H.R. 5702 – Reading Mode

118th CONGRESS

1st Session

H. R. 5702

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

September 26, 2023

Mr. Ciscomani (for himself, Mr. Stanton, Mr. Van Orden, and Ms. Stansbury) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs

A BILL

To amend title 38, United States Code, to establish the monthly housing stipend under the Post-9/11 Educational Assistance Program for individuals who pursue summer programs of education solely through distance learning.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Expanding Access for Online Veteran Students Act.

Monthly housing stipend under the Post-9/11 Educational Assistance Program for individuals who pursue summer programs of education solely through distance learning

(a)

In general

Section 3313(c)(1)(B) of title 38, United States Code, is amended—

(1)

in clause (i), by striking and (iii) and inserting , (iii), and (iv);

(2)

by redesignating clause (iv) as clause (v); and

(3)

by inserting after clause (iii) the following new clause (iv):

(iv)

In the case of an individual pursuing, solely through distance learning, a program of education that is shorter than 12 weeks during the summer, for each month the individual pursues the program of education, a monthly housing stipend equal to the product of—

(I)

the national average of 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, multiplied by

(II)

the lesser of—

(aa)

1.0 and

(bb)

the number of course hours borne by the individual in pursuit of the program of education, divided by the minimum number of course hours required for full-time pursuit of the program of education, rounded to the nearest multiple of 10.

(b)

Effective date

The amendments made by subsection (a) shall apply to a program of education beginning on or after August 1, 2024.