[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 85 (Monday, May 17, 2021)]
[House]
[Pages H2366-H2369]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  1445
            GI BILL NATIONAL EMERGENCY EXTENDED DEADLINE ACT

  Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 2167) to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for 
extensions of the time limitations for use of entitlement under 
Department of Veterans Affairs educational assistance programs by 
reason of school closures due to emergency and other situations, and 
for other purposes, as amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 2167

       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 ``GI Bill National Emergency 
     Extended Deadline Act''.

     SEC. 2. EXTENSION OF TIME LIMITATION FOR USE OF ENTITLEMENT 
                   UNDER DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS 
                   EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS BY REASON OF 
                   SCHOOL CLOSURES DUE TO EMERGENCY AND OTHER 
                   SITUATIONS.

       (a) Montgomery GI Bill.--Section 3031 of title 38, United 
     States Code, is amended--
       (1) in subsection (a), by inserting ``and subsection (i)'' 
     after ``through (g)''; and
       (2) by adding at the end the following new subsection:
       ``(i)(1) 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 of a covered reason, as determined by 
     the Secretary, such 10-year period--
       ``(A) shall not run during the period the individual is so 
     prevented from pursuing such program; and
       ``(B) shall again begin running on a date determined by the 
     Secretary that is--
       ``(i) not earlier than the first day after the individual 
     is able to resume pursuit of a program of education with 
     educational assistance under this chapter; and
       ``(ii) not later than 90 days after that day.
       ``(2) In this subsection, a covered reason is--
       ``(A) the temporary or permanent closure of an educational 
     institution by reason of an emergency situation; or
       ``(B) another reason that prevents the individual from 
     pursuing the individual's chosen program of education, as 
     determined by the Secretary.''.
       (b) Post-9/11 Educational Assistance.-- Section 3321(b)(1) 
     of such title is amended--
       (1) by inserting ``(A)'' before ``Subsections'';
       (2) by striking ``and (d)'' and inserting ``(d), and (i)''; 
     and
       (3) by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:
       ``(B) Subsection (i) of section 3031 of this title 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 (i) applies under such 
     section 3031 with respect to the running of the 10-year 
     period described in subsection (a) of such section.''.

[[Page H2367]]

  


     SEC. 3. EXTENSION OF PERIOD OF ELIGIBILITY BY REASON OF 
                   SCHOOL CLOSURES DUE TO EMERGENCY AND OTHER 
                   SITUATIONS UNDER DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS 
                   TRAINING AND REHABILITATION PROGRAM FOR 
                   VETERANS WITH SERVICE-CONNECTED DISABILITIES.

       Section 3103 of title 38, United States Code, is amended--
       (1) in subsection (a), by striking ``or (g)'' and inserting 
     ``(g), or (h)''; and
       (2) by adding at the end the following new subsection:
       ``(h)(1) In the case of a veteran who is eligible for a 
     vocational rehabilitation program under this chapter and who 
     is prevented from participating in the vocational 
     rehabilitation program within the period of eligibility 
     prescribed in subsection (a) because of a covered reason, as 
     determined by the Secretary, such period of eligibility--
       ``(A) shall not run during the period the veteran is so 
     prevented from participating in such program; and
       ``(B) shall again begin running on a date determined by the 
     Secretary that is--
       ``(i) not earlier than the first day after the veteran is 
     able to resume participation in a vocational rehabilitation 
     program under this chapter; and
       ``(ii) not later than 90 days after that day.
       ``(2) In this subsection, a covered reason is--
       ``(A) the temporary or permanent closure of an educational 
     institution by reason of an emergency situation; or
       ``(B) another reason that prevents the veteran from 
     participating in the vocational rehabilitation program, as 
     determined by the Secretary.''.

     SEC. 4. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS DISAPPROVAL OF COURSES 
                   OFFERED BY PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER 
                   LEARNING THAT DO NOT CHARGE VETERANS THE IN-
                   STATE TUITION RATE FOR PURPOSES OF SURVIVORS' 
                   AND DEPENDENTS' EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.

       (a) In General.--Section 3679(c) of title 38, United States 
     Code, is amended--
       (1) in paragraph (1), by striking ``or 33'' and inserting 
     ``33, or 35'';
       (2) in paragraph (2), by adding at the end the following 
     new subparagraph:
       ``(D) An individual who is entitled to assistance under 
     section 3510 of this title.''; and
       (3) in paragraph (6), by striking ``and 33'' and inserting 
     ``33, and 35''.
       (b) Conforming Amendments.--Section 3679(e) of such title 
     is amended--
       (1) in paragraph (1)--
       (A) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``or 33'' and 
     inserting ``, 33, or 35''; and
       (B) in subparagraph (B), by striking ``or 33'' and 
     inserting ``33, or 35''; and
       (2) in paragraph (2), by striking ``or 33'' and inserting 
     ``33, or 35''.
       (c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this Act shall 
     take effect on the date of the enactment of this Act and 
     shall apply with respect to an academic period that begins on 
     or after August 1, 2022.

     SEC. 5. IMPROVEMENTS TO INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SERVICES USED 
                   TO PROCESS CLAIMS FOR EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE.

       (a) Modern Information Technology Service.--The Secretary 
     of Veterans Affairs shall implement an information technology 
     service to process claims for educational assistance under 
     chapters 30, 33, 35, and 36 of title 38, United States Code, 
     using one or more commercial software systems. The Secretary 
     shall complete such implementation not later than August 1, 
     2024.
       (b) Required Capabilities.--The Secretary shall ensure that 
     the modern information technology service under subsection 
     (a) has the following capabilities:
       (1) As compared to legacy information technology systems--
       (A) the ability to process claims faster and in a more 
     efficient manner by improving processing integration and 
     accuracy;
       (B) improved data exchange and reporting; and
       (C) improved customer integration and simplification of the 
     online experience.
       (2) Timely communication by employees of the Department of 
     Veterans Affairs to individuals and educational institutions 
     using an online portal that can provide real-time information 
     on claims for educational assistance.
       (3) The ability to be customized to address future 
     capabilities required by law.
       (4) Fully automated to the extent practicable for all 
     original and supplemental claims, including with respect to 
     calculating accurate awards.
       (5) The ability for individuals entitled to educational 
     assistance to electronically apply for, withdraw from, and 
     amend such entitlement, and to reallocate a transferred 
     entitlement.
       (6) The ability to electronically process changes made by 
     educational institutions.
       (7) The ability to verify attendance at an educational 
     institution.
       (8) The ability to process validations made by an 
     educational institution.
       (c) Initial Report.--Not later than 120 days after the date 
     of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to 
     the Committees on Veterans' Affairs of the House of 
     Representatives and the Senate a report containing 
     information on the cost, schedule, and performance of the 
     project for implementing such system, including, with respect 
     to such project, the following:
       (1) An estimate of acquisition, implementation, and life 
     cycle costs (including all direct and indirect costs to 
     acquire, implement, operate, and maintain such system).
       (2) An intended implementation schedule indicating 
     significant milestones, initial operating capability, and 
     full operating capability or completion.
       (3) Key business, functional, or performance objectives.
       (4) With respect to both original claims and supplemental 
     claims processed on a monthly basis, statistics regarding--
       (A) the number of such claims processed using legacy 
     information systems;
       (B) the number of such claims that were off-ramped and 
     processed manually; and
       (C) the number of such claims estimated to be processed 
     using the modern information technology service.
       (5) The amount of savings that are estimated to be realized 
     from using the modern information technology service rather 
     than legacy information technology systems.
       (6) The estimated accuracy of processing claims.
       (7) The estimated timeliness for--
       (A) processing original claims; and
       (B) processing supplemental claims.
       (8) A description of how the modern information technology 
     service will--
       (A) automate the processing of original claims; and
       (B) automate the processing of supplemental claims.
       (d) Definitions.--In this section:
       (1) The term ``legacy information technology system'' means 
     an information technology system used by the Department of 
     Veterans Affairs to process claims for educational assistance 
     under chapters 30, 33, 35, and 36 of title 38, United States 
     Code, before the date on which the Secretary of Veterans 
     Affairs awards a contract under subsection (a) for the modern 
     information technology service.
       (2) The term ``modern information technology service'' 
     means the information technology service implemented under 
     subsection (a) to process claims for educational assistance 
     under chapters 30, 33, 35, and 36 of title 38, United States 
     Code.

     SEC. 6. TIME PERIOD FOR ELIGIBILITY UNDER SURVIVORS' AND 
                   DEPENDENTS' EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM OF 
                   DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.

       (a) In General.--Section 3512 of title 38, United States 
     Code, is amended--
       (1) by redesignating subsection (h) as subsection (f); and
       (2) by adding at the end the following new subsection:
       ``(g) Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, 
     the following persons may be afforded educational assistance 
     under this chapter at any time after August 1, 2023, and 
     without regard to the age of the person:
       ``(1) A person who first becomes an eligible person on or 
     after August 1, 2023.
       ``(2) A person who--
       ``(A) first becomes an eligible person before August 1, 
     2023; and
       ``(B) becomes 18 years of age, or completes secondary 
     schooling, on or after August 1, 2023.''.
       (b) Conforming Amendments.--Such section is further 
     amended--
       (1) in subsection (a), by striking ``The educational'' and 
     inserting ``Except as provided in subsection (g), the 
     educational'';
       (2) in subsection (b)--
       (A) in paragraph (1)(A), by inserting ``subsection (g) or'' 
     after ``provided in''; and
       (B) in paragraph (2), by striking ``Notwithstanding'' and 
     inserting ``Except as provided in subsection (g), 
     notwithstanding''; and
       (3) in subsection (e), by striking ``No person'' and 
     inserting ``Except as provided in subsection (g), no 
     person''.

     SEC. 7. PILOT PROGRAM ON SHORT-TERM FELLOWSHIP PROGRAMS.

       (a) Authority.--The Assistant Secretary of Labor for 
     Veterans' Employment and Training shall carry out a pilot 
     program under which a State may use a grant or contract under 
     section 4102A(b)(5) of title 38, United States Code, to carry 
     out a short-term fellowship program.
       (b) Locations; Agreements.--The Secretary shall select at 
     least three, but not more than five, States to carry out a 
     short-term fellowship program pursuant to subsection (a). 
     Each such State shall enter into an agreement with a non-
     profit organization to carry out such program.
       (c) Short-term Fellowship Program.--Each short-term 
     fellowship program carried out by a State pursuant to 
     subsection (a) shall--
       (1) consist of veterans participating as fellows with an 
     employer for a period not exceeding 20 weeks;
       (2) provide to such veterans a monthly stipend during such 
     period; and
       (3) provide to such veterans an opportunity to be employed 
     on a long-term basis with the employer following such period.
       (d) Amount of Stipend.--The amount of the stipend provided 
     to a veteran pursuant to subsection (c)(2) for a month shall 
     be the amount equal to the amount of the wages earned by the 
     veteran during that month for participating in the 
     fellowship.
       (e) Comptroller General Report.--Not later than four years 
     after the date on which the pilot program commences under 
     this section, the Comptroller General of the United States 
     shall submit to the Committees on Veterans' Affairs of the 
     House of Representatives and the Senate a report on the pilot 
     program.

[[Page H2368]]

       (f) Definition of State.--In this section, the term 
     ``State'' has the meaning given such term in section 4101(6) 
     of title 38, United States Code.
       (g) Authorization of Appropriations.--In addition to funds 
     made available under section 4102A(b)(5) of title 38, United 
     States Code, there is authorized to be appropriated to the 
     Assistant Secretary to carry out the pilot program under this 
     section $15,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2021 through 
     2025.

     SEC. 8. 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 Illinois (Mr. Bost) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from California.


                             General Leave

  Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may 
have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and 
to insert extraneous material on H.R. 2167, as amended.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from California?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to speak on H.R. 2167, as amended, the GI 
Bill National Emergency Extended Deadline, or GI Bill NEED Act, 
introduced by Congresswoman Sherrill.
  The COVID-19 pandemic didn't only impact veterans' health, but it 
also put a serious strain on veterans' access to educational benefits. 
The COVID-19 pandemic exposed the limit on VA authority to extend the 
time for use of its educational assistance program benefits amid an 
emergency.
  Representative Sherrill's bill fixes these limits during times of 
emergency for Montgomery GI bill users and those participating in the 
Veteran Readiness and Employment Program.
  Mr. Speaker, this bill authorizes VA to pause the clock as needed 
when an institution must close temporarily, or permanently, due to an 
emergency, or when a student is prevented from continuing his or her 
program for other reasons. This was an authority VA lacked during 
COVID-19, and if not for the quick action by Congress, thousands of 
veterans would have seen their benefits wasted.
  Now it is time to take the lessons from the pandemic and fix this 
problem once and for all. Not only that, but H.R. 2167, as amended, 
includes additional improvements to VA education programs used by 
veterans and their families. This legislation would require that VA 
ensure the modern information technology (IT) service can process 
claims faster and more efficiently through improved processing 
integration and accuracy, data exchange and reporting, customer 
integration, and simplification of the online experience.
  The legislation would also expand in-State tuition rates at public 
universities to participants in the Dependents' Educational Assistance 
program.
  Guaranteeing in-State tuition for those survivors using Dependents 
Education Assistance, otherwise known as DEA, under Chapter 35, is a 
low-cost lift that will drastically improve educational options for 
surviving families and reduce their need for student loans.
  I, therefore, ask my colleagues to join me in supporting the GI Bill 
National Emergency Extended Deadline, or GI Bill NEED Act.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. BOST. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 2167, as amended, the GI Bill 
National Emergency Extended Deadlines--or NEED--Act.
  This bill would extend time limitations for the use of entitlement 
for VA education programs due to an emergency. I am supportive of the 
underlying bill. I also thank Chairman Takano, Congresswoman Sherrill, 
for including several Republican provisions in this legislation.
  This bill includes the text of two of Congressman Moore's bill, H.R. 
2420, the Overseeing the GI Bill Act of 2021; and H.R. 2457, the 
Colonel John McHugh Tuition Fairness for Survivors Act.
  H.R. 2420 would require VA to submit regular reports to Congress on 
the progress of the Digital GI Bill program. This is a system that the 
VA is purchasing to overhaul the antiquated system that processes GI 
bill claims. The failed implementation of the Forever GI Bill in 2018 
led to thousands of veterans waiting weeks for their claims to be 
processed. This provision would provide the needed oversight to ensure 
that these mistakes are not repeated.
  H.R. 2457 would require institutions of higher learning to provide an 
in-State tuition to participants in the Survivors' and Dependents' 
Education Assistance Program. This would bring the benefits in line 
with other GI Bill programs that require that veterans be provided in-
State tuition.
  Mr. Speaker, I thank Congressman Moore for his hard work on both of 
these bills. H.R. 2167, as amended, also includes texts from 
Congresswoman Mace's bill, H.R. 2327. Congresswoman Mace's provisions 
would ensure that benefits through the Dependents' Education Assistance 
GI Bill program will never expire for eligible students. This would 
bring this program in line with the way the post-9/11 GI bill benefits 
work for most other veterans. I commend Congresswoman Mace for her hard 
work on this bill to expand benefits to dependents and survivors.
  Finally, this bill also includes the text of Congressman Cawthorn's 
bill, H.R. 2391, the Veterans Fellowship Act. This bill would direct 
the Department of Labor to carry out a pilot program to help veterans 
find meaningful employment through short-term fellowships. The DOL 
would provide a stipend for the veterans to participate in the pilot 
program.
  Madam Speaker, I thank all of these Members for their hard work 
drafting these important pieces of legislation. I am pleased to support 
the bill, and I urge all of my colleagues to do the same.
  Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. TAKANO. Madam Speaker, I have no further speakers, and I reserve 
the balance of my time.
  Mr. BOST. Madam Speaker, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from 
Alabama (Mr. Moore).
  Mr. MOORE of Alabama. Madam Speaker, today I rise and I am proud that 
two of my bills, the Colonel John McHugh Tuition Fairness for Survivors 
Act, and the Overseeing the GI Act of 2021, were included in the GI 
bill.
  Members of our military and their families have sacrificed so much in 
their service to our country. As a grateful Nation, we have a 
responsibility to take care of our heroes and their families. My bill, 
the Colonel John McHugh Tuition Fairness for Survivors Act, secures in-
State tuition benefits for the survivors and dependents for eligible 
veterans under the Dependent Educational Assistance program.

  This bill is named after the U.S. Army Colonel John McHugh, who was 
tragically killed in 2010 in Afghanistan by a roadside bomb. His family 
currently resides in my district. Like many Americans, Colonel McHugh 
dreamed of building a bigger and better life for his family, and we owe 
it to them, and the millions of families like the McHughs, to help them 
realize this dream.
  The second bill, the Overseeing the GI Bill Act of 2021, provides 
much-needed oversight for the VA's digital GI Bill project by requiring 
the VA to submit a series of base-level reports to ensure the VA is on 
track.
  These reports will provide Congress with the critical information 
needed to perform proper oversight over these IT upgrades and ensure 
that they are using taxpayer dollars efficiently and effectively. These 
bipartisan developments bring us closer to securing long overdue 
support for our veterans and their families, and I appreciate my 
colleagues on both sides of the aisle for lending their support to take 
care of our veterans and their families.
  Madam Speaker, I appreciate and thank Chairman Takano and Ranking 
Member Bost for their leadership.
  Mr. TAKANO. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. BOST. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from 
Iowa (Mrs. Miller-Meeks).

[[Page H2369]]

  

  Mrs. MILLER-MEEKS. Madam Speaker, I thank my colleagues, Ranking 
Member Bost and Chair Takano, for their leadership, and I thank 
Representative Bost for yielding me time.
  Madam Speaker, I rise today to speak in support of my bipartisan GI 
Bill National Emergency Extended Deadline Act, which I was proud to 
introduce with a fellow veteran, Congresswoman Sherrill.
  Our legislation would protect veterans' educational benefits from 
expiring due to institutional closures or other factors caused by the 
COVID-19 national emergency.
  This important legislation will allow the Department of Veterans 
Affairs to pause the time limit currently placed on the use of GI bill 
benefits and to permit them to restart the clock after it is safe for 
veterans to return to school.
  I am pleased to see that our legislation was amended in the Committee 
on Veterans' Affairs, to include my Veterans Readiness and Employment 
National Emergency Extended Deadline Act, which I was also proud to 
introduce with Congresswoman Sherrill.
  The VR&E NEED Act would ensure disabled veterans get the support they 
need to enter the civilian workforce through the VA's VR&E program. Our 
legislation will allow the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to pause the 
12-year time limit to use VR&E benefits during national emergencies and 
other crises when eligible, disabled veterans are prevented from 
leveraging those benefits through no fault of their own.
  The VR&E program is an excellent path for our veterans to receive the 
education and training they need to reenter the workforce. By pausing 
the timer on their benefits when programs are closed, we preserve the 
opportunities veterans have earned through their service to our 
country. Our disabled veterans sacrificed greatly in service to our 
country, so now it is our turn to serve them.
  It is critical these benefits are not reduced due to no fault of the 
individual veteran. Over the past year, we have seen the COVID-19 
public health emergency force universities and colleges across the 
country to temporarily close their doors. As a 24-year Army veteran, I 
know how important being able to use GI benefits is to ensure that our 
veterans can find meaningful employment. In fact, I used the GI bill 
benefit throughout medical school.
  Madam Speaker, I thank Congresswoman Sherrill for her partnership on 
both of these commonsense bills to help our veterans to access the 
benefits they have earned.
  Madam Speaker, I urge all my colleagues to support the bipartisan GI 
NEED Act.
  Mr. TAKANO. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. BOST. Mr. Speaker, I am prepared to close, and I yield myself 
such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to support this bill, and I 
yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. TAKANO. Madam Speaker, I ask all my colleagues to join me in 
passing H.R. 2167, as amended, as sponsored by Congresswoman Sherrill 
of New Jersey.
  Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Ms. McCollum). 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. 2167, as amended.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds 
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
  Mr. ROSENDALE. Madam Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to section 3(s) of House Resolution 
8, the yeas and nays are ordered.
  Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, further proceedings on this motion 
are postponed.

                          ____________________