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Bill
Notes

H.R. 2167 — what changed

GI Bill National Emergency Extended Deadline Act

From Introduced in House to Reported in House. 5 added between Introduced in House and Reported in House.

Sec. 3 Extension of period of eligibility by reason of school closures due to emergency and other situations under Department of Veterans Affairs training and rehabilitation program for veterans with service-connected disabilities

added

added Section 3103 of title 38, United States Code, is amended—

(1)
added in subsection (a), by striking “or (g)” and inserting “(g), or (h)”; and
(2)
added by adding at the end the following new subsection:

added “(h)

added “(1) In the case of a veteran who is eligible for a vocational rehabilitation program under this chapter and who is prevented from participating in the vocational rehabilitation program within the period of eligibility prescribed in subsection (a) because of a covered reason, as determined by the Secretary, such period of eligibility—

added “(A) shall not run during the period the veteran is so prevented from participating in such program; and

added “(B) shall again begin running on a date determined by the Secretary that is—

added “(i) not earlier than the first day after the veteran is able to resume participation in a vocational rehabilitation program under this chapter; and

added “(ii) not later than 90 days after that day.

added “(2) In this subsection, a covered reason is—

added “(A) the temporary or permanent closure of an educational institution by reason of an emergency situation; or

added “(B) another reason that prevents the veteran from participating in the vocational rehabilitation program, as determined by the Secretary.”

Sec. 4 Department of Veterans Affairs disapproval of courses offered by public institutions of higher learning that do not charge veterans the in-State tuition rate for purposes of Survivors’ and Dependents’ Educational Assistance Program

added
(a)
added In general— Section 3679(c) of title 38, United States Code, is amended—
(1)
added in paragraph (1), by striking “or 33” and inserting “33, or 35”;
(2)
added in paragraph (2), by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:

added “(D) An individual who is entitled to assistance under section 3510 of this title.”

(3)
added in paragraph (6), by striking “and 33” and inserting “33, and 35”.
(b)
added Conforming amendments— Section 3679(e) of such title is amended—
(1)
added in paragraph (1)—
(A)
added in subparagraph (A), by striking “or 33” and inserting “, 33, or 35”; and
(B)
added in subparagraph (B), by striking “or 33” and inserting “33, or 35”; and
(2)
added in paragraph (2), by striking “or 33” and inserting “33, or 35”.
(c)
added Effective date— The amendments made by this Act shall take effect on the date of the enactment of this Act and shall apply with respect to an academic period that begins on or after August 1, 2022.

Sec. 5 Improvements to information technology services used to process claims for educational assistance

added
(a)
added Modern information technology service— The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall implement an information technology service to process claims for educational assistance under chapters 30, 33, 35, and 36 of title 38, United States Code, using one or more commercial software systems. The Secretary shall complete such implementation not later than August 1, 2024.
(b)
added Required capabilities— The Secretary shall ensure that the modern information technology service under subsection (a) has the following capabilities:
(1)
added As compared to legacy information technology systems—
(A)
added the ability to process claims faster and in a more efficient manner by improving processing integration and accuracy;
(B)
added improved data exchange and reporting; and
(C)
added improved customer integration and simplification of the online experience.
(2)
added Timely communication by employees of the Department of Veterans Affairs to individuals and educational institutions using an online portal that can provide real-time information on claims for educational assistance.
(3)
added The ability to be customized to address future capabilities required by law.
(4)
added Fully automated to the extent practicable for all original and supplemental claims, including with respect to calculating accurate awards.
(5)
added The ability for individuals entitled to educational assistance to electronically apply for, withdraw from, and amend such entitlement, and to reallocate a transferred entitlement.
(6)
added The ability to electronically process changes made by educational institutions.
(7)
added The ability to verify attendance at an educational institution.
(8)
added The ability to process validations made by an educational institution.
(c)
added Initial report— Not later than 120 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the Committees on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Representatives and the Senate a report containing information on the cost, schedule, and performance of the project for implementing such system, including, with respect to such project, the following:
(1)
added An estimate of acquisition, implementation, and life cycle costs (including all direct and indirect costs to acquire, implement, operate, and maintain such system).
(2)
added An intended implementation schedule indicating significant milestones, initial operating capability, and full operating capability or completion.
(3)
added Key business, functional, or performance objectives.
(4)
added With respect to both original claims and supplemental claims processed on a monthly basis, statistics regarding—
(A)
added the number of such claims processed using legacy information systems;
(B)
added the number of such claims that were off-ramped and processed manually; and
(C)
added the number of such claims estimated to be processed using the modern information technology service.
(5)
added The amount of savings that are estimated to be realized from using the modern information technology service rather than legacy information technology systems.
(6)
added The estimated accuracy of processing claims.
(7)
added The estimated timeliness for—
(A)
added processing original claims; and
(B)
added processing supplemental claims.
(8)
added A description of how the modern information technology service will—
(A)
added automate the processing of original claims; and
(B)
added automate the processing of supplemental claims.
(d)
added Updated information—
(1)
added Annual reports— On an annual basis during the period in which the Secretary is implementing the modern information technology service, the Secretary shall submit to the Committees on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Representatives and the Senate a report containing updated information regarding the matters specified in subsection (c). Each such updated report shall identify any changes to the cost, schedule, or performance of the project to implement such system.
(2)
added Notification—
(A)
added Requirement— Not later than 60 days after the date on which an action described in subparagraph (B) occurs, the Secretary shall submit to the Committees on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Representatives and the Senate a notification of such action, including a description of and explanation for such action.
(B)
added Action described— An action described in this subparagraph is, with respect to the project to implement the modern information technology service, any of the following:
(i)
added With respect to the acquisition, implementation, or life cycle cost of the project, or an increment therein, a change or variance that is 10 percent or greater compared to the amount identified the most recent report submitted under paragraph (1).
(ii)
added With respect to the schedule for achieving a significant milestone, initial operating capability, or final completion of the project, a change or variance that is 180 days or greater compared to the schedule identified the most recent report submitted under paragraph (1).
(iii)
added With respect to the performance, an instance where a key business, functional, or performance objective is not attained, or is not anticipated to be attained, in whole or in part.
(e)
added Authorization of appropriations— There is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs for fiscal years 2022 through 2024 a total of $250,000,000 to carry out this section.
(f)
added Definitions— In this section:
(1)
added The term legacy information technology system means an information technology system used by the Department of Veterans Affairs to process claims for educational assistance under chapters 30, 33, 35, and 36 of title 38, United States Code, before the date on which the Secretary of Veterans Affairs awards a contract under subsection (a) for the modern information technology service.
(2)
added The term modern information technology service means the information technology service implemented under subsection (a) to process claims for educational assistance under chapters 30, 33, 35, and 36 of title 38, United States Code.

Sec. 6 Time period for eligibility under Survivors' And Dependents' Educational Assistance Program of Department of Veterans Affairs

added
(a)
added In general— Section 3512 of title 38, United States Code, is amended—
(1)
added by redesignating subsection (h) as subsection (f); and
(2)
added by adding at the end the following new subsection:

added “(g) Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, the following persons may be afforded educational assistance under this chapter at any time after August 1, 2023, and without regard to the age of the person:

added “(1) A person who first becomes an eligible person on or after August 1, 2023.

added “(2) A person who—

added “(A) first becomes an eligible person before August 1, 2023; and

added “(B) has not received any payment of educational assistance under this chapter before such date.”

(b)
added Conforming amendments— Such section is further amended—
(1)
added in subsection (a), by striking “The educational” and inserting “Except as provided in subsection (g), the educational”;
(2)
added in subsection (b)—
(A)
added in paragraph (1)(A), by inserting “subsection (g) or” after “provided in”; and
(B)
added in paragraph (2), by striking “Notwithstanding” and inserting “Except as provided in subsection (g), notwithstanding”; and
(3)
added in subsection (e), by striking “No person” and inserting “Except as provided in subsection (g), no person”.

Sec. 7 Pilot program on short-term fellowship programs

added
(a)
added Authority— The Assistant Secretary of Labor for Veterans' Employment and Training shall carry out a pilot program under which a State may use a grant or contract under section 4102A(b)(5) of title 38, United States Code, to carry out a short-term fellowship program.
(b)
added Locations; agreements— The Secretary shall select at least three, but not more than five, States to carry out a short-term fellowship program pursuant to subsection (a). Each such State shall enter into an agreement with a non-profit organization to carry out such program.
(c)
added Short-term fellowship program— Each short-term fellowship program carried out by a State pursuant to subsection (a) shall—
(1)
added consist of veterans participating as fellows with an employer for a period not exceeding 20 weeks;
(2)
added provide to such veterans a monthly stipend during such period; and
(3)
added provide to such veterans an opportunity to be employed on a long-term basis with the employer following such period.
(d)
added Amount of stipend— The amount of the stipend provided to a veteran pursuant to subsection (c)(2) for a month shall be the amount equal to the amount of the wages earned by the veteran during that month for participating in the fellowship
(e)
added Comptroller General report— Not later than four years after the date on which the pilot program commences under this section, the Comptroller General of the United States shall submit to the Committees on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Representatives and the Senate a report on the pilot program.
(f)
added Definition of State— In this section, the term “State” has the meaning given such term in section 4101(6) of title 38, United States Code.
(g)
added Authorization of appropriations— In addition to funds made available under section 4102A(b)(5) of title 38, United States Code, there is authorized to be appropriated to the Assistant Secretary to carry out the pilot program under this section $15,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2021 through 2025.