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Reforming Education for Veterans Act
To amend title 38, United States Code, to make certain improvements to the laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs relating to educational assistance, and for other purposes.
Summary
This bill amends the Veterans Affairs education assistance laws to provide covered members with three options when called to military service: withdraw from education, take a leave of absence, or enter into an agreement with their educational institution to complete their course (if they have completed at least half). The bill streamlines VA compliance surveys by allowing multi-campus educational institutions with one school certifying official to complete a single survey instead of multiple ones. It also requires different notice periods for compliance surveys depending on whether the institution has a database system (15 business days or 10 business days), and mandates that the VA notify school certifying officials within 14 business days of updating the official handbook.
AI-generated plain-language summary of the bill text — neutral, and may be imperfect. See the full text below for the exact wording.
Sponsor (1)
- Rep. James, John [R-MI-10] (R-MI)
Actions (6)
- Apr 9, 2025 Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee (Amended) by Voice Vote. · house
- Apr 9, 2025 Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held · house
- Mar 10, 2025 Subcommittee Hearings Held · house
- Mar 10, 2025 Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity. · house
- Feb 24, 2025 Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs. · house
- Feb 24, 2025 Introduced in House
More bills on these subjects (8)
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Similar bills (6)
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Text versions (1)
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Full text
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
February 24, 2025
Mr. James 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 laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs relating to educational assistance, 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 “Reforming Education for Veterans Act”.
SEC. 2. ABSENCE FROM CERTAIN EDUCATION DUE TO CERTAIN SERVICE.
(a) Options.—Section 3691A of title 38, United States Code, is amended by striking paragraph (1) of subsection (a) and inserting the following:
“(1) A covered member may, after receiving orders to enter a period of covered service—
“(A) withdraw from covered education;
“(B) take a leave of absence from covered education; or
“(C) subject to subsection (d), enter into an agreement with the institution concerned to complete a course of covered education to the satisfaction of such institution concerned.”.
(b) Conforming Amendment.—Such subsection is further amended, in paragraph (2)(A), by striking “or takes a leave of absence” and inserting “, takes a leave of absence, or enters into an agreement”.
(c) Agreement.—Such section is further amended by—
(1) redesignating subsection (d) as subsection (e); and
(2) by inserting, after subsection (c), the following new subsection (d):
“(d) Agreement With Institution Concerned.—A covered member may enter into an agreement under subsection (a) only if the covered member has completed at least half of a course of covered education.”.
(d) Section Heading.—Such section is amended by striking the heading and inserting “Absence from certain education due to certain service”.
(e) Table of Sections.—The table of sections at the beginning of chapter 36 of such title is amended by striking the item relating to section 3691A and inserting the following new item:
“3691A. Absence from certain education due to certain service.”.
SEC. 3. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS COMPLIANCE SURVEYS.
Section 3693 of title 38, United States Code, is amended—
(1) in subsection (a), by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
“(3) In conducting annual compliance surveys under this subsection, the Secretary shall ensure that an educational institution or training establishment with multiple campuses is only required to complete one such survey if one school certifying official certifies veteran enrollment for all such campuses.”;
(2) in subsection (c)—
(A) by striking “not more than 10 business days of notice”;
(B) by striking “this section.” and inserting “this section—”; and
(C) by adding at the end the following new paragraphs:
“(1) in the case of an educational institution or training establishment with a time stamp database collection feature, not more than 15 business days of notice; and
“(2) in the case of any other educational institution or training establishment, not more than 10 business days of notice.”; and
(3) by striking subsection (d) and inserting the following:
“(d) Definitions.—In this section:
“(1) The terms ‘educational institution’ and ‘training establishment’ have the meanings given such terms in section 3452 of this title.
“(2) The term ‘school certifying official’ means an employee of an educational institution with primary responsibility for certifying veteran enrollment at the educational institution.”.
SEC. 4. NOTIFICATION OF SCHOOL CERTIFYING OFFICIALS OF HANDBOOK UPDATES.
(a) In General.—Not later than 14 business days after updating the school certifying official handbook of the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall provide notice to all school certifying officials of such update.
(b) School Certifying Official Defined.—The term “school certifying official” means an employee of an educational institution with primary responsibility for certifying veteran enrollment at the educational institution. <all>
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