VA Work-Study Improvement Act
This bill modifies certain pay and eligibility requirements under the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) work-study program, including minimum wage and timesheet requirements.
The bill expands the list of qualifying work-study activities to include state government, local government, or nonprofit organization activities that would benefit veterans or members of the Armed Forces.
The bill also modifies minimum wage requirements under the work-study program. Under the bill, the hourly minimum wage paid under the work-study program must be the higher of (1) the minimum rate of basic pay for any federal employee (under the general schedule or federal wage system pursuant to specified regulations), (2) the hourly minimum wage in the state where the services are to be performed, or (3) the hourly minimum wage of the local government with jurisdiction over the area in which the services are to be performed.
Additionally, the VA must ensure that (1) an individual participating in a qualifying work-study activity may electronically record such hours, and (2) the supervisor may electronically approve such records.
Finally, the VA must annually publish specified information regarding qualifying work-study activities carried out during the year, including the demographics of individuals participating in the program.
[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 3600 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
118th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 3600
To amend title 38, United States Code, to improve the VA Work-Study
program.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
May 23, 2023
Mr. Cartwright (for himself, Mr. Carson, Ms. Titus, Ms. Jackson Lee,
Mr. Kim of New Jersey, Mr. Wittman, Ms. Ross, Ms. Lee of Pennsylvania,
Mr. Fitzpatrick, Ms. Norton, Mr. Kilmer, Mr. Case, Mr. Lieu, Mr. Trone,
Ms. Williams of Georgia, Mrs. Watson Coleman, Mr. Johnson of Georgia,
Mr. Carl, Mr. Norcross, Ms. Sherrill, Mr. Bishop of Georgia, Mrs.
Torres of California, Mr. Morelle, Mr. Gottheimer, Mr. Landsman, Mr.
Crow, Mr. Moskowitz, Ms. Tokuda, Mr. Thompson of Mississippi, Ms.
Kuster, Mr. Schiff, Ms. Crockett, Ms. Wexton, Mr. Vicente Gonzalez of
Texas, Ms. Craig, Mr. McGarvey, Mr. Ryan, Ms. Budzinski, and Mr. Mrvan)
introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on
Veterans' Affairs
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend title 38, United States Code, to improve the VA Work-Study
program.
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 ``VA Work-Study Improvement Act''.
SEC. 2. IMPROVEMENTS TO VA WORK-STUDY PROGRAM.
(a) Authorized Activities.--Subsection (a)(5) of section 3485 of
title 38, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the
following new subparagraph:
``(L) Any other activity at an agency of a State or local
government or a nonprofit organization that would benefit,
directly or indirectly, veterans or members of the Armed
Forces.''.
(b) Applicable Hourly Minimum Wage.--Paragraph (7) of subsection
(a) of such section is amended to read as follows:
``(7) In this subsection and subsection (e):
``(A) The term `applicable hourly minimum wages' means the
higher of the following wages:
``(i) The minimum rate of basic pay for any Federal
employee under the General Schedule or the Federal Wage
System pursuant to parts 530 and 532 of title 5, Code
of Federal Regulations.
``(ii) The hourly minimum wage under comparable law
of the State in which the services are to be performed.
``(iii) The hourly minimum wage under comparable
law of the local government with jurisdiction over the
area in which the services are to be performed.
``(B) The term `rate of basic pay' has the meaning given
such term in section 8331 of title 5.''.
(c) Electronic Timesheets.--Such section is amended by adding at
the end the following new subsection:
``(f) The Secretary shall ensure that--
``(1) an individual participating in a qualifying work-
study activity may electronically record the hours worked under
such activity; and
``(2) the supervisor of such individual may electronically
approve such records.''.
(d) Publication of Data.--Such section, as amended by subsection
(c), is further amended by adding at the end the following new
subsection:
``(g) On an annual basis, the Secretary shall publish the following
information regarding qualifying work-study activities carried out
during the covered year:
``(1) The number of individuals who participated in a
qualifying work-study activity.
``(2) The demographics of such individuals.
``(3) A description of such activities.
``(4) The wages paid to such individuals.
``(5) The number of hours worked by such individuals.
``(6) A list of the participating educational
institutions.''.
(e) Applicability.--The amendments made by this Act shall apply
with respect to a payment of work-study allowance made under section
3485 of title 38, United States Code, on or after January 1, 2026.
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity.
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