118 HR 8627 IH: Student Veteran Debt Relief Act of 2024 U.S. House of Representatives 2024-06-05 text/xml EN Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

I118th CONGRESS2d SessionH. R. 8627IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVESJune 5, 2024Mr. Davis of North Carolina introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Veterans' AffairsA BILLTo amend title 38, United States Code, to modify certain requirements relating to the recovery by the Department of Veterans Affairs of overpayments made to eligible persons or veterans relating to educational assistance under the laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Student Veteran Debt Relief Act of 2024.

2.

Overpayments to eligible persons or veterans

Section 3685 of title 38, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new subsections:(f)(1)If the Secretary finds that an overpayment has been made to a veteran or eligible person relating to educational assistance under a law administered by the Secretary, the overpayment shall not constitute a liability for the veteran, eligible person, or educational institution if the veteran, eligible person, or educational institution demonstrates to the Secretary that—(A)the Department made an error with respect to the eligibility of the veteran or eligible person for educational assistance under the laws administered by the Secretary; or(B)the Department of Defense provided incorrect information to the Department of Veterans Affairs with respect to the eligibility of the veteran or eligible person for educational assistance under such laws.(2)(A)If the Secretary finds that an overpayment has been made to a veteran or eligible person relating to educational assistance under a law administered by the Secretary and determines, in consultation with an educational institution where the veteran or eligible person is pursuing a course or program of education using such assistance, that liability for the overpayment would be likely to result in the inability of the veteran or eligible person to continue pursuit of the course or program, the Secretary shall—(i)review the liability to determine if the liability is eligible for a hardship waiver; and(ii)if the liability is not eligible, make an attempt to recover the overpayment from the veteran or eligible person.(B)If the Secretary is unable to recover an overpayment from a veteran or eligible person under subparagraph (A)(ii), the Secretary shall—(i)provide to the Under Secretary for Benefits evidence of the attempt to recover the overpayment; and(ii)establish with the veteran or eligible person a payment plan under which the veteran or eligible person agrees to repay the amount of the overpayment to the Secretary.(g)The Secretary may not recover an overpayment under this section unless—(1)the overpayment occurs and is identified on or after January 5, 2021; and(2)the overpayment is identified, and the educational institution is notified of the overpayment, not more than ten years after the overpayment occurs..