[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 3339 Placed on Calendar Senate (PCS)]
Calendar No. 902
110th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 3339
[Report No. 110-433]
To amend chapter 33 of title 38, United States Code, to clarify and
improve authorities relating to the availability of post-9/11 veterans
educational assistance, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
July 26, 2008
Mr. Akaka, from the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, reported the
following original bill; which was read twice and placed on the
calendar
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend chapter 33 of title 38, United States Code, to clarify and
improve authorities relating to the availability of post-9/11 veterans
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. CLARIFICATION AND IMPROVEMENT OF AUTHORITIES RELATING TO
POST-9/11 EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE FOR MEMBERS OF THE ARMED
FORCES AND VETERANS.
(a) Modification of Base Amounts of Educational Assistance.--
Section 3313(c)(1) of title 38, United States Code, is amended--
(1) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``may not exceed'' and
all that follows and inserting ``may not exceed the amount as
follows:
``(i) In the case of an individual enrolled
in an institution of higher learning located in
the United States, the maximum amount of
established charges regularly charged in-State
students for full-time pursuit of approved
programs of education for undergraduates by the
public institution of higher learning offering
approved programs of education in the State in
which the individual is enrolled that has the
highest rate of regularly charged established
charges for such programs of education among
all public institutions of higher learning in
such State offering such programs of education.
``(ii) In the case of an individual
enrolled in an institution of higher learning
located in the United States who is pursuing a
program of education at a branch of such
institution that is located outside the United
States, the maximum amount of established
charges regularly charged in-State students for
full-time pursuit of approved programs of
education for undergraduates by the public
institution of higher learning offering
approved programs of education in the State in
which is located the institution in which the
individual is enrolled that has the highest
rate of regularly charged established charges
for such programs of education among all public
institutions of higher learning in such State
offering such programs of education.
``(iii) In the case of an individual
enrolled in an institution of higher learning
not located in the United States, the average
amount of established charges charged in-State
students for full-time pursuit of approved
programs of education for undergraduates by
public institutions of higher learning
throughout the United States during the
preceding academic year.''; and
(2) in subparagraph (B)(i), by striking ``monthly housing
stipend amount'' and all that follows and inserting ``monthly
housing stipend in an amount as follows:
``(I) In the case of an individual
enrolled in an institution of higher
learning located in the United States,
an amount equal to the monthly amount
of the basic allowance for housing
payable under section 403 of title 37
for a member with dependents in pay
grade E-5 residing in the military
housing area that encompasses all or
the majority portion of the ZIP code
area in which is located the
institution of higher learning at which
the individual is enrolled.
``(II) In the case of an individual
enrolled in an institution of higher
learning located outside the United
States, an amount equal to the average
monthly amount of the basic allowance
for housing payable under section 403
of title 37 for a member with
dependents in pay grade E-5 residing in
the continental United States.''.
(b) Public-Private Contributions for Additional Educational
Assistance.--
(1) In general.--Subsection (a) of section 3317 of such
title is amended by striking the first sentence and inserting
the following new sentences: ``The Secretary shall carry out a
program under which a college or university (other than a
proprietary for-profit college or university) may, through
voluntary contributions, cover a portion of the established
charges for an approved program of education of an individual
entitled to educational assistance under this chapter that
would not otherwise be covered by section 3313(c)(1)(A).
Subject to subsection (d), such contributions shall be matched
by equivalent contributions toward such costs by the
Secretary.''.
(2) Requirements for participating institutions.--
Subsection (c) of such section is amended to read as follows:
``(c) Requirements for Participating Institutions.--A college or
university participating in the program under this section shall--
``(1) offer the same percentage of additional assistance to
all individuals receiving educational assistance under this
section who are pursuing a program of education at the college
or university;
``(2) submit to the Secretary a report on the manner
(whether by direct grant, scholarship, or otherwise) by which
the college or university shall cover portions of the
established charges of individuals under the program; and
``(3) submit to the Secretary a report on the amount of the
contribution to be made by the college or university for each
individual covered by the program.''.
(3) Matching contributions.--Paragraph (1) of subsection
(d) of such section is amended to read as follows:
``(1) In general.--The amount of any matching contribution
by the Secretary under the program under this section with
respect to the pursuit of a program of education by an
individual entitled to educational assistance under this
chapter may not exceed an amount equal to 50 percent of any
costs for tuition and mandatory fees for the individual's
pursuit of the program of education that are not otherwise
covered under section 3311(c)(1)(A).''.
(4) Regulations.--Subsection (e) of such section is amended
to read as follows:
``(e) Regulations.--The Secretary shall prescribe regulations to
carry out the program required by this section.''.
(c) Interim Implementation Authority.--Section 5003 of the Post-9/
11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2008 (title V of Public Law
110-252) is amended by striking subsection (d) and inserting the
following new subsections:
``(d) Anticipation of Implementation.--The Secretary of Veterans
Affairs shall take appropriate actions to ensure that this section and
the amendments made by this section are implementable on the effective
date provided in subsection (e)(1), including the prescription of such
interim and final regulations for purposes of this section and the
amendments made by this section as the Secretary considers appropriate.
``(e) Effective Date.--
``(1) In general.--Except as provided in paragraph (2),
this section and the amendments made by this section shall take
effect on August 1, 2009.
``(2) Implementation.--Subsection (d) shall take effect on
the date of the enactment of this Act.''.
(d) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall take
effect on June 30, 2008, as if included in the Post-9/11 Veterans
Educational Assistance Act of 2008, to which such amendments relate.
Calendar No. 902
110th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 3339
[Report No. 110-433]
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend chapter 33 of title 38, United States Code, to clarify and
improve authorities relating to the availability of post-9/11 veterans
educational assistance, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
July 26, 2008
Read twice and placed on the calendar