Veterans Rehabilitation and Training Improvements Act of 2009

Veterans Rehabilitation and Training Improvements Act of 2009 - Requires the amount of subsistence allowance paid to a veteran for a month in which the veteran participates in a Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) rehabilitation program to be equal to the national average of the basic allowance for housing paid to a member of the Armed Forces in pay grade E-5.

Authorizes the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to reimburse a veteran who successfully completes a VA rehabilitation program for costs incurred as a direct consequence of program participation, including child care expenses.

Repeals the 2600 per-fiscal-year limit on veterans who may participate in the VA program of independent living services and assistance.

[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Printing Office]
[S. 514 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

111th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                 S. 514

     To amend title 38, United States Code, to enhance vocational 
     rehabilitation benefits for veterans, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             March 3, 2009

   Mr. Akaka introduced the following bill; which was read twice and 
             referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
     To amend title 38, United States Code, to enhance vocational 
     rehabilitation benefits for veterans, and for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Veterans Rehabilitation and Training 
Improvements Act of 2009''.

SEC. 2. SUBSISTENCE ALLOWANCE FOR VETERANS PARTICIPATING IN A PROGRAM 
              OF REHABILITATION.

    (a) Modification of Amount of Subsistence Allowance.--Subsection 
(b) of section 3108 of title 38, United States Code, is amended to read 
as follows:
    ``(b) Except as otherwise provided in this section, the amount of 
the subsistence allowance to be paid to a veteran under this chapter 
for a month during which the veteran participates in a rehabilitation 
program under this chapter shall be the amount equal to the national 
average of the amount of basic allowance for housing payable under 
section 403 of title 37 for that month for a member of the uniformed 
services in pay grade E-5 with or without dependents, as applicable.''.
    (b) Effective Date.--The amendment made by subsection (a) shall 
take effect on October 1, 2009, and shall apply with respect to 
subsistence allowances payable under chapter 31 of title 38, United 
States Code, for months beginning on or after that date.

SEC. 3. REIMBURSEMENT FOR COSTS OF PARTICIPATION IN A PROGRAM OF 
              REHABILITATION FOLLOWING SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION OF PROGRAM 
              OF REHABILITATION.

    Section 3108 of title 38, United States Code, is amended by adding 
at the end the following new subsection:
    ``(j)(1) The Secretary may, under such regulations as the Secretary 
shall prescribe for purposes of this subsection, pay to each veteran 
who successfully completes participation in a rehabilitation program 
under this chapter an amount to reimburse the veteran for costs 
incurred by veteran as a direct consequence of participation in the 
program. The costs for which payment may be made under this subsection 
may include child care expenses, costs for clothing for interviews for 
employment, and such other costs as the Secretary may prescribe in such 
regulations. The amounts payable in reimbursement for any such costs 
shall be the amounts determined in accordance with such regulations.
    ``(2) Any payment of costs in reimbursement of a veteran under this 
subsection is in addition to the subsistence allowance payable to the 
veteran under this section.''.

SEC. 4. REPEAL OF LIMITATION ON NUMBER OF VETERANS ENROLLED IN PROGRAMS 
              OF INDEPENDENT LIVING SERVICES AND ASSISTANCE.

    Section 3120 of title 38, United States Code, is amended--
            (1) by striking subsection (e); and
            (2) by redesignating subsection (f) as subsection (e).
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