Plain English
GovGreed Synthesis · 2026-02-03
Veterans Education and Technical Skills Opportunity Act of 2025 or the VETS Opportunity Act of 2025 This bill addresses the administration of and eligibility for certain Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) educational assistance benefits and programs. The bill modifies the process for repaying service members and veterans who paid to keep benefits under the Montgomery GI Bill, but later chose to utilize Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits. Specifically, the bill requires that the VA issue a repayment within 60 days of an individual exhausting their eligibility for Post-9/11 benefits, regardless of their housing stipend eligibility. The bill also modifies which independent study programs are covered under veterans’ educational assistance benefits. The bill requires independent study programs that lead to a certificate that reflects graduation from a course of study to include regular and substantive interaction between students and instructors. Additionally, the bill allows such independent study programs to be offered by any institutions of higher education, including for-profit institutions, that are approved to participate in the Department of Education’s financial assistance programs. Upon receiving orders for active service, inactive duty training, or state active duty, the bill authorizes a member of the Armed Forces or reserves to enter into an agreement with their educational institution to complete a course of education to the satisfaction of the institution if they have compl
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Action Timeline
2026-02-03
Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
2026-02-02
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
2026-02-02
On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H1933-1934)
2026-02-02
Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H1933-1934)
2026-02-02
DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 1458.
2026-02-02
Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H1933-1935)
2026-02-02
Mr. Bost moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
2025-09-26
Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 262.
2025-09-26
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Veterans' Affairs. H. Rept. 119-308.
2025-09-26
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Veterans' Affairs. H. Rept. 119-308.
Full Bill Text
119 HR 1458 EH: Veterans Education and Technical Skills Opportunity Act of 2025 U.S. House of Representatives text/xml EN Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain. I 119th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 1458 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AN ACT To amend title 38, United States Code, to modify the criteria for approval of certain independent study programs for purposes of the educational assistance programs of the Department of Veterans Affairs. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Veterans Education and Technical Skills Opportunity Act of 2025 or the VETS Opportunity Act of 2025 . 2. Repayment of members of the Armed Forces for contributions towards Post-9/11 Educational Assistance: timing; mechanism for individuals not eligible for a monthly housing stipend (a) In general Subsection (f) of section 3327 of title 38, United States Code, is amended— (1) in paragraph (3), by striking together and all that follows through before and inserting not later than 60 days after ; and (2) by adding at the end the following new paragraph: (4) Additional assistance for an individual not eligible for a monthly housing stipend In the case of an individual making an election under subsection (a) who is described by subparagraph (A), (C), or (E) of paragraph (1) of that subsection, and who is not eligible for a monthly stipend payable under section 3313(c) of this title, the educational assistance payable to the individual under this chapter shall be paid— (A) in a lump sum calculated by multiplying— (i) the total amount of contributions described in paragraph (1)(A) with regards to such individual; and (ii) the sum of the number of months described in subclauses (I) and (II) of paragraph (1)(B)(i) with regards to such individual; and (B) to the individual not later than 60 days after the exhaustion of the individual's entitlement to educational assistance under this chapter. . (b) Technical corrections and conforming amendment Such subsection is further amended— (1) by striking paragraphs (2) through (7) and inserting paragraphs (2) through (6) ; and (2) in paragraph (1), in the heading, by inserting for an individual eligible for a monthly housing stipend after Additional assistance . (c) Effective date The amendments made by this section shall take effect on August 1, 2026. 3. Treatment of certain independent study programs under educational assistance programs of Department of Veterans Affairs (a) In general Section 3680A(a)(4)(A)(ii)(III) of such title is amended— (1) by inserting that requires regular and substantive interaction between students and instructors after course of study ; (2) in item (aa), by striking ; or and inserting a semicolon; (3) in item (bb), by striking ; and and inserting ; or ; and (4) by adding at the end by following new item: (cc) an institution of higher education, as such term is defined in section 102 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 1002 ), that is approved to participate or participating in the student financial assistance programs authorized by title IV of that Act; and . (b) Applicability The amendment made by subsection (a) shall apply with respect to a quarter, semester, or term, as applicable, that begins on or after August 1, 2026. 4. Absence from certain education due to certain service (a) Options Section 3691A of such title is amended by striking paragraph (1) of subsection (a) and inserting the following: (1) A covered member may, after receiving orders to enter a period of covered service— (A) withdraw from covered education; (B) take a leave of absence from covered education; or (C) subject to subsection (d), enter into an agreement with the institution concerned to complete a course of covered education to the satisfaction of such institution concerned. . (b) Conforming amendment Such subsection is further amended, in paragraph (2)(A), by striking or takes a leave of absence and inserting , takes a leave of absence, or enters into an agreement . (c) Agreement Such section is further amended— (1) by redesignating subsection (d) as subsection (e); and (2) by inserting, after subsection (c), the following new subsection (d): (d) Agreement with institution concerned A covered member may enter into an agreement under subsection (a) only if the covered member has completed at least half of a course of covered education. . (d) Section heading Such section is further amended by striking the heading and inserting Absence from certain education due to certain service . (e) Table of sections The table of sections at the beginning of chapter 36 of such title is amended by striking the item relating to section 3691A and inserting the following new item: 3691A. Absence from certain education due to certain service. . 5. Department of Veterans Affairs compliance surveys Section 3693 of such title is amended— (1) in subsection (c)— (A) by striking not more than 10 business days of notice ; (B) by striking this section. and inserting this section— ; and (C) by adding at the end the following new paragraphs: (1) in the case of an educational institution or training establishment with a time stamp database collection feature, not fewer than 10, and not more than 15, business days of notice; and (2) in the case of any other educational institution or training establishment, not more than 10 business days of notice. ; and (2) by striking subsection (d) and inserting the following new subsection (d): (d) Definitions In this section: (1) The terms educational institution and training establishment have the meanings given such terms in section 3452 of this title. (2) The term school certifying official means an employee of an educational institution with primary responsibility for certifying veteran enrollment at the educational institution. . 6. Notification of school certifying officials of handbook updates (a) In general Not later than 14 business days after updating the school certifying official handbook of the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall provide notice to all school certifying officials of such update. (b) School certifying official defined The term school certifying official means an employee of an educational institution with primary responsibility for certifying veteran enrollment at the educational institution. 7. Extension of certain limits on payments of pension Section 5503(d)(7) of title 38, United States Code, is amended by striking January 31, 2033 and inserting May 31, 2034 . Passed the House of Representatives February 2, 2026. Kevin F. McCumber, Clerk.
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