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1 1 (November 06, 2020)

handle is hein.crs/govdcon0001 and id is 1 raw text is: November 6,2020 Special Authorities for Veterans' Educational Assistance Programs During the COVID-19 Emergency On March 13, 2020, President Donald Trump declared the Coronavirus Dis ease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak a national emergency, beginning March 1,2020. The Departmentof Veterans Affairs (VA) and veterans' educational assistance beneficiaries raised concerns that abrupt disruptions to programs of education, educational institutions, and employment could negatively impact the short-term finances of beneficiaries and their continued pursuit of educationalprograms. In response, special authorities were enactedby P.L. 116-128 on March 21,2020, and the Student Veteran Coronavirus Response Act of 2020 (P.L. 116-140) on April28, 2020. The special authorities were extendedby Section 5202 of the Continuing Appropriations Act, 2021 and Other Extensions Act(P.L. 116-159). These authorities andone administrative actionreduce the effect ofsuchdisruptions on some beneficiaries by either extending benefits ornot reducing benefit levels during the period beginning on March 1, 2020, and through December 21, 2021. After a brief introduction to veterans' educational as s is tance programs, this InFocus describes the special authorities granted by the statutes. Veterans educational as sistanceprograms, including the GI Bills, provide benefits or services to eligible servicemembers and veterans and their family members, as applicable, to help such individuals pursue education or training. The GI Bills are entitlement programs that provide financial assistance while recipients are enrolled in approved programs of education, which include training programs. Other educational assistance programs, including Work Study, eitherprovide grant aid orhelp eligible individuals take advantage ofthe GI Bills. Fora detailed description of the programs, see CRS Report R42785, Veterans'Educational Assistance Programs and Benefits: A Primer. The Veteran Readiness and Employment program(VR&E; formerly Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment) is an entitlement programthat provides job training and other employment-related services to veterans with service- connected disabilities. In many cases, VR&E provides educational as sistance. For a detailed description of VR&E, see CRS Report RL34627, Veterans 'Benefits: The Vocational Rehabilitation andEmploymentProgram. Leanum ,ing Programs ofeducationofferedin part orexclusively through dis tance learning may be approved for GI Bill purposes if they meet the requirements in 38 U.S.C. Section 3680A(a)(4) and, as applicable, 38 U.S.C. Section 3523(a)(4), in addition to others tatutory and regulatory requirements. P.L. 116-128, as amended by P.L. 116-159, allows the VA to continue to provide GI Bill benefits fromMarch 1,2020, through December 21,2021, for courses at educational institutions that are converted fromapproved in -residence courses to distance learning by reason of an emergency or health-related situation. VA guidance applies the special authority to on-the-job and apprenticeship programs as well. In the absence of the special authority, programs of education that are transitioned to dis tance learning mus t be approved for beneficiaries to continue receiving benefits. Some of thes e programs of education that were converted as a result of the COVID-19 emergency would not otherwise be approvable for distance learning. For example, prior to P.L. 116-128, nonaccredited programs were not eligible to be approved if they were offered by distance learning. P.L. 116-128, as amended byP.L. 116-159, furtherpermits the VA to pay the Post-9/11 GI Bill housing stipend at the higher in-residencerates for those converted courses throughout the s ame period. Without the special authority, Post-9/11 G Bill beneficiaries enrolled exclusivelyvia distance learning are eligible for no more than one-half the national averageofin-residence housing stipends. Gi'~ Sil ayrnen'tor Ck)SedEdct na Since the 1970s, the VA has had authority to pay GI Bill and VR&E allowances during periods when an educational institution temporarily closes under an established policy b as ed on an executive order of the President or due to an emergency situation. In 2011, such allowances were limited to four weeks in any 12-month interval. P.L. 116-140, as amended by P.L. 116-159, authorizes the VA to provide up to an additional four weeks (eight weeks total) of GI Bill and VR&E payments during theperiod \ Q \\n\\ \\\ \\\\\ \ \

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