[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 123 (Thursday, July 17, 2025)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4468-S4469]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

  SA 2923. Mr. COONS submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by 
him to the bill S. 2296, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 
2026 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military 
construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy, 
to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for 
other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

       At the appropriate place in title X, insert the following:

     SEC. 10__. AUTHORITY FOR USE OF VETERANS EDUCATIONAL 
                   ASSISTANCE FOR EXAMINATIONS AND ASSESSMENTS TO 
                   RECEIVE CREDIT TOWARD DEGREES AWARDED BY 
                   INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER LEARNING.

       (a) In General.--An individual who is entitled to veterans 
     educational assistance may use such assistance to cover the 
     costs of covered examinations and assessments to receive 
     credit toward degrees awarded by institutions of higher 
     learning for approved programs of education.
       (b) Veterans Educational Assistance.--For purposes of this 
     section, veterans educational assistance is educational 
     assistance available to veterans and other eligible 
     individuals under the provisions of law as follows:
       (1) Chapters 30, 32, 33, 34, and 35 of title 38, United 
     States Code.
       (2) Any other provision of law providing educational 
     assistance to a veteran, or to another individual in 
     connection with the service of a veteran in the Armed Forces.
       (c) Limitation on Amount Usable.--The total amount of 
     veterans educational assistance that may be used for the 
     costs of a covered examination or assessment under subsection 
     (a) may not exceed the lesser of--
       (1) the amount charged for the examination or assessment by 
     the entity administering the examination or assessment; or
       (2) $500.
       (d) Charge Against Entitlement.--
       (1) In general.--The number of months (or fraction thereof) 
     of entitlement charged an individual under the applicable 
     provision of law specified in subsection (b) for use of 
     veterans educational assistance for costs of covered 
     examinations and assessments under this section shall be 
     equal to the quotient obtained by dividing--
       (A) the cost of the examination or assessment (as 
     determined pursuant to subsection (c)); by
       (B) the monthly rate of veterans educational assistance to 
     which the individual is

[[Page S4469]]

     entitled under such provision of law at the time of the 
     examination or assessment.
       (2) Rule of construction.--A charge against entitlement to 
     educational assistance under a law administered by the 
     Secretary of Veterans Affairs in order to receive assistance 
     under this section shall not be construed to affect 
     entitlement to educational assistance under a law 
     administered by the Secretary of Defense, including 
     entitlement to educational assistance under the Department of 
     Defense Tuition Assistance Program.
       (e) Definitions.--In this section:
       (1) The term ``approved program of education'' means a 
     program of education approved for use of veterans educational 
     assistance pursuant to chapter 35 or 36 of title 38, United 
     States Code, or another applicable provision of law.
       (2) The term ``covered examinations and assessments'' means 
     the following:
       (A) A DANTES Subject Standardized Test Program (DSST) 
     examination.
       (B) A College Level Examination Program (CLEP) examination.
       (C) The National Career Readiness Certificate examination.
       (D) Any other examination of a similar nature to an exam 
     specified in subparagraph (A), (B), or (C) specified by the 
     Secretary of Veterans Affairs for purposes of this section.
       (E) An assessment by an institution of higher learning of a 
     portfolio or written narrative by a student with supporting 
     documentation that demonstrates prior military training or 
     learning.
       (3) The term ``institution of higher learning'' has the 
     meaning given such term in section 3452(f) of title 38, 
     United States Code.
                                 ______