[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 63 (Tuesday, March 31, 2020)]
[House]
[Pages H1868-H1870]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            STUDENT VETERAN CORONAVIRUS RESPONSE ACT OF 2020

  The SPEAKER. Without objection, the Chair lays before the House the 
following bill (H.R. 6322) to make certain improvements in the 
educational assistance benefits under the laws administered by the 
Secretary of Veterans Affairs in the case of changes to courses of 
education by reason of emergency situations, and for other purposes.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  There was no objection.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 6322

       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 ``Student Veteran Coronavirus 
     Response Act of 2020''.

     SEC. 2. PAYMENT OF WORK-STUDY ALLOWANCES DURING EMERGENCY 
                   SITUATIONS.

       Section 3485 of title 38, United States Code, is amended by 
     adding at the end the following new subsection:
       ``(f)(1) In case of an individual who is in receipt of 
     work-study allowance pursuant to an agreement described in 
     subsection (a)(3) as of the date on which an emergency 
     situation occurs and who is unable to continue to perform 
     qualifying work-study activities described in subsection 
     (a)(4) by reason of the emergency situation--
       ``(A) the Secretary may continue to pay work-study 
     allowance under this section or make deductions described in 
     subsection (e)(1) during the period of such emergency 
     situation, notwithstanding the inability of the individual to 
     perform such work-study activities by reason of such 
     emergency situation; and
       ``(B) at the option of the individual, the Secretary shall 
     extend the agreement described in subsection (a)(3) with the 
     individual for any subsequent period of enrollment initiated 
     during the emergency situation, notwithstanding the inability 
     of the individual to perform work-study activities described 
     in subsection (a)(4) by reason of such emergency situation.
       ``(2) The amount of work-study allowance payable to an 
     individual under paragraph (1)(A) during the period of an 
     emergency situation shall be an amount determined by the 
     Secretary but may not exceed the amount that would be payable 
     under subsection (a)(2) if the individual worked 25 hours per 
     week paid during such period.''.

     SEC. 3. PAYMENT OF ALLOWANCES TO VETERANS ENROLLED IN 
                   EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS CLOSED FOR EMERGENCY 
                   SITUATIONS.

       (a) Temporary Provision.--
       (1) In general.--During the period beginning on March 1, 
     2020, and ending on December 21, 2020, the Secretary may pay 
     allowances to an eligible veteran or eligible person under 
     section 3680(a)(2)(A) of title 38, United States Code, if the 
     veteran or person is enrolled in a program or course of 
     education that--
       (A) is provided by an educational institution that is 
     closed by reason of an emergency situation; or
       (B) is suspended by reason of an emergency situation.
       (2) Amount of allowance.--The total number of weeks for 
     which allowances may be paid under this section may not 
     exceed four weeks.
       (3) Not counted for purposes of limitation.--Any amount 
     paid under this section shall not be counted for purposes of 
     the limitation on allowanced under section 3680(a)(2)(A) of 
     title 38, United States Code.
       (b) Permanent Provision.--Section 3680(a)(2) of title 38, 
     United States Code, is amended--
       (1) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``12-month'' and 
     inserting ``six-month''; and
       (2) in subparagraph (B)--
       (A) by striking ``or following'' and inserting ``during 
     periods following''; and
       (B) by inserting after ``section 3699(b)(1)(B) of this 
     title,'' the following: ``, or during periods when a course 
     of study or program of education is temporarily closed or 
     terminated by reason of an emergency situation,''.

     SEC. 4. PROHIBITION OF CHARGE TO ENTITLEMENT OF STUDENTS 
                   UNABLE TO PURSUE A PROGRAM OF EDUCATION DUE TO 
                   AN EMERGENCY SITUATION.

       Section 3699(b)(1) of title 38, United States Code, is 
     amended--
       (1) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``or'' at the end;
       (2) in subparagraph (B)(ii), by striking ``and'' at the end 
     and inserting ``or'' ; and
       (3) by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:
       ``(C) the temporary closure of an educational institution 
     or the temporary closure or termination of a course or 
     program of education by reason of an emergency situation; 
     and''.

     SEC. 5. EXTENSION OF TIME LIMITATIONS FOR USE OF ENTITLEMENT.

       (a) Montgomery GI Bill.--Section 3031 of title 38, United 
     States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following 
     new subsection:
       ``(i) In the case of an individual eligible for educational 
     assistance under this chapter who is prevented from pursuing 
     the individual's chosen program of education before the 
     expiration of the 10-year period for the use of entitlement 
     under this chapter otherwise applicable under this section 
     because the educational institution closed (temporarily or 
     permanently) under an established policy based on an 
     Executive order of the President or due to an emergency 
     situation, such 10-year period--
       ``(1) shall not run during the period the individual is so 
     prevented from pursuing such program; and
       ``(2) shall again begin running on the first day after the 
     individual is able to resume pursuit of a program of 
     education with educational assistance under this chapter.''.
       (b) Post-9/11 Educational Assistance.--
       (1) In general.--Section 3321(b)(1) of such title is 
     amended--
       (A) by inserting ``(A)'' before ``Subsections'';
       (B) by striking ``and (d)'' and inserting ``(d), and (i)''; 
     and by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:
       ``(B) Subsection (i) of section 3031 shall apply with 
     respect to the running of the 15-year period described in 
     paragraphs (4)(A) and (5)(A) of this subsection in the same 
     manner as such subsection applies under section 3031 with 
     respect to the running of the 10-year period described in 
     section 3031(a).''.
       (2) Transfer period.--Section 3319(h)(5) is amended--
       (A) in subparagraph (A) by inserting ``or (C)'' after 
     ``subparagraph (B)''; and
       (B) by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:
       ``(C) Emergency situations.--In any case in which the 
     Secretary determines that an individual to whom entitlement 
     is transferred under this section has been prevented from 
     pursuing the individual's chosen program of education before 
     the individual attains the age of 26 years because the 
     educational institution closed (temporarily or permanently) 
     under an established policy based on an Executive order of 
     the President or due to an emergency situation, the Secretary 
     shall extend the period during which the individual may use 
     such entitlement for a period equal to the number of months 
     that the individual was so prevented from pursuing the 
     program of education, as determined by the Secretary.''.
       (c) Vocational Rehabilitation and Training.--
       (1) Period for use.--Section 3103 of such title is 
     amended--
       (A) in subsection (a), by striking ``or (e)'' and inserting 
     ``(e), or (g)''; and
       (B) by adding at the end the following new subsection:
       ``(g) In any case in which the Secretary determines that a 
     veteran has been prevented from participating in a vocational 
     rehabilitation program under this chapter within the twelve-
     year period of eligibility prescribed in subsection (a) by 
     reason of an Executive order of the President or due to an 
     emergency situation, such twelve-year period--
       ``(1) shall not run during the period the individual is so 
     prevented from participating such program; and
       ``(2) shall again begin running on the first day after the 
     individual is able to resume participation in such 
     program.''.
       (2) Duration of program.--Section 3105(b) of such title is 
     amended--
       (A) in paragraph (1), by striking ``paragraph (2)'' and 
     inserting ``paragraphs (2) and (3)''; and
       (B) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
       ``(3)(A) In any case in which the Secretary determines that 
     a veteran has been prevented from participating in counseling 
     and placement and postplacement services described in section 
     3104(a)(2) and (5) of this title by reason of an Executive 
     order of the President or due to an emergency situation, the 
     Secretary shall extend the period during which the Secretary 
     may provide such counseling and placement and postplacement 
     services for the veteran for a period equal to the number of 
     months that the veteran was so prevented from participating 
     in such counseling and services, as determined by the 
     Secretary.
       ``(B) In any case in which the Secretary determines that a 
     veteran has been prevented from participating in a vocational 
     rehabilitation program under this chapter by reason of an 
     Executive order of the President or due

[[Page H1869]]

     to an emergency situation, the Secretary shall extend the 
     period of the veteran's vocational rehabilitation program for 
     a period equal to the number of months that the veteran was 
     so prevented from participating in the vocational 
     rehabilitation program, as determined by the Secretary.''.
       (d) Educational Assistance for Members of the Selected 
     Reserve.--Section 16133(b) of title 10, United States Code, 
     is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
       ``(5) In any case in which the Secretary concerned 
     determines that a person entitled to educational assistance 
     under this chapter has been prevented from using such 
     person's entitlement by reason of an Executive order of the 
     President or due to an emergency situation, the Secretary 
     concerned shall extend the period of entitlement prescribed 
     in subsection (a) for a period equal to the number of months 
     that the person was so prevented from using such entitlement, 
     as determined by the Secretary.''.

     SEC. 6. RESTORATION OF ENTITLEMENT TO REHABILITATION PROGRAMS 
                   FOR VETERANS AFFECTED BY SCHOOL CLOSURE OR 
                   DISAPPROVAL.

       (a) Entitlement.--Section 3699 of title 38, United States 
     Code, is amended by striking ``chapter 30,'' each time it 
     appears and inserting ``chapter 30, 31,''.
       (b) Payment of Subsistence Allowances.--Section 
     3680(a)(2)(B) of title 38, United States Code, is amended--
       (1) by inserting ``or a subsistence allowance described in 
     section 3108'' before ``, during''; and
       (2) by inserting ``or allowance'' after ``such a stipend''.
       (c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section 
     shall apply as if included in the enactment of section 109 of 
     the Harry W. Colmery Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 
     2017 (Public Law 115-48; 131 Stat. 978).

     SEC. 7. EXTENSION OF PAYMENT OF VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION 
                   SUBSISTENCE ALLOWANCES.

       In the case of any veteran who the Secretary of Veterans 
     Affairs determines is satisfactorily following a program of 
     employment services provided under section 3104(a)(5) of 
     title 38, United States Code, during period beginning on 
     March 1, 2020, and ending on December 21, 2020, the Secretary 
     may pay the veteran a subsistence allowance, as prescribed in 
     section 3108 of such title for full-time training for the 
     type of program that the veteran was pursuing, for two 
     additional months.''.

                AMENDMENT IN THE NATURE OF A SUBSTITUTE

  The SPEAKER laid before the House the following amendment in the 
nature of a substitute:
  The text of the amendment in the nature of a substitute is as 
follows:

       Strike all after the enacting clause and insert the 
     following:

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Student Veteran Coronavirus 
     Response Act of 2020''.

     SEC. 2. COVERED PERIOD DEFINED.

       For purposes of this Act, the term ``covered period'' means 
     the period beginning on March 1, 2020, and ending on December 
     21, 2020.

     SEC. 3. PAYMENT OF WORK-STUDY ALLOWANCES DURING EMERGENCY 
                   SITUATIONS.

       During the covered period, the Secretary of Veterans 
     Affairs shall apply section 3485 of title 38, United States 
     Code, as if it were amended by adding at the end the 
     following new subsection:
       ``(f)(1) In case of an individual who is in receipt of 
     work-study allowance pursuant to an agreement described in 
     subsection (a)(3) as of the date on which an emergency 
     situation occurs and who is unable to continue to perform 
     qualifying work-study activities described in subsection 
     (a)(4) by reason of the emergency situation--
       ``(A) the Secretary may continue to pay work-study 
     allowance under this section or make deductions described in 
     subsection (e)(1) during the period of such emergency 
     situation, notwithstanding the inability of the individual to 
     perform such work-study activities by reason of such 
     emergency situation; and
       ``(B) at the option of the individual, the Secretary shall 
     extend the agreement described in subsection (a)(3) with the 
     individual for any subsequent period of enrollment initiated 
     during the emergency situation, notwithstanding the inability 
     of the individual to perform work-study activities described 
     in subsection (a)(4) by reason of such emergency situation.
       ``(2) The amount of work-study allowance payable to an 
     individual under paragraph (1)(A) during the period of an 
     emergency situation shall be an amount determined by the 
     Secretary but may not exceed the amount that would be payable 
     under subsection (a)(2) if the individual worked 25 hours per 
     week paid during such period.''.

     SEC. 4. PAYMENT OF ALLOWANCES TO VETERANS ENROLLED IN 
                   EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS CLOSED FOR EMERGENCY 
                   SITUATIONS.

       (a) In General.--During the covered period, the Secretary 
     may pay allowances to an eligible veteran or eligible person 
     under section 3680(a)(2)(A) of title 38, United States Code, 
     if the veteran or person is enrolled in a program or course 
     of education that--
       (1) is provided by an educational institution that is 
     closed by reason of an emergency situation; or
       (2) is suspended by reason of an emergency situation.
       (b) Amount of Allowance.--The total number of weeks for 
     which allowances may be paid under this section may not 
     exceed four weeks.
       (c) Not Counted for Purposes of Limitation.--Any amount 
     paid under this section shall not be counted for purposes of 
     the limitation on allowanced under section 3680(a)(2)(A) of 
     title 38, United States Code.

     SEC. 5. PROHIBITION OF CHARGE TO ENTITLEMENT OF STUDENTS 
                   UNABLE TO PURSUE A PROGRAM OF EDUCATION DUE TO 
                   AN EMERGENCY SITUATION.

       During the covered period, the Secretary of Veterans 
     Affairs shall apply section 3699(b)(1) of title 38, United 
     States Code, as if it were amended--
       (1) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``or'' at the end;
       (2) in subparagraph (B)(ii), by striking ``and'' at the end 
     and inserting ``or'' ; and
       (3) by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:
       ``(C) the temporary closure of an educational institution 
     or the temporary closure or termination of a course or 
     program of education by reason of an emergency situation; 
     and''.

     SEC. 6. EXTENSION OF TIME LIMITATIONS FOR USE OF ENTITLEMENT.

       (a) Montgomery GI Bill.--During the covered period, the 
     Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall apply section 3031 of 
     title 38, United States Code, as if it were amended by adding 
     at the end the following new subsection:
       ``(i) In the case of an individual eligible for educational 
     assistance under this chapter who is prevented from pursuing 
     the individual's chosen program of education before the 
     expiration of the 10-year period for the use of entitlement 
     under this chapter otherwise applicable under this section 
     because the educational institution closed (temporarily or 
     permanently) under an established policy based on an 
     Executive order of the President or due to an emergency 
     situation, such 10-year period--
       ``(1) shall not run during the period the individual is so 
     prevented from pursuing such program; and
       ``(2) shall again begin running on the first day after the 
     individual is able to resume pursuit of a program of 
     education with educational assistance under this chapter.''.
       (b) Post-9/11 Educational Assistance.--
       (1) In general.--During the covered period, the Secretary 
     of Veterans Affairs shall apply section 3321(b)(1) of such 
     title as if it were amended--
       (A) by inserting ``(A)'' before ``Subsections'';
       (B) by striking ``and (d)'' and inserting ``(d), and (i)''; 
     and by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:
       ``(B) Subsection (i) of section 3031 (as described in 
     section 6 of the Student Veteran Coronavirus Response Act of 
     2020) shall apply with respect to the running of the 15-year 
     period described in paragraphs (4)(A) and (5)(A) of this 
     subsection in the same manner as such subsection applies 
     under section 3031 with respect to the running of the 10-year 
     period described in section 3031(a).''.
       (2) Transfer period.--During the covered period, the 
     Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall apply section 3319(h)(5) 
     of such title as if it were amended--
       (A) in subparagraph (A) by inserting ``or (C)'' after 
     ``subparagraph (B)''; and
       (B) by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:
       ``(C) Emergency situations.--In any case in which the 
     Secretary determines that an individual to whom entitlement 
     is transferred under this section has been prevented from 
     pursuing the individual's chosen program of education before 
     the individual attains the age of 26 years because the 
     educational institution closed (temporarily or permanently) 
     under an established policy based on an Executive order of 
     the President or due to an emergency situation, the Secretary 
     shall extend the period during which the individual may use 
     such entitlement for a period equal to the number of months 
     that the individual was so prevented from pursuing the 
     program of education, as determined by the Secretary.''.
       (c) Vocational Rehabilitation and Training.--
       (1) Period for use.--During the covered period, the 
     Secretary of Veterans affairs shall apply section 3103 of 
     such title as if it were amended--
       (A) in subsection (a), by striking ``or (e)'' and inserting 
     ``(e), or (g)''; and
       (B) by adding at the end the following new subsection:
       ``(g) In any case in which the Secretary determines that a 
     veteran has been prevented from participating in a vocational 
     rehabilitation program under this chapter within the twelve-
     year period of eligibility prescribed in subsection (a) by 
     reason of an Executive order of the President or due to an 
     emergency situation, such twelve-year period--
       ``(1) shall not run during the period the individual is so 
     prevented from participating such program; and
       ``(2) shall again begin running on the first day after the 
     individual is able to resume participation in such 
     program.''.
       (2) Duration of program.--During the covered period, the 
     Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall apply section 3105(b) of 
     such title as if it were amended--

[[Page H1870]]

       (A) in paragraph (1), by striking ``paragraph (2)'' and 
     inserting ``paragraphs (2) and (3)''; and
       (B) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
       ``(3)(A) In any case in which the Secretary determines that 
     a veteran has been prevented from participating in counseling 
     and placement and postplacement services described in section 
     3104(a)(2) and (5) of this title by reason of an Executive 
     order of the President or due to an emergency situation, the 
     Secretary shall extend the period during which the Secretary 
     may provide such counseling and placement and postplacement 
     services for the veteran for a period equal to the number of 
     months that the veteran was so prevented from participating 
     in such counseling and services, as determined by the 
     Secretary.
       ``(B) In any case in which the Secretary determines that a 
     veteran has been prevented from participating in a vocational 
     rehabilitation program under this chapter by reason of an 
     Executive order of the President or due to an emergency 
     situation, the Secretary shall extend the period of the 
     veteran's vocational rehabilitation program for a period 
     equal to the number of months that the veteran was so 
     prevented from participating in the vocational rehabilitation 
     program, as determined by the Secretary.''.
       (d) Educational Assistance for Members of the Selected 
     Reserve.--During the covered period, the Secretary concerned 
     shall apply section 16133(b) of title 10, United States Code, 
     as if it were amended by adding at the end the following new 
     paragraph:
       ``(5) In any case in which the Secretary concerned 
     determines that a person entitled to educational assistance 
     under this chapter has been prevented from using such 
     person's entitlement by reason of an Executive order of the 
     President or due to an emergency situation, the Secretary 
     concerned shall extend the period of entitlement prescribed 
     in subsection (a) for a period equal to the number of months 
     that the person was so prevented from using such entitlement, 
     as determined by the Secretary.''.

     SEC. 7. RESTORATION OF ENTITLEMENT TO REHABILITATION PROGRAMS 
                   FOR VETERANS AFFECTED BY SCHOOL CLOSURE OR 
                   DISAPPROVAL.

       (a) Entitlement.--During the covered period, the Secretary 
     of Veterans Affairs shall apply section 3699 of title 38, 
     United States Code, as if it were amended by striking 
     ``chapter 30,'' each time it appears and inserting ``chapter 
     30, 31,''.
       (b) Payment of Subsistence Allowances.--During the covered 
     period, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall apply section 
     3680(a)(2)(B) of title 38, United States Code, as if it were 
     amended--
       (1) by inserting ``or a subsistence allowance described in 
     section 3108'' before ``, during''; and
       (2) by inserting ``or allowance'' after ``such a stipend''.

     SEC. 8. EXTENSION OF PAYMENT OF VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION 
                   SUBSISTENCE ALLOWANCES.

       In the case of any veteran whom the Secretary of Veterans 
     Affairs determines is satisfactorily following a program of 
     employment services provided under section 3104(a)(5) of 
     title 38, United States Code, during the covered period, the 
     Secretary may pay the veteran a subsistence allowance, as 
     prescribed in section 3108 of such title for full-time 
     training for the type of program that the veteran was 
     pursuing, for two additional months.

     SEC. 9. 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.

  The SPEAKER. Without objection, the reading of the amendment is 
dispensed with.
  There was no objection.
  The amendment in the nature of a substitute was agreed to.
  The bill, as amended, was engrossed, read a third time, and passed, 
and a motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

                          ____________________