[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 132 (Thursday, July 31, 2025)]
[Senate]
[Page S5070]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

  SA 3263. Mr. COONS (for himself and Ms. Ernst) 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 CERTAIN 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 and 33 of title 38, United States Code.
       (2) Chapters 1606 and 1607 of title 10, United States Code
       (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 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) The National Career Readiness Certificate examination.
       (B) 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 of title 38, United 
     States Code.
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