[House Report 119-256]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
119th Congress } { Report
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
1st Session } { 119-256
======================================================================
EDITH NOURSE ROGERS STEM SCHOLARSHIP
OPPORTUNITY ACT
_______
September 9, 2025.--Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on
the State of the Union and ordered to be printed
_______
Mr. Bost, from the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, submitted the
following
R E P O R T
[To accompany H.R. 2034]
[Including cost estimate of the Congressional Budget Office]
The Committee on Veterans' Affairs, to whom was referred
the bill (H.R. 2034) to amend title 38, United States Code, to
modify the requirements of the Edith Nourse Rogers STEM
Scholarship, having considered the same, reports favorably
thereon with an amendment and recommends that the bill as
amended do pass.
CONTENTS
Page
Purpose and Summary.............................................. 2
Background and Need for Legislation.............................. 2
Hearings......................................................... 3
Subcommittee Consideration....................................... 4
Committee Consideration.......................................... 4
Committee Votes.................................................. 4
Committee Correspondence.........................................
Committee Oversight Findings..................................... 4
Statement of General Performance Goals and Objectives............ 4
New Budget Authority, Entitlement Authority, and Tax Expenditures 4
Earmarks and Tax and Tariff Benefits............................. 5
Committee Cost Estimate.......................................... 5
Congressional Budget Office Estimate............................. 5
Federal Mandates Statement....................................... 6
Advisory Committee Statement..................................... 6
Constitutional Authority Statement............................... 6
Applicability to Legislative Branch.............................. 7
Statement on Duplication of Federal Programs..................... 7
Disclosure of Directed Rulemaking................................ 7
Section-by-Section Analysis of the Legislation................... 7
Changes in Existing Law Made by the Bill, as Reported............ 7
The amendment is as follows:
Strike all after the enacting clause and insert the
following:
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Edith Nourse Rogers STEM Scholarship
Opportunity Act''.
SEC. 2. MODIFICATIONS TO EDITH NOURSE ROGERS STEM SCHOLARSHIP.
Section 3320 of title 38, United States Code, is amended--
(1) in subsection (b)--
(A) by striking paragraph (2);
(B) by redesignating paragraphs (3) and (4) as
paragraphs (2) and (3), respectively; and
(C) in paragraph (3), as so redesignated, in
subparagraph (A)(ii)--
(i) by striking ``60'' and inserting ``45'';
and
(ii) by striking ``90'' and inserting
``67.5'';
(2) in subsection (c)(1)--
(A) by redesignating subparagraphs (A) and (B) as
subparagraphs (C) and (D), respectively; and
(B) by inserting before subparagraph (C), as so
redesignated, the following new subparagraphs:
``(A) Individuals who have used the most number of months of
the educational assistance to which they are entitled under
this chapter.
``(B) Individuals who are using their entitlement under this
chapter to pursue a program of post-secondary education and who
have declared a major in a field referred to in subsection
(b)(3)(A)(i).''; and
(3) in subsection (d), by adding at the end the following new
paragraph:
``(5) An individual who receives a benefit under this section may
only use such benefit after the individual has used all of the
educational assistance to which the individual is entitled under this
chapter.''.
SEC. 3. EXTENSION OF CERTAIN LIMITS ON PAYMENTS OF PENSION.
Section 5503(d)(7) of title 38, United States Code, is amended by
striking ``November 30, 2031'' and inserting ``March 31, 2033''.
Purpose and Summary
H.R. 2034, the ``Edith Nourse Rogers STEM Scholarship
Opportunity Act'' was introduced by Representative Nikki
Budzinski of Illinois on March 11, 2025. The bill, as amended,
would make changes to the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)
post-9/11 GI Bill by reducing the minimum number of credit
hours from 60 to 45 required by applicants to apply for the
Edith Nourse Rogers STEM scholarship program. The legislation
would also remove the eligibility restriction that applicants
of the scholarship must have exhausted post-9/11 GI Bill
benefits within six months to qualify.
Finally, the bill, as amended, would also provide an offset
for the cost of these program changes by extending the current
law restricting the amount of pension paid to VA pension
beneficiaries who are admitted to a VA or Medicaid sponsored
nursing facility.
Background and Need for Legislation
Section 1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the ``Edith Nourse Rogers STEM
Scholarship Opportunity Act''.
Section 2. Modifications to the Edith Nourse Rogers STEM Scholarship
This section aims to reduce barriers for otherwise eligible
students to participate in the scholarship program by reducing
the number of required credit hours. In return, the Committee
believes this would raise overall participation in the
education and job training program for veterans. Recent
reporting from the Government Accountability Office (GAO) found
that student veterans often see a high rate of denials for
eligibility for the program due to credit hour limitations and
the current requirement for student veterans to have exhausted
their post-9/11 GI Bill benefits.\1\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\GAO-24-106492, HIGHER EDUCATION: VA Should Provide Additional
Information to Its Staff and Schools on the Rogers STEM Scholarship.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Over the past 3 years, 3,500 veterans have used the Edith
Nourse Rogers STEM scholarship to continue pursuing certain
degrees after exhausting their post-9/11 GI Bill benefits. Most
of these veterans were pursuing degrees in computer sciences,
health professions, or engineering. The Congressional Budget
Office (CBO) estimates that this legislation would increase
participation in the scholarship program by ten to fifteen
percent.
Section 3. Extension of Certain Limits on Payments of Pension
Under current law (38 U.S.C. Sec. 5503(d)), the amount of
VA pension paid to a veteran with no spouse or child, a
veteran's surviving spouses with no child, or a veteran's child
who is admitted to a VA or Medicaid sponsored nursing facility
is capped at $90 a month. This section would cover the costs of
the other sections of this bill by extending this pension
limitation from November 30, 2031, to March 31, 2033. Because
they receive government sponsored care in a nursing home, these
pension beneficiaries do not require the full amount of pension
to cover their cost of living. The Committee believes this
short-term extension of the current limit on pension payments
is a reasonable way to cover the costs associated with the
other sections of this bill.
Hearings
On June 11, 2025, the Committee on Veterans Affairs
Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity held a legislative hearing
on H.R. 2034 and other bills pending before the subcommittee.
The following witnesses testified:
Dr. Liz Clark, Acting Director, Defense Support
Services, U.S. Department of Defense, Mr. Nick
Pamperin, Executive Director, Veterans Readiness and
Employment, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, who
was accompanied by Mr. Thomas Alphonso, Assistant
Director of Policy and Implementation, Education
Service, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Mr.
Andrew Petrie, Senior Policy Analyst, Veterans
Education and Employment Division, The American Legion,
Mr. Blaze Smith, Director, Veterans Education and
Transition Center, The University of Arizona, Mr.
Matthew Schwartzman, Director, Legislation and Military
Policy, Reserve Organization of America, Ms. Ashlynne
Haycock-Lohmann, Director, Government and Legislative
Affairs, Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors
(TAPS).
The following individuals and organizations submitted
statements for the record:
Dr. Joseph W. Wescott, National Legislative Liaison,
National Association of State Approving Agencies
(NASAA), Mr. Will Hubbard, Vice President for Veterans
and Military Policy, Veterans Education Success (VES),
Ms. Julie Howell, Associate Legislative Director for
Governmental Relations, Paralyzed Veterans of America
(PVA), Mr. Jake Fales, Senior Policy Fellow, and Hannah
Miller, Policy and Communications Fellow, Reserve
Organization of America (ROA), Ms. Tammy Barlet, Vice
President of Government Affairs, Student Veterans of
America (SVA), Ms. Kristina Keenan, Director, National
Legislative Service, Veterans of Foreign Wars of the
United States (VFW).
Subcommittee Consideration
On July 23, 2025, the Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity
was discharged from further consideration of H.R. 2034.
Committee Consideration
On July 23, 2025, the full Committee met in open markup
session, a quorum being present, and ordered H.R. 2034, as
amended, to be reported favorably to the House of
Representatives by voice vote. During consideration of the
bill, the following amendment was considered and agreed to by
voice vote:
An amendment in the nature of a substitute offered by
Representative Nikki Budzinski of Illinois, which would
offset the cost of the bill using the pension offset.
This amendment in the nature of a substitute was agreed
to by voice vote.
A motion by Ranking Member Takano of California to
favorably forward H.R. 2034 to the full Committee on Veterans'
Affairs was adopted by voice vote.
Committee Votes
In compliance with clause 3(b) of rule XIII of the Rules of
the House of Representatives, there were no recorded votes
taken on amendments or in connection with ordering H.R. 2034,
as amended, reported to the House.
Committee Oversight Findings
In compliance with clause 3(c)(1) of rule XIII and clause
(2)(b)(1) of rule X of the Rules of the House of
Representatives, the Committee's oversight findings and
recommendations are reflected in the descriptive portions of
this report.
Statement of General Performance Goals and Objectives
In accordance with clause 3(c)(4) of rule XIII of the Rules
of the House of Representatives, the Committee's performance
goals and objectives are to allow more veterans to pursue STEM
careers and limit restrictions in the field of study.
New Budget Authority, Entitlement Authority,
and Tax Expenditures
In compliance with clause 3(c)(2) of rule XIII of the Rules
of the House of Representatives, the Committee adopts as its
own the estimate of new budget authority, entitlement
authority, or tax expenditures or revenues contained in the
cost estimate prepared by the Director of the Congressional
Budget Office pursuant to section 402 of the Congressional
Budget Act of 1974.
Earmarks and Tax and Tariff Benefits
H.R. 2034, as amended, does not contain any Congressional
earmarks, limited tax benefits, or limited tariff benefits as
defined in clause 9 of rule XXI of the Rules of the House of
Representatives.
Committee Cost Estimate
The Committee adopts as its own the cost estimate on H.R.
2034 as amended, prepared by the Director of the Congressional
Budget Office pursuant to section 402 of the Congressional
Budget Act of 1974.
Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate
Pursuant to clause 3(c)(3) of rule XIII of the Rules of the
House of Representatives, the following is the cost estimate
for H.R. 2034, as amended, provided by the Director of the
Congressional Budget Office pursuant to section 402 of the
Congressional Budget Act of 1974:
H.R. 2034 would make changes to education benefit and
pension programs administered by the Department of Veterans
Affairs (VA). The costs of both programs are paid from
mandatory appropriations and thus are reflected in the budget
as direct spending. CBO estimates that enacting the bill would
decrease net direct spending by $3 million over the 2025-2035
period (see Table 1). The budgetary effects of the legislation
fall within budget functions 550 (health) and 700 (veterans
benefits and services).
STEM Scholarships: Under the Post-9/11 GI Bill, VA pays
tuition for students pursuing approved education programs and
may also provide a housing allowance and book stipend.
Beneficiaries can receive that assistance for up to 36 months.
Through the Edith Nourse Rogers STEM Scholarship, the
department can provide up to nine additional months of those
benefits (up to a maximum of $30,000) to eligible students who
pursue qualified undergraduate degrees in science, technology,
engineering, mathematics, health care, or other fields approved
by VA. In addition to other criteria, to be eligible for that
scholarship, students must have completed at least 60 semester
(or 90 quarter) credit hours and have less than six months of
remaining GI Bill benefits.
Section 2 would make it easier for students to qualify for
that scholarship by reducing the number of credit hours that
they must have completed by 25 percent and by eliminating the
requirement that they have less than six months of GI Bill
benefits remaining. On the basis of information provided by VA,
CBO expects that roughly 450 more students would become
eligible for and use the scholarship each year at an average of
approximately $13,500 per student, for a total cost of $61
million over the 2025-2035 period.
Pensions and Medicaid: Under current law, VA reduces
pension payments to veterans and survivors who reside in
Medicaid nursing homes to $90 per month. That required
reduction expires November 30, 2031. Section 3 of H.R. 2034
would extend that reduction for 16 months, through March 31,
2033. CBO estimates that extending that requirement would
reduce VA benefits by $10 million per month. As a result of
that reduction in beneficiaries' income, Medicaid would pay
more of the cost of their care, increasing spending for that
program by $6 million per month. Thus, enacting section 3 would
reduce net direct spending by $64 million over the 2025-2035
period.
TABLE 1.--ESTIMATED DIRECT SPENDING UNDER H.R. 2034
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Outlays by fiscal year, millions of dollars--
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030 2031 2032 2033 2034 2035 2025-2030 2025-2035
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
STEM Scholarships......................... 0 5 5 6 6 6 6 6 7 7 7 28 61
Pensions and Medicaid.................... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 -40 -24 0 0 0 -64
Total Changes............................. 0 5 5 6 6 6 6 -34 -17 7 7 28 -3
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Budget authority equals outlays for all sections.
The CBO staff contacts for this estimate are Paul B.A.
Holland (for education benefits) and Logan Smith (for pensions
and Medicaid). The estimate was reviewed by Christina Hawley
Anthony, Deputy Director of Budget Analysis.
Phillip L. Swagel,
Director, Congressional Budget Office.
Federal Mandates Statement
The Committee adopts as its own the estimate of Federal
mandates regarding H.R 2034, as amended, prepared by the
Director of the Congressional Budget Office pursuant to section
423 of the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act.
Advisory Committee Statement
No advisory committees within the meaning of section 5(b)
of the Federal Advisory Committee Act would be created by H.R.
2034, as amended.
Statement of Constitutional Authority
Pursuant to Article I, section 8 of the United States
Constitution, H.R. 2034, as amended, is authorized by Congress'
power to ``provide for the common Defense and general Welfare
of the United States.''
Applicability to Legislative Branch
The Committee finds that H.R. 2034, as amended, does not
relate to the terms and conditions of employment or access to
public services or accommodations within the meaning of section
102(b)(3) of the Congressional Accountability Act.
Statement on Duplication of Federal Programs
Pursuant to clause 3(c)(5) of rule XIII of the Rules of the
House of Representatives, the Committee finds that no provision
of H.R. 2034, as amended, establishes or reauthorizes a program
of the Federal Government known to be duplicative of another
Federal program, a program that was included in any report from
the Government Accountability Office to Congress pursuant to
section 21 of Public Law 111-139, or a program related to a
program identified in the most recent Catalog of Federal
Domestic Assistance.
Disclosure of Directed Rulemaking
Pursuant to section 3(i) of H. Res. 5, 115th Cong. (2017),
the Committee estimates that H.R. 2034, as amended, contains no
directed rulemaking that would require the Secretary to
prescribe regulations.
Section-by-Section Analysis of the Legislation
Section 1. Short title
This section would establish the short title of the bill as
the ``Edith Nourse Rogers STEM Scholarship Opportunity Act''.
Section 2. Modifications to the Edith Nourse Rogers STEM Scholarship
This section would expand eligibility for the Edith Nourse
Rodgers STEM Scholarship program by reducing the number of
credit hours completed needed to meet the requirement by
twenty-five percent and eliminating the requirement that
applicants have less than six months of earned VA educational
benefits remaining.
Section 3. Extension of certain limits on payments of pension
This section would extend the limitation of pension payable
to certain veterans, their surviving spouses, and their
children as established in 38 U.S.C. Sec. 5503(d)(7) from
November 30, 2031, to May 31, 2033.
Changes in Existing Law Made by the Bill, as Reported
In compliance with clause 3(e) of rule XIII of the Rules of
the House of Representatives, changes in existing law made by
the bill, as reported, are shown as follows (existing law
proposed to be omitted is enclosed in black brackets, new
matter is printed in italic, and existing law in which no
change is proposed is shown in roman):
Changes in Existing Law Made by the Bill, as Reported
In compliance with clause 3(e) of rule XIII of the Rules of
the House of Representatives, changes in existing law made by
the bill, as reported, are shown as follows (existing law
proposed to be omitted is enclosed in black brackets, new
matter is printed in italics, and existing law in which no
change is proposed is shown in roman):
TITLE 38, UNITED STATES CODE
* * * * * * *
PART III--READJUSTMENT AND RELATED BENEFITS
* * * * * * *
CHAPTER 33--POST-9/11 EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE
* * * * * * *
SUBCHAPTER II--EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE
* * * * * * *
Sec. 3320. Edith Nourse Rogers STEM Scholarship
(a) In General.--Subject to the limitation under subsection
(f), the Secretary shall provide additional benefits to
eligible individuals selected by the Secretary under this
section. Such benefits shall be known as the ``Edith Nourse
Rogers STEM Scholarship''.
(b) Eligibility.--For purposes of this section, an eligible
individual is an individual--
(1) who is or was entitled to educational assistance
under section 3311 of this title;
[(2) who has used all of the educational assistance
to which the individual is entitled under this chapter
or will, based on the individual's rate of usage, use
all of such assistance within 180 days of applying for
benefits under this section;]
[(3)] (2) who applies for assistance under this
section; and
[(4)] (3) who--
(A) is an individual who--
(i) is enrolled in a program of
education leading to a post-secondary
degree that, in accordance with the
guidelines of the applicable regional
or national accrediting agency,
requires at least the standard 120
semester (or 180 quarter) credit hours
for completion in a standard,
undergraduate college degree, or a dual
degree program that includes such an
undergraduate college degree, in--
(I) biological or biomedical
science;
(II) physical science;
(III) science technologies or
technicians;
(IV) computer and information
science and support services;
(V) mathematics or
statistics;
(VI) engineering;
(VII) engineering
technologies or an engineering-
related field;
(VIII) a health profession or
related program;
(IX) an agriculture science
program or a natural resources
science program; or
(X) other subjects and fields
identified by the Secretary as
meeting national needs;
(ii) has completed at least [60] 45
standard semester (or [90] 67.5
quarter) credit hours in a field
referred to in clause (i); or
(B) is an individual who has earned a post-
secondary degree in a field referred to in
subparagraph (A)(i) and is enrolled in a
covered clinical training program for health
care professionals or a program of education
leading to a teaching certification; or
(C) is an individual who has earned a
graduate degree in a field referred to in
subparagraph (A)(i) and is enrolled in a
covered clinical training program for health
care professionals.
(c) Priority.--(1) If the Secretary determines that there are
insufficient funds available in a fiscal year to provide
additional benefits under this section to all eligible
individuals, the Secretary may give priority to the following
eligible individuals:
(A) Individuals who have used the most number of
months of the educational assistance to which they are
entitled under this chapter.
(B) Individuals who are using their entitlement under
this chapter to pursue a program of post-secondary
education and who have declared a major in a field
referred to in subsection (b)(3)(A)(i).
[(A)] (C) Individuals who require the most credit
hours described in subsection (b)(4).
[(B)] (D) Individuals who are entitled to educational
assistance under this chapter by reason of paragraph
(1), (2), (8), (9), (10), or (11) of section 3311(b) of
this title.
(2) The Secretary shall give priority to individuals under
paragraph (1) in the following order:
(A) Individuals who are enrolled in a program of
education leading to an undergraduate degree in a field
referred to in subsection (b)(4)(A)(i).
(B) Individuals who are enrolled in a program of
education leading to a teaching certificate.
(C) Individuals who are enrolled in a dual-degree
program leading to both an undergraduate and graduate
degree in a field referred to in subsection
(b)(4)(A)(i).
(D) Individuals who have earned an undergraduate
degree and are enrolled in a covered clinical training
program for health care professionals.
(E) Individuals who have earned a graduate degree and
are enrolled in a covered clinical training program for
health care professionals.
(d) Amount of Assistance.--(1) The Secretary shall pay to
each eligible individual who receives additional benefits under
this section the monthly amount payable under section 3313 of
this title for not more than 9 months of the program of
education in which the individual is enrolled (adjusted with
respect to the individual pursuant to section 3313(c), as
appropriate), except that the aggregate amount paid to an
individual under this section may not exceed $30,000.
(2) The Secretary may not pay to such an individual an amount
in addition to the amount payable under paragraph (1) by reason
of section 3317 of this title.
(3) An individual who receives additional benefits under this
section may also receive amounts payable by a college or
university pursuant to section 3317 of this title.
(4) Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter or
chapter 36 of this title, any additional benefits under this
section may not be counted toward the aggregate period for
which section 3695 of this title limits an individual's receipt
of allowance or assistance.
(5) An individual who receives a benefit under this section
may only use such benefit after the individual has used all of
the educational assistance to which the individual is entitled
under this chapter.
(e) Prohibition on Transfer.--An individual who receives
additional benefits under this section may not transfer any
amount of such additional benefits under section 3319 of this
title.
(f) Maximum Amount of Total Assistance.--The total amount of
benefits paid to all eligible individuals under this section
may not exceed--
(1) $25,000,000 for fiscal year 2019;
(2) $75,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2020 through
2022; and
(3) $100,000,000 for fiscal year 2023 and each
subsequent fiscal year.
(g) Congressional Notice.--If the Secretary identifies a new
subject or field pursuant to subsection (b)(4)(A)(i)(XI) as
meeting a national need, the Secretary shall submit to Congress
notice of such identification at least 90 days before
conferring eligibility on any individual for purposes of this
section on the basis of such identification, including any
analysis of labor market supply and demand used in identifying
the new subject or field, as applicable.
(h) Covered Clinical Training Program Defined.--In this
section, the term ``covered clinical training program'' means
any clinical training required by a health care professional to
be licensed to practice in a State or locality.
* * * * * * *
PART IV--GENERAL ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS
* * * * * * *
CHAPTER 55--MINORS, INCOMPETENTS, AND OTHER WARDS
* * * * * * *
Sec. 5503. Hospitalized veterans and estates of incompetent
institutionalized veterans
(a)(1)(A) Where any veteran having neither spouse nor child
is being furnished domiciliary care by the Department, no
pension in excess of $90 per month shall be paid to or for the
veteran for any period after the end of the third full calendar
month following the month of admission for such care.
(B) Except as provided in subparagraph (D) of this paragraph,
where any veteran having neither spouse nor child is being
furnished nursing home care by the Department, no pension in
excess of $90 per month shall be paid to or for the veteran for
any period after the end of the third full calendar month
following the month of admission for such care. Any amount in
excess of $90 per month to which the veteran would be entitled
but for the application of the preceding sentence shall be
deposited in a revolving fund at the Department medical
facility which furnished the veteran nursing care, and such
amount shall be available for obligation without fiscal year
limitation to help defray operating expenses of that facility.
(C) No pension in excess of $90 per month shall be paid to or
for a veteran having neither spouse nor child for any period
after the month in which such veteran is readmitted for care
described in subparagraph (A) or (B) of this paragraph and
furnished by the Department if such veteran is readmitted
within six months of a period of care in connection with which
pension was reduced pursuant to subparagraph (A) or (B) of this
paragraph.
(D) In the case of a veteran being furnished nursing home
care by the Department and with respect to whom subparagraph
(B) of this paragraph requires a reduction in pension, such
reduction shall not be made for a period of up to three
additional calendar months after the last day of the third
month referred to in such subparagraph if the Secretary
determines that the primary purpose for the furnishing of such
care during such additional period is for the Department to
provide such veteran with a prescribed program of
rehabilitation services, under chapter 17 of this title,
designed to restore such veteran's ability to function within
such veteran's family and community. If the Secretary
determines that it is necessary, after such period, for the
veteran to continue such program of rehabilitation services in
order to achieve the purposes of such program and that the
primary purpose of furnishing nursing home care to the veteran
continues to be the provision of such program to the veteran,
the reduction in pension required by subparagraph (B) of this
paragraph shall not be made for the number of calendar months
that the Secretary determines is necessary for the veteran to
achieve the purposes of such program.
(2) The provisions of paragraph (1) shall also apply to a
veteran being furnished such care who has a spouse but whose
pension is payable under section 1521(b) of this title. In such
a case, the Secretary may apportion and pay to the spouse, upon
an affirmative showing of hardship, all or any part of the
amounts in excess of the amount payable to the veteran while
being furnished such care which would be payable to the veteran
if pension were payable under section 1521(c) of this title.
(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of this section or
any other provision of law, no reduction shall be made in the
pension of any veteran for any part of the period during which
the veteran is furnished hospital treatment, or institutional
or domiciliary care, for Hansen's disease, by the United States
or any political subdivision thereof.
(c) Where any veteran in receipt of an aid and attendance
allowance described in subsection (r) or (t) of section 1114 of
this title is hospitalized at Government expense, such
allowance shall be discontinued from the first day of the
second calendar month which begins after the date of the
veteran's admission for such hospitalization for so long as
such hospitalization continues. Any discontinuance required by
administrative regulation, during hospitalization of a veteran
by the Department, of increased pension based on need of
regular aid and attendance or additional compensation based on
need of regular aid and attendance as described in subsection
(l) or (m) of section 1114 of this title, shall not be
effective earlier than the first day of the second calendar
month which begins after the date of the veteran's admission
for hospitalization. In case a veteran affected by this
subsection leaves a hospital against medical advice and is
thereafter admitted to hospitalization within six months from
the date of such departure, such allowance, increased pension,
or additional compensation, as the case may be, shall be
discontinued from the date of such readmission for so long as
such hospitalization continues.
(d)(1) For the purposes of this subsection--
(A) the term ``Medicaid plan'' means a State plan for
medical assistance referred to in section 1902(a) of
the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1396a(a)); and
(B) the term ``nursing facility'' means a nursing
facility described in section 1919 of such Act (42
U.S.C. 1396r), other than a facility that is a State
home with respect to which the Secretary makes per diem
payments for nursing home care pursuant to section
1741(a) of this title.
(2) If a veteran having neither spouse nor child is covered
by a Medicaid plan for services furnished such veteran by a
nursing facility, no pension in excess of $90 per month shall
be paid to or for the veteran for any period after the month of
admission to such nursing facility.
(3) Notwithstanding any provision of title XIX of the Social
Security Act, the amount of the payment paid a nursing facility
pursuant to a Medicaid plan for services furnished a veteran
may not be reduced by any amount of pension permitted to be
paid such veteran under paragraph (2) of this subsection.
(4) A veteran is not liable to the United States for any
payment of pension in excess of the amount permitted under this
subsection that is paid to or for the veteran by reason of the
inability or failure of the Secretary to reduce the veteran's
pension under this subsection unless such inability or failure
is the result of a willful concealment by the veteran of
information necessary to make a reduction in pension under this
subsection.
(5)(A) The provisions of this subsection shall apply with
respect to a surviving spouse having no child in the same
manner as they apply to a veteran having neither spouse nor
child.
(B) The provisions of this subsection shall apply with
respect to a child entitled to pension under section 1542 of
this title in the same manner as they apply to a veteran having
neither spouse nor child.
(6) The costs of administering this subsection shall be paid
for from amounts available to the Department of Veterans
Affairs for the payment of compensation and pension.
(7) This subsection expires on [November 30, 2031] March 31,
2033.
* * * * * * *
[all]