H.R. 6376 – Student Veteran Work Study Modernization Act

AI-Generated Summary

Updated February 8, 2026 at 8:50 AM UTC

The Student Veteran Work Study Modernization Act creates a five‑year pilot that lets veterans who are enrolled at least half‑time in approved rehabilitation, education, or training programs receive the VA work‑study allowance. It treats these half‑time participants the same as full‑time students under the existing work‑study rules, except they no longer must be three‑quarter‑time. The bill also requires the VA to submit an annual report on veteran work‑study participants and updates a loan‑fee date in the law.

Key Provisions

Launch a five‑year pilot expanding the VA work‑study allowance to veterans enrolled at least half‑time in qualifying programs, applying the same benefits as full‑time students except dropping the three‑quarter‑time requirement
Require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to submit an annual report to congressional veterans committees detailing the number of participating veterans, the percentage earning a four‑year degree, and how many obtain full‑time VA employment
Amend the loan‑fee schedule by changing the date reference from January 14, 2031 to January 23, 2031

Legislative Activity

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14 earlier actions

SenateIntro Referral Latest Action

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

Veterans' Affairs Committee

May 18, 2022

View full timeline

HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

January 12, 2022

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

Veterans' Affairs Committee

January 12, 2022

HouseCommittee

Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity.

Economic Opportunity Subcommittee

April 5, 2022

HouseCommittee

Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity Discharged.

Veterans' Affairs Committee

April 6, 2022

HouseCommittee

Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.

Veterans' Affairs Committee

April 6, 2022

HouseCommittee

Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.

Veterans' Affairs Committee

April 6, 2022

HouseFloor

Mr. Trone moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.

May 16, 2022 • 4:14 PM

HouseFloor

Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H5000-5001)

May 16, 2022 • 4:14 PM

HouseFloor

DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 6376.

May 16, 2022 • 4:14 PM

HouseFloor

At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.

May 16, 2022 • 4:18 PM

HouseFloor

Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H5085-5086)

May 17, 2022 • 8:31 PM

HouseFloor

Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 370 - 43 (Roll no. 206).

View vote Passed

May 17, 2022 • 8:42 PM

HouseFloor

On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 370 - 43 (Roll no. 206). (text: 05/16/2022 CR H5000-5001)

View vote Passed

May 17, 2022 • 8:42 PM

HouseFloor

Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

May 17, 2022 • 8:42 PM

SenateIntro Referral

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

Veterans' Affairs Committee

May 18, 2022

Voting History

1 vote recorded • Roll call available

HOUSE

Roll Call Available

May 17, 2022 at 8:38 PM

On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, as Amended

Majority required: 2/3 (66.7%)

Passed

370 - 43

Floor Debate

3 members

What members said about H.R. 6376 on the floor

2 Republicans1 Democrat

Rep. David J. TroneD-MD-6 · May 16, 2022

Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 6376) to amend title 38, United States Code, to extend eligibility for a certain work-study allowance paid by the Secretary of…

Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 6376) to amend title 38, United States Code, to extend eligibility for a certain work-study allowance paid by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to certain individuals who pursue programs of rehabilitation, education, or training on at least a half-time basis, and for other purposes, as amended.

Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to insert extraneous material on H.R. 6376, as amended.

Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

I strongly support H.R. 6376, as amended, the Student Veteran Modernization Act, which would make much-needed improvements and modernizations to the VA work-study program.

This legislation will create a pilot program to allow part-time student veterans to access VA work-study programs for the next 5 years, ensuring they can complete their certification or degree without taking on unmanageable amounts of student debt and still care for themselves and their families.

I would prefer this be a permanent change in the law, but I understand the need to review these changes in a pilot program. I hope that when this pilot program concludes, and we have an idea of how many veterans were helped, Congress will make this change permanent.

Currently, student veterans must maintain a full class load to be eligible for work-study, which is not feasible for many veterans who are balancing families or other work obligations. With this change, part-time student veterans will be able to earn a paycheck while also earning workforce skills.

I thank Representative Axne for her hard work on the introduction of this bill. I also thank student veterans and the Department of Veteran Affairs for their feedback, which improved the bill and will bring more student veterans into the work-study program.

Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I ask all my colleagues to join me and pass H.R. 6376, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Rep. Mike BostR-IL-12 · May 16, 2022

Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 6376, as amended, the Student Veteran Work Study Modernization Act. This bill will make…

Rep. Dan BishopR-NC-9 · May 16, 2022

Madam Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Bill Text

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Referred in SenateIssued May 18, 2022

IIB

117th CONGRESS

2d Session

H. R. 6376

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

May 18 (legislative day, May 17), 2022

Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs

AN ACT

To amend title 38, United States Code, to extend eligibility for a certain work-study allowance paid by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to certain individuals who pursue programs of rehabilitation, education, or training on at least a half-time basis, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Student Veteran Work Study Modernization Act.

2.

Pilot program to expand eligibility for a certain work-study allowance paid by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to certain individuals who pursue certain programs on at least a half-time basis

(a)

Pilot program

The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall carry out a pilot program under which the Secretary shall expand eligibility for the work-study allowance under section 3485 of title 38, United States Code, to individuals who are pursuing programs of rehabilitation, education, or training specified in subsection (b) of such section at a rate equal to at least half of that required of a full-time student.

(b)

Relationship to other work-study individuals

In carrying out the pilot program under subsection (a), the Secretary shall ensure the provisions of section 3485 of title 38, United States Code, apply with respect to the individuals specified in subsection (a) of this section in the same manner as to the individuals specified in subsection (b) of such section 3485, except with respect to the requirement of at least three-quarter-time student status.

(c)

Duration

The Secretary shall carry out the pilot program under subsection (a) during the five-year period beginning on the date of the commencement of the pilot program.

3.

Annual report regarding veterans who participate in work-study

Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act and annually thereafter, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit to the Committees on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and House of Representatives a report regarding veterans who participate in work-study. Such report shall include the following elements:

(1)

The number of such veterans.

(2)

The percentage of such veterans who obtain a four-year degree.

(3)

The number of such veterans who obtain full-time work at the Department of Veterans Affairs.

4.

Adjustments of certain loan fees

The loan fee table in section 3729(b)(2) of title 38, United States Code, is amended by striking January 14, 2031 each place it appears and inserting January 23, 2031.

5.

Determination of budgetary effects

The budgetary effects of this Act, for the purpose of complying with the Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Act of 2010, shall be determined by reference to the latest statement titled Budgetary Effects of PAYGO Legislation for this Act, submitted for printing in the Congressional Record by the Chairman of the House Budget Committee, provided that such statement has been submitted prior to the vote on passage.

Passed the House of Representatives May 17, 2022.

Cheryl L. Johnson,

Clerk.