[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 83 (Monday, May 16, 2022)]
[House]
[Pages H5000-H5001]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              STUDENT VETERAN WORK STUDY MODERNIZATION ACT

  Mr. TRONE. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 6376) to amend title 38, United States Code, to extend 
eligibility for a certain work-study allowance paid by the Secretary of 
Veterans Affairs to certain individuals who pursue programs of 
rehabilitation, education, or training on at least a half-time basis, 
and for other purposes, as amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 6376

       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 Work Study 
     Modernization Act''.

     SEC. 2. PILOT PROGRAM TO EXPAND ELIGIBILITY FOR A CERTAIN 
                   WORK-STUDY ALLOWANCE PAID BY THE SECRETARY OF 
                   VETERANS AFFAIRS TO CERTAIN INDIVIDUALS WHO 
                   PURSUE CERTAIN PROGRAMS ON AT LEAST A HALF-TIME 
                   BASIS.

       (a) Pilot Program.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall 
     carry out a pilot program under which the Secretary shall 
     expand eligibility for the work-study allowance under section 
     3485 of title 38, United States Code, to individuals who are 
     pursuing programs of rehabilitation, education, or training 
     specified in subsection (b) of such section at a rate equal 
     to at least half of that required of a full-time student.
       (b) Relationship to Other Work-study Individuals.--In 
     carrying out the pilot program under subsection (a), the 
     Secretary shall ensure the provisions of section 3485 of 
     title 38, United States Code, apply with respect to the 
     individuals specified in subsection (a) of this section in 
     the same manner as to the individuals specified in subsection 
     (b) of such section 3485, except with respect to the 
     requirement of at least three-quarter-time student status.
       (c) Duration.--The Secretary shall carry out the pilot 
     program under subsection (a) during the five-year period 
     beginning on the date of the commencement of the pilot 
     program.

     SEC. 3. ANNUAL REPORT REGARDING VETERANS WHO PARTICIPATE IN 
                   WORK-STUDY.

       Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of 
     this Act and annually

[[Page H5001]]

     thereafter, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit to 
     the Committees on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and House 
     of Representatives a report regarding veterans who 
     participate in work-study. Such report shall include the 
     following elements:
       (1) The number of such veterans.
       (2) The percentage of such veterans who obtain a four-year 
     degree.
       (3) The number of such veterans who obtain full-time work 
     at the Department of Veterans Affairs.

     SEC. 4. ADJUSTMENTS OF CERTAIN LOAN FEES.

       The loan fee table in section 3729(b)(2) of title 38, 
     United States Code, is amended by striking ``January 14, 
     2031'' each place it appears and inserting ``January 23, 
     2031''.

     SEC. 5. 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 
Maryland (Mr. Trone) and the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Bost) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Maryland.


                             General Leave

  Mr. TRONE. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to 
insert extraneous material on H.R. 6376, as amended.

                              {time}  1615

  Mr. TRONE. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  I strongly support H.R. 6376, as amended, the Student Veteran 
Modernization Act, which would make much-needed improvements and 
modernizations to the VA work-study program.
  This legislation will create a pilot program to allow part-time 
student veterans to access VA work-study programs for the next 5 years, 
ensuring they can complete their certification or degree without taking 
on unmanageable amounts of student debt and still care for themselves 
and their families.
  I would prefer this be a permanent change in the law, but I 
understand the need to review these changes in a pilot program. I hope 
that when this pilot program concludes, and we have an idea of how many 
veterans were helped, Congress will make this change permanent.
  Currently, student veterans must maintain a full class load to be 
eligible for work-study, which is not feasible for many veterans who 
are balancing families or other work obligations. With this change, 
part-time student veterans will be able to earn a paycheck while also 
earning workforce skills.
  I thank Representative Axne for her hard work on the introduction of 
this bill. I also thank student veterans and the Department of Veteran 
Affairs for their feedback, which improved the bill and will bring more 
student veterans into the work-study program.
  Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this legislation, and 
I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. BOST. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 6376, as amended, the 
Student Veteran Work Study Modernization Act.
  This bill will make changes to the VA work-study program to allow 
student veterans who are using the GI bill part-time to take advantage 
of the work-study benefit. The work-study benefit provides veterans 
with the opportunity to be paid for helping other veterans on campus or 
VA facilities.
  This is a win-win for the school and the veteran, as the school does 
not have to pay the veteran for their work, and the veteran receives a 
paycheck and great work experience.
  I am pleased that my amendment at the markup of this bill was 
accepted and that the bill is now fully offset.
  I encourage all of my colleagues to support H.R. 6376, as amended, 
and I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. TRONE. Madam Speaker, I ask all my colleagues to join me and pass 
H.R. 6376, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Trone) that the House suspend the rules 
and pass the bill, H.R. 6376, 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. BISHOP of North Carolina. 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.

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