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Gives service members who are called to duty three choices for their classes: withdraw, take a leave of absence, or finish the course only if they have already completed at least half of it. This tightens the “finish later” option to protect course integrity while keeping the other protections in place. Updates how the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) runs school compliance surveys to reduce burden on multi‑campus schools, sets caps on how far in advance surveys can be announced (with different caps for schools that can time‑stamp student record changes), and requires the VA to notify all school certifying officials within 14 business days whenever the VA handbook for those officials is updated.
Replaces subsection (a)(1) of 38 U.S.C. § 3691A to provide that, after receiving orders to enter a period of covered service, a covered member may (A) withdraw from covered education; (B) take a leave of absence from covered education; or (C) subject to subsection (d), enter into an agreement with the institution concerned to complete a course of covered education to the satisfaction of the institution.
Conforming amendment to paragraph (2)(A) of subsection (a): strikes the text "or takes a leave of absence" and inserts ", takes a leave of absence, or enters into an agreement" to reflect the new option to enter into an agreement.
Redesignates the existing subsection (d) of section 3691A as subsection (e).
Inserts a new subsection (d) stating that a covered member may enter into an agreement under subsection (a) only if the covered member has completed at least half of a course of covered education.
Amends the section heading for 38 U.S.C. § 3691A by striking the existing heading and inserting a new heading (new heading text shown as struck/inserted in the bill).
Adds a new paragraph (3) to subsection (a) requiring that an educational institution or training establishment with multiple campuses is required to complete only one annual compliance survey if one school certifying official certifies veteran enrollment for all such campuses.
Amends 38 U.S.C. 3691A by replacing subsection (a)(1) with new text that allows a covered member, after receiving orders to enter a period of covered service, to (A) withdraw from covered education, (B) take a leave of absence from covered education, or (C) subject to new subsection (d), enter into an agreement with the institution concerned to complete a course of covered education; conforming amendment to paragraph (2)(A) to add ", takes a leave of absence, or enters into an agreement"; redesignates existing subsection (d) as subsection (e); inserts a new subsection (d) requiring that a covered member may enter into an agreement under subsection (a) only if the covered member has completed at least half of a course of covered education; amends the section heading and the table of sections at the beginning of chapter 36 by striking the existing item and inserting a new item (new item text not shown in section).
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Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
Introduced February 24, 2025 by John James · Last progress February 24, 2025
Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee (Amended) by Voice Vote.
Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
Subcommittee Hearings Held
Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity.