,,ii #aacth ,,congress #ast ,session ,s4 #hfc ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,may #f1 #bjac ,mr4 ,blumenthal 7for himself and ,mr4 ,begich7 introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,veterans' ,affairs ,a ,,bill ,to amend title #ch1 ,united ,states ,code1 to repeal time limitations on the eligibility for use of educational assistance under ,all-,volunteer ,force ,educational ,assistance ,program1 to improve veterans education outreach1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,veterans ,back to ,school ,act of #bjac4 #b4 ,repeal of time limitations on use of educational assistance under ,all-,volunteer ,force ,educational ,assistance ,program 7a7 ,in general ,section #cjca of title #ch1 ,united ,states ,code1 is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection3 7i7 7#a7 ,notwithstanding subsections 7a7 through 7g7 and any other provision of law1 the period during which a covered individual entitled to educational assistance under this chapter may use such covered individual's entitlement shall not end until the date that is #aj years after the date on which such covered individual begins using such benefit4 7#b7 ,for purposes of this subsection1 a covered individual is any individual-- 7,a7 whose basic pay was reduced under paragraph 7#a7 of section #cjaa7;b7 of this title2 or 7,b7 with respect to whom an amount was collected under paragraph 7#b7 of such section4 4 7b7 ,conforming amendment ,section #cjbj7;f7 of such title is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph3 7#d7 ,subsection 7i7 of section #cjca of this title shall not apply for purposes of this subsection4 4 7c7 ,effective date ,subsection 7i7 of section #cjca of such title1 as added by subsection 7a71 and paragraph 7#d7 of section #cjbj7;f7 of such title1 as added by subsection 7b71 shall apply as if such subsection and such paragraph had been enacted immediately after the enactment of the ,veterans' ,educational ,assistance ,act of #aihd 7,public ,law #ih-ebe2 #ih ,stat4 #beec74 #c4 ,veterans education outreach program 7a7 ,establishment ,chapter #cf of title #ch1 ,united ,states ,code1 is amended by adding at the end of subchapter ,,ii the following new section3 #cfig;,b4 ,veterans education outreach program 7a7 ,in general ,the ,secretary shall provide funding for offices of veterans affairs at institutions of higher learning1 as defined in section #cdeb7;f71 in accordance with this section4 7b7 ,payments to institutions of higher learning 7#a7 7,a7 ,the ,secretary shall1 subject to the availability of appropriations1 make payments to any institution of higher learning1 under and in accordance with this section1 during any fiscal year if the number of persons eligible for services from offices assisted under this section at the institution is at least #ej1 determined in the same manner as the number of eligible veterans or eligible persons is determined under section #cfhd7;c7 of this title4 7,b7 ,the persons who are eligible for services from the offices assisted under this section are persons receiving educational assistance administered by the ,department of ,veterans ,affairs1 including assistance provided under chapter #afjf of title #aj4 7#b7 ,to be eligible for a payment under this section1 an institution of higher learning or a consortium of institutions of higher learning1 as described in paragraph 7#c71 shall submit an application to the ,secretary4 ,the application shall-- 7,a7 set forth such policies1 assurances1 and procedures that will ensure that-- 7i7 the funds received by the institution1 or each institution in a consortium of institutions described in paragraph 7#c71 under this section will be used solely to carry out this section2 7ii7 for enhancing the functions of its veterans education outreach program1 the applicant will expend1 during the academic year for which a payment is sought1 an amount equal to at least the amount of the award under this section from sources other than this or any other ,federal program2 and 7iii7 the applicant will submit to the ,secretary such reports as the ,secretary may require or as are required by this section2 7,b7 contain such other statement of policies1 assurances1 and procedures as the ,secretary may require in order to protect the financial interests of the ,united ,states2 7,c7 set forth such plans1 policies1 assurances1 and procedures as will ensure that the applicant will maintain an office of veterans' affairs which has responsibility for-- 7i7 veterans' certification1 outreach1 recruitment1 and special education programs1 including the provision of or referral to educational1 vocational1 and personal counseling for veterans2 and 7ii7 providing information regarding other services provided veterans by the ,department1 including the readjustment counseling program authorized under section #agab;,a of this title and the programs carried out under chapters #da and #db of this title2 and 7,d7 be submitted at such time or times1 in such manner1 in such form1 and contain such information as the ,secretary determines necessary to carry out the functions of the ,secretary under this section4 7#c7 ,an institution of higher learning which is eligible for funding under this section and which the ,secretary determines cannot feasibly carry out1 by itself1 any or all of the activities set forth in paragraph 7#b77;,c71 may carry out such program or programs through a consortium agreement with one or more other institutions of higher learning in the same community4 7#d7 ,the ,secretary shall not approve an application under this subsection unless the ,secretary determines that the applicant will implement the requirements of paragraph 7#b77;,c7 within the first academic year during which it receives a payment under this section4 7c7 ,amount of payments 7#a7 7,a7 ,subject to subparagraph 7,b71 the amount of the payment which any institution shall receive under this section for any fiscal year shall be #ajj for each person who is described in subsection 7b77#a77;,b74 7,b7 ,the maximum amount of payments to any institution of higher learning1 or any branch thereof which is located in a community which is different from that in which the parent institution thereof is located1 in any fiscal year is #aej1jjj4 7#b7 7,a7 ,the ,secretary shall pay to each institution of higher learning which has had an application approved under subsection 7b7 the amount which it is to receive under this section4 ,if the amount appropriated for any fiscal year is not sufficient to pay the amounts which all such institutions are to receive1 the ,secretary shall ratably reduce such payments4 ,if any amount becomes available to carry out this section for a fiscal year after such reductions have been imposed1 such reduced payments shall be increased on the same basis as they were reduced4 7,b7 ,in making payments under this section for any fiscal year1 the ,secretary shall apportion the appropriation for making such payments1 from funds which become available as a result of the limitation on payments set forth in paragraph 7#a77;,b71 in an equitable manner4 7d7 ,coordination and provision of assistance1 technical consultation1 and information ,the ,secretary1 in carrying out the provisions of this section1 shall seek to assure the coordination of programs assisted under this section with other programs carried out by the ,department pursuant to this title1 and the ,secretary shall provide all assistance1 technical consultation1 and information otherwise authorized by law as necessary to promote the maximum effectiveness of the activities and programs assisted under this section4 7e7 ,best practices and administration 7#a7 ,from the amounts made available for any fiscal year under subsection 7f71 the ,secretary shall retain one percent or #bj1jjj1 whichever is less1 for the purpose of collecting information about exemplary veterans educational outreach programs and disseminating that information to other institutions of higher learning having such programs on their campuses4 ,such collection and dissemination shall be done on an annual basis4 7#b7 ,from the amounts made available under subsection 7f71 the ,secretary may retain not more than two percent for the purpose of administering this section4 7f7 ,authorization of appropriations ,there is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section #f1jjj1jjj for fiscal year #bjab and each fiscal year thereafter4 4 7b7 ,clerical amendment ,the table of sections at the beginning of chapter #cf of title #ch1 ,united ,states ,code1 is amended by inserting after the item relating to section #cfig;,a the following new item3 #cfig;,b4 ,veterans education outreach program4 4