Section 1 Short title
This Act may be cited as the “Veterans Education Assistance Improvement Act”.
Veterans Education Assistance Improvement Act
A BILL
To amend title 38, United States Code, to make certain improvements in the administration of the educational assistance programs of the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes.
Sec. 2 Payment of full monthly housing stipend for veterans enrolled in final semester using educational assistance under Post-9/11 Educational Assistance Program
Housing allowance— Section 3680(a)(3) of title 38, United States Code, is amended—
by redesignating subparagraphs (A) and (B) as clauses (i) and (ii), respectively (and by redesignating each subordinate provision and the margins thereof accordingly);
by striking “Notwithstanding paragraph (1)” and inserting “(A) Notwithstanding paragraph (1)”;
by striking “, including a monthly housing stipend described in section 3313(c) of this title,”; and
by adding at the end the following new subparagraph (B):
“(B) For purposes of providing a monthly housing stipend described in section 3313(c) to an eligible veteran or eligible person for whom the Secretary is providing educational assistance under chapter 33 of this title during a period that is the last semester, term, or academic period pursuant to subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall treat the veteran or person as pursuing a program of education on more than a half-time basis.”
Application— The amendments made by subsection (a) shall take effect on the date of the enactment of this Act and apply with respect to a quarter, semester, or term, as applicable, commencing on or after August 1, 2023.
Sec. 3 Notice of Department of Veterans Affairs rulemakings affecting the educational assistance programs of the Department
In general— Subchapter III of chapter 36 of title 38, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new section:
“3699C. Notice of rulemakings relating to educational assistance programs
“In the case of a rulemaking by the Secretary that is not subject to notice requirements under section 553(b)(A) of title 5, and that relates to any educational assistance program of the Department, the Secretary may not implement the rule before the date that is 180 days after the date on which the Secretary makes available to students, educational institutions, and the Committees on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and House of Representatives notice of, and justification for, the rulemaking.”
Clerical amendment— The table of sections at the beginning of such chapter is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 3699B the following new item:
Effective date— Section 3699C of title 38, United States Code, as added by subsection (a), shall take effect on the date of the enactment of this Act and apply with respect to a rulemaking on or after August 1, 2024.
Sec. 4 Notice to educational institutions of risk-based surveys
Section 3673A(d) of title 38, United States Code, is amended by striking “one business day” and inserting “two business days”.
Sec. 5 Multi-year waivers for educational institutions
Accredited courses— Section 3675(b) of title 38, United States Code, is amended—
by redesignating paragraphs (1) through (4) as subparagraphs (A) through (D);
by inserting “(1)” before “As a condition”; and
by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
“(2) The Secretary may waive the requirement under paragraph (1)(D) for an educational institution for multiple years.”
Conforming amendment— Section 3672(b)(2)(A) is amended by inserting “(A) and (B)” after “3675(b)(1)”.