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S. 3450Senate116th Congress (2019-2021)In Committee

A bill to authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to treat certain programs of education converted to distance learning by reason of emergencies and health-related situations in the same manner as programs of education pursued at educational institutions, and for other purposes.

Sponsored by Jerry MoranSen. Jerry Moran (R-KS)
Introduced March 11, 2020

AI-Generated Summary

Updated April 14, 2026 at 11:20 AM UTC

The bill lets the Secretary of Veterans Affairs keep providing education benefits to veterans even when a school program switches to online or distance learning because of an emergency or health crisis. It treats the online version of the program the same as the traditional on‑campus version, so veterans can still receive housing stipends and other allowances. The rule applies to programs approved by a state approving agency or the VA and is limited to a specific time period in 2020.

Key Provisions

  • If a VA‑approved education program moves to distance learning due to an emergency or health situation, the VA can continue to pay veterans the same benefits they would receive for on‑site programs.
  • Benefits that may continue include monthly housing stipends (Chapter 33) and other payments or subsistence allowances (Chapters 30, 31, 32, 35, and related Title 10 sections).
  • The authority applies from March 1, 2020, through December 21, 2020.
  • The bill includes standard definitions for "educational institution," "program of education," and "state approving agency" as used in existing VA law.
  • The act is designated as an emergency requirement under the statutory Pay‑As‑You‑Go rules.

Legislative Activity

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1 earlier action
SenateIntro Referral Latest Action

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

Veterans' Affairs Committee

March 11, 2020

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SenateIntro Referral

Introduced in Senate

March 11, 2020

SenateIntro Referral

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

Veterans' Affairs Committee

March 11, 2020

Bill Text

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Introduced in SenateIssued March 11, 2020

II

116th CONGRESS

2d Session

S. 3450

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

March 11, 2020

Mr. Moran (for himself, Mr. Tester, Mr. Tillis, Mr. Blumenthal, Mrs. Murray, Mr. Sullivan, Mrs. Blackburn, and Mr. Boozman) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs

A BILL

To authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to treat certain programs of education converted to distance learning by reason of emergencies and health-related situations in the same manner as programs of education pursued at educational institutions, and for other purposes.

1.

Continuation of Department of Veterans Affairs educational assistance benefits for certain programs of education converted to distance learning by reason of emergencies and health-related situations

(a)

In general

In the case of a program of education approved by a State approving agency, or the Secretary of Veterans Affairs when acting in the role of a State approving agency, that is converted from being offered on-site at an educational institution to being offered by distance learning by reason of an emergency or health-related situation, as determined by the Secretary, the Secretary may continue to provide educational assistance under the laws administered by the Secretary without regard to such conversion, including with respect to paying any—

(1)

monthly housing stipends under chapter 33 of title 38, United States Code; or

(2)

payments or subsistence allowances under chapters 30, 31, 32, and 35 of such title and chapters 1606 and 1607 of title 10, United States Code.

(b)

Applicability period

Subsection (a) shall apply during the period beginning on March 1, 2020, and ending on December 21, 2020.

(c)

Definitions

In this section:

(1)

Educational institution

The term educational institution has the meaning given that term in section 3452 of title 38, United States Code, and includes an institution of higher learning (as defined in such section).

(2)

Program of education

The term program of education has the meaning given that term in section 3002 of title 38, United States Code.

(3)

State approving agency

The term State approving agency has the meaning given that term in section 3671 of title 38, United States Code.

2.

Emergency designations

(a)

In general

This Act is designated as an emergency requirement pursuant to section 4(g) of the Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Act of 2010 (2 U.S.C. 933(g)).

(b)

Designation in Senate

In the Senate, this Act is designated as an emergency requirement pursuant to section 4112(a) of S. Con. Res. 3 (115th Congress), the concurrent resolution on the budget for fiscal year 2018.