Public Law 117-76 passed December 21, 2021

Responsible Education Mitigating Options and Technical Extensions Act; “REMOTE”

This Act is to extend expiring provisions of law relating to benefits provided under Department of Veteran Affairs educational assistance programs under COVID-19 pandemic.

Extension of Student Veteran Coronavirus Response Act of 2020; of the Student Veteran Coronavirus Response Act of 2020 (PL 116-140) as amended by the Department of Veterans Affairs Expiring Authorities Act of 2020 (PL 116-159) amended by striking “December 21, 2021” inserting “June 1, 2022”.

Extension of Period for 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 (PL 116-128) amended by the Department of Veterans Affairs Expiring Authorities Act of 2020 striking “December 21, 2021” inserting “June 1, 2022”.

Waiver of Verification of Enrollment for Certain Educational Institutions under United States Code is amended by adding the following:

“The Secretary may waive the requirements of this subsection for an educational institution that the Secretary has determined uses a flat tuition and fee structure that would make the use of a second verification under this subsection unnecessary”.

Limitations on Authority to Disapprove of Courses under United States Code is amended:

“except for the recruitment of foreign students residing in foreign countries who are NOT eligible to receive Federal student assistance”.

“In determining whether a violation of subparagraph (B) has occurred, the State approving agency, or the Secretary when acting in the place of the State approving agency, shall construe the requirement of this paragraph in accordance with the regulations and guidance prescribed by the Secretary of Education of the Higher Education Act of 1965”.

This subsection does NOT apply to an educational institution located in a foreign country or that provides to a covered individual consumer information regarding costs of the program of education (including financial aid available to such covered individual) using a form or template developed by the Secretary of Education”.

The Secretary of Veteran Affairs may NOT carry out subsection (f) of 3679 title 39 United States Code until August 1, 2022, EXCEPT beginning June 15, 2022 and educational institution may submit an application for a waiver under paragraph (5) of such subsection.

Subsection (c) of title 3696 amended by inserting “(1)” before “an educational”; inserting “except for the recruitment of foreign students residing in foreign countries who are NOT eligible to receive Federal student assistance” after “assistance” and “In determining whether a violation of paragraph (1) has occurred, the Under Secretary for Benefits shall construe the requirements of this paragraph in accordance with the regulations and guidance prescribed by the Secretary of Education of the Higher Education Act of 1965”.

Section 3689(c) title 38, United States Code amended adding “(3) Subparagraph (G) of paragraph (1) shall Not apply with respect to an educational institution located in a foreign country.”.

Section 3690(c) title 38, United States Code amended by striking “notwithstanding” inserting “(1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), notwithstanding” and adding “(2) Paragraph (1) does NOT apply to the records and accounts- “(A) of an educational institution located in a foreign country and (B) that pertain to an individual who is NOT receiving educational assistance under this chapter”.

Section 3680(a) title 38, United States Code amended striking “in paragraph (2)” inserting “in paragraphs (2) and (3)” and adding the following:

“Notwithstanding paragraph (1), in the case of an eligible veteran or eligible person who is pursuing a program of education on less than a half-time bases during a period that is the last semester, term, or academic period the veteran or person will be enrolled in the program of education because the veteran or person will complete the program of education at the end of the semester, term or academic period the Secretary may, pursuant to such regulations as the Secretary shallowing prescribe, provide to the veteran or person educational assistance under chapter 30-35 of this title or under chapter 1606 title 10, including a monthly housing stipend described in section 3313(c) of this title, on the basis of the total number of credits or courses in which the veteran or person is enrolled if-

“the number of credits the veteran or person needs to complete the program of education is less than the number of credits that would constitute enrollment on a more then half-time basis for that last semester, term, or academic period; and the veteran or person is enrolled in, or has completed, every course offered by the program of education during the last semester, term or academic period in which the veteran or person is enrolled in the program of education; and enrolls in an additional course that is NOT required for the completion of such program of education and the enrollment in the non-required course in addition to the required course or courses in which the veteran to person is enrolled constitutes enrollment on more than a half-time basis.”

Effective date January 1, 2022

Johnny Isakson and David P. Roe M.D. Veterans Health Care and Benefits Improvement Act of 2020 (PL 116-315) strike “December 21, 2021” add “June 1, 2022”.

Extension of Continuation of Department of Veterans Affairs Educational Assistance Benefits During Covid-19 Emergency strike “December 21, 2021” add “June 1, 2022”.

Extension of Provisions Relating to Effects of Closure of Educational Institution and Modification of Courses by Reason of Covid-19 Emergency strike “December 21, 2021” add “June 1, 2022”.

Extension of Provisions relating to Payment of Educational Assistance in Cases of Withdrawal strike “December 21, 2021” add “June 1, 2022”.

Extension of Provisions Relating to Apprenticeship to On-Job Training Requirements strike “December 21, 2021” add “June 1, 2022”.

Extension of Payment of Work-Study Allowances During Emergency Situation of the Student Veteran Coronavirus Response Act of 2020 (PL 116-140) strike “During the covered period” insert “during the period beginning on March 1, 2020 and ending on June 1, 2022”.

The loan fee table in 3729(b)(2) title 38, United States Code, amend striking “October 1, 2030” each place it appears to “January 14, 2031”.

Elimination of Cap on full-time employees of the Department of Veterans Affairs who provide equal employment opportunity counseling no later than 60 days after the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veteran Affairs shall submit to the Committees on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and House of Representatives a report regarding the edict to the amendment under subsection (a).

The budgetary effects of this Act, complying with the Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Act of 2010, shall be determined by reference to the test statement titled “Budgetary Effects of PAYGO Legislation”, submitted for printing in the Congressional Record by the Chairman of the House Budget Committee.