[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 124 (Tuesday, July 23, 2019)]
[House]
[Pages H7207-H7211]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     RYAN KULES SPECIALLY ADAPTIVE HOUSING IMPROVEMENT ACT OF 2019

  Mr. TAKANO. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 3504) to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for 
improvements to the specially adapted housing program and educational 
assistance programs of the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for 
other purposes, as amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 3504

       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 ``Ryan Kules Specially 
     Adaptive Housing Improvement Act of 2019''.

     SEC. 2. PRIORITY IN AWARD OF SPECIALLY ADAPTED HOUSING GRANTS 
                   TO SERIOUSLY ILL VETERANS.

       (a) In General.--Section 2101 of title 38, United States 
     Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new 
     subsection:
       ``(d) Priority for Seriously Ill Veterans.--(1) In 
     providing assistance under this section, the Secretary shall 
     give priority to seriously ill veterans.
       ``(2) In this section, the term `seriously ill veteran' 
     shall have the meaning given such term by the Secretary.''.
       (b) Definition of Seriously Ill Veteran.--
       (1) In general.--By not later than 90 days after the date 
     of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans 
     Affairs shall--
       (A) determine the meaning of the term ``seriously ill 
     veteran'' for purposes of subsection (d) of section 2101 of 
     title 38, United States Code, as added by subsection (a); and
       (B) submit to the Committees on Veterans' Affairs of the 
     Senate and House of Representatives the meaning of such term 
     as so determined.
       (2) Applicability.--The definition of ``seriously ill 
     veteran'' as determined under paragraph (1) shall apply for 
     purposes of such subsection (d) beginning on the date that is 
     30 days after the date on which the Secretary submits to the 
     Committees on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and House of 
     Representatives the definition of such term as so determined.
       (c) Effective Date.--The amendment made by subsection (a) 
     shall take effect on October 1, 2020, and apply with respect 
     to assistance provided on or after that date.

     SEC. 3. INCREASE IN AMOUNTS OF ASSISTANCE PROVIDED.

       (a) Increase of Number of Grants Per Veteran.--Section 
     2102(d)(3) of such title is amended by striking ``three'' and 
     inserting ``six''.
       (b) Increase in Number of Applications Authorized to Be 
     Approved.--Section 2101(a)(4) of such title is amended by 
     striking ``30 applications'' and inserting ``120 
     applications''.
       (c) Increase in Maximum Amount of Assistance for Adaptation 
     to Veteran's Residence.--Section 2102(b)(2) of such title is 
     amended by striking ``$12,000'' and inserting ``$19,733''.
       (d) Increase in Aggregate Amount of Assistance for 
     Acquisition of Housing With Special Features.--Section 
     2102(d)(1) of such title is amended by striking ``$63,780'' 
     and inserting ``$98,492''.
       (e) Increase in Aggregate Amount of Assistance for 
     Adaptations to Veterans' Residences.--Section 2102(d)(2) of 
     such title

[[Page H7208]]

     is amended by striking ``$12,756'' and inserting ``$19,733''.
       (f) Effective Date and Application.--The amendments made by 
     this section shall take effect on October 1, 2020. The 
     amendments made by subsections (c) and (d) shall apply with 
     respect to individuals who have not received the maximum 
     amount of assistance under section 2101 of title 38, United 
     States Code, before such date.

     SEC. 4. PROVISION OF ADDITIONAL AMOUNTS OF SPECIALLY ADAPTED 
                   HOUSING ASSISTANCE FOR CERTAIN VETERANS.

       Section 2102 of such title is amended by adding at the end 
     the following new subsection:
       ``(f)(1) Notwithstanding the aggregate amounts specified in 
     subsection (d), a covered veteran may apply for and receive 
     an additional amount of assistance under subsection (a) or 
     (b) of section 2101 of this title in an amount that does not 
     exceed half of the amount specified in subsection (d).
       ``(2) In this subsection, a covered veteran is a veteran 
     who--
       ``(A) is described in section 2101(a)(2) of this title;
       ``(B) first receives assistance under this chapter on or 
     after October 1, 2020;
       ``(C) as of the date of the veteran's application for 
     assistance under paragraph (1), most recently received 
     assistance under this chapter more than ten years before such 
     date; and
       ``(D) lives in a home that the Secretary determines does 
     not have adaptations that are reasonably necessary because of 
     the veteran's disability.''.

     SEC. 5. IMPROVEMENT TO WORK-STUDY ALLOWANCE PROGRAM.

       (a) Payment of Allowance.--Subsection (a) of section 3485 
     of title 38, United States Code, is amended--
       (1) in paragraph (1), by striking ``Individuals'' and 
     inserting ``In accordance with paragraph (4), individuals'';
       (2) by redesignating paragraphs (4), (5), and (6) as 
     paragraphs (5), (6), and (7), respectively; and
       (3) by inserting after paragraph (3) the following new 
     paragraph:
       ``(4)(A) The Secretary shall carry out this section by 
     providing to educational institutions an annual amount for 
     the institution to use in paying work-study allowance under 
     paragraph (1) to individuals enrolled at the institution.
       ``(B) With respect to an educational institution that 
     participated in the work-study program under this section 
     during the academic year beginning August 1, 2018, the 
     Secretary shall determine the annual amount to provide to the 
     educational institution under subparagraph (A) as follows:
       ``(i) For the academic year beginning August 1, 2020, the 
     amount shall be the total amount the Secretary paid under 
     this section to individuals enrolled at such educational 
     institution during the academic year beginning August 1, 
     2018.
       ``(ii) Except as provided by subparagraph (D)(ii), for each 
     academic year beginning on or after August 1, 2021, the 
     amount shall be the total amount the educational institution 
     paid under this section for work-study allowance to 
     individuals enrolled at such educational institution during 
     the previous academic year in which individuals participated 
     in the work-study program.
       ``(C) With respect to an educational institution that did 
     not participate in the work-study program under this section 
     during the academic year beginning August 1, 2018, the 
     Secretary shall determine the annual amount to provide to the 
     educational institution under subparagraph (A) as follows:
       ``(i) For the first academic year in which the educational 
     institution participates in the work-study program beginning 
     on or after August 1, 2020, the amount shall be an amount the 
     Secretary determines appropriate based on amounts provided to 
     similar educational institutions pursuant to subparagraph 
     (B).
       ``(ii) Except as provided by subparagraph (D)(ii), for each 
     academic year occurring after the academic year specified in 
     clause (i), the amount shall be the total amount the 
     educational institution paid under this section for work-
     study allowance to individuals enrolled at such educational 
     institution during the previous academic year in which 
     individuals enrolled at such educational institution 
     participated in the work-study program.
       ``(D)(i) Except as provided in clause (ii), if the 
     Secretary provides an annual amount to an educational 
     institution under subparagraph (B) or (C) that is more than 
     the total amount the educational institution pays to 
     individuals under paragraph (1), the educational institution 
     shall return to the Secretary the unpaid amount and the 
     Secretary shall transfer such amount into the general fund of 
     the Treasury.
       ``(ii) If the annual amount provided to an educational 
     institution under subparagraph (B) or (C) is more, but less 
     than 25 percent more, than the total amount the educational 
     institution pays to individuals under paragraph (1), and the 
     educational institution plans to participate in the work-
     study program under this section during the subsequent 
     academic year, the educational institution may retain the 
     amount of the overpayment if the educational institution 
     notifies the Secretary of the amount of the overpayment and 
     the intention of the educational institution to retain such 
     amount. Any amount retained by an educational institution 
     under this clause may only be used by the educational 
     institution to provide work-study allowance to individuals 
     enrolled at the educational institution.
       ``(iii) At any time an educational institution may request 
     the Secretary to increase the annual amount that the 
     Secretary provides the educational institution under 
     subparagraph (B) or (C).
       ``(E) Pursuant to section 3690(c), section 3693, and other 
     provisions of chapter 36 of this title, the Secretary shall 
     ensure that educational institutions carry out the work-study 
     allowance program in compliance with this section.''.
       (b) Conforming Amendment.--Subsection (e)(1) of such 
     section is amended by striking ``subsection (a)(4)'' and 
     inserting ``subsection (a)(5)''.
       (c) Application.--The amendments made by this section shall 
     apply with respect to a quarter, semester, or term, as 
     applicable, commencing on or after August 1, 2020.

     SEC. 6. EXPANSION OF ELIGIBILITY FOR FRY SCHOLARSHIP TO 
                   CHILDREN AND SPOUSES OF CERTAIN DECEASED 
                   MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES.

       (a) In General.--Subsection (b) of section 3311 of title 
     38, United States Code, is amended--
       (1) by redesignating paragraph (10) as paragraph (12); and
       (2) by inserting after paragraph (9) the following new 
     paragraphs (10) and (11):
       ``(10) An individual who is the child or spouse of a person 
     who, on or after September 11, 2001, dies in line of duty 
     while serving on duty other than active duty as a member of 
     the Armed Forces.
       ``(11) An individual who is the child or spouse of a member 
     of the Selected Reserve who dies on or after September 11, 
     2001--
       ``(A) from a service-connected disability; and
       ``(B) not later than four years after the date of the last 
     discharge or release of that member from active duty or 
     active duty for training.''.
       (b) Applicability Date.--The amendments made by subsection 
     (a) apply with respect to a quarter, semester, or term, as 
     applicable, commencing on or after August 1, 2020.
       (c) Conforming Amendments.--
       (1) Subsection (f) of such section is amended by striking 
     ``paragraph (9)'' each place it appears and inserting 
     ``paragraphs (9), (10), and (11)''.
       (2) Section 3322 of such title is amended--
       (A) in subsection (e), by striking both ``sections 
     3311(b)(9) and 3319'' and inserting ``section 3319 and 
     paragraph (9), (10), or (11) of section 3311 of this title'';
       (B) in subsection (f), by striking ``section 3311(b)(9)'' 
     and inserting ``paragraph (9), (10), or (11) of section 3311 
     of this title''; and
       (C) in subsection (h)(2), by striking ``either section 
     3311(b)(9) or chapter 35'' and inserting ``either chapter 35 
     or paragraph (9), (10), or (11) of section 3311''.

     SEC. 7. TREATMENT OF CERTAIN PREPARATORY COURSES AS PROGRAMS 
                   OF EDUCATION FOR PURPOSES OF DEPARTMENT OF 
                   VETERANS AFFAIRS EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE 
                   PROGRAMS.

       (a) In General.--Chapter 33 of title 38, United States 
     Code, is amended by inserting after section 3315A the 
     following new section:

     ``Sec. 3315B. Preparatory courses for licensure, 
       certification, or national tests

       ``(a) In General.--An individual entitled to educational 
     assistance under this chapter shall also be entitled to 
     payment for a preparatory course for a licensing or 
     certification test that is required or used to enter into, 
     maintain, or advance in employment in a predetermined and 
     identified vocation or profession.
       ``(b) Amount.--The amount of educational assistance payable 
     under this chapter for a course described in subsection (a) 
     is the lesser of--
       ``(1) the fee charged for the course; or
       ``(2) the amount of entitlement available to the individual 
     under this chapter at the time of payment for the course 
     under this section.
       ``(c) Charge Against Entitlement.--The number of months of 
     entitlement charged an individual under this chapter for a 
     course described in subsection (a) shall be pro-rated based 
     on the actual amount of the fee charged for the course 
     relative to the rate for 1 month payable--
       ``(1) for the academic year beginning on August 1, 2020, 
     $1,460; or
       ``(2) for an academic year beginning on any subsequent 
     August 1, the amount for the previous academic year beginning 
     on August 1 under this subsection, as increased by the 
     percentage increase equal to the most recent percentage 
     increase determined under section 3015(h).''.
       (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the 
     beginning of such chapter is amended by inserting after the 
     item relating to section 3315A the following new item:

``3315B. Preparatory courses for licensure, certification, or national 
              tests.''.
       (c) Conforming Amendments.--Section 3532(g) of title 38, 
     United States Code, is amended--
       (1) in paragraph (1), by inserting ``or a preparatory 
     course described in section 3315B(a) of this title'' after 
     ``or national test providing an opportunity for course credit 
     at institutions of higher learning described in section 
     3501(a)(5) of this title''; and
       (2) in paragraphs (2) and (3), by inserting ``or 
     preparatory course'' after ``test'' everywhere it appears.
       (d) Effective Date.--The amendment made by subsection (a) 
     shall apply with respect to months beginning after the date 
     of the enactment of this Act.

[[Page H7209]]

  


     SEC. 8. ADJUSTMENT OF LOAN FEES.

       Section 3729(b)(2) of title 38, United States Code, is 
     amended by striking the loan fee table and inserting the 
     following:


----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                       Active duty
                  ``Type of loan                         veteran             Reservist          Other  obligor
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(A)(i) Initial loan described in section 3710(a)   2.15                 2.40                 NA
 to purchase or construct a dwelling with 0-down,
 or any other initial loan described in section
 3710(a) other than with 5-down or 10-down
 (closed on or after October 1, 2004, and before
 January 1, 2020)
(A)(ii) Initial loan described in section 3710(a)  2.30                 2.30                 NA
 to purchase or construct a dwelling with 0-down,
 or any other initial loan described in section
 3710(a) other than with 5-down or 10-down
 (closed on or after January 1, 2020, and before
 October 1, 2027)
(A)(iii) Initial loan described in section         2.15                 2.15                 NA
 3710(a) to purchase or construct a dwelling with
 0-down, or any other initial loan described in
 section 3710(a) other than with 5-down or 10-
 down (closed on or after October 1, 2027, and
 before October 1, 2029)
(A)(iv) Initial loan described in section 3710(a)  1.40                 1.40                 NA
 to purchase or construct a dwelling with 0-down,
 or any other initial loan described in section
 3710(a) other than with 5-down or 10-down
 (closed on or after October 1, 2029)
(B)(i) Subsequent loan described in section        3.30                 3.30                 NA
 3710(a) to purchase or construct a dwelling with
 0-down, or any other subsequent loan described
 in section 3710(a) (closed on or after October
 1, 2004, and before January 1, 2020)
(B)(ii) Subsequent loan described in section       3.60                 3.60                 NA
 3710(a) to purchase or construct a dwelling with
 0-down, or any other subsequent loan described
 in section 3710(a) (closed on or after January
 1, 2020, and before October 1, 2027)
(B)(iii) Subsequent loan described in section      3.30                 3.30                 NA
 3710(a) to purchase or construct a dwelling with
 0-down, or any other subsequent loan described
 in section 3710(a) (closed on or after October
 1, 2027, and before October 1, 2029)
(B)(iv) Subsequent loan described in section       1.25                 1.25                 NA
 3710(a) to purchase or construct a dwelling with
 0-down, or any other subsequent loan described
 in section 3710(a) (closed on or after October
 1, 2029)
(C)(i) Loan described in section 3710(a) to        1.50                 1.75                 NA
 purchase or construct a dwelling with 5-down
 (closed before January 1, 2020)
(C)(ii) Loan described in section 3710(a) to       1.65                 1.65                 NA
 purchase or construct a dwelling with 5-down
 (closed on or after January 1, 2020, and before
 October 1, 2027)
(C)(iii) Loan described in section 3710(a) to      1.50                 1.50                 NA
 purchase or construct a dwelling with 5-down
 (closed on or after October 1, 2027, and before
 October 1, 2029)
(C)(iv) Loan described in section 3710(a) to       0.75                 0.75                 NA
 purchase or construct a dwelling with 5-down
 (closed on or after October 1, 2029)
(D)(i) Loan described in section 3710(a) to        1.25                 1.50                 NA
 purchase or construct a dwelling with 10-down
 (closed before January 1, 2020)
(D)(ii) Loan described in section 3710(a) to       1.40                 1.40                 NA
 purchase or construct a dwelling with 10-down
 (closed on or after January 1, 2020, and before
 October 1, 2027)
(D)(iii) Loan described in section 3710(a) to      1.25                 1.25                 NA
 purchase or construct a dwelling with 10-down
 (closed on or after October 1, 2027, and before
 October 1, 2029)
(D)(iv) Loan described in section 3710(a) to       0.50                 0.50                 NA
 purchase or construct a dwelling with 10-down
 (closed on or after October 1, 2029)
(E) Interest rate reduction refinancing loan       0.50                 0.50                 NA
(F) Direct loan under section 3711                 1.00                 1.00                 NA
(G) Manufactured home loan under section 3712      1.00                 1.00                 NA
 (other than an interest rate reduction
 refinancing loan)
(H) Loan to Native American veteran under section  1.25                 1.25                 NA
 3762 (other than an interest rate reduction
 refinancing loan)
(I) Loan assumption under section 3714             0.50                 0.50                 0.50
(J) Loan under section 3733(a)                     2.25                 2.25                 2.25''.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

     SEC. 9. AUTHORITY OF SECRETARY OF VETERANS AFFAIRS TO ASSIST 
                   BLIND VETERANS WHO HAVE NOT LOST USE OF A LEG 
                   IN ACQUIRING SPECIALLY ADAPTED HOUSING.

       Section 2101 of title 38, United States Code, is amended--
       (1) in subsection (a)(2)(B)(ii)--
       (A) in the matter preceding subclause (I), by striking 
     ``due to--'' and inserting ``due to blindness in both eyes, 
     having central visual acuity of 20/200 or less in the better 
     eye with the use of a standard correcting lens. For the 
     purposes of this clause, an eye with a limitation in the 
     fields of vision such that the widest diameter of the visual 
     field subtends an angle no greater than 20 degrees shall be 
     considered as having a central visual acuity of 20/200 or 
     less.''; and
       (B) by striking subclauses (I) and (II); and
       (2) in subsection (b)(2)--
       (A) by striking subparagraph (A); and
       (B) by redesignating subparagraphs (B) and (C) as 
     subparagraphs (A) and (B), respectively.

     SEC. 10. DETERMINATION OF BUDGETARY EFFECTS.

       The budgetary effects of this Act, for the purpose of 
     complying with the Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Act of 2010, shall 
     be determined by reference to the latest statement titled 
     ``Budgetary Effects of PAYGO Legislation'' for this Act, 
     submitted for printing in the Congressional Record by the 
     Chairman of the House Budget Committee, provided that such 
     statement has been submitted prior to the vote on passage.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
California (Mr. Takano) and the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Bilirakis) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from California.


                             General Leave

  Mr. TAKANO. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and 
to insert extraneous material on H.R. 3504, as amended.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from California?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. TAKANO. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Madam Speaker, the Veterans' Affairs Committee is proud to bring to 
the floor H.R. 3504, as amended, the Ryan Kules Specially Adaptive 
Housing Improvement Act of 2019, which is named after Army veteran Ryan 
Kules.
  Madam Speaker, we are honored to have Ryan with us today.
  Ryan's vehicle was struck by an explosive device in 2005, which took 
the lives of Sergeant Jerry Mills and Sergeant Donald Hasse, and took 
Ryan's right arm and left leg.
  He was able to use the VA's Specially Adapted Housing program to 
modify his house to suit his needs and the needs of his wife and 
children. However, the program simply didn't provide enough assistance, 
leaving Ryan and his family owing more than $90,000 out of pocket for 
improvements.
  The VA's Specially Adapted Housing program offers grants to 
servicemembers and veterans with certain severe service-connected 
disabilities. The grants assist with building, remodeling, or 
purchasing an adapted home. However, portions of the program don't 
reflect the needs of today's veterans, which is why I am proud of our 
work on the House Veterans' Affairs Committee to make the SAH program 
work for today's veterans.
  H.R. 3504, as amended, does this by prioritizing grants for seriously 
ill veterans, doubling the cap on the total number of grants issued to 
a veteran, increasing the total applications authorized, and increasing 
the maximum

[[Page H7210]]

benefit for up to 50 percent of the cost of a specially adapted home.
  In addition, this legislation doesn't stop there. H.R. 3504, as 
amended, includes legislation from Representative Luria regarding 
expanding the SAH program to cover blind veterans.
  I was shocked to learn that the existing SAH program only covers 
blind veterans who also have lost a limb. H.R. 3504, as amended, 
includes Representative Luria's Housing Access for Blind Veterans Act.
  I heard from a blind veteran in Ponce, Puerto Rico, last weekend 
about some of the challenges that he faces. As Puerto Rico continues to 
rebuild after Hurricane Maria, allowing disabled veterans, including 
veterans with visual impairments, to apply for Specially Adapted 
Housing grants can help repair and improve their homes and lives.
  I thank the gentlewoman for her work and Ranking Member Roe's 
support.
  Also, H.R. 3504, as amended, includes Representative Sablan's GI Bill 
Access to Career Credentials Act. This legislation expands the GI Bill 
to cover preparatory courses for professional tests, allowing veterans 
to more easily obtain career credentials.
  Finally, H.R. 3504, as amended, includes a modernization of the VA's 
work-study program, streamlining the payment process to make work-study 
programs easier for veterans to participate in.
  I thank Ranking Member Bilirakis and Chairman Levin for bringing this 
legislation to the committee, fully paid for.
  Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 3504, as amended, 
and I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. BILIRAKIS. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Madam Speaker, I am proud to rise today in support of my bill, H.R. 
3504, as amended, the Ryan Kules Specially Adaptive Housing Improvement 
Act of 2019.
  Our highest calling as a committee is to empower those who have been 
injured in defense of our country to live independent and productive 
lives.
  The Specially Adapted Housing program, or SAH grant program, is one 
way we do that, and this bill makes several needed improvements to that 
program.
  SAH grants are awarded to certain severely injured servicemembers and 
veterans to help them adapt their homes to increase their comfort and 
independence. It is a quality of life issue, Madam Speaker.
  SAH grants can be used to make all kinds of home adaptations, 
including installing grab bars, wheelchair ramps and lifts, lowering 
countertops, and widening hallways and doorways.
  My bill would make needed improvements to this program and provide 
prioritization when processing SAH grants for veterans with serious 
illnesses like ALS.
  It would also double the number of times a veteran can use an SAH 
grant and increase the base amount of funding available to veterans by 
15 percent.
  Finally, this bill would authorize VA to provide additional funding 
for veterans 10 years after they use their SAH grants to make 
additional home improvements as they age. So, of course, they might 
want to get into a bigger house because their families grow, and they 
should have that opportunity to do so.
  This bill also includes H.R. 3640, the Housing Access for Blind 
Veterans Act, which was introduced last week by Representative Roe and 
Representative Elaine Luria from Virginia, the chair of the 
Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs, to provide 
additional SAH funding to veterans who are legally blind. It is so 
important that we do this.
  I am proud to have named this bill after my friend Ryan Kules, an 
Army veteran, and I had the privilege of meeting him today and his 
wonderful family. It is a beautiful family.
  On November 29, 2005, while he was serving in Iraq, Ryan's vehicle 
was struck by an improvised explosive device, an IED, and Ryan 
sustained multiple injuries, including the loss of his leg and arm. He 
is a true hero, Madam Speaker.
  Those injuries made him eligible for the SAH grant program following 
his separation from service. Many of the ideas in this bill came from 
Ryan's own experiences with the SAH program.
  I am grateful to Ryan for his service, for his continued advocacy, 
and for allowing us to use his name for this important legislation.
  Madam Speaker, I want to thank the Wounded Warriors Project and the 
Paralyzed Veterans of America for their help with crafting this bill, 
as well as my friend and chairman, Representative   Mike Levin from 
California, who is the cosponsor of this bill and who does an 
outstanding job in committee, where we work in a bipartisan fashion.

                              {time}  1730

  Madam Speaker, this bill also includes the text of H.R. 3535, the GI 
Bill Work Study Improvement Act. This bill was introduced by my friend, 
Representative Rodney Davis of Illinois, Representative Susie Lee of 
Nevada, and Ranking Member Roe of Tennessee to improve VA's workstudy 
program.
  The idea for this bill came from the student veterans and school 
officials who attended a GI Bill forum that Representative Davis had, 
and Representative Roe was in attendance, of course. He is the ranking 
member of the full committee.
  I commend Representative Davis for taking the concerns of his student 
veterans' constituents to heart and acting to address them by improving 
the way that those payments are made to eligible GI beneficiaries. The 
best ideas come from the people, Madam Speaker, as you know.
  This would entail changes to the current process where the student 
veterans are paid workstudy benefits by VA to a new process where 
student veterans are paid directly by their school. This makes sense. 
This will be done by block granting workstudy money to schools allowing 
them to administer the payments to student veterans. This will improve 
timeliness and accuracy of payments to student veterans.
  Finally, H.R. 3504, as amended, also includes the text of my bill, 
H.R. 2221, the Fry Scholarship Improvement Act, which would expand 
eligibility for the Fry Scholarship to certain survivors of members of 
the National Guard and Reserve. Representative   Andy Barr worked on 
this bill as well, and he was a great advocate. Of course, he is an 
advocate for the National Guard and Reserve, Madam Speaker. The current 
Fry Scholarship provides post 9/11 GI Bill benefits to surviving 
spouses and dependent children of servicemembers who have died while on 
Active Duty.
  I would like to thank the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors, 
or TAPS, for bringing this idea to our attention and again Chairman 
Levin for being an original cosponsor of this bill.
  Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this 
important piece of legislation today.
  Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. 
Rodney Davis).
  Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois. Madam Speaker, I thank my good friend 
from Florida (Mr. Bilirakis), the chair, Mr. Takano, and also Dr. Roe, 
the ranking member and former chair of the Veterans' Affairs Committee, 
for all the work they do for our veterans.
  It was at a meeting with Dr. Roe in Springfield, Illinois, last 
summer that he heard from my constituents who represented the 13 
colleges that I am blessed to represent in central Illinois. They got 
together, and they talked about the GI Bill Work Study Improvement Act 
language that is included in this bill right now.
  Section 5 of this bill contains our improvement language, and I 
really want to thank Susie Lee, my colleague. I want to thank Dr. Roe 
again and my colleague,   Mike Bost, from Illinois because this 
legislation creates a block grant program to disburse the funding that 
would normally be used by the VA to administer their workstudy program.
  We heard from the college administrators. It wasn't going well as is; 
they were leaving veterans behind. They didn't know if the students 
were going to be able to enroll, and the colleges didn't know when they 
were going to get the money. This is a fix that came directly from 
listening to the people who are serving our veterans at our educational 
institutions.
  This is what bipartisanship looks like. It is an idea that comes from 
people who are affected, and those who are

[[Page H7211]]

affected are our heroes who protect our great Nation. This change is 
necessary, this change is bipartisan, and this change is long overdue. 
I want to thank everybody again for working on this bill.
  Madam Speaker, I urge a ``yes'' vote on this bill.
  Mr. TAKANO. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Madam Speaker, I want to just add that I hear an equal number of 
names mentioned from both sides of the aisle who have contributed to 
the content of this bill. This is what bipartisanship looks like. I am 
very proud that we have brought this bill out of committee on a 
unanimous basis and that I have heard each side mention multiple names 
of Members who have contributed language to this bill.
  Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. BILIRAKIS. Madam Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time 
to close.
  This is a great bill named after a great American hero. We need to 
pass this bill. I want to thank the leadership of the chairman and the 
ranking member for bringing it to the floor.
  Again, we have got to get this done for our heroes. We have got to 
get it to the Senate and pass it as soon as possible because it is so 
badly needed. I appreciate it very much. I thank the staff for their 
support.
  Madam Speaker, I encourage Members to vote positive on this 
particular bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. TAKANO. Madam Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.
  Madam Speaker, I am very proud of this moment that we have chosen as 
Members of the House to move forward legislation that addresses 
adaptive housing for veterans who have truly been heroic. I can't think 
of a single American who would stand in the way or would criticize 
Members of our body for addressing such an urgent need.
  I want to congratulate all the Members who have done an even greater 
honor to the person for whom this bill is named by addressing issues 
related to the workstudy program, by increasing the availability of 
benefits to our veterans in their educational process.
  Madam Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to join me in passing H.R. 
3504, as amended, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. SABLAN. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 3504, which 
includes my bipartisan bill, the GI Bill Access to Career Credentials 
Act. The GI Bill Access to Career Credentials Act allow veterans to use 
their GI Bill benefits to cover the cost of approved preparatory 
courses for professional license and certification exams.
  Covering these courses under the GI Bill will give veterans and their 
eligible family members greater ability to enter careers that require 
government-recognized licenses and certifications, such as in-demand 
careers in health and technology.
  This is not the first time Congress has expanded GI bill benefit to 
cover non-tuition expenses. Over the last 75 years, we have broadened 
the GI bill to cover college admissions test fees, admissions test 
preparatory courses, and the exam fees for licenses and certifications.
  And, while more than 5,700 GI Bill students over the last year and a 
half used their license and certification exam fees reimbursement 
benefit, the courses designed to help them pass these tests were not 
reimbursable. That makes no sense. Not all students pass these exams on 
the first attempt. If we really want to help our veterans become 
licensed and certified for demanding careers, let us help them prepare 
to pass the necessary tests.
  Let us help them join the more than 25 million veterans and veteran 
family members who the GI Bill has helped achieve their educational and 
career goals.
  My GI Bill Access to Career Credentials Act is supported by the 
Veterans of Foreign Wars, National Guard Association, Enlisted 
Association of the National Guard, AMVETS, National Military Family 
Association, Association of the U.S. Army, Military Order of the Purple 
Heart, Fleet Reserve `Association, Reserve Officers Association and 
Paralyzed Veterans of America.
  I ask my colleagues to support this measure, as well, and H.R. 3504 
of which it is a part.
  H.R. 3504 expands the VA's Specially Adapted Housing grant program to 
reach more veterans who need assistance and improves the Fry 
Scholarship program to cover more spouses and children of fallen 
servicemembers.
  Again, I ask my colleagues to support H.R. 3504.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from California (Mr. Takano) that the House suspend the rules 
and pass the bill, H.R. 3504, as amended.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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