Veterans Education and Technical Skills Opportunity Act of 2025 or the VETS Opportunity Act of 2025
This bill addresses the administration of and eligibility for certain Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) educational assistance benefits and programs.
The bill modifies the process for repaying service members and veterans who paid to keep benefits under the Montgomery GI Bill, but later chose to utilize Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits. Specifically, the bill requires that the VA issue a repayment within 60 days of an individual exhausting their eligibility for Post-9/11 benefits, regardless of their housing stipend eligibility.
The bill also modifies which independent study programs are covered under veterans’ educational assistance benefits. The bill requires independent study programs that lead to a certificate that reflects graduation from a course of study to include regular and substantive interaction between students and instructors. Additionally, the bill allows such independent study programs to be offered by any institutions of higher education, including for-profit institutions, that are approved to participate in the Department of Education’s financial assistance programs.
Upon receiving orders for active service, inactive duty training, or state active duty, the bill authorizes a member of the Armed Forces or reserves to enter into an agreement with their educational institution to complete a course of education to the satisfaction of the institution if they have completed at least half of the course.
The bill extends through March 31, 2033, a pension cap for veterans who are being furnished VA domiciliary care.
[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 1458 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 1458
To amend title 38, United States Code, to modify the criteria for
approval of certain independent study programs for purposes of the
educational assistance programs of the Department of Veterans Affairs.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
February 21, 2025
Mr. Ciscomani (for himself and Mr. Davis of North Carolina) introduced
the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Veterans'
Affairs
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend title 38, United States Code, to modify the criteria for
approval of certain independent study programs for purposes of the
educational assistance programs 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 ``Veterans Education and Technical
Skills Opportunity Act of 2025'' or the ``VETS Opportunity Act of
2025''.
SEC. 2. TREATMENT OF CERTAIN INDEPENDENT STUDY PROGRAMS UNDER
EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS OF DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS
AFFAIRS.
(a) In General.--Section 3680A(a)(4)(A)(ii)(III) of title 38,
United States Code (as amended by the Senator Elizabeth Dole 21st
Century Veterans Healthcare and Benefits Improvement Act (Public Law
118-210; 138 Stat. 2773)), is further amended--
(1) by inserting ``that requires regular and substantive
interaction between students and instructors'' after ``course
of study'';
(2) in item (aa), by striking ``; or'' and inserting a
semicolon;
(3) in item (bb), by striking ``; and'' and inserting ``;
or''; and
(4) by adding at the end by following new item:
``(cc) an institution of
higher education, as such term
is defined in section 102 of
the Higher Education Act of
1965 (20 U.S.C. 1002), that is
approved to participate or
participating in the student
financial assistance programs
authorized by title IV of that
Act; and''.
(b) Applicability.--The amendment made by subsection (a) shall
apply with respect to a quarter, semester, or term, as applicable, that
begins on or after August 1, 2025.
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity.
Subcommittee Hearings Held
Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee by Voice Vote.
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Veterans' Affairs. H. Rept. 119-308.
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Veterans' Affairs. H. Rept. 119-308.
Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 262.
Mr. Bost moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H1933-1935)
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DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 1458.
Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H1933-1934)
On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H1933-1934)
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.