Title: Pandemic Assistance for Student Veterans Act of 2020
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security

Summary:
Pandemic Assistance for Student Veterans Act of 2020
This bill addresses the administration of educational assistance programs of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) in relation to the COVID-19 emergency,
Specifically, the VA must provide educational assistance, including housing stipends and allowances, to individuals who are negatively affected by the COVID-19 emergency.
The bill ensures that entitlement to educational assistance will not be charged or counted against the aggregate period in situations where an individual was unable to complete a course or program due to the COVID-19 emergency.
The VA must treat an individual's withdrawal from a program of education due to COVID-19 between March 1, 2020, and December 21, 2021, as a mitigating circumstance and not charge the individual's educational assistance entitlement.
The bill modifies the time limitation for use of Montgomery Bill benefits or vocational rehabilitation benefits during the pandemic so the window of eligibility does not expire during the COVID-19 emergency.
Additionally, the bill adjusts the administration of certain benefits for veterans participating in an apprenticeship or other on-job training during the period between March 1, 2020, and December 21, 2021, including by proportionately reducing the 120-hour monthly training requirement to reflect an individual's period of unemployment without a reduction in training assistance.
The bill expands educational assistance to include programs or courses of education at training establishments (e.g., establishment providing apprentice or other on-job training) during the COVID-19 emergency.

[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 8483 Introduced in House (IH)]

<DOC>






116th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 8483

To amend title 38, United States Code, to make certain modifications to 
   the educational assistance programs of the Department of Veterans 
  Affairs in light of the COVID-19 emergency, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            October 1, 2020

 Mr. Cunningham (for himself, Mr. Bilirakis, Mr. Takano, Mr. Levin of 
   California, Mr. Pappas, Mr. Rose of New York, and Ms. Brownley of 
 California) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
 Committee on Veterans' Affairs, and in addition to the Committees on 
    Armed Services, and the Budget, for a period to be subsequently 
   determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such 
 provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
To amend title 38, United States Code, to make certain modifications to 
   the educational assistance programs of the Department of Veterans 
  Affairs in light of the COVID-19 emergency, 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 ``Pandemic Assistance for Student 
Veterans Act of 2020''.

SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act:
            (1) The term ``covered program of education'' means a 
        program of education (as defined in section 3002 of title 38, 
        United States Code) approved by a State approving agency, or 
        the Secretary of Veterans Affairs when acting in the role of a 
        State approving agency.
            (2) The term ``COVID-19 emergency'' means the public health 
        emergency declared pursuant to section 319 of the Public Health 
        Service Act on January 31, 2020, entitled ``Determination that 
        a Public Health Emergency Exists Nationwide as the Result of 
        the 2019 Novel Coronavirus''.
            (3) The term ``educational institution'' has the meaning 
        given that term in section 3452(c) of title 38, United States 
        Code, and includes an institution of higher learning (as 
        defined in such section).
            (4) The term ``State approving agency'' has the meaning 
        given that term in section 3671 of title 38, United States 
        Code.
            (5) The term ``training establishment'' has the meaning 
        given that term in section 3452(e) of title 38, United States 
        Code.
            (6) The term ``training'' includes on-job training and 
        apprenticeship programs and vocational rehabilitation programs.

SEC. 3. CONTINUATION OF DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS EDUCATIONAL 
              ASSISTANCE BENEFITS DURING COVID-19 EMERGENCY.

    (a) Authority.--If the Secretary of Veterans Affairs determines 
under subsection (c) that an individual is negatively affected by the 
COVID-19 emergency, the Secretary may provide educational assistance to 
that individual under the laws administered by the Secretary as if such 
negative effects did not occur. The authority under this section is in 
addition to the authority provided under section 1 of Public Law 116-
128 (38 U.S.C. 3001 note prec.), but in no case may the Secretary 
provide more than a total of four weeks of additional educational 
assistance by reason of section 4 of the Student Veteran Coronavirus 
Response Act of 2020 (Public Law 116-140; 38 U.S.C. 3680 note) and this 
section.
    (b) Housing and Allowances.--In providing educational assistance to 
an individual pursuant to subsection (a), the Secretary may--
            (1) continue to pay a monthly housing stipend under chapter 
        33 of title 38, United States Code, during a month the 
        individual would have been enrolled in a program of education 
        or training but for the COVID-19 emergency at the same rate 
        such stipend would have been payable if the individual had not 
        been negatively affected by the COVID-19 emergency, except that 
        the total number of weeks for which stipends may continue to be 
        so payable may not exceed four weeks; and
            (2) continue to pay payments or subsistence allowances 
        under chapters 30, 31, 32, 33, and 35 of such title and chapter 
        1606 of title 10, United States Code, during a month for a 
        period of time that the individual would have been enrolled in 
        a program of education or training but for the COVID-19 
        emergency, except that the total number of weeks for which 
        payments or allowances may continue to be so payable may not 
        exceed four weeks.
    (c) Determination of Negative Effects.--The Secretary shall 
determine that an individual was negatively affected by the COVID-19 
emergency if--
            (1) the individual is enrolled in a covered program of 
        education of an educational institution or enrolled in training 
        at a training establishment and is pursuing such program or 
        training using educational assistance under the laws 
        administered by the Secretary;
            (2) the educational institution or training establishment 
        certifies to the Secretary that such program or training is 
        truncated, delayed, relocated, canceled, partially canceled, 
        converted from being on-site to being offered by distance 
        learning, or otherwise modified or made unavailable by reason 
        of the COVID-19 emergency; and
            (3) the Secretary determines that the modification to such 
        program or training specified under paragraph (2) would reduce 
        the amount of educational assistance (including with respect to 
        monthly housing stipends, payments, or subsistence allowances) 
        that would be payable to the individual but for the COVID-19 
        emergency.
    (d) Effect on Entitlement Period.--If the Secretary determines that 
an individual who received assistance under this section did not make 
progress toward the completion of the program of education in which the 
individual is enrolled during the period for which the individual 
received such assistance, any assistance provided pursuant to this 
section shall not be counted for purposes of determining the total 
amount of an individual's entitlement to educational assistance, 
housing stipends, or payments or subsistence allowances under chapters 
30, 31, 32, and 35 of such title and chapter 1606 of title 10, United 
States Code.
    (e) Applicability Period.--This section shall apply during the 
period beginning on March 1, 2020, and ending on December 21, 2021.

SEC. 4. EFFECTS OF CLOSURE OF EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTION AND MODIFICATION 
              OF COURSES BY REASON OF COVID-19 EMERGENCY.

    (a) Closure or Disapproval.--Any payment of educational assistance 
described in subsection (b) shall not--
            (1) be charged against any entitlement to educational 
        assistance of the individual concerned; or
            (2) be counted against the aggregate period for which 
        section 3695 of title 38, United States Code, limits the 
        receipt of educational assistance by such individual.
    (b) Educational Assistance Described.--Subject to subsection (d), 
the payment of educational assistance described in this subsection is 
the payment of such assistance to an individual for pursuit of a course 
or program of education at an educational institution under chapter 30, 
31, 32, 33, or 35 of title 38, United States Code, or chapter 1606 of 
title 10, United States Code, if the Secretary determines that the 
individual--
            (1) was unable to complete such course or program as a 
        result of--
                    (A) the closure of the educational institution, or 
                the full or partial cancellation of a course or program 
                of education, by reason of the COVID-19 emergency; or
                    (B) the disapproval of the course or a course that 
                is a necessary part of that program under chapter 36 of 
                title 38, United States Code, because the course was 
                modified by reason of such emergency; and
            (2) did not receive credit or lost training time, toward 
        completion of the program of education being so pursued.
    (c) Housing Assistance.--In this section, educational assistance 
includes, as applicable--
            (1) monthly housing stipends payable under chapter 33 of 
        title 38, United States Code, for any month the individual 
        would have been enrolled in a course or program of education; 
        and
            (2) payments or subsistence allowances under chapters 30, 
        31, 32, and 35 of such title and chapter 1606 of title 10, 
        United States Code, during a month the individual would have 
        been enrolled in a course or program of education.
    (d) Period Not Charged.--The period for which, by reason of this 
subsection, educational assistance is not charged against entitlement 
or counted toward the applicable aggregate period under section 3695 of 
title 38, United States Code, shall not exceed the aggregate of--
            (1) the portion of the period of enrollment in the course 
        from which the individual did not receive credit or with 
        respect to which the individual lost training time, as 
        determined under subsection (b)(2); and
            (2) the period by which a monthly stipend is extended under 
        section 3680(a)(2)(B) of title 38, United States Code.
    (e) Continuing Pursuit of Disapproved Courses.--
            (1) In general.--The Secretary may treat a course of 
        education that is disapproved under chapter 36 of title 38, 
        United States Code, as being approved under such chapter with 
        respect to an individual described in paragraph (2) if the 
        Secretary determines, on a programmatic basis, that--
                    (A) such disapproval is the result of an action 
                described in subsection (b)(1)(B); and
                    (B) continuing pursuing such course is in the best 
                interest of the individual.
            (2) Individual described.--An individual described in this 
        paragraph is an individual who is pursuing a course of 
        education at an educational institution under chapter 30, 31, 
        32, 33, or 35 of title 38, United States Code, or chapter 1606 
        of title 10, United States Code, as of the date on which the 
        course is disapproved as described in subsection (b)(1)(B).
    (f) Status as Full-Time Student for Purposes of Housing Stipend 
Calculation.--In the case of an individual who, as of the first day of 
the COVID-19 emergency was enrolled on a full-time basis in a program 
of education and was receiving educational assistance under chapter 33 
of title 38, United States Code, or subsistence allowance under chapter 
31 of such title, and for whom the Secretary makes a determination 
under subsection (b), the individual shall be treated as an individual 
enrolled in a program of education on a full-time basis for the purpose 
of calculating monthly housing stipends payable under chapter 33 of 
title 38, United States Code, or subsistence allowance payable under 
chapter 31 of such title, for any month the individual is enrolled in 
the program of education on a part-time basis to complete any course of 
education that was partially or fully canceled by reason of the COVID-
19 emergency.
    (g) Notice of Closures.--Not later than 5 business days after the 
date on which the Secretary receives notice that an educational 
institution will close or is closed by reason of the COVID-19 
emergency, the Secretary shall provide to each individual who is 
enrolled in a course or program of education at such educational 
institution using entitlement to educational assistance under chapter 
30, 31, 32, 33, or 35 of title 38, United States Code, or chapter 1606 
of title 10, United States Code, notice of--
            (1) such closure and the date of such closure; and
            (2) the effect of such closure on the individual's 
        entitlement to educational assistance pursuant to this section.
    (h) Applicability.--This section shall apply with respect to the 
closure of an educational institution, or the cancellation or 
modification of a course or program of education, that occurs during 
the period beginning on March 1, 2020, and ending on December 21, 2021.

SEC. 5. PAYMENT OF EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE IN CASES OF WITHDRAWAL.

    (a) In General.--In the case of any individual who withdraws from a 
program of education or training, other than a program by 
correspondence, in an educational institution under chapter 31, 34, or 
35 of title 38, United States Code, for a covered reason during the 
period beginning on March 1, 2020, and ending on December 21, 2021, the 
Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall find mitigating circumstances for 
purposes of section 3680(a)(1)(C)(ii) of title 38, United States Code.
    (b) Covered Reason.--In this section, the term ``covered reason'' 
means any reason related to the COVID-19 emergency, including--
            (1) illness, quarantine, or social distancing requirements;
            (2) issues associated with COVID-19 testing accessibility;
            (3) access or availability of childcare;
            (4) providing care for a family member or cohabitants;
            (5) change of location or residence due to COVID-19 or 
        associated school closures;
            (6) employment changes or financial hardship; and
            (7) issues associated with changes in format or medium of 
        instruction.

SEC. 6. MODIFICATION OF TIME LIMITATIONS ON USE OF ENTITLEMENT.

    (a) Montgomery GI Bill.--The subsection (i) temporarily added to 
section 3031 of title 38, United States Code, by subsection (a) of 
section 6 of the Student Veteran Coronavirus Response Act of 2020 
(Public Law 116-140) is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (1), by striking ``the period the 
        individual is so prevented from pursuing such program'' and 
        inserting ``the period beginning on March 1, 2020, and ending 
        on December 21, 2021''; and
            (2) in paragraph (2), by striking ``the first day after the 
        individual is able to resume pursuit of a program of education 
        with educational assistance under this chapter'' and inserting 
        ``December 22, 2021''.
    (b) Vocational Rehabilitation and Training.--The subsection (g) 
temporarily added to section 3103 of title 38, United States Code, by 
subsection (c) of such section 6 is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (1), by striking ``the period the 
        individual is so prevented from participating such program'' 
        and inserting ``the period beginning on March 1, 2020, and 
        ending on December 21, 2021''; and
            (2) in paragraph (2), by striking ``the first day after the 
        individual is able to resume participation in such program'' 
        and inserting ``December 22, 2021''.

SEC. 7. APPRENTICESHIP OR ON-JOB TRAINING REQUIREMENTS.

    (a) In General.--During the period described in subsection (b), 
subsection (e) of section 3687 of title 38, United States Code, shall 
be applied by substituting the following for paragraph (2):
            ``(2)(A) Subject to subparagraphs (B) and (C), for any 
        month in which an individual fails to complete 120 hours of 
        training, the entitlement otherwise chargeable under paragraph 
        (1) shall be reduced in the same proportion as the monthly 
        training assistance allowance payable is reduced under 
        subsection (b)(3).
            ``(B) In the case of an individual who is unemployed during 
        any month, the 120-hour requirement under subparagraph (A) for 
        that month shall be reduced proportionately to reflect the 
        individual's period of unemployment, except that the amount of 
        monthly training assistance otherwise payable to the individual 
        under subsection (b)(3) shall not be reduced.
            ``(C) Any period during which an individual is unemployed 
        shall not--
                    ``(i) be charged against any entitlement to 
                educational assistance of the individual; or
                    ``(ii) be counted against the aggregate period for 
                which section 3695 of this title limits the receipt of 
                educational assistance by such individual.
            ``(D) Any amount by which the entitlement of an individual 
        is reduced under subparagraph (A) shall not--
                    ``(i) be charged against any entitlement to 
                educational assistance of the individual; or
                    ``(ii) be counted against the aggregate period for 
                which section 3695 of this title limits the receipt of 
                educational assistance by such individual.
            ``(E) In the case of an individual who fails to complete 
        120 hours of training during a month, but who completed more 
        than 120 hours of training during the preceding month, the 
        individual may apply the number of hours in excess of 120 that 
        the individual completed for that month to the month for which 
        the individual failed to complete 120 hours. If the addition of 
        such excess hours results in a total of 120 hours or more, the 
        individual shall be treated as an individual who has completed 
        120 hours of training for that month. Any excess hours applied 
        to a different month under this subparagraph may only be 
        applied to one such month.
            ``(F) This paragraph applies to amounts described in 
        section 3313(g)(3)(B)(iv) and section 3032(c)(2) of this title 
        and section 16131(d)(2) of title 10.
            ``(G) In this paragraph:
                    ``(i) The term `unemployed' includes being 
                furloughed or being scheduled to work zero hours.
                    ``(ii) The term `fails to complete 120 hours of 
                training' means, with respect to an individual, that 
                during any month, the individual completes at least one 
                hour, but fewer than 120 hours, of training, including 
                in a case in which the individual is unemployed for 
                part of, but not the whole, month.''.
    (b) Applicability Period.--The period described in this section is 
the period beginning on March 1, 2020, and ending on December 21, 2021.

SEC. 8. INCLUSION OF TRAINING ESTABLISHMENTS IN CERTAIN PROVISIONS 
              RELATED TO COVID-19 EMERGENCY.

    (a) Continuation of Benefits.--Section 1 of Public Law 116-128 is 
amended--
            (1) in subsection (a), by inserting ``or a training 
        establishment'' after ``an educational institution''; and
            (2) in subsection (c), by adding at the end the following 
        new paragraph:
            ``(4) Training establishment.--The term `training 
        establishment' has the meaning given such term in section 
        3452(e) of title 38, United States Code.''.
    (b) Payment of Allowances.--Section 4(a)(1) of the Student Veteran 
Coronavirus Response Act of 2020 (Public Law 116-140; 38 U.S.C. 3680 
note) is amended by inserting ``or a training establishment'' after 
``educational institution''.
    (c) Prohibition of Charge to Entitlement.--The subparagraph (C) 
temporarily added to section 3699(b)(1) of title 38, United States 
Code, by section 5 of the Student Veteran Coronavirus Response Act of 
2020 (Public Law 116-140; 38 U.S.C. 3699 note) is amended by inserting 
``or training establishment'' after ``educational institution''.
    (d) Extension of Time Limitations.--
            (1) MGIB.--The subsection (i) temporarily added to section 
        3031 of title 38, United States Code, by subsection (a) of 
        section 6 of the Student Veteran Coronavirus Response Act of 
        2020 (Public Law 116-140), as amended by section 6 of this Act, 
        is further amended by inserting ``or training establishment'' 
        after ``educational institution''.
            (2) Transfer period.--The subparagraph (C) temporarily 
        added to section 3319(h)(5) of such title by section 6 of the 
        Student Veteran Coronavirus Response Act of 2020 (Public Law 
        116-140) is amended by inserting ``or training establishment'' 
        after ``educational institution''.

SEC. 9. TREATMENT OF PAYMENT OF ALLOWANCES UNDER STUDENT VETERAN 
              CORONAVIRUS RESPONSE ACT.

    Section 4 of the Student Veteran Coronavirus Response Act of 2020 
(Public Law 116-140) is amended--
            (1) in subsection (b)--
                    (A) by striking ``may not exceed four weeks.'' and 
                inserting ``may not exceed the shorter of the 
                following:''; and
                    (B) by adding at the end the following new 
                paragraphs:
            ``(1) The period of time that the eligible veteran or 
        eligible person would have been enrolled in a program of 
        education or training but for the emergency situation.
            ``(2) Four weeks.''; and
            (2) by adding at the end the following new subsection:
    ``(e) Entitlement Not Charged.--Any payment of allowances under 
this section shall not--
            ``(1) be charged against any entitlement to educational 
        assistance of the eligible veteran or eligible person 
        concerned; or
            ``(2) be counted against the aggregate period for which 
        section 3695 of this title 38, United States Code, limits the 
        receipt of educational assistance by such eligible veteran or 
        eligible person.''.

SEC. 10. EMERGENCY DESIGNATIONS.

    (a) In General.--This Act is designated as an emergency requirement 
pursuant to section 4(g) of the Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Act of 2010 (2 
U.S.C. 933(g)).
    (b) Designation in Senate.--In the Senate, this Act is designated 
as an emergency requirement pursuant to section 4112(a) of H. Con. Res. 
71 (115th Congress), the concurrent resolution on the budget for fiscal 
year 2018.
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