Student Veterans Housing Support Act

Student Veterans Housing Support Act

This bill provides a full monthly housing stipend, eliminating the current 50% stipend, for a veteran pursuing a program of education on a more than half-time basis solely through distance learning.

An individual pursuing a degree program on a more than half-time basis shall receive a monthly housing stipend for the month immediately preceding the first month of the program, and in an amount equal to one for a month during which the individual pursues the program.

Housing allowances paid to veterans and eligible persons enrolled in courses may continue during periods:

• when the schools are temporarily closed;
• between consecutive school terms where such veterans or persons transfer from one approved educational institution to another approved educational institution if the period between such consecutive terms does not exceed 30 days; or
• between school terms if the period between them does not exceed 8 weeks, and both the preceding and following terms are not shorter than such period, or if the period falls between consecutive spring and fall semesters and the eligible veteran or person resides during such period within the educational institution's ZIP code area.

Benefits provided under this Act shall be in addition to any other veterans' educational benefits provided to an individual.

[Congressional Bills 114th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2465 Introduced in House (IH)]

114th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 2465

To amend title 38, United States Code, to make certain improvements to 
  the monthly housing stipend payable under the Post-9/11 Educational 
       Assistance Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                              May 20, 2015

Mr. Jolly (for himself and Mr. Loebsack) introduced the following bill; 
        which was referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
To amend title 38, United States Code, to make certain improvements to 
  the monthly housing stipend payable under the Post-9/11 Educational 
       Assistance Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs.

    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 ``Student Veterans Housing Support 
Act''.

SEC. 2. IMPROVEMENTS TO HOUSING STIPEND BENEFITS PAYABLE UNDER POST-9/
              11 EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM OF DEPARTMENT OF 
              VETERANS AFFAIRS.

    (a) Housing Stipend for Individuals Pursuing Programs of Education 
Through Distance Learning.--Section 3313(c)(1)(B) of title 38, United 
States Code, is amended--
            (1) in clause (i)--
                    (A) in the matter preceding subclause (I), by 
                inserting ``(including a program of education pursued 
                solely through distance learning)'' after ``program of 
                education''; and
                    (B) in subclause (I), by inserting ``(except in the 
                case of an individual pursuing an program of education 
                solely through distance learning, the ZIP code area in 
                which the individual resides)'' after ``institution of 
                higher learning'';
            (2) by striking clause (iii); and
            (3) by redesignating clause (iv) as clause (iii).
    (b) Transitional Housing Stipend for Individuals Pursuing College 
Degrees.--Section 3313(c)(1)(B) of title 38, United States Code, as 
amended by subsection (a), is further amended by adding at the end the 
following new clause:
                    ``(iv) In the case of an individual who pursues a 
                program of education described in clause (i), for the 
                month immediately preceding the first month in which 
                the individual pursues such program of education, a 
                monthly housing stipend in the amount payable under 
                such clause for a month during which the individual 
                pursues the program of education. Any benefits provided 
                to an individual under this clause are in addition to 
                any other educational assistance benefits provided to 
                the individual under this chapter.''.
    (c) Reinstatement of Authority To Make Certain Interval Payments.--
Section 3680 of title 38, United States Code, is amended--
            (1) in subsection (a), by striking ``Notwithstanding the 
        foregoing'' and all that follows; and
            (2) by inserting at the end the following new subsection:
    ``(h) Interval Payments.--(1) Notwithstanding subsection (a), the 
Secretary may, subject to such regulations as the Secretary shall 
prescribe, continue to pay allowances to eligible veterans and eligible 
persons enrolled in courses set forth in subsection (a)(1) during--
            ``(A) periods when the schools are temporarily closed under 
        an established policy based upon an Executive order of the 
        President or due to an emergency situation;
            ``(B) periods between consecutive school terms where such 
        veterans or persons transfer from one approved educational 
        institution to another approved educational institution for the 
        purpose of enrolling in and pursuing a similar course at the 
        second institution if the period between such consecutive terms 
        does not exceed 30 days; or
            ``(C) periods between school terms where the educational 
        institution certifies the enrollment of the eligible veteran or 
        eligible person on an individual term basis--
                    ``(i) if--
                            ``(I) the period between those terms does 
                        not exceed eight weeks; and
                            ``(II) both the terms preceding and 
                        following the period are not shorter in length 
                        than the period; or
                    ``(ii) if--
                            ``(I) the period falls between consecutive 
                        spring and fall semesters; and
                            ``(II) the eligible veteran or eligible 
                        person provides proof of residence within the 
                        ZIP code area of the educational institution 
                        during that period.
    ``(2) Any benefits provided to an individual under this subsection 
are in addition to any other educational assistance benefits provided 
to the individual under this title.''.
    (d) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall take 
effect on the date of the enactment of this Act and apply with respect 
to a month beginning after the date of the enactment of this Act.
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