[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 5545 Introduced in House (IH)]
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117th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 5545
To extend certain expiring provisions of law relating to benefits
provided under Department of Veterans Affairs educational assistance
programs during COVID-19 pandemic.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
October 8, 2021
Mr. Trone (for himself, Mr. Takano, and Mr. Levin of California)
introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on
Veterans' Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on 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 extend certain expiring provisions of law relating to benefits
provided under Department of Veterans Affairs educational assistance
programs during COVID-19 pandemic.
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 ``Responsible Education Mitigating
Options and Technical Extensions Act'' or the ``REMOTE Act''.
SEC. 2. EXTENSIONS OF CERTAIN PROVISIONS OF LAW RELATING TO BENEFITS
PROVIDED UNDER DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS EDUCATIONAL
ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS DURING COVID-19 PANDEMIC.
(a) Extension of Student Veteran Coronavirus Response Act of
2020.--Section 2 of the Student Veteran Coronavirus Response Act of
2020 (Public Law 116-140; 38 U.S.C. 3031 note), as amended by section
5202(a) of the Department of Veterans Affairs Expiring Authorities Act
of 2020 (Division E of Public Law 116-159), is further amended by
striking ``December 21, 2021'' and inserting ``June 1, 2022''.
(b) Extension of Period for Continuation of Department of Veterans
Affairs Educational Assistance Benefits for Certain Programs of
Education Converted to Distance Learning by Reason of Emergencies and
Health-related Situations.--Section 1(b) of Public Law 116-128 (38
U.S.C. 3001 note prec.), as amended by section 5202(b) of the
Department of Veterans Affairs Expiring Authorities Act of 2020
(Division E of Public Law 116-159), is further amended by striking
``December 21, 2021'' and inserting ``June 1, 2022''.
SEC. 3. MODIFICATION OF CERTAIN REQUIREMENTS OF EDUCATIONAL
INSTITUTIONS RELATING TO ENROLLMENT VERIFICATION AND
FOREIGN STUDENTS AND INSTITUTIONS.
(a) Waiver of Verification of Enrollment for Certain Educational
Institutions.--Section 3313(l) of title 38, United States Code, is
amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
``(4) Waiver.--The Secretary may waive the requirements of
this subsection for an educational institution that the
Secretary has determined uses a flat rate tuition and fee
structure that would make the submission of a second
verification under this subsection unnecessary.''.
(b) Limitations on Authority To Disapprove of Courses.--
(1) In general.--Subsection (f) of section 3679 of title
38, United States Code, is amended--
(A) in paragraph (2)(B);
(i) by inserting ``, except for the
recruitment of foreign students residing in
foreign countries who are not eligible to
receive Federal student assistance'' after
``assistance''; and
(ii) by adding at the end the following new
subparagraph:
``(C) When determining whether an educational institution
has complied with subparagraph (B), the State approving agency,
or the Secretary when acting in the place of the State
approving agency, shall construe the requirements of this
paragraph in accordance with the regulations and guidance
prescribed by the Secretary of Education pursuant to section
487(a)(20) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C.
1094(a)(20)).'';
(B) by redesignating paragraph (7) as paragraph
(8); and
(C) by inserting after paragraph (6) the following
new paragraph (7):
``(7) This subsection shall not apply to an educational institution
located in a foreign country or that substantially complies with this
subsection by providing to a covered individual the information
described in this subsection on a form or template developed by the
Secretary of Education.''.
(2) Application date.--Beginning on June 15, 2022, an
educational institution may submit an application for a waiver,
under subsection (f)(5) of section 3679 of title 38, United
States Code.
(3) Conforming amendment.--Section 3696 of such title is
amended--
(A) in subsection (c)--
(i) by inserting ``(1)'' before ``An
educational institution'';
(ii) by inserting ``, except for the
recruitment of foreign students residing in
foreign countries who are not eligible to
receive Federal student assistance'' after
``assistance''; and
(iii) by adding at the end the following
new paragraph:
``(2) When determining whether an educational institution has
complied with paragraph (1), the Under Secretary for Benefits shall
construe the requirements of such paragraph in accordance with the
regulations and guidance prescribed by the Secretary of Education
pursuant to section 487(a)(20) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20
U.S.C. 1094(a)(20)).''.
SEC. 4. BUDGETARY EFFECTS.
(a) In General.--Amounts provided to carry out the amendments made
by this Act are 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, amounts provided to
carry out the amendments made by this Act are 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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