Veterans Education Disaster Assistance Act
This bill increases Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Post-9/11 educational assistance for veterans pursuing a course of education at an institute of higher education that is closed for at least four weeks because of natural disasters and who pursue such course, or an alternative course, solely by distance learning.
The duration of monthly stipends is extended from four months to the shorter of four months or the period necessary to complete the quarter, semester, term, or academic period during the institute's closure. Such stipend is increased from 50% to the full amount that a veteran would be entitled to if pursuing such course of at an institution of higher education.
An additional lump sum is made available for books and other educational costs made necessary by such distance learning.
[Congressional Bills 115th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 3940 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
115th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 3940
To amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for housing stipends
and supply fee payments under the Post-9/11 Educational Assistance
Program for individuals affected by extended school closures due to
natural disasters.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
October 4, 2017
Mr. Poe of Texas (for himself, Mr. Al Green of Texas, Mr. Vela, Ms.
Eddie Bernice Johnson of Texas, Mr. Brady of Texas, Mr. Bishop of
Georgia, Mr. Carter of Texas, Mr. Gene Green of Texas, Mr. Babin, Mr.
Veasey, Mr. Blumenauer, Mr. Schrader, Mr. Walden, Mr. Gonzalez of
Texas, Mr. O'Rourke, Mr. Sessions, Mr. McCaul, and Mr. Ryan of Ohio)
introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on
Veterans' Affairs
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for housing stipends
and supply fee payments under the Post-9/11 Educational Assistance
Program for individuals affected by extended school closures due to
natural disasters.
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 Education Disaster
Assistance Act''.
SEC. 2. EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE UNDER POST-9/11 EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE
PROGRAM DURING EXTENDED SCHOOL CLOSURES DUE TO NATURAL
DISASTERS.
Section 3313 of title 38, United States Code, is amended by adding
at the end the following new subsection:
``(k) School Closure During Natural Disasters.--
``(1) In general.--An individual described in paragraph (2)
shall be entitled to the following:
``(A) A monthly stipend in the amount to which the
individual would be entitled were the individual
pursuing the course of education at the institution of
higher education.
``(B) An additional lump sum amount for any books,
supplies, equipment, and other educational costs
necessary by reason of pursuing the course solely by
distance learning or replacing the course with an
alternative course of education pursued solely by
distance learning.
``(2) Individual described.--An individual described in
this paragraph is an individual pursuing a course of education
at an institution of higher education using educational
assistance under this chapter who--
``(A) is forced to discontinue pursuing such course
at such institution by reason of a school closure
described under paragraph (4); and
``(B) opts to--
``(i) pursue that course of education
solely by distance learning; or
``(ii) pursue an alternative course of
education solely by distance learning.
``(3) Duration.--The duration of the monthly stipends
payable to an individual under paragraph (1)(A) shall be the
shorter of the following:
``(A) The period of time necessary to complete the
quarter, semester, term or academic period during which
the school closure described in paragraph (4) occurs.
``(B) Four months.
``(4) School closure.--A school closure described in this
paragraph is the closure of an institution of higher
education--
``(A) by reason of a natural disaster;
``(B) for a period of time that--
``(i) the institution confirms will last
for four weeks or longer; or
``(ii) the institution describes as
indefinite and that endures for a period of
four weeks or longer; and
``(C) that the Secretary confirms is covered for
purposes of this subsection.
``(5) Natural disaster defined.--In this subsection, the
term `natural disaster' means a specific weather event or earth
process, including a hurricane, tornados, wildfire or forest
fire, earthquake, avalanche, mudslide, hailstorm, thunderstorm,
lightning storm, freeze, blizzard, sinkhole, or other
disastrous event that occurs as a result of such an event or
process, that the President or the governor of a State declares
a natural disaster.
``(6) No charge to entitlement.--No additional charge shall
be made to the entitlement of any individual to educational
assistance under this chapter by reason of a payment under this
subsection.''.
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity.
Committee Hearings Held.
Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee by Voice Vote .
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