[Congressional Bills 115th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 473 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
<DOC>
115th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 473
To amend title 38, United States Code, to make qualification
requirements for entitlement to Post-9/11 Education Assistance more
equitable, to improve support of veterans receiving such educational
assistance, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
February 28, 2017
Mr. Tester (for himself, Mr. Franken, Mr. Van Hollen, Ms. Hassan, and
Ms. Klobuchar) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and
referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend title 38, United States Code, to make qualification
requirements for entitlement to Post-9/11 Education Assistance more
equitable, to improve support of veterans receiving such 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 ``Educational Development for Troops
and Veterans Act of 2017''.
SEC. 2. ELIGIBILITY OF RESERVE COMPONENT MEMBERS FOR POST-9/11
EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE.
Section 3301(1)(B) of title 38, United States Code, is amended by
striking ``or 12304'' and inserting ``12304, 12304a, or 12304b''.
SEC. 3. ELIGIBILITY OF RESERVE COMPONENT MEMBERS FOR NONREDUCTION IN
PAY WHILE SERVING IN THE UNIFORMED SERVICES OR NATIONAL
GUARD.
Section 5538(a) of title 5, United States Code, is amended in the
matter preceding paragraph (1) by inserting after ``under'' the
following: ``section 12301(d), section 12304b, or''.
SEC. 4. MODIFICATION OF TIME LIMITATION FOR TRAINING AND REHABILITATION
FOR VETERANS WITH SERVICE-CONNECTED DISABILITIES.
Section 3103(f) of title 38, United States Code, is amended by
striking ``or 12304'' and inserting ``12304, 12304a, or 12304b''.
SEC. 5. DEFERRAL OF STUDENTS LOANS FOR CERTAIN PERIOD IN CONNECTION
WITH RECEIPT OF ORDERS FOR MOBILIZATION FOR WAR OR
NATIONAL EMERGENCY.
(a) Federal Family Education Loans.--Section 428(b)(1)(M) of the
Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1078(b)(1)(M)) is amended--
(1) in the matter preceding clause (i), by striking ``,
during any period'';
(2) in clause (i), by striking ``during which'' and
inserting ``during any period during which'';
(3) in clause (ii), by striking ``during which'' and
inserting ``during any period during which'';
(4) in clause (iii)--
(A) by striking ``during which'' and inserting
``during any period during which''; and
(B) in the matter following subclause (II), by
striking ``or'' after the semicolon;
(5) by redesignating clause (iv) as clause (vi);
(6) by inserting after clause (iii) the following:
``(iv) in the case of any borrower who has
received a call or order to duty described in
subclause (I) or (II) of clause (iii), during
the shorter of--
``(I) the period beginning on the
date such call or order to duty is
received by the borrower and ending on
the first day of the service described
in subclause (I) or (II) of clause
(iii); and
``(II) the 180-day period preceding
the first day of such service;
``(v) notwithstanding clause (iv)--
``(I) in the case of any borrower
described in such clause whose call or
order to duty is cancelled before the
first day of the service described in
subclause (I) or (II) of clause (iii)
because of a personal injury in
connection with training to prepare for
such service, during the period
described in clause (iv) and during an
additional period equal to the duration
of such service, as specified by or
otherwise determined in the original
call or order to duty; and
``(II) in the case of any borrower
whose call or order to duty is
cancelled before the first day of such
service for a reason other than an
injury described in subclause (I),
during the period beginning on the date
the call or order to duty is received
by the borrower and ending on the date
that is 14 days after such call or
order to duty is cancelled; and''; and
(7) in clause (vi) (as redesignated by paragraph (5)), by
striking ``not in excess'' and inserting ``during any period
not in excess''.
(b) Direct Loans.--Section 455(f)(2) of the Higher Education Act of
1965 (20 U.S.C. 1087e(f)(2)) is amended--
(1) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by striking
``during any period'';
(2) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``during which'' and
inserting ``during any period during which'';
(3) in subparagraph (B), by striking ``not in excess'' and
inserting ``during any period not in excess'';
(4) in subparagraph (C)--
(A) by striking ``during which'' and inserting
``during any period during which''; and
(B) in the matter following clause (ii), by
striking ``or'' after the semicolon;
(5) by redesignating subparagraph (D) as subparagraph (F);
(6) by inserting after subparagraph (C) the following:
``(D) in the case of any borrower who has received
a call or order to duty described in clause (i) or (ii)
of subparagraph (C), during the shorter of--
``(i) the period beginning on the date such
call or order to duty is received by the
borrower and ending on the first day of the
service described in clause (i) or (ii) of
subparagraph (C); and
``(ii) the 180-day period preceding the
first day of such service;
``(E) notwithstanding subparagraph (D)--
``(i) in the case of any borrower described
in such subparagraph whose call or order to
duty is cancelled before the first day of the
service described in clause (i) or (ii) of
subparagraph (C) because of a personal injury
in connection with training to prepare for such
service, during the period described in
subparagraph (D) and during an additional
period equal to the duration of such service,
as specified by or otherwise determined in the
original call or order to duty; and
``(ii) in the case of any borrower whose
call or order to duty is cancelled before the
first day of such service for a reason other
than an injury described in clause (i), during
the period beginning on the date the call or
order to duty is received by the borrower and
ending on the date that is 14 days after such
call or order to duty is cancelled; and''; and
(7) in subparagraph (F) (as redesignated by paragraph (5)),
by striking ``not in excess'' and inserting ``during any period
not in excess''.
(c) Perkins Loans.--Section 464(c)(2)(A) of the Higher Education
Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1087dd(c)(2)(A)) is amended--
(1) in the matter preceding clause (i), by striking
``during any period'';
(2) in clause (i), by striking ``during which'' and
inserting ``during any period during which'';
(3) in clause (ii), by striking ``not in excess'' and
inserting ``during any period not in excess'';
(4) in clause (iii), by striking ``during which'' and
inserting ``during any period during which'';
(5) by redesignating clauses (iv) and (v) as clauses (vi)
and (vii), respectively;
(6) by inserting after clause (iii) the following:
``(iv) in the case of any borrower who has received
a call or order to duty described in subclause (I) or
(II) of clause (iii), during the shorter of--
``(I) the period beginning on the date such
call or order to duty is received by the
borrower and ending on the first day of the
service described in subclause (I) or (II) of
clause (iii); and
``(II) the 180-day period preceding the
first day of such service;
``(v) notwithstanding clause (iv)--
``(I) in the case of any borrower described
in such clause whose call or order to duty is
cancelled before the first day of the service
described in subclause (I) or (II) of clause
(iii) because of a personal injury in
connection with training to prepare for such
service, during the period described in clause
(iv) and during an additional period equal to
the duration of such service, as specified by
or otherwise determined in the original call or
order to duty; and
``(II) in the case of any borrower whose
call or order to duty is cancelled before the
first day of such service for a reason other
than an injury described in subclause (I),
during the period beginning on the date the
call or order to duty is received by the
borrower and ending on the date that is 14 days
after such call or order to duty is
cancelled;'';
(7) in clause (vi) (as redesignated by paragraph (5)), by
striking ``not in excess'' and inserting ``during any period
not in excess''; and
(8) in clause (vii) (as redesignated by paragraph (5)), by
striking ``during which'' and inserting ``during any period
during which''.
(d) Rule of Construction.--Nothing in the amendments made by this
section shall be construed to authorize any refunding of any repayment
of a loan.
(e) Applicability.--The amendments made by this section shall apply
with respect to all loans made, insured, or guaranteed under title IV
of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1070 et seq.).
(f) Conforming Amendments.--Title IV of the Higher Education Act of
1965 (20 U.S.C. 1070 et seq.) is further amended--
(1) in section 428B(d)(1)(A)(ii) (20 U.S.C. 1078-
2(d)(1)(A)(ii)), by striking ``428(b)(1)(M)(i)(I)'' and
inserting ``or clause (i)(I), (iv), or (v) of section
428(b)(1)(M)''; and
(2) in section 493D(a) (20 U.S.C. 1098f(a)), by striking
``section 428(b)(1)(M)(iii), 455(f)(2)(C), or
464(c)(2)(A)(iii)'' and inserting ``clause (iii) or (iv) of
section 428(b)(1)(M), subparagraph (C) or (D) of section
455(f)(2), or clause (iii) or (iv) of section 464(c)(2)(A)''.
SEC. 6. GRANT PROGRAM TO ESTABLISH, MAINTAIN, AND IMPROVE VETERAN
STUDENT CENTERS.
(a) In General.--Part T of title VIII of the Higher Education Act
of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1161t) is amended to read as follows:
``PART T--GRANTS FOR VETERAN STUDENT CENTERS
``SEC. 873. GRANTS FOR VETERAN STUDENT CENTERS.
``(a) Grants Authorized.--Subject to the availability of
appropriations under subsection (i), the Secretary shall award grants
to institutions of higher education or consortia of institutions of
higher education to assist in the establishment, maintenance,
improvement, and operation of Veteran Student Centers. The Secretary
shall award not more than 30 grants under this subsection.
``(b) Eligibility.--
``(1) Application.--An institution or consortium seeking a
grant under subsection (a) shall submit to the Secretary an
application at such time, in such manner, and containing such
information as the Secretary may require.
``(2) Criteria.--The Secretary may award a grant under
subsection (a) to an institution or a consortium if the
institution or consortium meets each of the following criteria:
``(A) The institution or consortium enrolls in
undergraduate or graduate courses--
``(i) a significant number of veteran
students, members of the Armed Forces serving
on active duty, and members of a reserve
component of the Armed Forces; or
``(ii) a significant percentage of veteran
students, as measured by comparing the overall
enrollment of the institution or consortium to
the number, for the most recent academic year
for which data are available, of veteran
students, members of the Armed Forces serving
on active duty, and members of a reserve
component of the Armed Forces who are enrolled
in undergraduate or graduate courses at the
institution or consortium.
``(B) The institution or consortium presents a
sustainability plan to demonstrate that its Veteran
Student Center will be maintained and will continue to
operate after the grant period of the grant received
under subsection (a) has ended.
``(3) Additional criteria.--In awarding grants under
subsection (a), the Secretary--
``(A) shall consider institutions or consortia
representing a broad spectrum of sectors and sizes,
including institutions or consortia from urban,
suburban, and rural regions of the United States; and
``(B) may provide consideration to institutions or
consortia that meet 1 or more of the following
criteria:
``(i) The institution or consortium is
located in a region or community that has a
significant population of veterans.
``(ii) The institution or consortium
carries out programs or activities that assist
veterans in the local community and the spouses
of veteran students.
``(iii) The institution or consortium
partners in its veteran-specific programming
with nonprofit veteran service organizations,
local workforce development organizations, or
institutions of higher education.
``(iv) The institution or consortium
commits to hiring a staff at the Veteran
Student Center that includes veterans
(including veteran student volunteers and
veteran students participating in a Federal
work-study program under part C of title IV, a
work-study program administered by the
Secretary of Veteran Affairs, or a State work-
study program).
``(v) The institution or consortium is
willing to consider providing veteran students
with academic credit for comparable subject-
area training received while serving in the
Armed Forces and commits to dedicating
resources to helping its student veterans
navigate their way through the transfer credit
process.
``(vi) The institution or consortium
commits to using a portion of the grant
received under this section to develop an early
warning veteran student retention program
carried out by the Veteran Student Center.
``(vii) The institution or consortium
commits to providing mental health counseling
to its veteran students and their spouses.
``(c) Use of Funds.--
``(1) In general.--An institution or consortium that is
awarded a grant under subsection (a) shall use such grant to
establish, maintain, improve, or operate a Veteran Student
Center.
``(2) Other allowable uses.--An institution or consortium
receiving a grant under subsection (a) may use a portion of
such funds to carry out supportive instruction services for
student veterans, including--
``(A) assistance with special admissions and
transfer of credit from previous postsecondary
education or experience; and
``(B) any other support services the institution or
consortium determines to be necessary to ensure the
success of veterans on campus in achieving education
and career goals.
``(d) Amounts Awarded.--
``(1) Duration.--Each grant awarded under subsection (a)
shall be for a 4-year period.
``(2) Total amount of grant and schedule.--Each grant
awarded under subsection (a) may not exceed a total of
$500,000. The Secretary shall disburse to an institution or
consortium the amounts awarded under the grant in such amounts
and at such times during the grant period as the Secretary
determines appropriate.
``(e) Report.--From the amounts appropriated to carry out this
section, and not later than 3 years after the date on which the first
grant is awarded under subsection (a), the Secretary shall submit to
Congress a report on the grant program established under subsection
(a), including--
``(1) the number of grants awarded;
``(2) the institutions of higher education and consortia
that have received grants;
``(3) with respect to each such institution of higher
education and consortium--
``(A) the amounts awarded;
``(B) how such institution or consortium used such
amounts;
``(C) a description of the students to whom
services were offered as a result of the award; and
``(D) data enumerating whether the use of the
amounts awarded helped veteran students at the
institution or consortium toward completion of a
degree, certificate, or credential;
``(4) best practices for veteran student success,
identified by reviewing data provided by institutions and
consortia that received a grant under this section; and
``(5) a determination by the Secretary with respect to
whether the grant program under this section should be extended
or expanded.
``(f) Termination.--The authority of the Secretary to carry out the
grant program established under subsection (a) shall terminate on the
date that is 4 years after the date on which the first grant is awarded
under subsection (a).
``(g) Department of Education Best Practices Website.--Subject to
the availability of appropriations under subsection (i) and not later
than 3 years after the date on which the first grant is awarded under
subsection (a), the Secretary shall develop and implement a website for
veteran student services at institutions of higher education, which
details best practices for serving veteran students at institutions of
higher education.
``(h) Definitions.--In this section:
``(1) Institution of higher education.--The term
`institution of higher education' has the meaning given the
term in section 101.
``(2) Veteran student center.--The term `Veteran Student
Center' means a dedicated space on a campus of an institution
of higher education that provides students who are veterans or
members of the Armed Forces with the following:
``(A) A lounge or meeting space for such veteran
students, their spouses or partners, and veterans in
the community.
``(B) A centralized office for veteran services
that--
``(i) is a single point of contact to
coordinate comprehensive support services for
veteran students;
``(ii) is staffed by trained employees and
volunteers, which includes veterans and at
least 1 full-time employee or volunteer who is
trained as a veterans' benefits counselor;
``(iii) provides veteran students with
assistance relating to--
``(I) transitioning from the
military to student life;
``(II) transitioning from the
military to the civilian workforce;
``(III) networking with other
veteran students and veterans in the
community;
``(IV) understanding and obtaining
benefits provided by the institution of
higher education, Federal Government,
and State for which such students may
be eligible;
``(V) understanding how to succeed
in the institution of higher education,
including by understanding academic
policies, the course selection process,
and institutional policies and
practices related to the transfer of
academic credits; and
``(VI) understanding their
disability-related rights and
protections under the Americans with
Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C.
12101 et seq.) and section 504 of the
Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C.
794); and
``(iv) provides comprehensive academic and
tutoring services for veteran students,
including peer-to-peer tutoring and academic
mentorship.
``(i) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be
appropriated to carry out this part such sums as may be necessary for
fiscal year 2017 and each of the 3 succeeding fiscal years.''.
(b) Continuation of Awards.--An institution of higher education
that received a grant under section 873 of the Higher Education Act of
1965 (20 U.S.C. 1161t) before the date of enactment of this Act, as
such section 873 (20 U.S.C. 1161t) was in effect on the day before the
date of enactment of this Act, shall continue to receive funds in
accordance with the terms and conditions of such grant.
SEC. 7. MODIFICATION OF BASIS FOR ANNUAL ADJUSTMENTS IN AMOUNTS OF
EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE FOR MEMBERS OF THE SELECTED
RESERVE.
(a) In General.--Section 16131(b)(2) of title 10, United States
Code, is amended by striking ``equal to'' and all that follows and
inserting the following: ``not less than the percentage by which--
``(A) the average cost of undergraduate tuition in the
United States, as determined by the National Center for
Education Statistics, for the last academic year preceding the
beginning of the fiscal year for which the increase is made,
exceeds
``(B) the average cost of undergraduate tuition in the
United States, as so determined, for the academic year
preceding the academic year described in subparagraph (A).''.
(b) Effective Date.--The amendment made by subsection (a) shall
take effect on October 1, 2017, and shall apply to adjustments in
amounts of educational assistance for members of the Selected Reserve
that are made for fiscal years beginning on or after that date.
SEC. 8. MONTHLY STIPEND FOR CERTAIN MEMBERS OF THE RESERVE COMPONENTS
OF THE ARMED FORCES.
(a) In General.--Section 3313 of title 38, United States Code, is
amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:
``(j) Determination of Monthly Stipends During Certain Active Duty
Service.--
``(1) Pro rata basis.--In any month in which an individual
described in paragraph (2) is performing active duty service
described in section 3301(1)(B) of this title, the Secretary
shall determine the amount of monthly stipends payable under
this section for such month on a pro rata basis for the period
of such month in which the covered individual is not performing
such active duty service.
``(2) Individual described.--An individual described in
this paragraph is an individual who is--
``(A) a member of the reserve components of the
Armed Forces; and
``(B) pursuing a program of education using
educational assistance under this chapter.''.
(b) Application.--The amendment made by subsection (a) shall apply
with respect to a quarter, semester, or term, as applicable, commencing
on or after August 1, 2016.
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