Sponsors (35)
The bill increases paid work‑study access and wage protections for veterans and students but raises program costs and administrative/compliance burdens that could reduce the number of available positions, especially for small host organizations.
Veterans and service members will have expanded work‑study options, increasing access to paid positions at state and local agencies and nonprofits.
Veterans and student participants will be paid at least the highest applicable minimum (federal GS/FWS, state, or local), raising wages for participants in higher‑wage areas.
Veterans, host supervisors, and sponsoring agencies/nonprofits will use electronic timesheets with supervisor approval, simplifying payroll and reducing administrative delays for participants and host supervisors.
State and local agencies, nonprofits, and veterans may see fewer available work‑study positions if higher required wages increase program costs under fixed budgets.
Small nonprofits and local agencies may incur administrative, IT, and compliance costs to implement electronic timesheets and meet reporting requirements, straining limited budgets.
Host organizations unfamiliar with federal pay definitions could face complex payroll administration and higher payroll liabilities tied to GS/FWS minima.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Expands VA Work-Study host options to state/local agencies and veteran-serving nonprofits, raises the wage floor to the highest applicable minimum, requires electronic timesheets, and mandates annual public reporting.
Official title: To amend title 38, United States Code, to improve the VA Work-Study program.
Introduced November 10, 2025 by April McClain Delaney · Last progress November 10, 2025
Expands the VA Work-Study program by allowing participants to perform work at State or local government agencies or nonprofit activities that benefit veterans or service members, and raises the floor on hourly pay by tying the minimum to the highest of federal GS/FWS minimums, the State minimum wage, or the local minimum wage where the work is performed. It also requires electronic timesheet entry and supervisor approval, and mandates annual public reporting of participation, demographics, activities, wages, hours, and participating schools. The changes to wage definitions, reporting, and electronic timekeeping apply to allowance payments made on or after January 1, 2028. The bill mainly affects veteran students, educational institutions, nonprofit and government placement hosts, and VA administration practices around program management and transparency.