Bill Sponsor
Senate Bill 3678
116th Congress(2019-2020)
A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for payment of work-study allowances during a public health emergency relating to COVID-19 and for allowances to veterans enrolled in educational institutions closed for emergency situations, and for other purposes.
Introduced
Introduced
Introduced in Senate on May 11, 2020
Overview
Text
Introduced
May 11, 2020
Latest Action
May 11, 2020
Origin Chamber
Senate
Type
Bill
Bill
The primary form of legislative measure used to propose law. Depending on the chamber of origin, bills begin with a designation of either H.R. or S. Joint resolution is another form of legislative measure used to propose law.
Bill Number
3678
Congress
116
Policy Area
Armed Forces and National Security
Armed Forces and National Security
Primary focus of measure is military operations and spending, facilities, procurement and weapons, personnel, intelligence; strategic materials; war and emergency powers; veterans’ issues. Measures concerning alliances and collective security, arms sales and military assistance, or arms control may fall under International Affairs policy area.
Sponsorship by Party
Republican
Kansas
Republican
Louisiana
Democrat
Montana
Democrat
New Jersey
Republican
North Carolina
Republican
Oklahoma
Republican
South Dakota
Democrat
Washington
Senate Votes (0)
House Votes (0)
No Senate votes have been held for this bill.
Summary

This bill addresses education programs and assistance for veterans during emergency situations.

Specifically, the bill authorizes the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to continue paying work-study allowances during the COVID-19 public health emergency period.

The VA is also authorized to continue paying educational assistance and subsistence allowances between March 1-December 21, 2020, for programs of education that are suspended due to an emergency situation or school closure.

An educational assistance payment shall not be charged against an individual's entitlement to educational assistance if an individual was unable to complete a course or program due to the temporary closure of an educational institution or the temporary termination of a program by reason of an emergency situation occurring between March 1-December 21, 2020. This includes assistance related to training and rehabilitation programs for veterans with service-connected disabilities.

The bill extends the time limitation for using educational assistance under the Montgomery GI Bill and the Post-9/11 GI Bill when institutions are closed due to an executive order or emergency situation occurring between March 1-December 21, 2020. It also extends the time limitation for participation in a vocational rehabilitation program when such participation is prevented due to an executive order or emergency situation occurring between March 1-December 21, 2020.

The bill authorizes the VA to pay a subsistence allowance for two additional months to a veteran following a program of employment services from March 1-December 21, 2020, for full-time training for the type of program the veteran was pursuing.

Text (1)
Actions (2)
05/11/2020
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
05/11/2020
Introduced in Senate
Public Record
Record Updated
Jan 11, 2023 1:42:42 PM