[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 50 (Monday, March 16, 2020)]
[Senate]
[Page S1762]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




AUTHORIZING THE SECRETARY OF VETERANS AFFAIRS TO TREAT CERTAIN PROGRAMS 
 OF EDUCATION CONVERTED TO DISTANCE LEARNING BY REASON OF EMERGENCIES 
    AND HEALTH-RELATED SITUATIONS IN THE SAME MANNER AS PROGRAMS OF 
             EDUCATION PURSUED AT EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS

  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate 
proceed to immediate consideration of S. 3503, introduced earlier 
today.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the title of the bill.
  The senior assistant legislative clerk read as follows:

       A bill (S. 3503) to authorize the Secretary of Veterans 
     Affairs to treat certain programs of education converted to 
     distance learning by reason of emergencies and health-related 
     situations in the same manner as programs of education 
     pursued at educational institutions, and for other purposes.

  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there objection to proceeding to the 
measure?
  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the bill.
  Mr. McCONNELL. I ask unanimous consent that the bill be considered 
read a third time.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The bill was ordered to be engrossed for a third reading and was read 
the third time.
  Mr. McCONNELL. I know of no further debate on the bill.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. If there is no further debate on the bill, the 
bill having been read the third time, the question is, Shall the bill 
pass?
  The bill (S. 3503) was passed as follows:

                                S. 3503

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. 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.

       (a) In General.--In the case of a program of education 
     approved by a State approving agency, or the Secretary of 
     Veterans Affairs when acting in the role of a State approving 
     agency, that is converted from being offered on-site at an 
     educational institution to being offered by distance learning 
     by reason of an emergency or health-related situation, as 
     determined by the Secretary, the Secretary may continue to 
     provide educational assistance under the laws administered by 
     the Secretary without regard to such conversion, including 
     with respect to paying any--
       (1) monthly housing stipends under chapter 33 of title 38, 
     United States Code; or
       (2) payments or subsistence allowances under chapters 30, 
     31, 32, and 35 of such title and chapters 1606 and 1607 of 
     title 10, United States Code.
       (b) Applicability Period.--Subsection (a) shall apply 
     during the period beginning on March 1, 2020, and ending on 
     December 21, 2020.
       (c) Definitions.--In this section:
       (1) Educational institution.--The term ``educational 
     institution'' has the meaning given that term in section 3452 
     of title 38, United States Code, and includes an institution 
     of higher learning (as defined in such section).
       (2) Program of education.--The term ``program of 
     education'' has the meaning given that term in section 3002 
     of title 38, United States Code.
       (3) State approving agency.--The term ``State approving 
     agency'' has the meaning given that term in section 3671 of 
     title 38, United States Code.

     SEC. 2. EMERGENCY DESIGNATIONS.

       (a) In General.--This Act is 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, this Act is 
     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.

  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the motion 
to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

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