Clarification and improvement of authorities relating to post-9/11 educational assistance for members of the Armed Forces and veterans

(a)

Modification of base amounts of educational assistance

Section 3313(c)(1) of title 38, United States Code, is amended— (1)in subparagraph (A), by striking may not exceed and all that follows and inserting “may not exceed the amount as follows:

(i)In the case of an individual enrolled in an institution of higher learning located in the United States, the maximum amount of established charges regularly charged in-State students for full-time pursuit of approved programs of education for undergraduates by the public institution of higher learning offering approved programs of education in the State in which the individual is enrolled that has the highest rate of regularly charged established charges for such programs of education among all public institutions of higher learning in such State offering such programs of education. (ii)In the case of an individual enrolled in an institution of higher learning located in the United States who is pursuing a program of education at a branch of such institution that is located outside the United States, the maximum amount of established charges regularly charged in-State students for full-time pursuit of approved programs of education for undergraduates by the public institution of higher learning offering approved programs of education in the State in which is located the institution in which the individual is enrolled that has the highest rate of regularly charged established charges for such programs of education among all public institutions of higher learning in such State offering such programs of education. (iii)In the case of an individual enrolled in an institution of higher learning not located in the United States, the average amount of established charges charged in-State students for full-time pursuit of approved programs of education for undergraduates by public institutions of higher learning throughout the United States during the preceding academic year.

; and

(2)in subparagraph (B)(i), by striking monthly housing stipend amount and all that follows and inserting “monthly housing stipend in an amount as follows:

(I)In the case of an individual enrolled in an institution of higher learning located in the United States, an amount equal to the monthly amount of the basic allowance for housing payable under section 403 of title 37 for a member with dependents in pay grade E–5 residing in the military housing area that encompasses all or the majority portion of the ZIP code area in which is located the institution of higher learning at which the individual is enrolled. (II)In the case of an individual enrolled in an institution of higher learning located outside the United States, an amount equal to the average monthly amount of the basic allowance for housing payable under section 403 of title 37 for a member with dependents in pay grade E–5 residing in the continental United States.

(b)

Public-private contributions for additional educational assistance

(1)

In general

Subsection (a) of section 3317 of such title is amended by striking the first sentence and inserting the following new sentences: The Secretary shall carry out a program under which a college or university (other than a proprietary for-profit college or university) may, through voluntary contributions, cover a portion of the established charges for an approved program of education of an individual entitled to educational assistance under this chapter that would not otherwise be covered by section 3313(c)(1)(A). Subject to subsection (d), such contributions shall be matched by equivalent contributions toward such costs by the Secretary.. (2)

Requirements for participating institutions

Subsection (c) of such section is amended to read as follows:

(c)

Requirements for participating institutions

A college or university participating in the program under this section shall— (1)offer the same percentage of additional assistance to all individuals receiving educational assistance under this section who are pursuing a program of education at the college or university; (2)submit to the Secretary a report on the manner (whether by direct grant, scholarship, or otherwise) by which the college or university shall cover portions of the established charges of individuals under the program; and (3)submit to the Secretary a report on the amount of the contribution to be made by the college or university for each individual covered by the program.

(3)

Matching contributions

Paragraph (1) of subsection (d) of such section is amended to read as follows:

(1)

In general

The amount of any matching contribution by the Secretary under the program under this section with respect to the pursuit of a program of education by an individual entitled to educational assistance under this chapter may not exceed an amount equal to 50 percent of any costs for tuition and mandatory fees for the individual's pursuit of the program of education that are not otherwise covered under section 3311(c)(1)(A).

(4)

Regulations

Subsection (e) of such section is amended to read as follows:

(e)

Regulations

The Secretary shall prescribe regulations to carry out the program required by this section.

(c)

Interim implementation authority

Section 5003 of the Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2008 (title V of Public Law 110–252) is amended by striking subsection (d) and inserting the following new subsections:

(d)

Anticipation of implementation

The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall take appropriate actions to ensure that this section and the amendments made by this section are implementable on the effective date provided in subsection (e)(1), including the prescription of such interim and final regulations for purposes of this section and the amendments made by this section as the Secretary considers appropriate. (e)

Effective date

(1)

In general

Except as provided in paragraph (2), this section and the amendments made by this section shall take effect on August 1, 2009. (2)

Implementation

Subsection (d) shall take effect on the date of the enactment of this Act.

(d)

Effective date

The amendments made by this section shall take effect on June 30, 2008, as if included in the Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2008, to which such amendments relate.