[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 181 (Thursday, November 2, 2023)]
[Senate]
[Page S5335]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       VETERAN IMPROVEMENT COMMERCIAL DRIVER LICENSE ACT OF 2023

  Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the 
Committee on Veterans' Affairs be discharged from further consideration 
of S. 656 and the Senate proceed to its immediate consideration.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the bill by title.
  The senior assistant legislative clerk read as follows:

       A bill (S. 656) to amend title 38, United States Code, to 
     revise the rules for approval by the Secretary of Veterans 
     Affairs of commercial driver education programs for purposes 
     of veterans educational assistance, and for other purposes.

  The PRESIDING OFFICER. There being no objection, the committee was 
discharged, and the Senate proceeded to consider the bill.
  Mr. SCHUMER. I ask unanimous consent that the bill be considered read 
a third time and passed and that the motion to reconsider be considered 
made and laid upon the table.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The bill (S. 656) was ordered to be engrossed for a third reading, 
was read the third time, and passed as follows:

                                 S. 656

       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 ``Veteran Improvement 
     Commercial Driver License Act of 2023''.

     SEC. 2. MODIFICATION OF RULES FOR APPROVAL OF COMMERCIAL 
                   DRIVER EDUCATION PROGRAMS FOR PURPOSES OF 
                   VETERANS EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE.

       (a) In General.--Section 3680A(e) of title 38, United 
     States Code, is amended--
       (1) by redesignating paragraphs (1) through (3) as 
     subparagraphs (A) though (C), respectively;
       (2) in the matter before subparagraph (A), as redesignated 
     by paragraph (1), by inserting ``(1)'' before ``The 
     Secretary'';
       (3) in paragraph (1)(B), as redesignated by paragraph (1), 
     by inserting ``except as provided in paragraph (2),'' before 
     ``the course''; and
       (4) by adding at the end the following new paragraph (2):
       ``(2)(A) Subject to this paragraph, a commercial driver 
     education program is exempt from paragraph (1)(B) for a 
     branch of an educational institution if the commercial driver 
     education program offered at the branch by the educational 
     institution--
       ``(i) is appropriately licensed; and
       ``(ii) uses the same curriculum as a commercial driver 
     education program offered by the educational institution at 
     another location that is approved for purposes of this 
     chapter by a State approving agency or the Secretary when 
     acting in the role of a State approving agency.
       ``(B)(i) In order for a commercial driver education program 
     of an educational institution offered at a branch described 
     in paragraph (1)(B) to be exempt under subparagraph (A) of 
     this paragraph, the educational institution shall submit to 
     the Secretary each year that paragraph (1)(B) would otherwise 
     apply a report that demonstrates that the curriculum at the 
     new branch is the same as the curriculum at the primary 
     location.
       ``(ii) Reporting under clause (i) shall be submitted in 
     accordance with such requirements as the Secretary shall 
     establish in consultation with the State approving agencies.
       ``(C)(i) The Secretary may withhold an exemption under 
     subparagraph (A) for any educational institution or branch of 
     an educational institution as the Secretary considers 
     appropriate.
       ``(ii) In making any determination under clause (i), the 
     Secretary may consult with the Secretary of Transportation on 
     the performance of a provider of a commercial driver program, 
     including the status of the provider within the Training 
     Provider Registry of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety 
     Administration when appropriate.''.
       (b) Implementation.--
       (1) Establishment of requirements.--Not later than 180 days 
     after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of 
     Veterans Affairs shall establish requirements under section 
     3680A(e)(2)(B)(ii) of such title, as added by subsection (a).
       (2) Applicability.--The amendments made by subsection (a) 
     shall apply to commercial driver education programs on and 
     after the date that is 180 days after the date on which the 
     Secretary establishes the requirements under paragraph (1) of 
     this subsection.

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