To provide for the continuation of Department of Veterans Affairs educational assistance benefits during emergency situations, and for other purposes.

Bill: 116-hr-6212
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Takano, Mark [D-CA-41]
Introduced: 2020-03-11
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Education programs funding

Educational technology and distance education

Higher education

Student aid and college costs

Veterans' education, employment, rehabilitation
Latest action: action_date: 2020-07-13
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity.

Summaries:
action_date: 2020-03-11
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p>This bill authorizes the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to continue to provide educational assistance during the 180-day period after the enactment of this bill for programs of education that are offered by distance learning or have been converted to distance learning due to an emergency or health-related situation. </p> <p>The VA is authorized to continue paying educational assistance and subsistence allowances for up to eight weeks to eligible veterans or persons enrolled in specified programs of education or training during periods when educational institutions are temporarily closed due to an emergency situation or based on an executive order. The bill defines<em> emergency situation</em> as a public health crisis, a declared state of emergency, or other situations as determined by the VA.</p>

tv_txt: I 116th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 6212 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES March 11, 2020 Mr. Takano introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs A BILL To provide for the continuation of Department of Veterans Affairs educational assistance benefits during emergency situations, and for other purposes.

1. Continuation of Department of Veterans Affairs educational assistance benefits during emergency situations (a) Continuation of benefits During the 180-day period beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs may treat a program of education offered by distance learning as if such program of education were offered on-site at an educational institution for purposes of the laws administered by the Secretary, if such program of education is— (1) converted from being offered on-site at an educational institution to being offered by distance learning by reason of an emergency or health-related situation, as determined by the Secretary; or (2) offered by distance learning by reason of the existence of an emergency or health-related situation, as so determined. (b) Continuation of payment of allowances in emergency situations Section 3680(a) of title 38, United States Code, is amended— (1) in paragraph (2)(A), by striking 4 weeks and inserting eight weeks ; and (2) by adding at the end the following new paragraph: (3) For purposes of this subsection, the term emergency situation means— (A) a public health crisis; (B) a state of emergency declared by the Federal Government or by a State or local government; or (C) any other situation, as determined by the Secretary. .