H.R. 6322 — what changed

changed Section 3485 For purposes of title 38, United States Code, is amended by adding at this Act, the end term “covered period” means the following new subsection:period beginning on March 1, 2020, and ending on December 21, 2020.

removed “(f)

removed “(1) In case of an individual who is in receipt of work-study allowance pursuant to an agreement described in subsection (a)(3) as of the date on which an emergency situation occurs and who is unable to continue to perform qualifying work-study activities described in subsection (a)(4) by reason of the emergency situation—

removed “(A) the Secretary may continue to pay work-study allowance under this section or make deductions described in subsection (e)(1) during the period of such emergency situation, notwithstanding the inability of the individual to perform such work-study activities by reason of such emergency situation; and

removed “(B) at the option of the individual, the Secretary shall extend the agreement described in subsection (a)(3) with the individual for any subsequent period of enrollment initiated during the emergency situation, notwithstanding the inability of the individual to perform work-study activities described in subsection (a)(4) by reason of such emergency situation.

removed “(2) The amount of work-study allowance payable to an individual under paragraph (1)(A) during the period of an emergency situation shall be an amount determined by the Secretary but may not exceed the amount that would be payable under subsection (a)(2) if the individual worked 25 hours per week paid during such period.”

added During the covered period, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall apply section 3485 of title 38, United States Code, as if it were amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:

added “(f)

added “(1) In case of an individual who is in receipt of work-study allowance pursuant to an agreement described in subsection (a)(3) as of the date on which an emergency situation occurs and who is unable to continue to perform qualifying work-study activities described in subsection (a)(4) by reason of the emergency situation—

added “(A) the Secretary may continue to pay work-study allowance under this section or make deductions described in subsection (e)(1) during the period of such emergency situation, notwithstanding the inability of the individual to perform such work-study activities by reason of such emergency situation; and

added “(B) at the option of the individual, the Secretary shall extend the agreement described in subsection (a)(3) with the individual for any subsequent period of enrollment initiated during the emergency situation, notwithstanding the inability of the individual to perform work-study activities described in subsection (a)(4) by reason of such emergency situation.

added “(2) The amount of work-study allowance payable to an individual under paragraph (1)(A) during the period of an emergency situation shall be an amount determined by the Secretary but may not exceed the amount that would be payable under subsection (a)(2) if the individual worked 25 hours per week paid during such period.”

removed Section 3699(b)(1) of title 38, United States Code, is amended—

removed “(C) the temporary closure of an educational institution or the temporary closure or termination of a course or program of education by reason of an emergency situation; and”

added During the covered period, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall apply section 3699(b)(1) of title 38, United States Code, as if it were amended—

removed “(i) In the case of an individual eligible for educational assistance under this chapter who is prevented from pursuing the individual's chosen program of education before the expiration of the 10-year period for the use of entitlement under this chapter otherwise applicable under this section because the educational institution closed (temporarily or permanently) under an established policy based on an Executive order of the President or due to an emergency situation, such 10-year period—

removed “(1) shall not run during the period the individual is so prevented from pursuing such program; and

removed “(2) shall again begin running on the first day after the individual is able to resume pursuit of a program of education with educational assistance under this chapter.”

removed “(B) Subsection (i) of section 3031 shall apply with respect to the running of the 15-year period described in paragraphs (4)(A) and (5)(A) of this subsection in the same manner as such subsection applies under section 3031 with respect to the running of the 10-year period described in section 3031(a).”

removed “(C) Emergency situations—In any case in which the Secretary determines that an individual to whom entitlement is transferred under this section has been prevented from pursuing the individual's chosen program of education before the individual attains the age of 26 years because the educational institution closed (temporarily or permanently) under an established policy based on an Executive order of the President or due to an emergency situation, the Secretary shall extend the period during which the individual may use such entitlement for a period equal to the number of months that the individual was so prevented from pursuing the program of education, as determined by the Secretary.”

removed “(g) In any case in which the Secretary determines that a veteran has been prevented from participating in a vocational rehabilitation program under this chapter within the twelve-year period of eligibility prescribed in subsection (a) by reason of an Executive order of the President or due to an emergency situation, such twelve-year period—

removed “(1) shall not run during the period the individual is so prevented from participating such program; and

removed “(2) shall again begin running on the first day after the individual is able to resume participation in such program.”

removed “(3)

removed “(A) In any case in which the Secretary determines that a veteran has been prevented from participating in counseling and placement and postplacement services described in section 3104(a)(2) and (5) of this title by reason of an Executive order of the President or due to an emergency situation, the Secretary shall extend the period during which the Secretary may provide such counseling and placement and postplacement services for the veteran for a period equal to the number of months that the veteran was so prevented from participating in such counseling and services, as determined by the Secretary.

removed “(B) In any case in which the Secretary determines that a veteran has been prevented from participating in a vocational rehabilitation program under this chapter by reason of an Executive order of the President or due to an emergency situation, the Secretary shall extend the period of the veteran’s vocational rehabilitation program for a period equal to the number of months that the veteran was so prevented from participating in the vocational rehabilitation program, as determined by the Secretary.”

changed “(5) In any case in which “(C) the Secretary concerned determines that a person entitled to educational assistance under this chapter has been prevented from using such person’s entitlement by reason temporary closure of an Executive order of the President educational institution or due to an emergency situation, the Secretary concerned shall extend the period temporary closure or termination of entitlement prescribed in subsection (a) for a period equal to the number course or program of months that the person was so prevented from using such entitlement, as determined education by the Secretary.”reason of an emergency situation; and”

added “(i) In the case of an individual eligible for educational assistance under this chapter who is prevented from pursuing the individual's chosen program of education before the expiration of the 10-year period for the use of entitlement under this chapter otherwise applicable under this section because the educational institution closed (temporarily or permanently) under an established policy based on an Executive order of the President or due to an emergency situation, such 10-year period—

added “(1) shall not run during the period the individual is so prevented from pursuing such program; and

added “(2) shall again begin running on the first day after the individual is able to resume pursuit of a program of education with educational assistance under this chapter.”

added “(B) Subsection (i) of section 3031 (as described in section 6 of the Student Veteran Coronavirus Response Act of 2020) shall apply with respect to the running of the 15-year period described in paragraphs (4)(A) and (5)(A) of this subsection in the same manner as such subsection applies under section 3031 with respect to the running of the 10-year period described in section 3031(a).”

added “(C) Emergency situations—In any case in which the Secretary determines that an individual to whom entitlement is transferred under this section has been prevented from pursuing the individual's chosen program of education before the individual attains the age of 26 years because the educational institution closed (temporarily or permanently) under an established policy based on an Executive order of the President or due to an emergency situation, the Secretary shall extend the period during which the individual may use such entitlement for a period equal to the number of months that the individual was so prevented from pursuing the program of education, as determined by the Secretary.”

added “(g) In any case in which the Secretary determines that a veteran has been prevented from participating in a vocational rehabilitation program under this chapter within the twelve-year period of eligibility prescribed in subsection (a) by reason of an Executive order of the President or due to an emergency situation, such twelve-year period—

added “(1) shall not run during the period the individual is so prevented from participating such program; and

added “(2) shall again begin running on the first day after the individual is able to resume participation in such program.”

added “(3)

added “(A) In any case in which the Secretary determines that a veteran has been prevented from participating in counseling and placement and postplacement services described in section 3104(a)(2) and (5) of this title by reason of an Executive order of the President or due to an emergency situation, the Secretary shall extend the period during which the Secretary may provide such counseling and placement and postplacement services for the veteran for a period equal to the number of months that the veteran was so prevented from participating in such counseling and services, as determined by the Secretary.

added “(B) In any case in which the Secretary determines that a veteran has been prevented from participating in a vocational rehabilitation program under this chapter by reason of an Executive order of the President or due to an emergency situation, the Secretary shall extend the period of the veteran’s vocational rehabilitation program for a period equal to the number of months that the veteran was so prevented from participating in the vocational rehabilitation program, as determined by the Secretary.”

added “(5) In any case in which the Secretary concerned determines that a person entitled to educational assistance under this chapter has been prevented from using such person’s entitlement by reason of an Executive order of the President or due to an emergency situation, the Secretary concerned shall extend the period of entitlement prescribed in subsection (a) for a period equal to the number of months that the person was so prevented from using such entitlement, as determined by the Secretary.”

removed In the case of any veteran who the Secretary of Veterans Affairs determines is satisfactorily following a program of employment services provided under section 3104(a)(5) of title 38, United States Code, during period beginning on March 1, 2020, and ending on December 21, 2020, the Secretary may pay the veteran a subsistence allowance, as prescribed in section 3108 of such title for full-time training for the type of program that the veteran was pursuing, for two additional months.