[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 3874 Introduced in House (IH)]

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118th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 3874

To amend title 38, United States Code, to make certain improvements in 
   the administration of the educational assistance programs of the 
        Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                              June 6, 2023

Mr. Rosendale introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
                     Committee on Veterans' Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
To amend title 38, United States Code, to make certain improvements in 
   the administration of the educational assistance programs of the 
        Department of Veterans Affairs, 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 ``Veterans Education Assistance 
Improvement Act''.

SEC. 2. PAYMENT OF FULL MONTHLY HOUSING STIPEND FOR VETERANS ENROLLED 
              IN FINAL SEMESTER USING EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE UNDER 
              POST-9/11 EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.

    (a) Housing Allowance.--Section 3680(a)(3) of title 38, United 
States Code, is amended--
            (1) by redesignating subparagraphs (A) and (B) as clauses 
        (i) and (ii), respectively (and by redesignating each 
        subordinate provision and the margins thereof accordingly);
            (2) by striking ``Notwithstanding paragraph (1)'' and 
        inserting ``(A) Notwithstanding paragraph (1)'';
            (3) by striking ``, including a monthly housing stipend 
        described in section 3313(c) of this title,''; and
            (4) by adding at the end the following new subparagraph 
        (B):
    ``(B) For purposes of providing a monthly housing stipend described 
in section 3313(c) to an eligible veteran or eligible person for whom 
the Secretary is providing educational assistance under chapter 33 of 
this title during a period that is the last semester, term, or academic 
period pursuant to subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall treat the 
veteran or person as pursuing a program of education on more than a 
half-time basis.''.
    (b) Application.--The amendments made by subsection (a) shall take 
effect on the date of the enactment of this Act and apply with respect 
to a quarter, semester, or term, as applicable, commencing on or after 
August 1, 2023.

SEC. 3. NOTICE OF DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS RULEMAKINGS AFFECTING 
              THE EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS OF THE DEPARTMENT.

    (a) In General.--Subchapter III of chapter 36 of title 38, United 
States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new section:
``Sec. 3699C. Notice of rulemakings relating to educational assistance 
              programs
    ``In the case of a rulemaking by the Secretary that is not subject 
to notice requirements under section 553(b)(A) of title 5, and that 
relates to any educational assistance program of the Department, the 
Secretary may not implement the rule before the date that is 180 days 
after the date on which the Secretary makes available to students, 
educational institutions, and the Committees on Veterans' Affairs of 
the Senate and House of Representatives notice of, and justification 
for, the rulemaking.''.
    (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the beginning of 
such chapter is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 
3699B the following new item:

``3699C. Notice of rulemakings relating to educational assistance 
                            programs.''.
    (c) Effective Date.--Section 3699C of title 38, United States Code, 
as added by subsection (a), shall take effect on the date of the 
enactment of this Act and apply with respect to a rulemaking on or 
after August 1, 2024.

SEC. 4. NOTICE TO EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS OF RISK-BASED SURVEYS.

    Section 3673A(d) of title 38, United States Code, is amended by 
striking ``one business day'' and inserting ``two business days''.

SEC. 5. MULTI-YEAR WAIVERS FOR EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS.

    (a) Accredited Courses.--Section 3675(b) of title 38, United States 
Code, is amended--
            (1) by redesignating paragraphs (1) through (4) as 
        subparagraphs (A) through (D);
            (2) by inserting ``(1)'' before ``As a condition''; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
    ``(2) The Secretary may waive the requirement under paragraph 
(1)(D) for an educational institution for multiple years.''.
    (b) Conforming Amendment.--Section 3672(b)(2)(A) is amended by 
inserting ``(A) and (B)'' after ``3675(b)(1)''.
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