,,ii #aagth ,,congress #ast ,session ,s4 #aicf ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,may #bg1 #bjba,mr4 ,booker 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 provide for extensions of the time limitations for use of entitlement under ,department of ,veterans ,affairs educational assistance programs by reason of school closures due to emergency and other situations1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,,gi ,bill ,national ,emergency ,extended ,deadline ,act of #bjba4 #b4 ,extension of time limitation for use of entitlement under ,department of ,veterans ,affairs educational assistance programs by reason of school closures due to emergency and other situations 7a7 ,montgomery ,,gi ,bill ,section #cjca of title #ch1 ,united ,states ,code1 is amended-- 7#a7 in subsection 7a71 by inserting and subsection 7i7 after through 7g72 and 7#b7 by adding at the end the following new subsection3 7i7 7#a7 ,in the case of an individual eligible for educational assistance under this chapter who is prevented from pursuing the individual's chosen program of education before the expiration of the #aj-year period for the use of entitlement under this chapter otherwise applicable under this section because of a covered reason1 as determined by the ,secretary1 such #aj-year period-- 7,a7 shall not run during the period the individual is so prevented from pursuing such program2 and 7,b7 shall again begin running on a date determined by the ,secretary that is-- 7i7 not earlier than the first day after the individual is able to resume pursuit of a program of education with educational assistance under this chapter2 and 7ii7 not later than #ij days after that day4 7#b7 ,in this subsection1 a covered reason is-- 7,a7 the temporary or permanent closure of an educational institution by reason of an emergency situation2 or 7,b7 another reason that prevents the individual from pursuing the individual's chosen program of education1 as determined by the ,secretary4 4 7b7 ,post-#i_/aa ,educational ,assistance ,section #ccba7;b77#a7 of such title is amended-- 7#a7 by inserting 7,a7 before ,subsections2 7#b7 by striking and 7d7 and inserting 7d71 and 7i72 and 7#c7 by adding at the end the following new subparagraph3 7,b7 ,subsection 7i7 of section #cjca of this title shall apply with respect to the running of the #ae-year period described in paragraphs 7#d77;,a7 and 7#e77;,a7 of this subsection in the same manner as such subsection applies under such section #cjca with respect to the running of the #aj-year period described in subsection 7a7 of such section4 4 #c4 ,extension of period of eligibility by reason of school closures due to emergency and other situations under ,department of ,veterans ,affairs training and rehabilitation program for veterans with service-connected disabilities ,section #cajc of title #ch1 ,united ,states ,code1 is amended-- 7#a7 in subsection 7a71 by striking or 7g7 and inserting 7g71 or 7h72 and 7#b7 by adding at the end the following new subsection3 7h7 7#a7 ,in the case of a veteran who is eligible for a vocational rehabilitation program under this chapter and who is prevented from participating in the vocational rehabilitation program within the period of eligibility prescribed in subsection 7a7 because of a covered reason1 as determined by the ,secretary1 such period of eligibility-- 7,a7 shall not run during the period the veteran is so prevented from participating in such program2 and 7,b7 shall again begin running on a date determined by the ,secretary that is-- 7i7 not earlier than the first day after the veteran is able to resume participation in a vocational rehabilitation program under this chapter2 and 7ii7 not later than #ij days after that day4 7#b7 ,in this subsection1 a covered reason is-- 7,a7 the temporary or permanent closure of an educational institution by reason of an emergency situation2 or 7,b7 another reason that prevents the veteran from participating in the vocational rehabilitation program1 as determined by the ,secretary4 4 #d4 ,department of ,veterans ,affairs disapproval of courses offered by public institutions of higher learning that do not charge veterans the in-,state tuition rate for purposes of ,survivors' and ,dependents' ,educational ,assistance ,program 7a7 ,in general ,section #cfgi7;c7 of title #ch1 ,united ,states ,code1 is amended-- 7#a7 in paragraph 7#a71 by striking or #cc and inserting #cc1 or #ce2 7#b7 in paragraph 7#b71 by adding at the end the following new subparagraph3 7,d7 ,an individual who is entitled to assistance under section #ceaj of this title4 2 and 7#c7 in paragraph 7#f71 by striking and #cc and inserting #cc1 and #ce4 7b7 ,conforming amendments ,section #cfgi7;e7 of such title is amended-- 7#a7 in paragraph 7#a7-- 7,a7 in subparagraph 7,a71 by striking or #cc and inserting 1 #cc1 or #ce2 and 7,b7 in subparagraph 7,b71 by striking or #cc and inserting #cc1 or #ce2 and 7#b7 in paragraph 7#b71 by striking or #cc and inserting #cc1 or #ce4 7c7 ,effective date ,the amendments made by this section shall take effect on the date of the enactment of this ,act and shall apply with respect to an academic period that begins on or after ,august #a1 #bjbb4 #e4 ,improvements to information technology services used to process claims for educational assistance 7a7 ,modern information technology service ,the ,secretary of ,veterans ,affairs shall implement an information technology service to process claims for educational assistance under chapters #cj1 #cc1 #ce1 and #cf of title #ch1 ,united ,states ,code1 using one or more commercial software systems4 ,the ,secretary shall complete such implementation not later than ,august #a1 #bjbd4 7b7 ,required capabilities ,the ,secretary shall ensure that the modern information technology service under subsection 7a7 has the following capabilities3 7#a7 ,as compared to legacy information technology systems-- 7,a7 the ability to process claims faster and in a more efficient manner by improving processing integration and accuracy2 7,b7 improved data exchange and reporting2 and 7,c7 improved customer integration and simplification of the online experience4 7#b7 ,timely communication by employees of the ,department of ,veterans ,affairs to individuals and educational institutions using an online portal that can provide real-time information on claims for educational assistance4 7#c7 ,the ability to be customized to address future capabilities required by law4 7#d7 ,fully automated to the extent practicable for all original and supplemental claims1 including with respect to calculating accurate awards4 7#e7 ,the ability for individuals entitled to educational assistance to electronically apply for1 withdraw from1 and amend such entitlement1 and to reallocate a transferred entitlement4 7#f7 ,the ability to electronically process changes made by educational institutions4 7#g7 ,the ability to verify attendance at an educational institution4 7#h7 ,the ability to process validations made by an educational institution4 7c7 ,initial report ,not later than #abj days after the date of the enactment of this ,act1 the ,secretary shall submit to the ,committee on ,veterans' ,affairs of the ,senate and the ,committee on ,veterans' ,affairs of the ,house of ,representatives a report on the cost1 schedule1 and performance of the project for implementing the information technology service required by subsection 7a71 including1 with respect to such project1 the following3 7#a7 ,an estimate of acquisition1 implementation1 and life cycle costs 7including all direct and indirect costs to acquire1 implement1 operate1 and maintain such system74 7#b7 ,an intended implementation schedule indicating significant milestones1 initial operating capability1 and full operating capability or completion4 7#c7 ,key business1 functional1 or performance objectives4 7#d7 ,with respect to both original claims and supplemental claims processed on a monthly basis1 statistics regarding-- 7,a7 the number of such claims processed using legacy information systems2 7,b7 the number of such claims that were off-ramped and processed manually2 and 7,c7 the number of such claims estimated to be processed using the modern information technology service4 7#e7 ,the amount of savings that are estimated to be realized from using the modern information technology service rather than legacy information technology systems4 7#f7 ,the estimated accuracy of processing claims4 7#g7 ,the estimated timeliness for-- 7,a7 processing original claims2 and 7,b7 processing supplemental claims4 7#h7 ,a description of how the modern information technology service will-- 7,a7 automate the processing of original claims2 and 7,b7 automate the processing of supplemental claims4 7d7 ,definitions ,in this section3 7#a7 ,legacy information technology system ,the term legacy information technology system means an information technology system used by the ,department of ,veterans ,affairs to process claims for educational assistance under chapters #cj1 #cc1 #ce1 and #cf of title #ch1 ,united ,states ,code1 before the date on which the ,secretary of ,veterans ,affairs commences implementation under subsection 7a7 of the modern information technology service4 7#b7 ,modern information technology service ,the term modern information technology service means the information technology service implemented under subsection 7a7 to process claims for educational assistance under chapters #cj1 #cc1 #ce1 and #cf of title #ch1 ,united ,states ,code4 #f4 ,time period for eligibility under ,survivors' ,and ,dependents' ,educational ,assistance ,program of ,department of ,veterans ,affairs 7a7 ,in general ,section #ceab of title #ch1 ,united ,states ,code1 is amended-- 7#a7 by redesignating subsection 7h7 as subsection 7f72 and 7#b7 by adding at the end the following new subsection3 7g7 ,notwithstanding any other provision of this section1 the following persons may be afforded educational assistance under this chapter at any time after ,august #a1 #bjbc1 and without regard to the age of the person3 7#a7 ,a person who first becomes an eligible person on or after ,august #a1 #bjbc4 7#b7 ,a person who-- 7,a7 first becomes an eligible person before ,august #a1 #bjbc2 and 7,b7 becomes #ah years of age1 or completes secondary schooling1 on or after ,august #a1 #bjbc4 4 7b7 ,conforming amendments ,such section is further amended-- 7#a7 in subsection 7a71 by striking ,the educational and inserting ,except as provided in subsection 7g71 the educational2 7#b7 in subsection 7b7-- 7,a7 in paragraph 7#a77;,a71 by inserting subsection 7g7 or after provided in2 and 7,b7 in paragraph 7#b71 by striking ,notwithstanding and inserting ,except as provided in subsection 7g71 notwithstanding2 and 7#c7 in subsection 7e71 by striking ,no person and inserting ,except as provided in subsection 7g71 no person4 #g4 ,pilot program on short-term fellowship programs 7a7 ,authority ,the ,assistant ,secretary of ,labor for ,veterans' ,employment and ,training shall carry out a pilot program under which a ,state may use a grant or contract under section #dajb;,a7b77#e7 of title #ch1 ,united ,states ,code1 to carry out a short-term fellowship program4 7b7 ,locations2 agreements ,the ,secretary shall select at least three1 but not more than five1 ,states to carry out a short-term fellowship program pursuant to subsection 7a74 ,each such ,state shall enter into an agreement with a non-profit organization to carry out such program4 7c7 ,short-,term fellowship program ,each short-term fellowship program carried out by a ,state pursuant to subsection 7a7 shall-- 7#a7 consist of veterans participating as fellows with an employer for a period not exceeding #bj weeks2 7#b7 provide to such veterans a monthly stipend during such period2 and 7#c7 provide to such veterans an opportunity to be employed on a long-term basis with the employer following such period4 7d7 ,amount of stipend ,the amount of the stipend provided to a veteran pursuant to subsection 7c77#b7 for a month shall be the amount equal to the amount of the wages earned by the veteran during that month for participating in the fellowship4 7e7 ,comptroller ,general report ,not later than four years after the date on which the pilot program commences under this section1 the ,comptroller ,general of the ,united ,states shall submit to the ,committees on ,veterans' ,affairs of the ,house of ,representatives and the ,senate a report on the pilot program4 7f7 ,definition of ,state ,in this section1 the term ,state has the meaning given such term in section #daja7f7 of title #ch1 ,united ,states ,code4 7g7 ,authorization of appropriations ,in addition to funds made available under section #dajb;,a7b77#e7 of title #ch1 ,united ,states ,code1 there is authorized to be appropriated to the ,assistant ,secretary to carry out the pilot program under this section #ae1jjj1jjj for each of fiscal years #bjba through #bjbe4