of title 
        38, United States Code, including with respect to--
                    (A) community care under section 1703 of such 
                title;
                    (B) mental health care, including how to access the 
                Veterans Crisis Line established under section 1720F(h) 
                of such title; and
                    (C) care relating to military sexual trauma (as 
                defined in section 1166 of such title).
            (2) Any other information that the Secretary determines 
        appropriate, including information about the services and 
        benefits to which the veteran may be entitled.
    (b) Manner.--The Secretary shall provide the information under 
subsection (a) in a manner that promotes the destigmatization of mental 
health care and encourages veterans to reach out for support.

            Passed the House of Representatives January 12, 2022.

            Attest:

                                                                 Clerk.
117th CONGRESS

  2d Session

                               H. R. 1836

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