TITLE 38 - US CODE - PART III - READJUSTMENT AND RELATED BENEFITS

TITLE 38 - US CODE - CHAPTER 30 - ALL-VOLUNTEER FORCE EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM

TITLE 38 - US CODE - SUBCHAPTER I - PURPOSES; DEFINITIONS

38 USC 3001 - Purposes

The purposes of this chapter are
(1) to provide a new educational assistance program to assist in the readjustment of members of the Armed Forces to civilian life after their separation from military service;
(2) to extend the benefits of a higher education to qualifying men and women who might not otherwise be able to afford such an education;
(3) to provide for vocational readjustment and to restore lost educational opportunities to those service men and women who served on active duty after June 30, 1985;
(4) to promote and assist the All-Volunteer Force program and the Total Force Concept of the Armed Forces by establishing a new program of educational assistance based upon service on active duty or a combination of service on active duty and in the Selected Reserve (including the National Guard) to aid in the recruitment and retention of highly qualified personnel for both the active and reserve components of the Armed Forces;
(5) to give special emphasis to providing educational assistance benefits to aid in the retention of personnel in the Armed Forces; and
(6) to enhance our Nations competitiveness through the development of a more highly educated and productive work force.

38 USC 3002 - Definitions

For the purposes of this chapter
(1) The term basic educational assistance means educational assistance provided under subchapter II of this chapter.
(2) The term supplemental educational assistance means educational assistance provided under subchapter III of this chapter.
(3) The term program of education
(A) has the meaning given such term in section 3452 (b) of this title;
(B) includes
(i) a preparatory course for a test that is required or used for admission to an institution of higher education; and
(ii) a preparatory course for a test that is required or used for admission to a graduate school; and
(C) in the case of an individual who is not serving on active duty, includes
(i)  a full-time program of apprenticeship or of other on-job training approved as provided in clause (1) or (2), as appropriate, of section 3687 (a) of this title, and
(ii)  a cooperative program (as defined in section 3482 (a)(2) of this title).
(4) The term Selected Reserve means the Selected Reserve of the Ready Reserve of any of the reserve components (including the Army National Guard of the United States and the Air National Guard of the United States) of the Armed Forces, as required to be maintained under section 10143 (a) of title 10.
(5) The term Secretary of Defense means the Secretary of Defense, except that it means the Secretary of Homeland Security with respect to the Coast Guard when it is not operating as a service in the Navy.
(6) The term active duty does not include any period during which an individual
(A)  was assigned full time by the Armed Forces to a civilian institution for a course of education which was substantially the same as established courses offered to civilians,
(B)  served as a cadet or midshipman at one of the service academies, or
(C)  served under the provisions of section 12103 (d) of title 10 pursuant to an enlistment in the Army National Guard or the Air National Guard, or as a Reserve for service in the Army Reserve, Navy Reserve, Air Force Reserve, Marine Corps Reserve, or Coast Guard Reserve.
(7) The term active duty includes full-time National Guard duty first performed after June 30, 1985, by a member of the Army National Guard of the United States or the Air National Guard of the United States in the members status as a member of the National Guard of a State for the purpose of organizing, administering, recruiting, instructing, or training the National Guard.
(8) The term educational institution has the meaning given such term in section 3452 (c) of this title.

TITLE 38 - US CODE - SUBCHAPTER II - BASIC EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE

38 USC 3011 - Basic educational assistance entitlement for service on active duty

(a) Except as provided in subsection (c) of this section, each individual
(1) who
(A) after June 30, 1985, first becomes a member of the Armed Forces or first enters on active duty as a member of the Armed Forces and
(i) who
(I)  in the case of an individual whose obligated period of active duty is three years or more, serves at least three years of continuous active duty in the Armed Forces, or
(II)  in the case of an individual whose obligated period of active duty is less than three years, serves at least two years of continuous active duty in the Armed Forces; or
(ii) who serves in the Armed Forces and is discharged or released from active duty
(I)  for a service-connected disability, for a medical condition which preexisted such service on active duty and which the Secretary determines is not service connected, for hardship, or for a physical or mental condition that was not characterized as a disability and did not result from the individuals own willful misconduct but did interfere with the individuals performance of duty, as determined by the Secretary of each military department in accordance with regulations prescribed by the Secretary of Defense or by the Secretary of Homeland Security with respect to the Coast Guard when it is not operating as a service in the Navy;
(II)  for the convenience of the Government, if, in the case of an individual with an obligated period of service of two years, the individual completes not less than 20 months of continuous active duty under that period of obligated service, or, in the case of an individual with an obligated period of service of at least three years, the individual completes not less than 30 months of continuous active duty under that period of obligated service; or
(III)  involuntarily for the convenience of the Government as a result of a reduction in force, as determined by the Secretary of the military department concerned in accordance with regulations prescribed by the Secretary of Defense or by the Secretary of Homeland Security with respect to the Coast Guard when it is not operating as a service in the Navy;
(B) as of December 31, 1989, is eligible for educational assistance benefits under chapter 34 of this title and was on active duty at any time during the period beginning on October 19, 1984, and ending on July 1, 1985, continued on active duty without a break in service and
(i) after June 30, 1985, serves at least three years of continuous active duty in the Armed Forces; or
(ii) after June 30, 1985, is discharged or released from active duty
(I)  for a service-connected disability, for a medical condition which preexisted such service on active duty and which the Secretary determines is not service connected, for hardship, or for a physical or mental condition that was not characterized as a disability, as described in subparagraph (A)(ii)(I) of this paragraph;
(II)  for the convenience of the Government, if the individual completed not less than 30 months of continuous active duty after that date; or
(III)  involuntarily for the convenience of the Government as a result of a reduction in force, as determined by the Secretary of the military department concerned in accordance with regulations prescribed by the Secretary of Defense or by the Secretary of Homeland Security with respect to the Coast Guard when it is not operating as a service in the Navy; or
(C) as of December 31, 1989, was eligible for educational assistance benefits under chapter 34 of this title and
(i) was not on active duty on October 19, 1984;
(ii) reenlists or reenters on a period of active duty after October 19, 1984; and
(iii) on or after July 1, 1985, either
(I) serves at least three years of continuous active duty in the Armed Forces; or
(II) is discharged or released from active duty (aa) for a service-connected disability, for a medical condition which preexisted such service on active duty and which the Secretary determines is not service connected, for hardship, or for a physical or mental condition that was not characterized as a disability, as described in subparagraph (A)(ii)(I) of this paragraph, (bb) for the convenience of the Government, if the individual completed not less than 30 months of continuous active duty after that date, or (cc) involuntarily for the convenience of the Government as a result of a reduction in force, as determined by the Secretary of the military department concerned in accordance with regulations prescribed by the Secretary of Defense or by the Secretary of Homeland Security with respect to the Coast Guard when it is not operating as a service in the Navy;
(2) who completes the requirements of a secondary school diploma (or equivalency certificate), or successfully completes (or otherwise receives academic credit for) the equivalent of 12 semester hours in a program of education leading to a standard college degree, before applying for benefits under this section; and
(3) who, after completion of the service described in clause (1) of this subsection
(A) continues on active duty;
(B) is discharged from active duty with an honorable discharge;
(C) is released after service on active duty characterized by the Secretary concerned as honorable service and is placed on the retired list, is transferred to the Fleet Reserve or Fleet Marine Corps Reserve, or is placed on the temporary disability retired list; or
(D) is released from active duty for further service in a reserve component of the Armed Forces after service on active duty characterized by the Secretary concerned as honorable service;

is entitled to basic educational assistance under this chapter.

(b) 
(1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), the basic pay of any individual described in subsection (a)(1)(A) of this section who does not make an election under subsection (c)(1) of this section shall be reduced by $100 for each of the first 12 months that such individual is entitled to such pay.
(2) In the case of an individual covered by paragraph (1) who is a member of the Selected Reserve, the Secretary of Defense shall collect from the individual an amount equal to $1,200 not later than one year after completion by the individual of the two years of service on active duty providing the basis for such entitlement. The Secretary of Defense may collect such amount through reductions in basic pay in accordance with paragraph (1) or through such other method as the Secretary of Defense considers appropriate.
(3) Any amount by which the basic pay of an individual is reduced under this subsection shall revert to the Treasury and shall not, for purposes of any Federal law, be considered to have been received by or to be within the control of such individual.
(c) 
(1) An individual described in subsection (a)(1)(A) of this section may make an election not to receive educational assistance under this chapter. Any such election shall be made at the time the individual initially enters on active duty as a member of the Armed Forces. Any individual who makes such an election is not entitled to educational assistance under this chapter.
(2) An individual who after December 31, 1976, receives a commission as an officer in the Armed Forces upon graduation from the United States Military Academy, the United States Naval Academy, the United States Air Force Academy, or the Coast Guard Academy is not eligible for educational assistance under this section.
(3) An individual who after December 31, 1976, receives a commission as an officer in the Armed Forces upon completion of a program of educational assistance under section 2107 of title 10 is not eligible for educational assistance under this section if the individual enters on active duty
(A) before October 1, 1996; or
(B) after September 30, 1996, and while participating in such program received more than $3,400 for each year of such participation.
(d) 
(1) For purposes of this chapter, any period of service described in paragraphs (2) and (3) of this subsection shall not be considered a part of an obligated period of active duty on which an individuals entitlement to assistance under this section is based.
(2) The period of service referred to in paragraph (1) is any period terminated because of a defective enlistment and induction based on
(A) the individuals being a minor for purposes of service in the Armed Forces;
(B) an erroneous enlistment or induction; or
(C) a defective enlistment agreement.
(3) The period of service referred to in paragraph (1) is also any period of service on active duty which an individual in the Selected Reserve was ordered to perform under section 12301, 12302, 12304, 12306, or 12307 of title 10 for a period of less than 2 years.
(e) 
(1) Any individual eligible for educational assistance under this section who does not make an election under subsection (c)(1) may contribute amounts for purposes of receiving an increased amount of basic educational assistance as provided for under section 3015 (g) of this title. Such contributions shall be in addition to any reductions in the basic pay of such individual under subsection (b).
(2) An individual covered by paragraph (1) may make the contributions authorized by that paragraph at any time while on active duty, but not more frequently than monthly.
(3) The total amount of the contributions made by an individual under paragraph (1) may not exceed $600. Such contributions shall be made in multiples of $20.
(4) Contributions under this subsection shall be made to the Secretary of the military department concerned. That Secretary shall deposit any amounts received as contributions under this subsection into the Treasury as miscellaneous receipts.
(f) 
(1) For the purposes of this chapter, a member referred to in paragraph (2) or (3) of this subsection who serves the periods of active duty referred to in that paragraph shall be deemed to have served a continuous period of active duty the length of which is the aggregate length of the periods of active duty referred to in that paragraph.
(2) This subsection applies to a member who
(A) after a period of continuous active duty of not more than 12 months, is discharged or released from active duty under subclause (I) or (III) of subsection (a)(1)(A)(ii) of this section; and
(B) after such discharge or release, reenlists or re-enters on a period of active duty.
(3) This subsection applies to a member who after a period of continuous active duty as an enlisted member or warrant officer, and following successful completion of officer training school, is discharged in order to accept, without a break in service, a commission as an officer in the Armed Forces for a period of active duty.
(g) Notwithstanding section 3002 (6)(A) of this title, a period during which an individual is assigned full time by the Armed Forces to a civilian institution for a course of education as described in such section 3002 (6)(A) shall not be considered a break in service or a break in a continuous period of active duty of the individual for the purposes of this chapter.
(h) 
(1) Notwithstanding section 3002 (6)(B) of this title, a member referred to in paragraph (2) of this subsection who serves the periods of active duty referred to in subparagraphs (A) and (C) of that paragraph shall be deemed to have served a continuous period of active duty whose length is the aggregate length of the periods of active duty referred to in such subparagraphs.
(2) This subsection applies to a member who
(A) during the obligated period of active duty on which entitlement to assistance under this section is based, commences pursuit of a course of education
(i) at a service academy; or
(ii) at a post-secondary school for the purpose of preparation for enrollment at a service academy;
(B) fails to complete the course of education; and
(C) re-enters on a period of active duty.
(i) The Secretary concerned shall inform any member of the Armed Forces who has not completed that members obligated period of active duty (as described in subsection (a)(1)(A)) and who indicates the intent to be discharged or released from such duty for the convenience of the Government of the minimum active duty requirements for entitlement to educational assistance benefits under this chapter. Such information shall be provided to the member in a timely manner.

38 USC 3012 - Basic educational assistance entitlement for service in the Selected Reserve

(a) Except as provided in subsection (d) of this section, each individual
(1) who
(A) after June 30, 1985, first becomes a member of the Armed Forces or first enters on active duty as a member of the Armed Forces and
(i) serves an obligated period of active duty of at least two years of continuous active duty in the Armed Forces, subject to subsection (b) of this section, characterized by the Secretary concerned as honorable service; and
(ii) subject to subsection (b) of this section and beginning within one year after completion of the service on active duty described in subclause (i) of this clause, serves at least four years of continuous duty in the Selected Reserve during which the individual participates satisfactorily in training as required by the Secretary concerned;
(B) as of December 31, 1989, is eligible for educational assistance under chapter 34 of this title and was on active duty at any time during the period beginning on October 19, 1984, and ending on July 1, 1985, continued on active duty without a break in service and
(i) after June 30, 1985, serves at least two years of continuous active duty in the Armed Forces, subject to subsection (b) of this section, characterized by the Secretary concerned as honorable service; and
(ii) after June 30, 1985, subject to subsection (b) of this section and beginning within one year after completion of such two years of service, serves at least four continuous years in the Selected Reserve during which the individual participates satisfactorily in training as prescribed by the Secretary concerned; or
(C) as of December 31, 1989, was eligible for educational assistance under chapter 34 of this title and
(i) was not on active duty on October 19, 1984;
(ii) reenlists or reenters on a period of active duty after October 19, 1984; and
(iii) on or after July 1, 1985
(I) serves at least two years of continuous active duty in the Armed Forces, subject to subsection (b) of this section, characterized by the Secretary concerned as honorable service; and
(II) subject to subsection (b) of this section and beginning within one year after completion of such two years of service, serves at least four continuous years in the Selected Reserve during which the individual participates satisfactorily in training as prescribed by the Secretary concerned;
(2) who completes the requirements of a secondary school diploma (or equivalency certificate), or successfully completes (or otherwise receives academic credit for) the equivalent of 12 semester hours in a program of education leading to a standard college degree, before applying for benefits under this section; and
(3) who, after completion of the service described in clause (1) of this subsection
(A) is discharged from service with an honorable discharge, is placed on the retired list, or is transferred to the Standby Reserve or an element of the Ready Reserve other than the Selected Reserve after service in the Selected Reserve characterized by the Secretary concerned as honorable service; or
(B) continues on active duty or in the Selected Reserve;

is entitled to basic educational assistance under this chapter.

(b) 
(1) 
(A) The requirement of two years of service under clauses (1)(A)(i) and (1)(B)(i) of subsection (a) of this section is not applicable to an individual who is discharged or released, during such two years, from active duty in the Armed Forces
(i)  for a service-connected disability,
(ii)  for a medical condition which preexisted such service on active duty and which the Secretary determines is not service connected,
(iii)  for hardship,
(iv)  in the case of an individual discharged or released after 20 months of such service, for the convenience of the Government,
(v)  involuntarily for the convenience of the Government as a result of a reduction in force, as determined by the Secretary of the military department concerned in accordance with regulations prescribed by the Secretary of Defense or by the Secretary of Homeland Security with respect to the Coast Guard when it is not operating as a service in the Navy, or
(vi)  for a physical or mental condition that was not characterized as a disability, as described in section 3011 (a)(1)(A)(ii)(I) of this title.
(B) The requirement of four years of service under clauses (1)(A)(ii) and (1)(B)(ii) of subsection (a) of this section is not applicable to an individual
(i) who, during the two years of service described in clauses (1)(A)(i) and (1)(B)(i) of subsection (a) of this section, was discharged or released from active duty in the Armed Forces for a service-connected disability, for a medical condition which preexisted such service on active duty and which the Secretary determines is not service connected, or for a physical or mental condition not characterized as a disability, as described in section 3011 (a)(1)(A)(ii)(I) of this title, if the individual was obligated, at the beginning of such two years of service, to serve such four years of service;
(ii) who, during the four years of service described in clauses (1)(A)(ii) and (1)(B)(ii) of subsection (a) of this section, is discharged or released from service in the Selected Reserve
(I)  for a service-connected disability,
(II)  for a medical condition which preexisted the individuals becoming a member of the Selected Reserve and which the Secretary determines is not service connected,
(III)  for hardship,
(IV)  in the case of an individual discharged or released after 30 months of such service, for the convenience of the Government,
(V)  involuntarily for the convenience of the Government as a result of a reduction in force, as determined by the Secretary of the military department concerned in accordance with regulations prescribed by the Secretary of Defense or by the Secretary of Homeland Security with respect to the Coast Guard when it is not operating as a service in the Navy, or
(VI)  for a physical or mental condition not characterized as a disability, as described in section 3011 (a)(1)(A)(ii)(I) of this title; or
(iii) who, before completing the four years of service described in clauses (1)(A)(ii) and (1)(B)(ii) of subsection (a) of this section, ceases to be a member of the Selected Reserve during the period beginning on October 1, 1991, and ending on September 30, 1999, by reason of the inactivation of the persons unit of assignment or by reason of involuntarily ceasing to be designated as a member of the Selected Reserve pursuant to section 10143 (a) of title 10.
(2) After an individual begins service in the Selected Reserve within one year after completion of the service described in clause (A)(i) or (B)(i) of subsection (a)(1) of this section, the continuity of service of such individual as a member of the Selected Reserve shall not be considered to be broken
(A) by any period of time (not to exceed a maximum period prescribed by the Secretary concerned by regulation) during which the member is not able to locate a unit of the Selected Reserve of the members Armed Force that the member is eligible to join or that has a vacancy; or
(B) by any other period of time (not to exceed a maximum period prescribed by the Secretary concerned by regulation) during which the member is not attached to a unit of the Selected Reserve that the Secretary concerned, pursuant to regulations, considers to be inappropriate to consider for such purpose.
(c) 
(1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), the basic pay of any individual described in subsection (a)(1)(A) of this section who does not make an election under subsection (d)(1) of this section shall be reduced by $100 for each of the first 12 months that such individual is entitled to such pay.
(2) In the case of an individual covered by paragraph (1) who is a member of the Selected Reserve, the Secretary of Defense shall collect from the individual an amount equal to $1,200 not later than one year after completion by the individual of the two years of service on active duty providing the basis for such entitlement. The Secretary of Defense may collect such amount through reductions in basic pay in accordance with paragraph (1) or through such other method as the Secretary of Defense considers appropriate.
(3) Any amount by which the basic pay of an individual is reduced under this subsection shall revert to the Treasury and shall not, for purposes of any Federal law, be considered to have been received by or to be within the control of such individual.
(d) 
(1) An individual described in subsection (a)(1)(A) of this section may make an election not to receive educational assistance under this chapter. Any such election shall be made at the time the individual initially enters on active duty as a member of the Armed Forces. Any individual who makes such an election is not entitled to educational assistance under this chapter.
(2) An individual who after December 31, 1976, receives a commission as an officer in the Armed Forces upon graduation from the United States Military Academy, the United States Naval Academy, the United States Air Force Academy, or the Coast Guard Academy is not eligible for educational assistance under this section.
(3) An individual who after December 31, 1976, receives a commission as an officer in the Armed Forces upon completion of a program of educational assistance under section 2107 of title 10 is not eligible for educational assistance under this section if the individual enters on active duty
(A) before October 1, 1996; or
(B) after September 30, 1996, and while participating in such program received more than $3,400 for each year of such participation.
(e) 
(1) An individual described in subclause (I) or (III) of subsection (b)(1)(B)(ii) of this section may elect entitlement to basic educational assistance under section 3011 of this title, based on an obligated period of active duty of two years, in lieu of entitlement to assistance under this section.
(2) An individual who makes the election described in paragraph (1) of this subsection shall, for all purposes of this chapter, be considered entitled to educational assistance under section 3011 of this title and not under this section. Such an election is irrevocable.
(f) 
(1) Any individual eligible for educational assistance under this section who does not make an election under subsection (d)(1) may contribute amounts for purposes of receiving an increased amount of basic educational assistance as provided for under section 3015 (g) of this title. Such contributions shall be in addition to any reductions in the basic pay of such individual under subsection (c).
(2) An individual covered by paragraph (1) may make the contributions authorized by that paragraph at any time while on active duty, but not more frequently than monthly.
(3) The total amount of the contributions made by an individual under paragraph (1) may not exceed $600. Such contributions shall be made in multiples of $20.
(4) Contributions under this subsection shall be made to the Secretary of the military department concerned. That Secretary shall deposit any amounts received as contributions under this subsection into the Treasury as miscellaneous receipts.
(g) 
(1) The Secretary concerned shall inform any member of the Armed Forces who has not completed that members initial service (as described in paragraph (2)) and who indicates the intent to be discharged or released from such service for the convenience of the Government of the minimum service requirements for entitlement to educational assistance benefits under this chapter. Such information shall be provided to the member in a timely manner.
(2) The initial service referred to in paragraph (1) is the initial obligated period of active duty (described in subparagraph (A)(i) or (B)(i) of subsection (a)(1)) or the period of service in the Selected Reserve (described in subparagraphs (A)(ii) or (B)(ii) of subsection (a)(1)).

38 USC 3013 - Duration of basic educational assistance

(a) 
(1) Subject to section 3695 of this title and except as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection, each individual entitled to basic educational assistance under section 3011 of this title is entitled to 36 months of educational assistance benefits under this chapter (or the equivalent thereof in part-time educational assistance).
(2) Subject to section 3695 of this title andsubsection (d) of this section, in the case of an individual described in section 3011 (a)(1)(A)(ii)(I) or (III) of this title who is not also described in section 3011 (a)(1)(A)(i) of this title or an individual described in section 3011 (a)(1)(B)(ii)(I) or (III) of this title who is not also described in section 3011 (a)(1)(B)(i) of this title, the individual is entitled to one month of educational assistance benefits under this chapter for each month of continuous active duty served by such individual after June 30, 1985, as part of the obligated period of active duty on which such entitlement is based in the case of an individual described in section 3011 (a)(1)(A)(ii)(I) or (III) of this title, or in the case of an individual described in section 3011 (a)(1)(B)(ii)(I) or (III) of this title, after June 30, 1985.
(b) Subject to section 3695 of this title and subsection (d) of this section, each individual entitled to basic educational assistance under section 3012 of this title is entitled to
(1)  one month of educational assistance benefits under this chapter for each month of continuous active duty served by such individual after June 30, 1985, as part of the obligated period of active duty on which such entitlement is based in the case of an individual described in section 3012 (a)(1)(A) of this title, or in the case of an individual described in section 3012 (a)(1)(B) of this title, after June 30, 1985, and
(2)  one month of educational assistance benefits under this chapter for each four months served by such individual in the Selected Reserve after the applicable date specified in clause (1) of this subsection (other than any month in which the individual served on active duty).
(c) 
(1) Subject to section 3695 of this title and except as provided in paragraphs (2) and (3) of this subsection, each individual entitled to basic educational assistance under section 3018 of this title is entitled to 36 months of educational assistance under this chapter (or the equivalent thereof in part-time educational assistance).
(2) Subject to section 3695 of this title, an individual described in clause (B) or (C) of section 3018 (b)(3) of this title whose discharge or release from active duty prevents the reduction of the basic pay of such individual by $1,200 is entitled to the number of months of assistance under this chapter that is equal to the lesser of
(A) 36 multiplied by a fraction the numerator of which is the amount by which the basic pay of the individual has been reduced under section 3018 (c) and the denominator of which is $1,200; or
(B) the number of months the individual has served on continuous active duty after June 30, 1985.
(3) Subject to section 3695 of this title and subsection (d) of this section, an individual described in clause (B) or (C)(ii) of section 3018 (b)(3) of this title (other than an individual described in paragraph (2) of this subsection) is entitled to the number of months of educational assistance under this chapter that is equal to the number of months the individual has served on continuous active duty after June 30, 1985.
(d) Subject to section 3695 of this title, each individual entitled to educational benefits under section 3018A, 3018B, or 3018C of this title is entitled to the lesser of
(1) 36 months of educational assistance under this chapter (or the equivalent thereof in part-time educational assistance); or
(2) the number of months of such educational assistance (or such equivalent thereof) that is equal to the number of months served by such individual on active duty.
(e) No individual may receive basic educational assistance benefits under this chapter for a period in excess of 36 months (or the equivalent thereof in part-time educational assistance).
(f) 
(1) Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter or chapter 36 of this title, any payment of an educational assistance allowance described in paragraph (2) shall not
(A) be charged against any entitlement of any individual under this chapter; or
(B) be counted toward the aggregate period for which section 3695 of this title limits an individuals receipt of assistance.
(2) Subject to paragraph (3), the payment of the educational assistance allowance referred to in paragraph (1) is the payment of such an allowance to an individual for pursuit of a course or courses under this chapter if the Secretary finds that the individual
(A) in the case of a person not serving on active duty, had to discontinue such course pursuit as a result of being ordered to serve on active duty under section 688, 12301 (a), 12301 (d), 12301 (g), 12302, or 12304 of title 10; or
(B) in the case of a person serving on active duty, had to discontinue such course pursuit as a result of being ordered to a new duty location or assignment or to perform an increased amount of work; and
(C) failed to receive credit or lost training time toward completion of the individuals approved education, professional, or vocational objective as a result of having to discontinue, as described in subparagraph (A) or (B), his or her course pursuit.
(3) The period for which, by reason of this subsection, an educational assistance allowance is not charged against entitlement or counted toward the applicable aggregate period under section 3695 of this title shall not exceed the portion of the period of enrollment in the course or courses for which the individual failed to receive credit or with respect to which the individual lost training time, as determined under paragraph (2)(C) of this subsection.

38 USC 3014 - Payment of basic educational assistance

(a) The Secretary shall pay to each individual entitled to basic educational assistance who is pursuing an approved program of education a basic educational assistance allowance to help meet, in part, the expenses of such individuals subsistence, tuition, fees, supplies, books, equipment, and other educational costs.
(b) 
(1) In the case of an individual entitled to basic educational assistance who is pursuing education or training described in subsection (a) or (c) of section 2007 of title 10, the Secretary shall, at the election of the individual, pay the individual a basic educational assistance allowance to meet all or a portion of the charges of the educational institution for the education or training that are not paid by the Secretary of the military department concerned under such subsection.
(2) 
(A) The amount of the basic educational assistance allowance payable to an individual under this subsection for a month shall be the amount of the basic educational assistance allowance to which the individual would be entitled for the month under section 3015 of this title.
(B) The maximum number of months for which an individual may be paid a basic educational assistance allowance under paragraph (1) is 36.
(C) The number of months of entitlement charged under this chapter in the case of an individual who has been paid a basic educational assistance allowance under this subsection shall be equal to the number (including any fraction) determined by dividing the total amount of such educational assistance allowance paid the individual by the full-time monthly institutional rate of educational assistance which such individual would otherwise be paid under subsection (a)(1), (b)(1), (c)(1), (d)(1), or (e)(1) of section 3015 of this title, as the case may be.

38 USC 3014A - Accelerated payment of basic educational assistance for education leading to employment in high technology occupation in high technology industry

(a) An individual described in subsection (b) who is entitled to basic educational assistance under this subchapter may elect to receive an accelerated payment of the basic educational assistance allowance otherwise payable to the individual under section 3015 of this title.
(b) An individual described in this subsection is an individual who is
(1) enrolled in an approved program of education that leads to employment in a high technology occupation in a high technology industry (as determined pursuant to regulations prescribed by the Secretary); and
(2) charged tuition and fees for the program of education that, when divided by the number of months (and fractions thereof) in the enrollment period, exceeds the amount equal to 200 percent of the monthly rate of basic educational assistance allowance otherwise payable to the individual under section 3015 of this title.
(c) 
(1) The amount of the accelerated payment of basic educational assistance made to an individual making an election under subsection (a) for a program of education shall be the lesser of
(A) the amount equal to 60 percent of the established charges for the program of education; or
(B) the aggregate amount of basic educational assistance to which the individual remains entitled under this chapter at the time of the payment.
(2) In this subsection, the term established charges, in the case of a program of education, means the actual charges (as determined pursuant to regulations prescribed by the Secretary) for tuition and fees which similarly circumstanced nonveterans enrolled in the program of education would be required to pay. Established charges shall be determined on the following basis:
(A) In the case of an individual enrolled in a program of education offered on a term, quarter, or semester basis, the tuition and fees charged the individual for the term, quarter, or semester.
(B) In the case of an individual enrolled in a program of education not offered on a term, quarter, or semester basis, the tuition and fees charged the individual for the entire program of education.
(3) The educational institution providing the program of education for which an accelerated payment of basic educational assistance allowance is elected by an individual under subsection (a) shall certify to the Secretary the amount of the established charges for the program of education.
(d) An accelerated payment of basic educational assistance made to an individual under this section for a program of education shall be made not later than the last day of the month immediately following the month in which the Secretary receives a certification from the educational institution regarding
(1) the individuals enrollment in and pursuit of the program of education; and
(2) the amount of the established charges for the program of education.
(e) 
(1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), for each accelerated payment of basic educational assistance made to an individual under this section, the individuals entitlement to basic educational assistance under this chapter shall be charged the number of months (and any fraction thereof) determined by dividing the amount of the accelerated payment by the full-time monthly rate of basic educational assistance allowance otherwise payable to the individual under section 3015 of this title as of the beginning date of the enrollment period for the program of education for which the accelerated payment is made.
(2) If the monthly rate of basic educational assistance allowance otherwise payable to an individual under section 3015 of this title increases during the enrollment period of a program of education for which an accelerated payment of basic educational assistance is made under this section, the charge to the individuals entitlement to basic educational assistance under this chapter shall be determined by prorating the entitlement chargeable, in the matter provided for under paragraph (1), for the periods covered by the initial rate and increased rate, respectively, in accordance with regulations prescribed by the Secretary.
(f) The Secretary may not make an accelerated payment under this section for a program of education to an individual who has received an advance payment under section 3680 (d) of this title for the same enrollment period.
(g) The Secretary shall prescribe regulations to carry out this section. The regulations shall include requirements, conditions, and methods for the request, issuance, delivery, certification of receipt and use, and recovery of overpayment of an accelerated payment under this section.

38 USC 3015 - Amount of basic educational assistance

(a) The amount of payment of educational assistance under this chapter is subject to section 3032 of this title. Except as otherwise provided in this section, in the case of an individual entitled to an educational assistance allowance under this chapter whose obligated period of active duty on which such entitlement is based is three years, a basic educational assistance allowance under this subchapter shall be paid
(1) for an approved program of education pursued on a full-time basis, at the monthly rate of
(A) for months beginning on or after January 1, 2002, $800;
(B) for months occurring during fiscal year 2003, $900;
(C) for months occurring during fiscal year 2004, $985; and
(D) for months occurring during a subsequent fiscal year, the amount for months occurring during the previous fiscal year increased under subsection (h); or
(2) at an appropriately reduced rate, as determined under regulations which the Secretary shall prescribe, for an approved program of education pursued on less than a full-time basis.
(b) In the case of an individual entitled to an educational assistance allowance under section 3011 or 3018 of this title whose obligated period of active duty on which such entitlement is based is two years, a basic educational assistance allowance under this chapter shall (except as provided in the succeeding subsections of this section) be paid
(1) for an approved program of education pursued on a full-time basis, at the monthly rate of
(A) for months beginning on or after January 1, 2002, $650;
(B) for months occurring during fiscal year 2003, $732;
(C) for months occurring during fiscal year 2004, $800; and
(D) for months occurring during a subsequent fiscal year, the amount for months occurring during the previous fiscal year increased under subsection (h); or
(2) at an appropriately reduced rate, as determined under regulations which the Secretary shall prescribe, for an approved program of education pursued on less than a full-time basis.
(c) 
(1) The amount of basic educational allowance payable under this chapter to an individual referred to in paragraph (2) of this subsection is the amount determined under subsection (a) of this section.
(2) Paragraph (1) of this subsection applies to an individual entitled to an educational assistance allowance under section 3011 of this title
(A) whose obligated period of active duty on which such entitlement is based is less than three years;
(B) who, beginning on the date of the commencement of such obligated period of active duty, serves a continuous period of active duty of not less than three years; and
(C) who, after the completion of that continuous period of active duty, meets one of the conditions set forth in subsection (a)(3) of such section 3011.
(d) 
(1) In the case of an individual who has a skill or specialty designated by the Secretary concerned as a skill or specialty in which there is a critical shortage of personnel or for which it is difficult to recruit, the Secretary concerned, pursuant to regulations to be prescribed by the Secretary of Defense, may, at the time the individual first becomes a member of the Armed Forces, increase the rate of the basic educational assistance allowance applicable to such individual to such rate in excess of the rate prescribed under subsections (a), (b), and (c) of this section as the Secretary of Defense considers appropriate, but the amount of any such increase may not exceed $950 per month.
(2) In the case of an individual who after October 7, 1997, receives an enlistment bonus under section 308a or 308f1 of title 37, receipt of that bonus does not affect the eligibility of that individual for an increase under paragraph (1) in the rate of the basic educational assistance allowance applicable to that individual, and the Secretary concerned may provide such an increase for that individual (and enter into an agreement with that individual that the United States agrees to make payments pursuant to such an increase) without regard to any provision of law (enacted before, on, or after the date of the enactment of this paragraph) that limits the authority to make such payments.
(e) 
(1) 
(A) Except as provided in subparagraph (B) of this paragraph and subject to paragraph (2) of this subsection, in the case of an individual who on December 31, 1989, was entitled to educational assistance under chapter 34 of this title, the rate of the basic educational assistance allowance applicable to such individual under this chapter shall be increased by the amount equal to one-half of the educational assistance allowance that would be applicable to such individual under such chapter 34 (as of the time the assistance under this chapter is provided and based on the rates in effect on December 31, 1989) if such chapter were in effect.
(B) Notwithstanding subparagraph (A) of this paragraph, in the case of an individual described in that subparagraph who is pursuing a cooperative program on or after October 9, 1996, the rate of the basic educational assistance allowance applicable to such individual under this chapter shall be increased by the amount equal to one-half of the educational assistance allowance that would be applicable to such individual for pursuit of full-time institutional training under chapter 34 (as of the time the assistance under this chapter is provided and based on the rates in effect on December 31, 1989) if such chapter were in effect.
(2) The number of months for which the rate of the basic educational assistance allowance applicable to an individual is increased under paragraph (1) of this subsection may not exceed the number of months of entitlement to educational assistance under chapter 34 of this title that the individual had remaining on December 31, 1989.
(f) In the case of an individual for whom the Secretary of Defense made contributions under section 3222 (c) of this title and who is entitled to educational assistance under section 3018A, 3018B, or 3018C of this chapter, the Secretary shall increase the rate of the basic educational assistance allowance applicable to such individual in excess of the rate provided under subsection (a) of this section in a manner consistent with, as determined by the Secretary of Defense, the agreement entered into with such individual pursuant to the rules and regulations issued by the Secretary of Defense under section 3222 (c) of this title.
(g) In the case of an individual who has made contributions authorized by section 3011 (e) or 3012 (f) of this title, effective as of the first day of the enrollment period following receipt of such contributions from such individual by the Secretary concerned, the monthly amount of basic educational assistance allowance applicable to such individual under subsection (a), (b), or (c) shall be the monthly rate otherwise provided for under the applicable subsection increased by
(1) an amount equal to $5 for each $20 contributed by such individual under section 3011 (e) or 3012 (f) of this title, as the case may be, for an approved program of education pursued on a full-time basis; or
(2) an appropriately reduced amount based on the amount so contributed, as determined under regulations which the Secretary shall prescribe, for an approved program of education pursued on less than a full-time basis.
(h) 
(1) With respect to any fiscal year, the Secretary shall provide a percentage increase in the rates payable under subsections (a)(1) and (b)(1) equal to the percentage by which
(A) the Consumer Price Index (all items, United States city average) for the 12-month period ending on the June 30 preceding the beginning of the fiscal year for which the increase is made, exceeds
(B) such Consumer Price Index for the 12-month period preceding the 12-month period described in subparagraph (A).
(2) Any increase under paragraph (1) in a rate with respect to a fiscal year after fiscal year 2004 and before fiscal year 2014 shall be rounded down to the next lower whole dollar amount. Any such increase with respect to a fiscal year after fiscal year 2013 shall be rounded to the nearest whole dollar amount.
[1] See References in Text note below.

38 USC 3016 - Inservice enrollment in a program of education

(a) A member of the Armed Forces who
(1) first becomes a member or first enters on active duty as a member of the Armed Forces after June 30, 1985, and does not make an election under section 3011 (c)(1) or section 3012 (d)(1);
(2) completes at least two years of service on active duty after such date;
(3) after such service, continues on active duty or in the Selected Reserve without a break in service (except as described in section 3012 (b)(2) of this title); and
(4) but for section 3011 (a)(1)(A)(i)(I)1 or 3012 (a)(1)(A)(ii) of this title would be eligible for basic educational assistance,

may receive educational assistance under this chapter for enrollment in an approved program of education while continuing to perform the duty described in section 3011 (a)(1)(A)(i)(I)1 or 3012 (a)(1)(A)(ii) of this title.

(b) A member of the Armed Forces who
(1) as of December 31, 1989, is eligible for educational assistance benefits under chapter 34 of this title;
(2) after June 30, 1985, has served the two years required by section 3012 (a)(1)(B)(i); and
(3) but for section 3012 (a)(1)(B)(ii) of this title would be eligible for basic educational assistance,

may, after December 31, 1989, receive educational assistance under this chapter for enrollment in an approved program of education while continuing to perform the duty described in section 3012 (a)(1)(B)(ii) of this title.

(c) A member of the Armed Forces who
(1) completes at least two years of service on active duty after June 30, 1985;
(2) after such service continues on active duty without a break in service; and
(3) but for section 3018 (b)(3)(A) of this title would be entitled to basic educational assistance under this chapter,

may receive such assistance for enrollment in an approved program of education while continuing to perform the service described in section 3018 (b)(2) of this title.

[1] See References in Text note below.

38 USC 3017 - Death benefit

(a) 
(1) In the event of the service-connected death of any individual
(A) who
(i) is entitled to basic educational assistance under this chapter; or
(ii) is on active duty in the Armed Forces and but for clause (1)(A)(i) or clause (2) of section 3011 (a) or clause (1)(A)(i) or (ii) or clause (2) of section 3012 (a) of this title would be eligible for such basic educational assistance; and
(B) who dies while on active duty or within one year after discharge or release from active duty,

the Secretary shall make a payment, subject to paragraph (2)(B) of this subsection, in the amount described in subsection (b) of this section to the person or persons described in paragraph (2)(A) of this subsection.

(2) 
(A) The payment referred to in paragraph (1) of this subsection shall be made to the person or persons first listed below who is surviving on the date of such individuals death:
(i) The beneficiary or beneficiaries designated by such individual under the individuals Servicemembers Group Life Insurance policy.
(ii) The surviving spouse of the individual.
(iii) The surviving child or children of the individual, in equal shares.
(iv) The surviving parent or parents of the individual, in equal shares.
(B) If no such person survives such individual, no payment shall be made under this section.
(b) The amount of any payment made under this section shall be equal to
(1) the total of
(A) the amount reduced from the individuals basic pay under section 3011 (b), 3012 (c), 3018 (c), 3018A (b), 3018B (b), 3018C (b), or 3018C (e) of this title;
(B) the amount reduced from the individuals retired pay under section 3018C (e) of this title;
(C) the amount collected from the individual by the Secretary under section 3018B (b), 3018C (b), or 3018C (e) of this title; and
(D) the amount of any contributions made by the individual under section 3011 (e) or 3012 (f) of this title, less
(2) the total of
(A) the amount of educational assistance that has been paid to the individual under this chapter before the payment is made under this section; and
(B) the amount of accrued benefits paid or payable with respect to such individual in connection with this chapter.
(c) A payment under this section shall be considered to be a benefit under this title and, for purposes of section 3035 (b)(1), it shall be considered to be an entitlement earned under this subchapter.

38 USC 3018 - Opportunity for certain active-duty personnel to withdraw election not to enroll

(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, during the period beginning December 1, 1988, and ending June 30, 1989 (hereinafter in this section referred to as the open period), an individual who
(1) first became a member of the Armed Forces or first entered on active duty as a member of the Armed Forces during the period beginning July 1, 1985, and ending June 30, 1988;
(2) has continuously served on active duty without a break in service since the date the individual first became such a member or first entered on active duty as such a member; and
(3) is serving on active duty during the open period,

shall have the opportunity, in accordance with this section and on such form as the Secretary of Defense shall prescribe, to withdraw an election made under section 3011 (c)(1) or 3012 (d)(1) of this title not to receive educational assistance under this chapter.

(b) An individual described in clauses (1) through (3) of subsection (a) of this section who made an election under section 3011 (c)(1) or 3012 (d)(1) of this title and who
(1) while serving on active duty during the open period, makes a withdrawal of such an election;
(2) continues to serve the period of service which, at the beginning of the open period, such individual was obligated to serve;
(3) 
(A) serves the obligated period of service described in clause (2) of this subsection;
(B) before completing such obligated period of service, is discharged or released from active duty for
(i)  a service-connected disability,
(ii)  a medical condition which preexisted such service and which the Secretary determines is not service connected,
(iii)  hardship, or
(iv)  a physical or mental condition that was not characterized as a disability and did not result from the individuals own willful misconduct but did interfere with the individuals performance of duty, as determined by the Secretary of each military department in accordance with regulations prescribed by the Secretary of Defense (or by the Secretary of Homeland Security with respect to the Coast Guard when it is not operating as a service of the Navy); or
(C) before completing such obligated period of service, is
(i)  discharged or released from active duty for the convenience of the Government after completing not less than 20 months of such period of service, if such period was less than three years, or 30 months, if such period was at least three years, or
(ii)  involuntarily discharged or released from active duty for the convenience of the Government as a result of a reduction in force, as determined by the Secretary concerned in accordance with regulations prescribed by the Secretary of Defense;
(4) before applying for benefits under this section
(A) completes the requirements of a secondary school diploma (or equivalency certificate); or
(B) successfully completes (or otherwise receives academic credit for) the equivalent of 12 semester hours in a program of education leading to a standard college degree; and
(5) upon completion of such obligated period of service
(A) is discharged from service with an honorable discharge, is placed on the retired list, is transferred to the Fleet Reserve or Fleet Marine Corps Reserve, or is placed on the temporary disability retired list;
(B) continues on active duty; or
(C) is released from active duty for further service in a reserve component of the Armed Forces after service on active duty characterized by the Secretary concerned as honorable service,

is entitled to basic educational assistance under this chapter.

(c) The basic pay of an individual withdrawing, under subsection (b)(1) of this section, an election under section 3011 (c)(1) or 3012 (d)(1) of this title shall be reduced by
(1) $1,200; or
(2) in the case of an individual described in clause (B) or (C) of subsection (b)(3) of this section whose discharge or release from active duty prevents the reduction of the basic pay of such individual by $1,200, an amount less than $1,200.
(d) A withdrawal under subsection (b)(1) of this section is irrevocable.

38 USC 3018A - Opportunity for certain active-duty personnel to enroll before being involuntarily separated from service

(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, an individual who
(1) after February 2, 1991, is involuntarily separated (as such term is defined in section 1141 of title 10) with an honorable discharge;
(2) before applying for benefits under this section, has completed the requirements of a secondary school diploma (or equivalency certificate) or has successfully completed (or otherwise received academic credit for) the equivalent of 12 semester hours in a program of education leading to a standard college degree;
(3) in the case of any individual who has made an election under section 3011 (c)(1) or 3012 (d)(1) of this title, withdraws such election before such separation pursuant to procedures which the Secretary of each military department shall provide in accordance with regulations prescribed by the Secretary of Defense for the purpose of carrying out this section or which the Secretary of Homeland Security shall provide for such purpose with respect to the Coast Guard when it is not operating as a service in the Navy;
(4) in the case of any person enrolled in the educational benefits program provided by chapter 32 of this title makes an irrevocable election, pursuant to procedures referred to in paragraph (3), before such separation to receive benefits under this section in lieu of benefits under such chapter 32; and
(5) before such separation elects to receive assistance under this section pursuant to procedures referred to in paragraph (3),

is entitled to basic educational assistance under this chapter.

(b) The basic pay of an individual described in subsection (a) shall be reduced by $1,200.
(c) A withdrawal referred to in subsection (a)(3) is irrevocable.
(d) 
(1) Except as provided in paragraph (3), an individual who is enrolled in the educational benefits program provided by chapter 32 of this title and who makes the election described in subsection (a)(4) shall be disenrolled from such chapter 32 program as of the date of such election.
(2) For each individual who is disenrolled from such program, the Secretary shall refund
(A) as provided in section 3223 (b) of this title, to the individual the unused contributions made by the individual to the Post-Vietnam Era Veterans Education Account established pursuant to section 3222 (a) of this title; and
(B) to the Secretary of Defense the unused contributions (other than contributions made under section 3222 (c) of this title) made by such Secretary to the Account on behalf of such individual.
(3) Any contribution made by the Secretary of Defense to the Post-Vietnam Era Veterans Education Account pursuant to subsection (c) of section 3222 of this title on behalf of any individual referred to in paragraph (1) shall remain in such Account to make payments of benefits to such individual under section 3015 (f) of this title.

38 USC 3018B - Opportunity for certain persons to enroll

(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of law
(1) the Secretary of Defense shall, subject to the availability of appropriations, allow an individual who
(A) is separated from the active military, naval, or air service with an honorable discharge and receives voluntary separation incentives under section 1174a or 1175 of title 10;
(B) before applying for benefits under this section, has completed the requirements of a secondary school diploma (or equivalency certificate) or has successfully completed (or otherwise received academic credit for) the equivalent of 12 semester hours in a program of education leading to a standard college degree;
(C) in the case of any individual who has made an election under section 3011 (c)(1) or 3012 (d)(1) of this title, withdraws such election before such separation pursuant to procedures which the Secretary of each military department shall provide in accordance with regulations prescribed by the Secretary of Defense for the purpose of carrying out this section or which the Secretary of Homeland Security shall provide for such purpose with respect to the Coast Guard when it is not operating as service in the Navy;
(D) in the case of any person enrolled in the educational benefits program provided by chapter 32 of this title makes an irrevocable election, pursuant to procedures referred to in subparagraph (C) of this paragraph, before such separation to receive benefits under this section in lieu of benefits under such chapter 32; and
(E) before such separation elects to receive assistance under this section pursuant to procedures referred to in subparagraph (C) of this paragraph; or
(2) the Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary of Defense, shall, subject to the availability of appropriations, allow an individual who
(A) separated before October 23, 1992, from the active military, naval, or air service with an honorable discharge and received or is receiving voluntary separation incentives under section 1174a or 1175 of title 10;
(B) before applying for benefits under this section, has completed the requirements of a secondary school diploma (or equivalency certificate) or has successfully completed (or otherwise received academic credit for) the equivalent of 12 semester hours in a program of education leading to a standard college degree;
(C) in the case of any individual who has made an election under section 3011 (c)(1) or 3012 (d)(1) of this title, withdraws such election before making an election under this paragraph pursuant to procedures which the Secretary shall provide, in consultation with the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Homeland Security with respect to the Coast Guard when it is not operating as service in the Navy, which shall be similar to the regulations prescribed under paragraph (1)(C) of this subsection;
(D) in the case of any person enrolled in the educational benefits program provided by chapter 32 of this title makes an irrevocable election, pursuant to procedures referred to in subparagraph (C) of this paragraph, before making an election under this paragraph to receive benefits under this section in lieu of benefits under such chapter 32; and
(E) before October 23, 1993, elects to receive assistance under this section pursuant to procedures referred to in subparagraph (C) of this paragraph,

to elect to become entitled to basic education assistance under this chapter.

(b) 
(1) The basic pay or voluntary separation incentives of an individual who makes an election under subsection (a)(1) to become entitled to basic education assistance under this chapter shall be reduced by $1,200.
(2) The Secretary shall collect $1,200 from an individual who makes an election under subsection (a)(2) to become entitled to basic education assistance under this chapter, which shall be paid into the Treasury of the United States as miscellaneous receipts.
(c) A withdrawal referred to in subsection (a)(1)(C) or (a)(2)(C) of this section is irrevocable.
(d) 
(1) Except as provided in paragraph (3) of this subsection, an individual who is enrolled in the educational benefits program provided by chapter 32 of this title and who makes the election described in subsection (a)(1)(D) or (a)(2)(D) of this section shall be disenrolled from such chapter 32 program as of the date of such election.
(2) For each individual who is disenrolled from such program, the Secretary shall refund
(A) as provided in section 3223 (b) of this title, to the individual the unused contributions made by the individual to the Post-Vietnam Era Veterans Education Account established pursuant to section 3222 (a) of this title; and
(B) to the Secretary of Defense the unused contributions (other than contributions made under section 3222 (c) of this title) made by such Secretary to the Account on behalf of such individual.
(3) Any contribution made by the Secretary of Defense to the Post-Vietnam Era Veterans Education Account pursuant to subsection (c) of section 3222 of this title on behalf of any individual referred to in paragraph (1) of this subsection shall remain in such account to make payments of benefits to such individual under section 3015 (f) of this title.

38 USC 3018C - Opportunity for certain VEAP participants to enroll

(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, an individual who
(1) is a participant on October 9, 1996, in the educational benefits program provided by chapter 32 of this title;
(2) is serving on active duty (excluding the periods referred to in section 3202 (1)(C) of this title) on such date;
(3) before applying for benefits under this section, has completed the requirements of a secondary school diploma (or equivalency certificate) or has successfully completed (or otherwise received academic credit for) the equivalent of 12 semester hours in a program of education leading to a standard college degree;
(4) if discharged or released from active duty after the date on which the individual makes the election described in paragraph (5), is discharged or released therefrom with an honorable discharge; and
(5) during the one-year period beginning on October 9, 1996, makes an irrevocable election to receive benefits under this section in lieu of benefits under chapter 32 of this title, pursuant to procedures which the Secretary of each military department shall provide in accordance with regulations prescribed by the Secretary of Defense for the purpose of carrying out this section or which the Secretary of Homeland Security shall provide for such purpose with respect to the Coast Guard when it is not operating as a service in the Navy;

may elect to become entitled to basic educational assistance under this chapter.

(b) With respect to an individual who makes an election under subsection (a) to become entitled to basic education assistance under this chapter
(1) the basic pay of the individual shall be reduced (in a manner determined by the Secretary of Defense) until the total amount by which such basic pay is reduced is $1,200; or
(2) to the extent that basic pay is not so reduced before the individuals discharge or release from active duty as specified in subsection (a)(4), the Secretary shall collect from the individual an amount equal to the difference between $1,200 and the total amount of reductions under paragraph (1), which shall be paid into the Treasury of the United States as miscellaneous receipts.
(c) 
(1) Except as provided in paragraph (3), an individual who is enrolled in the educational benefits program provided by chapter 32 of this title and who makes the election described in subsection (a)(5) shall be disenrolled from such chapter 32 program as of the date of such election.
(2) For each individual who is disenrolled from such program, the Secretary shall refund
(A) to the individual, as provided in section 3223 (b) of this title and subject to subsection (b)(2) of this section, the unused contributions made by the individual to the Post-Vietnam Era Veterans Education Account established pursuant to section 3222 (a) of this title; and
(B) to the Secretary of Defense the unused contributions (other than contributions made under section 3222 (c) of this title) made by such Secretary to the Account on behalf of such individual.
(3) Any contribution made by the Secretary of Defense to the Post-Vietnam Era Veterans Education Account pursuant to subsection (c) of section 3222 of this title on behalf of any individual referred to in paragraph (1) shall remain in such account to make payments of benefits to such individual under section 3015 (f) of this title.
(d) The procedures provided in regulations referred to in subsection (a) shall provide for notice of the requirements of subparagraphs (B), (C), and (D) of section 3011(a)(3) and of subparagraph (A) of section 3012 (a)(3) of this title. Receipt of such notice shall be acknowledged in writing.
(e) 
(1) A qualified individual (described in paragraph (2)) may make an irrevocable election under this subsection, during the one-year period beginning on the date of the enactment of this subsection, to become entitled to basic educational assistance under this chapter. Such an election shall be made in the same manner as elections made under subsection (a)(5).
(2) A qualified individual referred to in paragraph (1) is an individual who meets each of the following requirements:
(A) The individual was a participant in the educational benefits program under chapter 32 of this title on or before October 9, 1996.
(B) The individual has continuously served on active duty since October 9, 1996 (excluding the periods referred to in section 3202 (1)(C) of this title), through at least April 1, 2000.
(C) The individual meets the requirements of subsection (a)(3).
(D) The individual, when discharged or released from active duty, is discharged or released therefrom with an honorable discharge.
(3) 
(A) Subject to the succeeding provisions of this paragraph, with respect to a qualified individual who makes an election under paragraph (1) to become entitled to basic education assistance under this chapter
(i) the basic pay of the qualified individual shall be reduced (in a manner determined by the Secretary concerned) until the total amount by which such basic pay is reduced is $2,700; and
(ii) to the extent that basic pay is not so reduced before the qualified individuals discharge or release from active duty as specified in subsection (a)(4), at the election of the qualified individual
(I) the Secretary concerned shall collect from the qualified individual; or
(II) the Secretary concerned shall reduce the retired or retainer pay of the qualified individual by, an amount equal to the difference between $2,700 and the total amount of reductions under clause (i), which shall be paid into the Treasury of the United States as miscellaneous receipts.
(B) 
(i) The Secretary concerned shall provide for an 18-month period, beginning on the date the qualified individual makes an election under paragraph (1), for the qualified individual to pay that Secretary the amount due under subparagraph (A).
(ii) Nothing in clause (i) shall be construed as modifying the period of eligibility for and entitlement to basic education assistance under this chapter applicable under section 3031 of this title.
(C) The provisions of subsection (c) shall apply to qualified individuals making elections under this subsection in the same manner as they applied to individuals making elections under subsection (a)(5).
(4) With respect to qualified individuals referred to in paragraph (3)(A)(ii), no amount of educational assistance allowance under this chapter shall be paid to the qualified individual until the earlier of the date on which
(A) the Secretary concerned collects the applicable amount under subclause (I) of such paragraph; or
(B) the retired or retainer pay of the qualified individual is first reduced under subclause (II) of such paragraph.
(5) The Secretary, in conjunction with the Secretary of Defense, shall provide for notice to participants in the educational benefits program under chapter 32 of this title of the opportunity under this subsection to elect to become entitled to basic educational assistance under this chapter.

38 USC 3019 - Tutorial assistance

(a) An individual entitled to an educational assistance allowance under this chapter shall also be entitled to benefits provided an eligible veteran under section 3492 of this title, subject to the conditions applicable to an eligible veteran under such section.
(b) The amount of such benefits payable under this section may not exceed $100 per month, for a maximum of twelve months, or until a maximum of $1,200 is utilized. This amount is in addition to the amount of educational assistance allowance payable to the individual under this chapter.
(c) 
(1) An individuals period of entitlement to educational assistance under this chapter shall be charged only with respect to the amount of tutorial assistance paid to the individual under this section in excess of $600.
(2) An individuals period of entitlement to educational assistance under this chapter shall be charged at the rate of one month for each amount of assistance paid to the individual under this section in excess of $600 that is equal to the amount of the monthly educational assistance allowance which the individual is otherwise eligible to receive for full-time pursuit of an institutional course under this chapter.

38 USC 3020 - Transfer of entitlement to basic educational assistance: members of the Armed Forces with critical military skills

(a) In General.— 
Subject to the provisions of this section, each Secretary concerned may, for the purpose of enhancing recruitment and retention of members of the Armed Forces with critical military skills and at such Secretarys sole discretion, permit an individual described in subsection (b) who is entitled to basic educational assistance under this subchapter to elect to transfer to one or more of the dependents specified in subsection (c) a portion of such individuals entitlement to such assistance, subject to the limitation under subsection (d).
(b) Eligible Individuals.— 
An individual referred to in subsection (a) is any member of the Armed Forces who, at the time of the approval by the Secretary concerned of the members request to transfer entitlement to basic educational assistance under this section
(1) has completed six years of service in the Armed Forces;
(2) either
(A) has a critical military skill designated by the Secretary concerned for purposes of this section; or
(B) is in a military specialty designated by the Secretary concerned for purposes of this section as requiring critical military skills; and
(3) enters into an agreement to serve at least four more years as a member of the Armed Forces.
(c) Eligible Dependents.— 
An individual approved to transfer an entitlement to basic educational assistance under this section may transfer the individuals entitlement as follows:
(1) To the individuals spouse.
(2) To one or more of the individuals children.
(3) To a combination of the individuals referred to in paragraphs (1) and (2).
(d) Limitation on Months of Transfer.— 
The total number of months of entitlement transferred by an individual under this section may not exceed 18 months.
(e) Designation of Transferee.— 
An individual transferring an entitlement to basic educational assistance under this section shall
(1) designate the dependent or dependents to whom such entitlement is being transferred;
(2) designate the number of months of such entitlement to be transferred to each such dependent; and
(3) specify the period for which the transfer shall be effective for each dependent designated under paragraph (1).
(f) Time for Transfer; Revocation and Modification.— 

(1) Subject to the time limitation for use of entitlement under section 3031 of this title, an individual approved to transfer entitlement to basic educational assistance under this section may transfer such entitlement at any time after the approval of the individuals request to transfer such entitlement without regard to whether the individual is a member of the Armed Forces when the transfer is executed.
(2) 
(A) An individual transferring entitlement under this section may modify or revoke at any time the transfer of any unused portion of the entitlement so transferred.
(B) The modification or revocation of the transfer of entitlement under this paragraph shall be made by the submittal of written notice of the action to both the Secretary concerned and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs.
(g) Commencement of Use.— 
A dependent to whom entitlement to basic educational assistance is transferred under this section may not commence the use of the transferred entitlement until
(1) in the case of entitlement transferred to a spouse, the completion by the individual making the transfer of six years of service in the Armed Forces; or
(2) in the case of entitlement transferred to a child, both
(A) the completion by the individual making the transfer of 10 years of service in the Armed Forces; and
(B) either
(i) the completion by the child of the requirements of a secondary school diploma (or equivalency certificate); or
(ii) the attainment by the child of 18 years of age.
(h) Additional Administrative Matters.— 

(1) The use of any entitlement to basic educational assistance transferred under this section shall be charged against the entitlement of the individual making the transfer at the rate of one month for each month of transferred entitlement that is used.
(2) Except as provided under subsection (e)(2) and subject to paragraphs (5) and (6), a dependent to whom entitlement is transferred under this section is entitled to basic educational assistance under this subchapter in the same manner as the individual from whom the entitlement was transferred.
(3) 
(A) Subject to subparagraph (B), the monthly rate of educational assistance payable to a dependent to whom entitlement is transferred under this section shall be the monthly amount payable under sections 3015 and 3022 of this title to the individual making the transfer.
(B) The monthly rate of assistance payable to a dependent under subparagraph (A) shall be subject to the provisions of section 3032 of this title, except that the provisions of subsection (a)(1) of that section shall not apply even if the individual making the transfer to the dependent under this section is on active duty during all or any part of enrollment period of the dependent in which such entitlement is used.
(4) The death of an individual transferring an entitlement under this section shall not affect the use of the entitlement by the dependent to whom the entitlement is transferred.
(5) Notwithstanding section 3031 of this title, a child to whom entitlement is transferred under this section may not use any entitlement so transferred after attaining the age of 26 years.
(6) The administrative provisions of this chapter (including the provisions set forth in section 3034 (a)(1) of this title) shall apply to the use of entitlement transferred under this section, except that the dependent to whom the entitlement is transferred shall be treated as the eligible veteran for purposes of such provisions.
(7) The purposes for which a dependent to whom entitlement is transferred under this section may use such entitlement shall include the pursuit and completion of the requirements of a secondary school diploma (or equivalency certificate).
(i) Overpayment.— 

(1) In the event of an overpayment of basic educational assistance with respect to a dependent to whom entitlement is transferred under this section, the dependent and the individual making the transfer shall be jointly and severally liable to the United States for the amount of the overpayment for purposes of section 3685 of this title.
(2) Except as provided in paragraph (3), if an individual transferring entitlement under this section fails to complete the service agreed to by the individual under subsection (b)(3) in accordance with the terms of the agreement of the individual under that subsection, the amount of any transferred entitlement under this section that is used by a dependent of the individual as of the date of such failure shall be treated as an overpayment of basic educational assistance under paragraph (1).
(3) Paragraph (2) shall not apply in the case of an individual who fails to complete service agreed to by the individual
(A) by reason of the death of the individual; or
(B) for a reason referred to in section 3011 (a)(1)(A)(ii)(I) of this title.
(j) Approvals of Transfer Subject to Availability of Appropriations.— 
The Secretary concerned may approve transfers of entitlement to basic educational assistance under this section in a fiscal year only to the extent that appropriations for military personnel are available in that fiscal year for purposes of making deposits in the Department of Defense Education Benefits Fund under section 2006 of title 10 in that fiscal year to cover the present value of future benefits payable from the Fund for the Department of Defense portion of payments of basic educational assistance attributable to increased usage of benefits as a result of such transfers of entitlement in that fiscal year.
(k) Regulations.— 
The Secretary of Defense shall prescribe regulations for purposes of this section. Such regulations shall specify the manner and effect of an election to modify or revoke a transfer of entitlement under subsection (f)(2) and shall specify the manner of the applicability of the administrative provisions referred to in subsection (h)(5) to a dependent to whom entitlement is transferred under this section.
(l) Annual Report.— 

(1) Not later than January 31 each year (beginning in 2003), the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the Committees on Armed Services and the Committees on Veterans Affairs of the Senate and House of Representatives a report on the transfers of entitlement to basic educational assistance under this section that were approved by each Secretary concerned during the preceding fiscal year.
(2) Each report shall set forth
(A) the number of transfers of entitlement under this section that were approved by such Secretary during the preceding fiscal year; or
(B) if no transfers of entitlement under this section were approved by such Secretary during that fiscal year, a justification for such Secretarys decision not to approve any such transfers of entitlement during that fiscal year.
(m) Secretary Concerned Defined.— 
Notwithstanding section 101 (25) of this title, in this section, the term Secretary concerned means
(1) the Secretary of the Army with respect to matters concerning the Army;
(2) the Secretary of the Navy with respect to matters concerning the Navy or the Marine Corps;
(3) the Secretary of the Air Force with respect to matters concerning the Air Force; and
(4) the Secretary of Defense with respect to matters concerning the Coast Guard, or the Secretary of Homeland Security when it is not operating as a service in the Navy.

TITLE 38 - US CODE - SUBCHAPTER III - SUPPLEMENTAL EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE

38 USC 3021 - Supplemental educational assistance for additional service

(a) The Secretary concerned, pursuant to regulations to be prescribed by the Secretary of Defense, may provide for the payment of supplemental educational assistance under this subchapter to any individual eligible for basic educational assistance under section 3011 or 3018 of this title who
(1) serves five or more consecutive years of active duty in the Armed Forces after the years of active duty counted under section 3011 (a)(1) of this title without a break in such service; and
(2) after completion of the service described in clause (1) of this subsection
(A) is discharged from service with an honorable discharge, is placed on the retired list, is transferred to the Fleet Reserve or Fleet Marine Corps Reserve, or is placed on the temporary disability retired list;
(B) continues on active duty without a break in service; or
(C) is released from active duty for further service in a reserve component of the Armed Forces after service on active duty characterized by the Secretary concerned as honorable service.
(b) The Secretary concerned, pursuant to regulations to be prescribed by the Secretary of Defense, may provide for the payment of supplemental educational assistance under this subchapter to any individual eligible for basic educational assistance under section 3012 or 3018 of this title who
(1) serves two or more consecutive years of active duty in the Armed Forces after the years of active duty counted under section 3012 (a)(1) of this title and four or more consecutive years of duty in the Selected Reserve after the years of duty in the Selected Reserve counted under such section without a break in service; and
(2) after completion of the service described in clause (1) of this subsection
(A) is discharged from service with an honorable discharge, is placed on the retired list, is transferred to the Fleet Reserve or Fleet Marine Corps Reserve, or is placed on the temporary disability retired list; or
(B) continues on active duty or in the Selected Reserve.
(c) Continuity of service of a member in the Selected Reserve for purposes of subsection (b)(1) of this section shall not be considered to be broken
(1) by any period of time (not to exceed a maximum period prescribed by the Secretary concerned by regulation) during which the member is not able to locate a unit of the Selected Reserve of the members Armed Force that the member is eligible to join or that has a vacancy; or
(2) by any other period of time (not to exceed a maximum period prescribed by the Secretary concerned by regulation) during which the member is not attached to a unit of the Selected Reserve that the Secretary concerned, pursuant to regulations, considers to be inappropriate to consider for such purpose.
(d) A period of active duty or duty in the Selected Reserve that occurs before the period of duty by which the individual concerned qualifies for basic educational assistance may not be counted for purposes of this section.

38 USC 3022 - Amount of supplemental educational assistance

(a) The amount of payment of educational assistance under this chapter is subject to section 3032 of this title. Except as otherwise provided under subsection (b) of this section, supplemental educational assistance under section 3021 of this title shall be paid
(1) at a monthly rate of $300 for an approved program of education pursued on a full-time basis; or
(2) at an appropriately reduced rate, as determined under regulations which the Secretary shall prescribe, for an approved program of education pursued on less than a full-time basis.
(b) In the case of a member of the Armed Forces for whom the Secretary concerned has provided for the payment of supplemental educational assistance who has a skill or specialty designated by the Secretary concerned, pursuant to regulations to be prescribed by the Secretary of Defense, as a skill or specialty in which there is a critical shortage of personnel, the Secretary concerned, pursuant to such regulations, may increase the rate of the supplemental educational assistance allowance applicable to such individual to such rate in excess of the rate prescribed under subsection (a) of this section as the Secretary concerned considers appropriate, but the amount of any such increase may not exceed $300 per month.

38 USC 3023 - Payment of supplemental educational assistance under this subchapter

The Secretary shall increase the monthly basic educational assistance allowance paid to an individual who is entitled to supplemental educational assistance under this subchapter by the monthly amount of the supplemental educational assistance to which the individual is entitled.

TITLE 38 - US CODE - SUBCHAPTER IV - TIME LIMITATION FOR USE OF ELIGIBILITY AND ENTITLEMENT; GENERAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS

38 USC 3031 - Time limitation for use of eligibility and entitlement

(a) Except as provided in subsections (b) through (g), and subject to subsection (h), of this section, the period during which an individual entitled to educational assistance under this chapter may use such individuals entitlement expires at the end of the 10-year period beginning on the date of such individuals last discharge or release from active duty, except that such 10-year period shall begin
(1) in the case of an individual who becomes entitled to such assistance under clause (A) or (B) of section 3012 (a)(1) of this title, on the later of the date of such individuals last discharge or release from active duty or the date on which the four-year requirement described in clause (A)(ii) or (B)(ii), respectively, of such section 3012 (a)(1) is met;
(2) in the case of an individual who becomes entitled to such assistance under section 3011 (a)(1)(B), on the later of the date of such individuals last discharge or release from active duty or January 1, 1990; and
(3) in the case of an individual who becomes entitled to such assistance under section 3011 (a)(1)(C) or 3012 (a)(1)(C) of this title, on December 27, 2001.
(b) In the case of any eligible individual who has been prevented, as determined by the Secretary, from pursuing a program of education under this chapter within the 10-year period prescribed by subsection (a) of this section because such individual had not met the nature of discharge requirement of this chapter before the nature of such individuals discharge or release was changed by appropriate authority, such 10-year period shall not run during the period of time that such individual was so prevented from pursuing such program of education.
(c) In the case of an individual eligible for educational assistance under the provisions of this chapter who, after such individuals last discharge or release from active duty, was detained by a foreign government or power, the 10-year period described in subsection (a) of this section shall not run
(1)  while such individual is so detained, or
(2)  during any period immediately following such individuals release from such detention during which such individual is hospitalized at a military, civilian, or Department of Veterans Affairs medical facility.
(d) In the case of an individual eligible for educational assistance under this chapter
(1) who was prevented from pursuing such individuals chosen program of education before the expiration of the 10-year period for use of entitlement under this chapter otherwise applicable under this section because of a physical or mental disability which was not the result of the individuals own willful misconduct, and
(2) who applies for an extension of such 10-year period within one year after
(A)  the last day of such period, or
(B)  the last day on which such individual was so prevented from pursuing such program, whichever is later,

such 10-year period shall not run with respect to such individual during the period of time that such individual was so prevented from pursuing such program and such 10-year period will again begin running on the first day following such individuals recovery from such disability on which it is reasonably feasible, as determined under regulations which the Secretary shall prescribe, for such individual to initiate or resume pursuit of a program of education with educational assistance under this chapter.

(e) 
(1) Except as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection, in the case of an individual described in section 3011 (a)(1)(B), 3011 (a)(1)(C), 3012 (a)(1)(B), or 3012 (a)(1)(C) of this title who is entitled to basic educational assistance under this chapter, the 10-year period prescribed in subsection (a) of this section shall be reduced by an amount of time equal to the amount of time that such individual was not serving on active duty during the period beginning on January 1, 1977, and ending on June 30, 1985.
(2) In the case of an individual to which paragraph (1) of this subsection is applicable and who is described in section 3452 (a)(1)(B) of this title, the 10-year period prescribed in subsection (a) of this section shall not be reduced by any period in 1977 before the individual began serving on active duty.
(f) 
(1) If an individual eligible for educational assistance under this chapter is enrolled under this chapter in an educational institution regularly operated on the quarter or semester system and the period of such individuals entitlement under this chapter would, under section 3013, expire during a quarter or semester, such period shall be extended to the end of such quarter or semester.
(2) If an individual eligible for educational assistance under this chapter is enrolled under this chapter in an educational institution not regularly operated on the quarter or semester system and the period of such individuals entitlement under this chapter would, under section 3013, expire after a major portion of the course is completed, such period shall be extended to the end of the course or for 12 weeks, whichever is the lesser period of extension.
(g) In the case of an individual described in section 3011 (f)(3) of this title, the period during which that individual may use the individuals entitlement to educational assistance allowance expires on the last day of the 10-year period beginning on the date of the enactment of the Veterans Millennium Health Care and Benefits Act if that date is later than the date that would otherwise be applicable to that individual under this section.
(h) For purposes of subsection (a) of this section, an individuals last discharge or release from active duty shall not include any discharge or release from a period of active duty of less than 90 days of continuous service unless the individual involved is discharged or released for a service-connected disability, for a medical condition which preexisted such service and which the Secretary determines is not service connected, for hardship, or as a result of a reduction in force as described in section 3011 (a)(1)(A)(ii)(III) of this title.

38 USC 3032 - Limitations on educational assistance for certain individuals

(a) In the case of an individual entitled to educational assistance under this chapter who is pursuing a program of education
(1) while on active duty; or
(2) on less than a half-time basis,

the amount of the monthly educational assistance allowance payable to such individual under this chapter is the amount determined under subsection (b) of this section.

(b) The amount of the educational assistance allowance payable to an individual described in subsection (a) of this section is the least of the following:
(1)  the amount of the educational assistance allowance otherwise payable to such individual under this chapter,
(2)  the established charges for tuition and fees that the educational institution involved requires similarly circumstanced nonveterans enrolled in the same program to pay, or
(3)  the amount of the charges of the educational institution elected by the individual under section 3014 (b)(1) of this title.
(c) 
(1) Except as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection, the amount of the monthly educational assistance allowance payable to an individual pursuing a full-time program of apprenticeship or other on-job training under this chapter is
(A) for each of the first six months of the individuals pursuit of such program, 75 percent of the monthly educational assistance allowance otherwise payable to such individual under this chapter;
(B) for each of the second six months of the individuals pursuit of such program, 55 percent of such monthly educational assistance allowance; and
(C) for each of the months following the first 12 months of the individuals pursuit of such program, 35 percent of such monthly educational assistance allowance.
(2) In any month in which an individual pursuing a program of education consisting of a program of apprenticeship or other on-job training fails to complete 120 hours of training, the amount of monthly educational assistance allowance payable under this chapter to the individual shall be limited to the same proportion of the applicable rate determined under paragraph (1) of this subsection as the number of hours worked during such month, rounded to the nearest eight hours, bears to 120 hours.
(3) 
(A) Except as provided in subparagraph (B) of this paragraph, for each month that an individual is paid a monthly educational assistance allowance under this chapter, the individuals entitlement under this chapter shall be charged at the rate of
(i) 75 percent of a month in the case of payments made in accordance with paragraph (1)(A) of this subsection;
(ii) 55 percent of a month in the case of payments made in accordance with paragraph (1)(B) of this subsection; and
(iii) 35 percent of a month in the case of payments made in accordance with paragraph (1)(C) of this subsection.
(B) Any such charge to the individuals entitlement shall be reduced proportionately in accordance with the reduction in payment under paragraph (2) of this subsection.
(d) 
(1) 
(A) The amount of the educational assistance allowance payable under this chapter to an individual who enters into an agreement to pursue, and is pursuing, a program of education exclusively by correspondence is an amount equal to 55 percent of the established charge which the institution requires nonveterans to pay for the course or courses pursued by such individual.
(B) For purposes of this paragraph, the term established charge means the lesser of
(i) the charge for the course or courses determined on the basis of the lowest extended time payment plan offered by the institution and approved by the appropriate State approving agency; or
(ii) the actual charge to the individual for such course or courses.
(2) Such allowance shall be paid quarterly on a pro rata basis for the lessons completed by the individual and serviced by the institution.
(3) In each case in which the rate of payment to an individual is determined under paragraph (1) of this subsection, the period of entitlement of such individual under this chapter shall be charged at the rate of one month for each payment of educational assistance to the individual that is equal to the amount of monthly educational assistance the individual would otherwise be eligible to receive for full-time pursuit of an institutional course under this chapter.
(e) 
(1) Notwithstanding subsection (a) of this section, each individual who is pursuing a program of education consisting exclusively of flight training approved as meeting the requirements of section 3034 (d) of this title shall be paid an educational assistance allowance under this chapter in the amount equal to 60 percent of the established charges for tuition and fees which similarly circumstanced nonveterans enrolled in the same flight course are required to pay.
(2) No educational assistance allowance may be paid under this chapter to an individual for any month during which such individual is pursuing a program of education consisting exclusively of flight training until the Secretary has received from that individual and the institution providing such training a certification of the flight training received by the individual during that month and the tuition and other fees charged for that training.
(3) The number of months of entitlement charged in the case of any individual for a program of education described in paragraph (1) of this subsection shall be equal to the number (including any fraction) determined by dividing the total amount of educational assistance paid such individual for such program by the monthly rate of educational assistance which, except for paragraph (1) of this subsection, such individual would otherwise be paid under subsection (a)(1), (b)(1), (d), or (e)(1) of section 3015 of this title, as the case may be.
(4) The number of solo flying hours for which an individual may be paid an educational assistance allowance under this subsection may not exceed the minimum number of solo flying hours required by the Federal Aviation Administration for the flight rating or certification which is the goal of the individuals flight training.
(f) 
(1) Subject to paragraph (3), the amount of educational assistance payable under this chapter for a licensing or certification test described in section 3452 (b) of this title is the lesser of $2,000 or the fee charged for the test.
(2) The number of months of entitlement charged in the case of any individual for such licensing or certification test is equal to the number (including any fraction) determined by dividing the total amount of educational assistance paid such individual for such test by the full-time monthly institutional rate of educational assistance which, except for paragraph (1), such individual would otherwise be paid under subsection (a)(1), (b)(1), (d), or (e)(1) of section 3015 of this title, as the case may be.
(3) In no event shall payment of educational assistance under this subsection for such a test exceed the amount of the individuals available entitlement under this chapter.
(g) 
(1) Subject to paragraph (3), the amount of educational assistance payable under this chapter for a national test for admission or national test providing an opportunity for course credit at institutions of higher learning described in section 3452 (b) of this title is the amount of the fee charged for the test.
(2) The number of months of entitlement charged in the case of any individual for a test described in paragraph (1) is equal to the number (including any fraction) determined by dividing the total amount of educational assistance paid such individual for such test by the full-time monthly institutional rate of educational assistance, except for paragraph (1), such individual would otherwise be paid under subsection (a)(1), (b)(1), (d), or (e)(1) of section 3015 of this title, as the case may be.
(3) In no event shall payment of educational assistance under this subsection for a test described in paragraph (1) exceed the amount of the individuals available entitlement under this chapter.

38 USC 3033 - Bar to duplication of educational assistance benefits

(a) 
(1) An individual entitled to educational assistance under a program established by this chapter who is also eligible for educational assistance under a program under chapter 31, 32, or 35 of this title, under chapter 106 or 107 of title 10, or under the Hostage Relief Act of 1980 (Public Law 96449; 5 U.S.C. 5561 note ) may not receive assistance under two or more of such programs concurrently but shall elect (in such form and manner as the Secretary may prescribe) under which program to receive educational assistance.
(2) An individual entitled to educational assistance under chapter 34 of this title may not receive assistance under this chapter before January 1, 1990.
(b) A period of service counted for purposes of repayment under chapter 109 of title 10 of an education loan may not also be counted for purposes of entitlement to educational assistance under this chapter.
(c) An individual who serves in the Selected Reserve may not receive credit for such service under both the program established by this chapter and the program established by chapter 106 of title 10 but shall elect (in such form and manner as the Secretary may prescribe) the program to which such service is to be credited.

38 USC 3034 - Program administration

(a) 
(1) Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, the provisions of sections 3470, 3471, 3474, 3476, 3482 (g), 3483, and 3485 of this title and the provisions of subchapters I and II of chapter 36 of this title (with the exception of sections 3680 (c), 3680 (f), 3686 (a), and 3687) shall be applicable to the provision of educational assistance under this chapter.
(2) The term eligible veteran, as used in the provisions of the sections enumerated in paragraph (1) of this subsection, shall be deemed to include an individual who is eligible for educational assistance under this chapter.
(3) The Secretary may, without regard to the application to this chapter of so much of the provisions of section 3471 of this title as prohibit the enrollment of an eligible veteran in a program of education in which the veteran is already qualified, and pursuant to such regulations as the Secretary shall prescribe, approve the enrollment of such individual in refresher courses (including courses which will permit such individual to update knowledge and skills or be instructed in the technological advances which have occurred in the individuals field of employment during and since the period of such veterans active military service), deficiency courses, or other preparatory or special education or training courses necessary to enable the individual to pursue an approved program of education.
(b) Regulations prescribed by the Secretary of Defense under this chapter shall be uniform for the Armed Forces under the jurisdiction of the Secretary of a military department.
(c) Payment of educational assistance allowance in the case of an eligible individual pursuing a program of education under this chapter on less than a half-time basis shall be made in a lump-sum amount for the entire quarter, semester, or term not later than the last day of the month immediately following the month in which certification is received from the educational institution that such individual has enrolled in and is pursuing a program at such institution. Such lump-sum payment shall be computed at the rate determined under section 3032 (b) of this title.
(d) The Secretary may approve the pursuit of flight training (in addition to a course of flight training that may be approved under section 3680A (b) of this title) by an individual entitled to basic educational assistance under this chapter if
(1) such training is generally accepted as necessary for the attainment of a recognized vocational objective in the field of aviation;
(2) the individual possesses a valid private pilot certificate and meets, on the day the individual begins a course of flight training, the medical requirements necessary for a commercial pilot certificate; and
(3) the flight school courses meet Federal Aviation Administration standards for such courses and are approved by the Federal Aviation Administration and the State approving agency.
(e) 
(1) In the case of a member of the Armed Forces who participates in basic educational assistance under this chapter, the Secretary shall furnish the information described in paragraph (2) to each such member. The Secretary shall furnish such information as soon as practicable after the basic pay of the member has been reduced by $1,200 in accordance with section 3011 (b) or 3012 (c) of this title and at such additional times as the Secretary determines appropriate.
(2) The information referred to in paragraph (1) is information with respect to the benefits, limitations, procedures, eligibility requirements (including time-in-service requirements), and other important aspects of the basic educational assistance program under this chapter, including application forms for such basic educational assistance under section 5102 of this title.
(3) The Secretary shall furnish the forms described in paragraph (2) and other educational materials to educational institutions, training establishments, and military education personnel, as the Secretary determines appropriate.
(4) The Secretary shall use amounts appropriated for readjustment benefits to carry out this subsection and section 5102 of this title with respect to application forms under that section for basic educational assistance under this chapter.

38 USC 3035 - Allocation of administration and of program costs

(a) Except to the extent otherwise specifically provided in this chapter, the educational assistance programs established by this chapter shall be administered by the Department of Veterans Affairs.
(b) 
(1) Except to the extent provided in paragraphs (2), (3), and (4), payments for entitlement earned under subchapter II of this chapter shall be made from funds appropriated to, or otherwise available to, the Department of Veterans Affairs for the payment of readjustment benefits and from transfers from the Post-Vietnam Era Veterans Education Account pursuant to section 3232 (b)(2)(B) of this title.
(2) Payments for entitlement earned under subchapter II of this chapter that is established under section 3015 (d) of this title at a rate in excess of the rate prescribed under subsection (a) or (b) of section 3015 of this title shall, to the extent of that excess, be made from the Department of Defense Education Benefits Fund established under section 2006 of title 10 or from appropriations made to the Department of Homeland Security, as appropriate.
(3) Payment for entitlements established under section 3018A or 3018B of this title shall be made
(A) except as provided in subparagraphs (B) and (C) of this paragraph, from the Department of Defense Education Benefits Fund established under section 2006 of title 10;
(B) in the case of any individual described in section 3018A (a)(3), 3018B (a)(1)(C), or 3018B (a)(2)(C) of this title, from funds appropriated, or otherwise available, to the Department of Veterans Affairs for the payment of readjustment benefits; and
(C) in the case of the increase in payments made under section 3015 (f) of this title, from the Post-Vietnam Era Veterans Education Account established pursuant to section 3222 (a) of this title.
(4) Payments attributable to the increased usage of benefits as a result of transfers of entitlement to basic educational assistance under section 3020 of this title shall be made from the Department of Defense Education Benefits Fund established under section 2006 of title 10 or from appropriations made to the Department of Transportation, as appropriate.
(c) Payments for educational assistance provided under subchapter III of this chapter shall be made from the Department of Defense Education Benefits Fund established under section 2006 of title 10 or from appropriations made to the Department of Homeland Security, as appropriate.
(d) Funds for the payment by the Secretary of benefits under this chapter that are to be paid from the Department of Defense Education Benefits Fund shall be transferred to the Department of Veterans Affairs from such Fund as necessary and in accordance with agreements entered into under section 2006 of title 10 by the Secretary, the Secretary of Defense, and the Secretary of the Treasury. Funds for the payment by the Secretary of benefits under this chapter that are to be paid from appropriations made to the Department of Homeland Security shall be transferred to the Department of Veterans Affairs as necessary. The Secretary and the Secretary of Homeland Security shall enter into an agreement for the manner in which such transfers are to be made.
(e) Payments for tutorial assistance benefits under section 3019 of this title shall be made
(1) in the case of the first $600 of such benefits paid to an individual, from funds appropriated, or otherwise available, to the Department of Veterans Affairs for the payment of readjustment benefits; and
(2) in the case of payments to an individual for such benefits in excess of $600, from
(A) funds appropriated, or otherwise available, to the Department of Veterans Affairs for the payment of readjustment benefits;
(B) the Department of Defense Education Benefits Fund established under section 2006 of title 10; and
(C) funds appropriated to the Department of Homeland Security,

in the same proportion as the Fund described in subclause (B) of this clause and the funds described in subclause (A) or (C) of this clause are used to pay the educational assistance allowance to the individual under this chapter.

38 USC 3036 - Reporting requirement

(a) The Secretary of Defense and the Secretary shall submit to the Congress at least once every two years separate reports on the operation of the program provided for in this chapter.
(b) The Secretary of Defense shall include in each report submitted under this section
(1) information indicating
(A)  the extent to which the benefit levels provided under this chapter are adequate to achieve the purposes of inducing individuals to enter and remain in the Armed Forces and of providing an adequate level of financial assistance to help meet the cost of pursuing a program of education,
(B)  whether it is necessary for the purposes of maintaining adequate levels of well-qualified active-duty personnel in the Armed Forces to continue to offer the opportunity for educational assistance under this chapter to individuals who have not yet entered active-duty service, and
(C)  describing the efforts under sections 3011 (i) and 3012 (g) of this title to inform members of the Armed Forces of the minimum service requirements for entitlement to educational assistance benefits under this chapter and the results from such efforts; and
(2) such recommendations for administrative and legislative changes regarding the provision of educational assistance to members of the Armed Forces and veterans, and their dependents, as the Secretary of Defense considers appropriate.
(c) The Secretary shall include in each report submitted under this section
(1) information concerning the level of utilization of educational assistance and of expenditures under this chapter; and
(2) such recommendations for administrative and legislative changes regarding the provision of educational assistance to members of the Armed Forces and veterans, and their dependents, as the Secretary considers appropriate.
(d) No report shall be required under this section after January 1, 2011.

TITLE 38 - US CODE - CHAPTER 31 - TRAINING AND REHABILITATION FOR VETERANS WITH SERVICE-CONNECTED DISABILITIES

38 USC 3100 - Purposes

The purposes of this chapter are to provide for all services and assistance necessary to enable veterans with service-connected disabilities to achieve maximum independence in daily living and, to the maximum extent feasible, to become employable and to obtain and maintain suitable employment.

38 USC 3101 - Definitions

For the purposes of this chapter
(1) The term employment handicap means an impairment, resulting in substantial part from a disability described in section 3102 (1)(A) of this title, of a veterans ability to prepare for, obtain, or retain employment consistent with such veterans abilities, aptitudes, and interests.
(2) The term independence in daily living means the ability of a veteran, without the services of others or with a reduced level of the services of others, to live and function within such veterans family and community.
(3) The term program of education has the meaning provided in section 3452 (b) of this title.
(4) The term program of independent living services and assistance includes
(A)  the services provided for in this chapter that are needed to enable a veteran to achieve independence in daily living, including such counseling, diagnostic, medical, social, psychological, and educational services as are determined by the Secretary to be needed for such veteran to achieve maximum independence in daily living, and
(B)  the assistance authorized by this chapter for such veteran.
(5) The term rehabilitated to the point of employability means rendered employable in an occupation for which a vocational rehabilitation program has been provided under this chapter.
(6) The term rehabilitation program means
(A)  a vocational rehabilitation program, or
(B)  a program of independent living services and assistance authorized under section 3120 of this title for a veteran for whom a vocational goal has been determined not to be currently reasonably feasible.
(7) The term serious employment handicap means a significant impairment, resulting in substantial part from a service-connected disability rated at 10 percent or more, of a veterans ability to prepare for, obtain, or retain employment consistent with such veterans abilities, aptitudes, and interests.
(8) The term vocational goal means a gainful employment status consistent with a veterans abilities, aptitudes, and interests.
(9) The term vocational rehabilitation program includes
(A) the services provided for in this chapter that are needed for the accomplishment of the purposes of this chapter, including such counseling, diagnostic, medical, social, psychological, independent living, economic, educational, vocational, and employment services as are determined by the Secretary to be needed
(i) in the case of a veteran for whom the achievement of a vocational goal has not been determined not to be currently reasonably feasible,
(I)  to determine whether a vocational goal is reasonably feasible,
(II)  to improve such veterans potential to participate in a program of services designed to achieve a vocational goal, and
(III)  to enable such veteran to achieve maximum independence in daily living, and
(ii) in the case of a veteran for whom the achievement of a vocational goal is determined to be reasonably feasible, to enable such veteran to become, to the maximum extent feasible, employable and to obtain and maintain suitable employment, and
(B) the assistance authorized by this chapter for a veteran receiving any of the services described in clause (A) of this paragraph.

38 USC 3102 - Basic entitlement

A person shall be entitled to a rehabilitation program under the terms and conditions of this chapter if
(1) the person
(A) is
(i) a veteran who has a service-connected disability rated at 20 percent or more which was incurred or aggravated in service on or after September 16, 1940; or
(ii) hospitalized or receiving outpatient medical care, services, or treatment for a service-connected disability pending discharge from the active military, naval, or air service, and the Secretary determines that
(I) the hospital (or other medical facility) providing the hospitalization, care, services, or treatment is doing so under contract or agreement with the Secretary concerned, or is under the jurisdiction of the Secretary of Veterans Affairs or the Secretary concerned; and
(II) the person is suffering from a disability which will likely be compensable at a rate of 20 percent or more under chapter 11 of this title; and
(B) is determined by the Secretary to be in need of rehabilitation because of an employment handicap; or
(2) the person is a veteran who
(A) has a service-connected disability rated at 10 percent which was incurred or aggravated in service on or after September 16, 1940; and
(B) is determined by the Secretary to be in need of rehabilitation because of a serious employment handicap.

38 USC 3103 - Periods of eligibility

(a) Except as provided in subsection (b), (c), or (d) of this section, a rehabilitation program may not be afforded to a veteran under this chapter after the end of the twelve-year period beginning on the date of such veterans discharge or release from active military, naval, or air service.
(b) 
(1) In any case in which the Secretary determines that a veteran has been prevented from participating in a vocational rehabilitation program under this chapter within the period of eligibility prescribed in subsection (a) of this section because a medical condition of such veteran made it infeasible for such veteran to participate in such a program, the twelve-year period of eligibility shall not run during the period of time that such veteran was so prevented from participating in such a program, and such period of eligibility shall again begin to run on the first day following such veterans recovery from such condition on which it is reasonably feasible, as determined under regulations which the Secretary shall prescribe, for such veteran to participate in such a program.
(2) In any case in which the Secretary determines that a veteran has been prevented from participating in a vocational rehabilitation program under this chapter within the period of eligibility prescribed in subsection (a) of this section because
(A) such veteran had not met the requirement of a discharge or release from active military, naval, or air service under conditions other than dishonorable before
(i)  the nature of such discharge or release was changed by appropriate authority, or
(ii)  the Secretary determined, under regulations prescribed by the Secretary, that such discharge or release was under conditions other than dishonorable, or
(B) such veterans discharge or dismissal was, under section 5303 of this title, a bar to benefits under this title before the Secretary made a determination that such discharge or dismissal is not a bar to such benefits,

the twelve-year period of eligibility shall not run during the period of time that such veteran was so prevented from participating in such a program.

(3) In any case in which the Secretary determines that a veteran has been prevented from participating in a vocational rehabilitation program under this chapter within the period of eligibility prescribed in subsection (a) of this section because such veteran had not established the existence of a service-connected disability rated at 10 percent or more, the twelve-year period of eligibility shall not run during the period such veteran was so prevented from participating in such a program.
(c) In any case in which the Secretary determines that a veteran is in need of services to overcome a serious employment handicap, such veteran may be afforded a vocational rehabilitation program after the expiration of the period of eligibility otherwise applicable to such veteran if the Secretary also determines, on the basis of such veterans current employment handicap and need for such services, that an extension of the applicable period of eligibility is necessary for such veteran and
(1) that such veteran had not previously been rehabilitated to the point of employability;
(2) that such veteran had previously been rehabilitated to the point of employability but
(A)  the need for such services had arisen out of a worsening of such veterans service-connected disability that precludes such veteran from performing the duties of the occupation for which such veteran was previously trained in a vocational rehabilitation program under this chapter, or
(B)  the occupation for which such veteran had been so trained is not suitable in view of such veterans current employment handicap and capabilities; or
(3) under regulations which the Secretary shall prescribe, that an extension of the period of eligibility of such veteran is necessary to accomplish the purposes of a rehabilitation program for such veteran.
(d) In any case in which the Secretary has determined that a veterans disability or disabilities are so severe that the achievement of a vocational goal currently is not reasonably feasible, such veteran may be afforded a program of independent living services and assistance in accordance with the provisions of section 3120 of this title after the expiration of the period of eligibility otherwise applicable to such veteran if the Secretary also determines that an extension of the period of eligibility of such veteran is necessary for such veteran to achieve maximum independence in daily living.
(e) In any case in which the Secretary has determined that a veteran was prevented from participating in a vocational rehabilitation program under this chapter within the period of eligibility otherwise prescribed in this section as a result of being ordered to serve on active duty under section 688, 12301 (a), 12301 (d), 12301 (g), 12302, or 12304 of title 10, such period of eligibility shall not run for the period of such active duty service plus four months.

38 USC 3104 - Scope of services and assistance

(a) Services and assistance which the Secretary may provide under this chapter, pursuant to regulations which the Secretary shall prescribe, include the following:
(1) Evaluation, including periodic reevaluations as appropriate with respect to a veteran participating in a rehabilitation program, of the potential for rehabilitation of a veteran, including diagnostic and related services
(A)  to determine whether the veteran has an employment handicap or a serious employment handicap and whether a vocational goal is reasonably feasible for such veteran, and
(B)  to provide a basis for planning a suitable vocational rehabilitation program or a program of services and assistance to improve the vocational rehabilitation potential or independent living status of such veteran, as appropriate.
(2) Educational, vocational, psychological, employment, and personal adjustment counseling.
(3) An allowance and other appropriate assistance, as authorized by section 3108 of this title.
(4) A work-study allowance as authorized by section 3485 of this title.
(5) Placement services to effect suitable placement in employment, and postplacement services to attempt to insure satisfactory adjustment in employment.
(6) Personal adjustment and work adjustment training.
(7) 
(A) Vocational and other training services and assistance, including individualized tutorial assistance, tuition, fees, books, supplies, handling charges, licensing fees, and equipment and other training materials determined by the Secretary to be necessary to accomplish the purposes of the rehabilitation program in the individual case.
(B) Payment for the services and assistance provided under subparagraph (A) of this paragraph shall be made from funds available for the payment of readjustment benefits.
(8) Loans as authorized by section 3112 of this title.
(9) Treatment, care, and services described in chapter 17 of this title.
(10) Prosthetic appliances, eyeglasses, and other corrective and assistive devices.
(11) Services to a veterans family as necessary for the effective rehabilitation of such veteran.
(12) For veterans with the most severe service-connected disabilities who require homebound training or self-employment, or both homebound training and self-employment, such license fees and essential equipment, supplies, and minimum stocks of materials as the Secretary determines to be necessary for such a veteran to begin employment and are within the criteria and cost limitations that the Secretary shall prescribe in regulations for the furnishing of such fees, equipment, supplies, and stocks.
(13) Travel and incidental expenses under the terms and conditions set forth in section 111 of this title, plus, in the case of a veteran who because of such veterans disability has transportation expenses in addition to those incurred by persons not so disabled, a special transportation allowance to defray such additional expenses during rehabilitation, job seeking, and the initial employment stage.
(14) Special services (including services related to blindness and deafness) including
(A) language training, speech and voice correction, training in ambulation, and one-hand typewriting;
(B) orientation, adjustment, mobility, reader, interpreter, and related services; and
(C) telecommunications, sensory, and other technical aids and devices.
(15) Services necessary to enable a veteran to achieve maximum independence in daily living.
(16) Other incidental goods and services determined by the Secretary to be necessary to accomplish the purposes of a rehabilitation program in an individual case.
(b) A rehabilitation program (including individual courses) to be pursued by a veteran shall be subject to the approval of the Secretary.

38 USC 3105 - Duration of rehabilitation programs

(a) In any case in which the Secretary is unable to determine whether it currently is reasonably feasible for a veteran to achieve a vocational goal, the period of extended evaluation under section 3106 (c) of this title may not exceed twelve months, except that such period may be extended for additional periods of up to six months each if the Secretary determines before granting any such extension that it is reasonably likely that, during the period of any such extension, a determination can be made whether the achievement of a vocational goal is reasonably feasible in the case of such veteran.
(b) Except as provided in subsection (c) of this section, the period of a vocational rehabilitation program for a veteran under this chapter following a determination of the current reasonable feasibility of achieving a vocational goal may not exceed forty-eight months, except that the counseling and placement and postplacement services described in section 3104 (a)(2) and (5) of this title may be provided for an additional period not to exceed eighteen months in any case in which the Secretary determines the provision of such counseling and services to be necessary to accomplish the purposes of a rehabilitation program in the individual case.
(c) The Secretary may extend the period of a vocational rehabilitation program for a veteran to the extent that the Secretary determines that an extension of such period is necessary to enable such veteran to achieve a vocational goal if the Secretary also determines
(1) that such veteran had previously been rehabilitated to the point of employability but
(A)  such veterans need for further vocational rehabilitation has arisen out of a worsening of such veterans service-connected disability that precludes such veteran from performing the duties of the occupation for which such veteran had been so rehabilitated, or
(B)  the occupation for which such veteran had been so rehabilitated is not suitable in view of such veterans current employment handicap and capabilities; or
(2) under regulations which the Secretary shall prescribe, that such veteran has a serious employment handicap and that an extension of such period is necessary to accomplish the purposes of a rehabilitation program for such veteran.
(d) Unless the Secretary determines that a longer period is necessary and likely to result in a substantial increase in a veterans level of independence in daily living, the period of a program of independent living services and assistance for a veteran under this chapter (following a determination by the Secretary that such veterans disability or disabilities are so severe that the achievement of a vocational goal currently is not reasonably feasible) may not exceed twenty-four months.
(e) 
(1) Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter or chapter 36 of this title, any payment of a subsistence allowance and other assistance described in paragraph (2) shall not
(A) be charged against any entitlement of any veteran under this chapter; or
(B) be counted toward the aggregate period for which section 3695 of this title limits an individuals receipt of allowance or assistance.
(2) The payment of the subsistence allowance and other assistance referred to in paragraph (1) is the payment of such an allowance or assistance for the period described in paragraph (3) to a veteran for participation in a vocational rehabilitation program under this chapter if the Secretary finds that the veteran had to suspend or discontinue participation in such vocational rehabilitation program as a result of being ordered to serve on active duty under section 688, 12301 (a), 12301 (d), 12301 (g), 12302, or 12304 of title 10.
(3) The period for which, by reason of this subsection, a subsistence allowance and other assistance is not charged against entitlement or counted toward the applicable aggregate period under section 3695 of this title shall be the period of participation in the vocational rehabilitation program for which the veteran failed to receive credit or with respect to which the veteran lost training time, as determined by the Secretary.

38 USC 3106 - Initial and extended evaluations; determinations regarding serious employment handicap

(a) The Secretary shall provide any veteran who has a service-connected disability rated at 10 percent or more and who applies for benefits under this chapter with an initial evaluation consisting of such services described in section 3104 (a)(1) of this title as are necessary
(1)  to determine whether such veteran is entitled to and eligible for benefits under this chapter, and
(2)  in the case of a veteran who is determined to be entitled to and eligible for such benefits, to determine
(A) whether such veteran has a serious employment handicap, and
(B) whether the achievement of a vocational goal currently is reasonably feasible for such veteran if it is reasonably feasible to make such determination without extended evaluation.
(b) In any case in which the Secretary has determined that a veteran has a serious employment handicap and that the achievement of a vocational goal currently is reasonably feasible for such veteran, such veteran shall be provided an individualized written plan of vocational rehabilitation developed under section 3107 (a) of this title.
(c) In any case in which the Secretary has determined that a veteran has a serious employment handicap but the Secretary is unable to determine, in an initial evaluation pursuant to subsection (a) of this section, whether or not the achievement of a vocational goal currently is reasonably feasible, such veteran shall be provided with an extended evaluation consisting of the services described in section 3104 (a)(1) of this title, such services under this chapter as the Secretary determines necessary to improve such veterans potential for participation in a program of services designed to achieve a vocational goal and enable such veteran to achieve maximum independence in daily living, and assistance as authorized by section 3108 of this title.
(d) In any case in which the Secretary has determined that a veteran has a serious employment handicap and also determines, following such initial and any such extended evaluation, that achievement of a vocational goal currently is not reasonably feasible, the Secretary shall determine whether the veteran is capable of participating in a program of independent living services and assistance under section 3120 of this title.
(e) The Secretary shall in all cases determine as expeditiously as possible whether the achievement of a vocational goal by a veteran currently is reasonably feasible. In the case of a veteran provided extended evaluation under subsection (c) of this section (including any periods of extensions under section 3105 (a) of this title), the Secretary shall make such determination not later than the end of such extended evaluation or period of extension, as the case may be. In determining whether the achievement of a vocational goal currently is reasonably feasible, the Secretary shall resolve any reasonable doubt in favor of determining that such achievement currently is reasonably feasible.
(f) In connection with each period of extended evaluation of a veteran and each rehabilitation program for a veteran who is determined to have a serious employment handicap, the Secretary shall assign a Department of Veterans Affairs employee to be responsible for the management and followup of the provision of all services (including appropriate coordination of employment assistance under section 3117 of this title) and assistance under this chapter to such veteran.

38 USC 3107 - Individualized vocational rehabilitation plan

(a) The Secretary shall formulate an individualized written plan of vocational rehabilitation for a veteran described in section 3106 (b) of this title. Such plan shall be developed with such veteran and shall include, but not be limited to
(1)  a statement of long-range rehabilitation goals for such veteran and intermediate rehabilitation objectives related to achieving such goals,
(2)  a statement of the specific services (which shall include counseling in all cases) and assistance to be provided under this chapter,
(3)  the projected date for the initiation and the anticipated duration of each such service, and
(4)  objective criteria and an evaluation procedure and schedule for determining whether such objectives and goals are being achieved.
(b) The Secretary shall review at least annually the plan formulated under subsection (a) of this section for a veteran and shall afford such veteran the opportunity to participate in each such review. On the basis of such review, the Secretary shall
(1)  redevelop such plan with such veteran if the Secretary determines, under regulations which the Secretary shall prescribe, that redevelopment of such plan is appropriate, or
(2)  disapprove redevelopment of such plan if the Secretary determines, under such regulations, that redevelopment of such plan is not appropriate.
(c) 
(1) Each veteran for whom a plan has been developed or redeveloped under subsection (a) or (b)(1), respectively, of this section or in whose case redevelopment of a plan has been disapproved under subsection (b)(2) of this section, shall be informed of such veterans opportunity for a review as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection.
(2) In any case in which a veteran does not agree to such plan as proposed, to such plan as redeveloped, or to the disapproval of redevelopment of such plan, such veteran may submit to the person described in section 3106 (f) of this title a written statement containing such veterans objections and request a review of such plan as proposed or redeveloped, or a review of the disapproval of redevelopment of such plan, as the case may be.
(3) The Secretary shall review the statement submitted under paragraph (2) of this subsection and the plan as proposed or as redeveloped, and, if applicable, the disapproval of redevelopment of the plan, and render a decision on such review not later than ninety days after the date on which such veteran submits such statement, unless the case is one for which a longer period for review, not to exceed 150 days after such veteran submits such statement, is allowed under regulations prescribed by the Secretary, in which case the Secretary shall render a decision no later than the last day of the period prescribed in such regulations.

38 USC 3108 - Allowances

(a) 
(1) Except in the case of a veteran who makes an election under subsection (f) of this section and subject to the provisions of paragraph (3) of this subsection, each veteran shall be paid a subsistence allowance in accordance with this section during a period determined by the Secretary to be a period of such veterans participation under this chapter in a rehabilitation program.
(2) In any case in which the Secretary determines, at the conclusion of such veterans pursuit of a vocational rehabilitation program under this chapter, that such veteran has been rehabilitated to the point of employability, such veteran shall be paid a subsistence allowance, as prescribed in this section for full-time training for the type of program that the veteran was pursuing, for two months while satisfactorily following a program of employment services provided under section 3104 (a)(5) of this title.
(3) A subsistence allowance may not be paid under this chapter to a veteran for any period during which such veteran is being provided with an initial evaluation under section 3106 (a) of this title or during which such veteran is being provided only with counseling or with placement or postplacement services under section 3105 (b) of this title.
(b) 
(1) Except as otherwise provided in this section, the Secretary shall determine the subsistence allowance to be paid to a veteran under this chapter in accordance with the following table, which shall be the monthly amount shown in column II, III, IV, or V (whichever is applicable as determined by the veterans dependency status) opposite the appropriate type of program being pursued as specified in column I:
(2) With respect to the fiscal year beginning on October 1, 1994, the Secretary shall provide a percentage increase in the monthly rates payable under paragraph (1) of this subsection equal to the percentage by which the Consumer Price Index (all items, United States city average published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics) for the 12-month period ending June 30, 1994, exceeds such Consumer Price Index for the 12-month period ending June 30, 1993.
(3) With respect to any fiscal year beginning on or after October 1, 1995, the Secretary shall continue to pay, in lieu of the rates payable under paragraph (1) of this subsection, the monthly rates payable under this subsection for the previous fiscal year and shall provide, for any such fiscal year, a percentage increase in such rates equal to the percentage by which
(A) the Consumer Price Index (all items, United States city average) for the 12-month period ending on June 30 preceding the beginning of the fiscal year for which the increase is made, exceeds
(B) such Consumer Price Index for the 12-month period preceding the 12-month period described in subparagraph (A).
(c) 
(1) In any case in which the vocational rehabilitation program for a veteran includes training on the job by an employer in any month, such employer shall be required to submit to the Secretary a statement in writing showing any wage, compensation, or other income paid (directly or indirectly) by the employer to such veteran for such month. Based upon such written statement, the Secretary is authorized to reduce the subsistence allowance of such veteran to an amount considered equitable and just in accordance with criteria which the Secretary shall establish in regulations which the Secretary shall prescribe.
(2) A veteran pursuing on-job training or work experience as part of a vocational rehabilitation program in a Federal, State, or local government agency or federally recognized Indian tribe under the provisions of section 3115 (a)(1) of this title without pay or for nominal pay shall be paid the appropriate subsistence allowance rate provided in subsection (b) of this section for an institutional program.
(d) 
(1) The Secretary shall, in accordance with regulations which the Secretary shall prescribe, define full-time and each part-time status for veterans participating in rehabilitation programs under this chapter.
(2) A veteran participating in extended evaluation on less than a full-time basis may be paid a proportional subsistence allowance in accordance with regulations which the Secretary shall prescribe.
(e) In any case in which a veteran is pursuing a rehabilitation program on a residential basis in a specialized rehabilitation facility, the Secretary may
(1)  pay to such facility the cost of such veterans room and board in lieu of payment to such veteran of the subsistence allowance (not including any portion payable for any dependents) payable under subsection (b) of this section, and
(2)  pay to such veteran that portion of the allowance for dependents payable, as determined by such veterans dependency status, under subsection (b) of this section for a full-time institutional program.
(f) 
(1) 
(A) In any case in which the Secretary determines that a veteran is eligible for and entitled to rehabilitation under this chapter, to the extent that such veteran has remaining eligibility for and entitlement to educational assistance benefits under chapter 30 of this title, such veteran may elect, as part of a vocational rehabilitation program under this chapter, to pursue an approved program of education and receive allowances and other forms of assistance equivalent to those authorized for veterans enrolled under chapter 30 of this title, if the Secretary approves the educational, professional, or vocational objective chosen by such veteran for such program.
(B) In the event that such veteran makes such an election, the terms and conditions applicable to the pursuit of a comparable program of education and the payment of allowances and provision of assistance under chapter 30 of this title for such a comparable program shall be applied to the pursuit of the approved program of education under this chapter.
(2) A veteran who is receiving an allowance pursuant to paragraph (1) of this subsection may not receive any of the services or assistance described in section 3104 (a)(3), (7), and (8) of this title (other than an allowance and other assistance under this subsection).
(g) 
(1) Notwithstanding any other provision of this title and subject to the provisions of paragraph (2) of this subsection, no subsistence allowance may be paid under this section in the case of any veteran who is pursuing a rehabilitation program under this chapter while incarcerated in a Federal, State, local, or other penal institution or correctional facility for conviction of a felony.
(2) Paragraph (1) of this subsection shall not apply in the case of any veteran who is pursuing a rehabilitation program under this chapter while residing in a halfway house or participating in a work-release program in connection with such veterans conviction of a felony.
(h) Notwithstanding any other provision of this title, the amount of subsistence allowance, or other allowance under subsection (f) of this section, that may be paid to a veteran pursuing a rehabilitation program for any month for which such veteran receives compensation at the rate prescribed in section 1114 (j) of this title as the result of hospital treatment (not including post-hospital convalescence) or observation at the expense of the Department of Veterans Affairs may not exceed, when added to any compensation to which such veteran is entitled for such month, an amount equal to the greater of
(1) the sum of
(A) the amount of monthly subsistence or other allowance that would otherwise be paid to such veteran under this section, and
(B) the amount of monthly compensation that would be paid to such veteran if such veteran were not receiving compensation at such rate as the result of such hospital treatment or observation; or
(2) the amount of monthly compensation payable under section 1114 (j) of this title.
(i) Payment of a subsistence allowance may be made in advance in accordance with the provisions of section 3680 (d) of this title.

38 USC 3109 - Entitlement to independent living services and assistance

In any case in which the Secretary has determined under section 3106 (e) of this title that the achievement of a vocational goal by a veteran currently is not reasonably feasible, such veteran shall be entitled, in accordance with the provisions of section 3120 of this title, to a program of independent living services and assistance designed to enable such veteran to achieve maximum independence in daily living.

38 USC 3110 - Leaves of absence

The Secretary shall prescribe such regulations as the Secretary determines necessary for granting leaves of absence to veterans pursuing rehabilitation programs under this chapter. During authorized leaves of absence, a veteran shall be considered to be pursuing such program.

38 USC 3111 - Regulations to promote satisfactory conduct and cooperation

The Secretary shall prescribe such rules and regulations as the Secretary determines necessary to promote satisfactory conduct and cooperation on the part of veterans who are pursuing rehabilitation programs under this chapter. In any case in which the Secretary determines that a veteran has failed to maintain satisfactory conduct or cooperation, the Secretary may, after determining that all reasonable counseling efforts have been made and are not reasonably likely to be effective, discontinue services and assistance unless the Secretary determines that mitigating circumstances exist. In any case in which such services and assistance have been discontinued, the Secretary may reinstitute such services and assistance only if the Secretary determines that
(1) the cause of the unsatisfactory conduct or cooperation of such veteran has been removed; and
(2) the rehabilitation program which such veteran proposes to pursue (whether the same or revised) is suitable to such veterans abilities, aptitudes, and interests.

38 USC 3112 - Revolving fund loans

The revolving fund established pursuant to part VII of Veterans Regulation Numbered 1(a) is continued in effect, and may be used by the Secretary, under regulations prescribed by the Secretary, for making advances, not in excess of twice the amount of the full-time institutional monthly subsistence allowance for a veteran with no dependents (as provided in section 3108 (b) of this title) to veterans pursuing rehabilitation programs under this chapter. Such advances, and advances from such fund made before the effective date of the Veterans Rehabilitation and Education Amendments of 1980, shall bear no interest and shall be repaid in such installments, as may be determined by the Secretary, by proper deductions from future payments of compensation, pension, subsistence allowance, educational assistance allowance, or retirement pay.

38 USC 3113 - Vocational rehabilitation for hospitalized members of the Armed Forces and veterans

(a) Services and assistance may be provided under this chapter to a person described in subparagraphs (A)(ii) and (B) of section 3102 (1) of this title who is hospitalized pending discharge from active military, naval, or air service. In such cases, no subsistence allowance shall be paid.
(b) Services and assistance may be provided under this chapter to a veteran who is receiving care in a Department of Veterans Affairs hospital, nursing home, or domiciliary facility or in any other hospital or medical facility.

38 USC 3114 - Vocational rehabilitation outside the United States

Under regulations which the Secretary shall prescribe, a vocational rehabilitation program under this chapter may be provided outside the United States if the Secretary determines that such training is
(1)  necessary in the particular case to provide the preparation needed to render a veteran employable and enable such veteran to obtain and retain suitable employment, and
(2)  in the best interest of such veteran and the Federal Government.

38 USC 3115 - Rehabilitation resources

(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, for the purpose of providing services under this chapter, the Secretary may
(1) use the facilities of any Federal agency (including the Department of Veterans Affairs), of any State or local government agency receiving Federal financial assistance, or of any federally recognized Indian tribe, to provide training or work experience as part or all of a veterans vocational rehabilitation program without pay or for nominal pay in any case in which the Secretary determines that such training or work experience is necessary to accomplish such veterans rehabilitation;
(2) use the facilities, staff, and other resources of the Department of Veterans Affairs;
(3) employ such additional personnel and experts as the Secretary considers necessary; and
(4) use the facilities and services of any Federal, State, or other public agency, any agency maintained by joint Federal and State contributions, any federally recognized Indian tribe, any public or private institution or establishment, and any private individual.
(b) 
(1) While pursuing on-job training or work experience under subsection (a)(1) of this section at a Federal agency, a veteran shall be considered to be an employee of the United States for the purposes of the benefits of chapter 81 of title 5, but not for the purposes of laws administered by the Office of Personnel Management.
(2) Except as provided in chapter 17 of this title, hospital care and medical services provided under this chapter shall be furnished in facilities over which the Secretary has direct jurisdiction.
(3) Use of the facilities of a State or local government agency under subsection (a)(1) of this section or use of facilities and services under subsection (a)(4) of this section, shall be procured through contract, agreement, or other cooperative arrangement.
(4) The Secretary shall prescribe regulations providing for the monitoring of training and work experiences provided under such subsection (a)(1) at State or local government agencies and otherwise ensuring that such training or work experience is in the best interest of the veteran and the Federal Government.
(c) For purposes of this section, the term federally recognized Indian tribe means any Indian tribe, band, nation, pueblo, or other organized group or community, including any Alaska Native village or regional corporation as defined in or established pursuant to the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act, which is recognized as eligible for the special programs and services provided by the United States to Indians because of their status as Indians.

38 USC 3116 - Promotion of employment and training opportunities

(a) The Secretary shall actively promote the development and establishment of employment, training, and other related opportunities for
(1)  veterans who are participating or who have participated in a rehabilitation program under this chapter,
(2)  veterans with service-connected disabilities, and
(3)  other veterans to whom the employment emphases set forth in chapter 42 of this title apply. The Secretary shall promote the development and establishment of such opportunities through Department of Veterans Affairs staff outreach efforts to employers and through Department of Veterans Affairs coordination with Federal, State, and local governmental agencies and appropriate nongovernmental organizations. In carrying out the provisions of this subsection with respect to veterans referred to in clause (3) of the first sentence of this subsection, the Secretary shall place particular emphasis on the needs of categories of such veterans on the basis of applicable rates of unemployment.
(b) 
(1) The Secretary, pursuant to regulations prescribed in accordance with paragraph (3) of this subsection, may make payments to employers for providing on-job training to veterans who have been rehabilitated to the point of employability in individual cases in which the Secretary determines that such payment is necessary to obtain needed on-job training or to begin employment. Such payments may not exceed the direct expenses incurred by such employers in providing such on-job training or employment opportunity.
(2) In any case in which a veteran described in paragraph (1) of this subsection participates in on-job training described in such paragraph that satisfies the criteria for payment of a training assistance allowance under section 3687 of this title, such veteran shall, to the extent that such veteran has remaining eligibility for and entitlement to such allowance, be paid such allowance.
(3) The Secretary shall prescribe regulations under this subsection in consultation with the Secretary of Labor and, in prescribing such regulations, shall take into consideration the provisions of title V of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. ch. 16, subch. V) and section 4212 of this title, and regulations prescribed under such provisions.

38 USC 3117 - Employment assistance

(a) 
(1) A veteran with a service-connected disability rated at 10 percent or more who has participated in a vocational rehabilitation program under this chapter or a similar program under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. 701 et seq.) and who the Secretary has determined to be employable shall be furnished assistance in obtaining employment consistent with such veterans abilities, aptitudes, interests, and employment handicap, including assistance necessary to insure that such veteran receives the benefit of any applicable provisions of law or regulation providing for special consideration or emphasis or preference for such veteran in employment or training.
(2) Assistance provided under this subsection may include
(A) direct placement of such veteran in employment;
(B) utilization of employment, training, and placement services under chapter 41 of this title; and
(C) utilization of the job development and placement services of
(i)  programs under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973,
(ii)  the State employment service and the Veterans Employment Service of the Department of Labor,
(iii)  the Office of Personnel Management,
(iv)  any other public or nonprofit">nonprofit organization having placement services available, and
(v)  any for-profit entity in a case in which the Secretary has determined that services necessary to provide such assistance are available from such entity and that comparably effective services are not available, or cannot be obtained cost-effectively, from the entities described in subclauses (i) through (iv) of this clause.
(b) 
(1) In any case in which a veteran has completed a vocational rehabilitation program for self-employment in a small business enterprise under this chapter, the Secretary shall assist such veteran in securing, as appropriate, a loan under subchapter IV of chapter 37 of this title and shall cooperate with the Small Business Administration to assist such veteran to secure a loan for the purchase of equipment needed to establish such veterans own business and to insure that such veteran receives the special consideration provided for in section 4(b)(1) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 633 (b)(1)).
(2) In the case of a veteran described in clause (12) of section 3104 (a) of this title who has trained under a State rehabilitation program with the objective of self-employment in a small business enterprise, the Secretary may, subject to the limitations and criteria provided for in such clause, provide such veteran with such supplementary equipment and initial stocks and supplies as are determined to be needed by such veteran if such supplementary equipment and initial stocks and supplies, or assistance in acquiring them, are not available through the State program or other sources.

38 USC 3118 - Personnel training, development, and qualifications

(a) The Secretary shall provide a program of ongoing professional training and development for Department of Veterans Affairs counseling and rehabilitation personnel engaged in providing rehabilitation services under this chapter. The objective of such training shall be to insure that rehabilitation services for disabled veterans are provided in accordance with the most advanced knowledge, methods, and techniques available for the rehabilitation of handicapped persons. For this purpose, the Secretary may employ the services of consultants and may make grants to and contract with public or private agencies (including institutions of higher learning) to conduct such training and development.
(b) The Secretary shall coordinate with the Commissioner of the Rehabilitation Services Administration in the Department of Education and the Assistant Secretary for Veterans Employment in the Department of Labor in planning and carrying out personnel training in areas of mutual programmatic concern.
(c) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Secretary shall establish such qualifications for personnel providing evaluation and rehabilitation services to veterans under this chapter and for employees performing the functions described in section 3106 (f) of this title as the Secretary determines are necessary and appropriate to insure the quality of rehabilitation programs under this chapter. In establishing such qualifications, the Secretary shall take into account the qualifications established for comparable personnel under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. ch. 16).

38 USC 3119 - Rehabilitation research and special projects

(a) The Secretary shall carry out an ongoing program of activities for the purpose of advancing the knowledge, methods, techniques, and resources available for use in rehabilitation programs for veterans. For this purpose, the Secretary shall conduct and provide support for the development or conduct, or both the development and conduct, of
(1) studies and research concerning the psychological, educational, employment, social, vocational, industrial, and economic aspects of the rehabilitation of disabled veterans, including new methods of rehabilitation; and
(2) projects which are designed to increase the resources and potential for accomplishing the rehabilitation of disabled veterans.
(b) For the purpose specified in subsection (a) of this section, the Secretary is authorized to make grants to or contract with public or nonprofit">nonprofit agencies, including institutions of higher learning.
(c) The Secretary shall cooperate with the Commissioner of the Rehabilitation Services Administration and the Director of the Institute of Handicapped Research in the Department of Education, the Assistant Secretary for Veterans Employment in the Department of Labor, and the Secretary of Health and Human Services regarding rehabilitation studies, research, and special projects of mutual programmatic concern.

38 USC 3120 - Program of independent living services and assistance

(a) The Secretary may, under contracts with entities described in subsection (f) of this section, or through facilities of the Veterans Health Administration, which possess a demonstrated capability to conduct programs of independent living services for severely handicapped persons, provide, under regulations which the Secretary shall prescribe, programs of independent living services and assistance under this chapter, in various geographic regions of the United States, to veterans described in subsection (b) of this section.
(b) A program of independent living services and assistance may be made available under this section only to a veteran who has a serious employment handicap resulting in substantial part from a service-connected disability described in section 3102 (1)(A)(i) of this title and with respect to whom it is determined under section 3106 (d) or (e) of this title that the achievement of a vocational goal currently is not reasonably feasible.
(c) The Secretary shall, to the maximum extent feasible, include among those veterans who are provided with programs of independent living services and assistance under this section substantial numbers of veterans described in subsection (b) of this section who are receiving long-term care in Department of Veterans Affairs hospitals and nursing homes and in nursing homes with which the Secretary contracts for the provision of care to veterans.
(d) A program of independent living services and assistance for a veteran shall consist of such services described in section 3104 (a) of this title as the Secretary determines necessary to enable such veteran to achieve maximum independence in daily living. Such veteran shall have the same rights with respect to an individualized written plan of services and assistance as are afforded veterans under section 3107 of this title.
(e) Programs of independent living services and assistance shall be initiated for no more than 2,500 veterans in each fiscal year, and the first priority in the provision of such programs shall be afforded to veterans for whom the reasonable feasibility of achieving a vocational goal is precluded solely as a result of a service-connected disability.
(f) Entities described in this subsection are
(1)  public or nonprofit">nonprofit agencies or organizations, and
(2)  for-profit entities in cases in which the Secretary determines that services comparable in effectiveness to services available from such an entity are not available, or cannot be obtained cost-effectively from, public or nonprofit">nonprofit agencies or through facilities of the Veterans Health Administration.

38 USC 3121 - Veterans Advisory Committee on Rehabilitation

(a) 
(1) The Secretary shall appoint an advisory committee to be known as the Veterans Advisory Committee on Rehabilitation (hereinafter in this section referred to as the Committee).
(2) The members of the Committee shall be appointed by the Secretary from the general public and shall serve for terms to be determined by the Secretary not to exceed three years. Veterans with service-connected disabilities shall be appropriately represented in the membership of the Committee, and the Committee shall also include persons who have distinguished themselves in the public and private sectors in the fields of rehabilitation medicine, vocational guidance, vocational rehabilitation, and employment and training programs. The Secretary may designate one of the members of the Committee appointed under this paragraph to chair the Committee.
(3) The Committee shall also include as ex officio members the following:
(A)  one representative from the Veterans Health Administration and one from the Veterans Benefits Administration,
(B)  one representative from the Rehabilitation Services Administration of the Department of Education and one from the National Institute for Handicapped Research of the Department of Education, and
(C)  one representative of the Assistant Secretary of Labor for Veterans Employment and Training of the Department of Labor.
(b) The Secretary shall, on a regular basis, consult with and seek the advice of the Committee with respect to the administration of veterans rehabilitation programs under this title.
(c) The Committee shall submit to the Secretary an annual report on the rehabilitation programs and activities of the Department of Veterans Affairs and shall submit such other reports and recommendations to the Secretary as the Committee determines appropriate. The annual report shall include an assessment of the rehabilitation needs of veterans and a review of the programs and activities of the Department of Veterans Affairs designed to meet such needs. The Secretary shall submit with each annual report submitted to the Congress pursuant to section 529 of this title a copy of all reports and recommendations of the Committee submitted to the Secretary since the previous annual report of the Secretary was submitted to the Congress pursuant to such section.

TITLE 38 - US CODE - CHAPTER 32 - POST-VIETNAM ERA VETERANS EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE

TITLE 38 - US CODE - SUBCHAPTER I - PURPOSE; DEFINITIONS

38 USC 3201 - Purpose

It is the purpose of this chapter
(1)  to provide educational assistance to those men and women who enter the Armed Forces after December 31, 1976, and before July 1, 1985,
(2)  to assist young men and women in obtaining an education they might not otherwise be able to afford, and
(3)  to promote and assist the all volunteer military program of the United States by attracting qualified men and women to serve in the Armed Forces.

38 USC 3202 - Definitions

For the purposes of this chapter
(1) 
(A) The term eligible veteran means any veteran who is not eligible for educational assistance under chapter 34 of this title and who
(i)  entered military service on or after January 1, 1977, and before July 1, 1985, served on active duty for a period of more than 180 days commencing on or after January 1, 1977, and was discharged or released therefrom under conditions other than dishonorable, or
(ii)  entered military service on or after January 1, 1977, and before July 1, 1985, and was discharged or released from active duty after January 1, 1977, for a service-connected disability.
(B) The requirement of discharge or release, prescribed in subparagraph (A), shall be waived in the case of any participant who has completed his or her first obligated period of active duty (which began after December 31, 1976) or 6 years of active duty (which began after December 31, 1976), whichever period is less.
(C) For the purposes of subparagraphs (A) and (B), the term active duty does not include any period during which an individual
(i)  was assigned full time by the Armed Forces to a civilian institution for a course of education which was substantially the same as established courses offered to civilians,
(ii)  served as a cadet or midshipman at one of the service academies, or
(iii)  served under the provisions of section 511 (d)1 of title 10 pursuant to an enlistment in the Army National Guard or the Air National Guard, or as a Reserve for service in the Army Reserve, Navy Reserve, Air Force Reserve, Marine Corps Reserve, or Coast Guard Reserve.
(D) 
(i) The requirement of ineligibility for educational assistance under chapter 34 of this title, prescribed in subparagraph (A), shall be waived in the case of a veteran described in division (ii) of this subparagraph who elects to receive benefits under this chapter instead of assistance under such chapter 34. A veteran who makes such an election shall be ineligible for assistance under such chapter. Such an election is irrevocable.
(ii) A veteran referred to in division (i) of this subparagraph is a veteran who before January 1, 1977, performed military service described in subparagraph (C)(iii), is entitled under section 3452 (a)(3)(C) of this title to have such service considered to be active duty for the purposes of chapter 34 of this title, and is eligible for assistance under such chapter only by reason of having such service considered to be active duty.
(2) The term program of education
(A) has the meaning given such term in section 3452 (b) of this title, and
(B) includes
(i)  a full-time program of apprenticeship or other on-job training approved as provided in clause (1) or (2), as appropriate, of section 3687 (a) of this title, and
(ii)  in the case of an individual who is not serving on active duty, a cooperative program (as defined in section 3482 (a)(2) of this title).
(3) The term participant is a person who is participating in the educational benefits program established under this chapter.
(4) The term educational institution has the meaning given such term in section 3452 (c) of this title.
(5) The term training establishment has the meaning given such term in section 3452 (e) of this title.
[1] See References in Text note below.

TITLE 38 - US CODE - SUBCHAPTER II - ELIGIBILITY; CONTRIBUTIONS; AND MATCHING FUND

38 USC 3221 - Eligibility

(a) Each person entering military service on or after January 1, 1977, and before July 1, 1985, shall have the right to enroll in the educational benefits program provided by this chapter (hereinafter in this chapter referred to as the program except where the text indicates otherwise) at any time during such persons service on active duty before July 1, 1985. When a person elects to enroll in the program, such person must participate for at least 12 consecutive months before disenrolling or suspending participation.
(b) The requirement for 12 consecutive months of participation required by subsection (a) of this section shall not apply when
(1)  the participant suspends participation or disenrolls from the program because of personal hardship as defined in regulations issued jointly by the Secretary and the Secretary of Defense, or
(2)  the participant is discharged or released from active duty.
(c) A participant shall be permitted to suspend participation or disenroll from the program at the end of any 12-consecutive-month period of participation. If participation is suspended, the participant shall be eligible to make additional contributions to the program under such terms and conditions as shall be prescribed by regulations issued jointly by the Secretary and the Secretary of Defense.
(d) If a participant disenrolls from the program, such participant forfeits any entitlement to benefits under the program except as provided in subsection (e) of this section. A participant who disenrolls from the program is eligible for a refund of such participants contributions as provided in section 3223 of this title.
(e) A participant who has disenrolled may be permitted to reenroll in the program under such conditions as shall be prescribed jointly by the Secretary and the Secretary of Defense.
(f) An individual who serves in the Selected Reserve may not receive credit for such service under both the program established by this chapter and the program established by chapter 106 of title 10 but shall elect (in such form and manner as the Secretary of Veterans Affairs may prescribe) the program to which such service is to be credited.

38 USC 3222 - Contributions; matching fund

(a) Except as provided in subsections (c) and (d) of this section, each person electing to participate in the program shall agree to have a monthly deduction made from such persons military pay. Such monthly deduction shall be in any amount not less than $25 nor more than $100 except that the amount must be divisible by 5. Any such amount contributed by the participant or contributed by the Secretary of Defense pursuant to subsection (c) of this section shall be deposited in a deposit fund account entitled the Post-Vietnam Era Veterans Education Account (hereinafter in this chapter referred to as the fund) to be established in the Treasury of the United States. Contributions made by the participant shall be limited to a maximum of $2,700.
(b) Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, each monthly contribution made by a participant under subsection (a) shall entitle the participant to matching funds from the Department of Defense at the rate of $2 for each $1 contributed by the participant.
(c) The Secretary of Defense is authorized to contribute to the fund of any participant such contributions as the Secretary of Defense deems necessary or appropriate to encourage persons to enter or remain in the Armed Forces, including contributions in lieu of, or to reduce the amount of, monthly deductions under subsection (a) of this section. The Secretary of Defense is authorized to issue such rules and regulations as the Secretary of Defense deems necessary or appropriate to implement the provisions of this subsection.
(d) Subject to the maximum contribution prescribed by subsection (a) of this section, a participant shall be permitted, while serving on active duty, to make a lump-sum contribution to the fund. A lump-sum contribution to the fund by a participant shall be in addition to or in lieu of monthly deductions made from such participants military pay and shall be considered, for the purposes of paragraph (2) of section 3231 (a) of this title, to have been made by monthly deductions from such participants military pay in the amount of $100 per month or in such lesser amount as may be specified by such participant pursuant to regulations issued jointly by the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary.
(e) Any amount transferred to the Secretary from the Secretary of a military department under an interagency agreement for the administration by the Department of Veterans Affairs of an educational assistance program established by the Secretary of Defense under chapter 107 of title 10 may be deposited into and disbursed from the fund for the purposes of such program.

38 USC 3223 - Refunds of contributions upon disenrollment

(a) Contributions made to the program by a participant may be refunded only after the participant has disenrolled from the program or as provided in section 3224 of this title.
(b) If a participant disenrolls from the program prior to discharge or release from active duty, such participants contributions will be refunded on the date of the participants discharge or release from active duty or within 60 days of receipt of notice by the Secretary of the participants discharge or disenrollment, except that refunds may be made earlier in instances of hardship or other good reason as prescribed in regulations issued jointly by the Secretary and the Secretary of Defense.
(c) If a participant disenrolls from the program after discharge or release from active duty, the participants contributions shall be refunded within 60 days of receipt of an application for a refund from the participant.
(d) In the event the participant
(1)  dies while on active duty,
(2)  dies after discharge or release from active duty, or
(3)  disenrolls or is disenrolled from the program without having utilized any entitlement, the participant may have accrued under the program, or, in the event the participant utilizes part of such participants entitlement and disenrolls or is disenrolled from the program, the amount contributed by the Secretary of Defense under the authority of section 3222 (c) of this title remaining in the fund shall be refunded to such Secretary.

38 USC 3224 - Death of participant

In the event of a participants death, the amount of such participants unused contributions to the fund shall be paid to the living person or persons first listed below:
(1) The beneficiary or beneficiaries designated by such participant under such participants Servicemembers Group Life Insurance policy.
(2) The surviving spouse of the participant.
(3) The surviving child or children of the participant, in equal shares.
(4) The surviving parent or parents of the participant, in equal shares.

If there is no such person living, such amount shall be paid to such participants estate.

38 USC 3225 - Discharge or release under conditions which would bar the use of benefits

If a participant in the program is discharged or released from active duty under dishonorable conditions, such participant is automatically disenrolled and any contributions made by such participant shall be refunded to such participant on the date of such participants discharge or release from active duty or within 60 days from receipt of notice by the Secretary of such discharge or release, whichever is later.

TITLE 38 - US CODE - SUBCHAPTER III - ENTITLEMENT; DURATION

38 USC 3231 - Entitlement; loan eligibility

(a) 
(1) Subject to the provisions of section 3695 of this title limiting the aggregate period for which any person may receive assistance under two or more programs of educational or vocational assistance administered by the Department of Veterans Affairs, a participant shall be entitled to a maximum of 36 monthly benefit payments (or their equivalent in the event of part-time benefits).
(2) Except as provided in paragraph (5)(E) of this subsection and in subsection (e) of this section and section 3233 of this title and subject to section 3241 of this title, the amount of the monthly payment to which any eligible veteran is entitled shall be ascertained by
(A)  adding all contributions made to the fund by the eligible veteran,
(B)  multiplying the sum by 3,
(C)  adding all contributions made to the fund for such veteran by the Secretary of Defense, and
(D)  dividing the sum by the lesser of 36 or the number of months in which contributions were made by such veteran.
(3) Payment of benefits under this chapter may be made only for periods of time during which an eligible veteran is actually enrolled in and pursuing an approved program of education and, except as provided in paragraph (4), only after an eligible veteran has been discharged or released from active duty.
(4) Payment of benefits under this chapter may be made after a participant has completed his or her first obligated period of active duty (which began after December 31, 1976), or 6 years of active duty (which began after December 31, 1976), whichever period is less.
(5) 
(A) Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter or chapter 36 of this title, any payment of an educational assistance allowance described in subparagraph (B) of this paragraph
(i) shall not be charged against the entitlement of any eligible veteran under this chapter; and
(ii) shall not be counted toward the aggregate period for which section 3695 of this title limits an individuals receipt of assistance.
(B) The payment of an educational assistance allowance referred to in subparagraph (A) of this paragraph is any payment of a monthly benefit under this chapter to an eligible veteran for pursuit of a course or courses under this chapter if the Secretary finds that the eligible veteran
(i) in the case of a person not serving on active duty, had to discontinue such course pursuit as a result of being ordered to serve on active duty under section 688, 12301 (a), 12301 (d), 12301 (g), 12302, or 12304 of title 10; or
(ii) in the case of a person serving on active duty, had to discontinue such course pursuit as a result of being ordered to a new duty location or assignment or to perform an increased amount of work; and
(iii) failed to receive credit or training time toward completion of the individuals approved educational, professional, or vocational objective as a result of having to discontinue, as described in clause (i) or (ii) of this subparagraph, his or her course pursuit.
(C) The period for which, by reason of this subsection, an educational assistance allowance is not charged against entitlement or counted toward the applicable aggregate period under section 3695 of this title shall not exceed the portion of the period of enrollment in the course or courses for which the individual failed to receive credit or with respect to which the individual lost training time, as determined under subparagraph (B)(iii) of this paragraph.
(D) The amount in the fund for each eligible veteran who received a payment of an educational assistance allowance described in subparagraph (B) of this paragraph shall be restored to the amount that would have been in the fund for the veteran if the payment had not been made. For purposes of carrying out the previous sentence, the Secretary of Defense shall deposit into the fund, on behalf of each such veteran, an amount equal to the entire amount of the payment made to the veteran.
(E) In the case of a veteran who discontinues pursuit of a course or courses as described in subparagraph (B) of this paragraph, the formula for ascertaining the amount of the monthly payment to which the veteran is entitled in paragraph (2) of this subsection shall be implemented as if
(i) the payment made to the fund by the Secretary of Defense under subparagraph (D) of this paragraph, and
(ii) any payment for a course or courses described in subparagraph (B) of this paragraph that was paid out of the fund,

had not been made or paid.

(b) Any enlisted member of the Armed Forces participating in the program shall be eligible to enroll in a course, courses, or program of education for the purpose of attaining a secondary school diploma (or an equivalency certificate), as authorized by section 3491 (a) of this title, during the last six months of such members first enlistment and at any time thereafter.
(c) When an eligible veteran is pursuing a program of education under this chapter by correspondence, such eligible veterans entitlement shall be charged at the rate of 1 months entitlement for each month of benefits paid to the eligible veteran (computed on the basis of the formula provided in subsection (a)(2) of this section).
(d) 
(1) Subject to the provisions of paragraph (2) of this subsection, the amount of the educational assistance benefits paid to an eligible veteran who is pursuing a program of education under this chapter while incarcerated in a Federal, State, local, or other penal institution or correctional facility for conviction of a felony may not exceed the lesser of
(A)  such amount as the Secretary determines, in accordance with regulations which the Secretary shall prescribe, is necessary to cover the cost of established charges for tuition and fees required of similarly circumstanced nonveterans enrolled in the same program and the cost of necessary supplies, books, and equipment, or
(B)  the applicable monthly benefit payment otherwise prescribed in this section or section 3233 of this title. The amount of the educational assistance benefits payable to a veteran while so incarcerated shall be reduced to the extent that the tuition and fees of the veteran for any course are paid under any Federal program (other than a program administered by the Secretary) or under any State or local program.
(2) Paragraph (1) of this subsection shall not apply in the case of any veteran who is pursuing a program of education under this chapter while residing in a halfway house or participating in a work-release program in connection with such veterans conviction of a felony.
(e) 
(1) Subject to subsection (a)(1) of this section, each individual who is pursuing a program of education consisting exclusively of flight training approved as meeting the requirements of section 3241 (b) of this title shall be paid educational assistance under this chapter in the amount equal to 60 percent of the established charges for tuition and fees which similarly circumstanced nonveterans enrolled in the same flight course are required to pay.
(2) No payment may be paid under this chapter to an individual for any month during which such individual is pursuing a program of education consisting exclusively of flight training until the Secretary has received from that individual and the institution providing such training a certification of the flight training received by the individual during that month and the tuition and other fees charged for that training.
(3) The entitlement of an eligible veteran pursuing a program of education described in paragraph (1) of this subsection shall be charged at the rate of one month for each amount of educational assistance paid which is equal to the monthly benefit otherwise payable to such veteran (computed on the basis of the formula provided in subsection (a)(2) of this section).
(4) The number of solo flying hours for which an individual may be paid an educational assistance allowance under this subsection may not exceed the minimum number of solo flying hours required by the Federal Aviation Administration for the flight rating or certification which is the goal of the individuals flight training.

38 USC 3232 - Duration; limitations

(a) 
(1) Except as provided in paragraphs (2) and (3), and subject to paragraph (4), of this subsection, educational assistance benefits shall not be afforded an eligible veteran under this chapter more than 10 years after the date of such veterans last discharge or release from active duty.
(2) 
(A) If any eligible veteran was prevented from initiating or completing such veterans chosen program of education during the delimiting period determined under paragraph (1) of this subsection because of a physical or mental disability which was not the result of such veterans own willful misconduct, such veteran shall, upon application made in accordance with subparagraph (B) of this paragraph, be granted an extension of the applicable delimiting period for such length of time as the Secretary determines, from the evidence, that such veteran was so prevented from initiating or completing such program of education.
(B) An extension of the delimiting period applicable to an eligible veteran may be granted under subparagraph (A) of this paragraph by reason of the veterans mental or physical disability only if the veteran submits an application for such extension to the Secretary within one year after
(i)  the last date of the delimiting period otherwise applicable to the veteran under paragraph (1) of this subsection, or
(ii)  the termination date of the period of the veterans mental or physical disability, whichever is later.
(3) When an extension of the applicable delimiting period is granted an eligible veteran under paragraph (2) of this subsection, the delimiting period with respect to such veteran shall again begin to run on the first day after such veterans recovery from such disability on which it is reasonably feasible, as determined in accordance with regulations prescribed by the Secretary, for such veteran to initiate or resume pursuit of a program of education with educational assistance under this chapter.
(4) For purposes of paragraph (1) of this subsection, a veterans last discharge or release from active duty shall not include any discharge or release from a period of active duty of less than 90 days of continuous service unless the individual involved is discharged or released for a service-connected disability, for a medical condition which preexisted such service and which the Secretary determines is not service connected, for hardship, or as a result of a reduction in force as described in section 3011 (a)(1)(A)(ii)(III) of this title.
(b) 
(1) In the event that an eligible veteran has not utilized any or all of such veterans entitlement by the end of the delimiting period applicable to the veteran under subsection (a) of this section and at the end of one year thereafter has not filed a claim for utilizing such entitlement, such eligible veteran is automatically disenrolled.
(2) 
(A) Any contributions which were made by a veteran disenrolled under paragraph (1) of this subsection and remain in the fund shall be refunded to the veteran after notice of disenrollment is transmitted to the veteran and the veteran applies for such refund.
(B) If no application for refund of contributions under subparagraph (A) of this paragraph is received from a disenrolled veteran within one year after the date the notice referred to in such subparagraph is transmitted to the veteran, it shall be presumed that the veterans whereabouts is unknown and the funds shall be transferred to the Secretary for payments for entitlement earned under subchapter II of chapter 30.
(c) 
(1) Subject to paragraph (3), the amount of educational assistance payable under this chapter for a licensing or certification test described in section 3452 (b) of this title is the lesser of $2,000 or the fee charged for the test.
(2) The number of months of entitlement charged in the case of any individual for such licensing or certification test is equal to the number (including any fraction) determined by dividing the total amount paid to such individual for such test by the full-time monthly institutional rate of the educational assistance allowance which, except for paragraph (1), such individual would otherwise be paid under this chapter.
(3) In no event shall payment of educational assistance under this subsection for such a test exceed the amount of the individuals available entitlement under this chapter.
(d) 
(1) Subject to paragraph (3), the amount of educational assistance payable under this chapter for a national test for admission or national test providing an opportunity for course credit at institutions of higher learning described in section 3452 (b) of this title is the amount of the fee charged for the test.
(2) The number of months of entitlement charged in the case of any individual for a test described in paragraph (1) is equal to the number (including any fraction) determined by dividing the total amount of educational assistance paid such individual for such test by the full-time monthly institutional rate of educational assistance, except for paragraph (1), such individual would otherwise be paid under this chapter.
(3) In no event shall payment of educational assistance under this subsection for a test described in paragraph (1) exceed the amount of the individuals available entitlement under this chapter.

38 USC 3233 - Apprenticeship or other on-job training

(a) Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, the amount of the monthly benefit payment to an individual pursuing a full-time program of apprenticeship or other on-job training under this chapter is
(1) for each of the first six months of the individuals pursuit of such program, 75 percent of the monthly benefit payment otherwise payable to such individual under this chapter;
(2) for each of the second six months of the individuals pursuit of such program, 55 percent of such monthly benefit payment; and
(3) for each of the months following the first 12 months of the individuals pursuit of such program, 35 percent of such monthly benefit payment.
(b) In any month in which an individual pursuing a program of education consisting of a program of apprenticeship or other on-job training fails to complete 120 hours of training, the amount of the monthly benefit payment payable under this chapter to the individual shall be limited to the same proportion of the applicable rate determined under subsection (a) of this section as the number of hours worked during such month, rounded to the nearest eight hours, bears to 120 hours.
(c) For each month that an individual is paid a monthly benefit payment under this chapter, the individuals entitlement under this chapter shall be charged at the rate of
(1) 75 percent of a month in the case of payments made in accordance with subsection (a)(1) of this section;
(2) 55 percent of a month in the case of payments made in accordance with subsection (a)(2) of this section; and
(3) 35 percent of a month in the case of payments made in accordance with subsection (a)(3) of this section.
(d) For any month in which an individual fails to complete 120 hours of training, the entitlement otherwise chargeable under subsection (c) of this section shall be reduced in the same proportion as the monthly benefit payment payable is reduced under subsection (b) of this section.

38 USC 3234 - Tutorial assistance

(a) An individual entitled to benefits under this chapter shall also be entitled to the benefits provided an eligible veteran under section 3492 of this title, subject to the conditions applicable to an eligible veteran under such section. Any amount paid to an individual under this section shall be in addition to the amount of other benefits paid under this chapter.
(b) An individuals period of entitlement to educational assistance under this chapter shall be charged only with respect to the amount of educational assistance paid to the individual under this section in excess of $600.
(c) An individuals period of entitlement to educational assistance under this chapter shall be charged at the rate of one month for each amount of assistance paid to the individual under this section in excess of $600 that is equal to the amount of monthly educational assistance the individual is otherwise eligible to receive for full-time pursuit of an institutional course under this chapter.
(d) Payments of benefits under this section shall be made
(1) in the case of the first $600 of such benefits paid to an individual, from funds appropriated, or otherwise available, to the Department of Veterans Affairs for the payment of readjustment benefits; and
(2) in the case of payments to an individual for such benefits in excess of $600, from the fund from contributions made to the fund by the veteran and by the Secretary of Defense in the same proportion as these contributions are used to pay other educational assistance to the individual under this chapter.

TITLE 38 - US CODE - SUBCHAPTER IV - ADMINISTRATION

38 USC 3241 - Requirements

(a) 
(1) The provisions of sections 3470, 3471, 3474, 3476, 3483, 3485, and 3491 (a)(1) of this title and the provisions of chapter 36 of this title (with the exception of section 3687) shall be applicable with respect to individuals who are pursuing programs of education while serving on active duty.
(2) The Secretary may, without regard to the application to this chapter of so much of the provisions of section 3471 of this title as prohibit the enrollment of an eligible veteran in a program of education in which the veteran is already qualified, and pursuant to such regulations as the Secretary shall prescribe, approve the enrollment of such individual in refresher courses (including courses which will permit such individual to update knowledge and skills or be instructed in the technological advances which have occurred in the individuals field of employment during and since the period of such veterans active military service), deficiency courses, or other preparatory or special education or training courses necessary to enable the individual to pursue an approved program of education.
(b) The Secretary may approve the pursuit of flight training (in addition to a course of flight training that may be approved under section 3680A (b) of this title) by an individual entitled to basic educational assistance under this chapter if
(1) such training is generally accepted as necessary for the attainment of a recognized vocational objective in the field of aviation;
(2) the individual possesses a valid pilot certificate and meets, on the day the individual begins a course of flight training, the medical requirements necessary for a commercial pilot certificate; and
(3) the flight school courses meet Federal Aviation Administration standards for such courses and are approved by the Federal Aviation Administration and the State approving agency.
(c) The provisions of sections 3470, 3471, 3474, 3476, 3483, and 3491 (a) (other than clause (1)) of this title and the provisions of chapter 36 of this title (with the exception of section 3687) shall be applicable with respect to individuals who are pursuing programs of education following discharge or release from active duty.

38 USC 3242 - Vacant]

38 USC 3243 - Deposits; reports

Deductions made by the Department of Defense from the military pay of any participant shall be promptly transferred to the Secretary for deposit in the fund. The Secretary of Defense shall also submit to the Secretary a report each month showing the name, service number, and the amount of the deduction made from the military pay of each initial enrollee, any contribution made by the Secretary of Defense pursuant to section 3222 (c) of this title, as well as any changes in each participants enrollment and/or contribution. The report shall also include any additional information the Secretary and the Secretary of Defense deem necessary to administer this program. The Secretary shall maintain accounts showing contributions made to the fund by individual participants and by the Secretary of Defense as well as disbursements made from the fund in the form of benefits.

TITLE 38 - US CODE - CHAPTER 34 - VETERANS EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE

TITLE 38 - US CODE - SUBCHAPTER I - PURPOSE - DEFINITIONS

38 USC 3451 - Purpose

The Congress of the United States hereby declares that the education program created by this chapter is for the purpose of
(1)  enhancing and making more attractive service in the Armed Forces of the United States,
(2)  extending the benefits of a higher education to qualified and deserving young persons who might not otherwise be able to afford such an education,
(3)  providing vocational readjustment and restoring lost educational opportunities to those service men and women whose careers have been interrupted or impeded by reason of active duty after January 31, 1955, and
(4)  aiding such persons in attaining the vocational and educational status which they might normally have aspired to and obtained had they not served their country.

38 USC 3452 - Definitions

For the purposes of this chapter and chapter 36 of this title
(a) 
(1) The term eligible veteran means any veteran who
(A) served on active duty for a period of more than 180 days, any part of which occurred after January 31, 1955, and before January 1, 1977, and was discharged or released therefrom under conditions other than dishonorable;
(B) contracted with the Armed Forces and was enlisted in or assigned to a reserve component prior to January 1, 1977, and as a result of such enlistment or assignment served on active duty for a period of more than 180 days, any part of which commenced within 12 months after January 1, 1977, and was discharged or released from such active duty under conditions other than dishonorable; or
(C) was discharged or released from active duty, any part of which was performed after January 31, 1955, and before January 1, 1977, or following entrance into active service from an enlistment provided for under subparagraph (B), because of a service-connected disability.
(2) The requirement of discharge or release, prescribed in subparagraph (A) or (B) of paragraph (1), shall be waived in the case of any individual who served more than 180 days in an active-duty status for so long as such individual continues on active duty without a break therein.
(3) For purposes of paragraph (1)(A) and section 3461 (a), the term active duty does not include any period during which an individual
(A)  was assigned full time by the Armed Forces to a civilian institution for a course of education which was substantially the same as established courses offered to civilians,
(B)  served as a cadet or midshipman at one of the service academies, or
(C)  served under the provisions of section 12103 (d) of title 10 pursuant to an enlistment in the Army National Guard or the Air National Guard or as a Reserve for service in the Army Reserve, Navy Reserve, Air Force Reserve, Marine Corps Reserve, or Coast Guard Reserve unless at some time subsequent to the completion of such period of active duty for training such individual served on active duty for a consecutive period of one year or more (not including any service as a cadet or midshipman at one of the service academies).
(b) The term program of education means any curriculum or any combination of unit courses or subjects pursued at an educational institution which is generally accepted as necessary to fulfill requirements for the attainment of a predetermined and identified educational, professional, or vocational objective. Such term also means any curriculum of unit courses or subjects pursued at an educational institution which fulfill requirements for the attainment of more than one predetermined and identified educational, professional, or vocational objective if all the objectives pursued are generally recognized as being reasonably related to a single career field. Such term also means any unit course or subject, or combination of courses or subjects, pursued by an eligible veteran at an educational institution, required by the Administrator of the Small Business Administration as a condition to obtaining financial assistance under the provisions of section 7(i)(1) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 636 (i)(1)). Such term also includes licensing or certification tests, the successful completion of which demonstrates an individuals possession of the knowledge or skill required to enter into, maintain, or advance in employment in a predetermined and identified vocation or profession, provided such tests and the licensing or credentialing organizations or entities that offer such tests are approved by the Secretary in accordance with section 3689 of this title. Such term also includes any course, or combination of courses, offered by a qualified provider of entrepreneurship courses. Such term also includes national tests for admission to institutions of higher learning or graduate schools (such as the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT), Law School Admission Test (LSAT), Graduate Record Exam (GRE), and Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT)) and national tests providing an opportunity for course credit at institutions of higher learning (such as the Advanced Placement (AP) exam and College-Level Examination Program (CLEP)).
(c) The term educational institution means any public or private elementary school, secondary school, vocational school, correspondence school, business school, junior college, teachers college, college, normal school, professional school, university, or scientific or technical institution, or other institution furnishing education for adults. Such term includes any entity that provides training required for completion of any State-approved alternative teacher certification program (as determined by the Secretary). Such term also includes any private entity (that meets such requirements as the Secretary may establish) that offers, either directly or under an agreement with another entity (that meets such requirements), a course or courses to fulfill requirements for the attainment of a license or certificate generally recognized as necessary to obtain, maintain, or advance in employment in a profession or vocation in a high technology occupation (as determined by the Secretary). Such term also includes any qualified provider of entrepreneurship courses.
(d) The term dependent means
(1) a child of an eligible veteran;
(2) a dependent parent of an eligible veteran; and
(3) the spouse of an eligible veteran.
(e) The term training establishment means any of the following:
(1) An establishment providing apprentice or other on-job training, including those under the supervision of a college or university or any State department of education.
(2) An establishment providing self-employment on-job training consisting of full-time training for a period of less than six months that is needed or accepted for purposes of obtaining licensure to engage in a self-employment occupation or required for ownership and operation of a franchise that is the objective of the training.
(3) A State board of vocational education.
(4) A Federal or State apprenticeship registration agency.
(5) The sponsor of a program of apprenticeship.
(6) An agency of the Federal Government authorized to supervise such training.
(f) The term institution of higher learning means a college, university, or similar institution, including a technical or business school, offering postsecondary level academic instruction that leads to an associate or higher degree if the school is empowered by the appropriate State education authority under State law to grant an associate or higher degree. When there is no State law to authorize the granting of a degree, the school may be recognized as an institution of higher learning if it is accredited for degree programs by a recognized accrediting agency. Such term shall also include a hospital offering educational programs at the postsecondary level without regard to whether the hospital grants a postsecondary degree. Such term shall also include an educational institution which is not located in a State, which offers a course leading to a standard college degree, or the equivalent, and which is recognized as such by the secretary of education (or comparable official) of the country or other jurisdiction in which the institution is located.
(g) The term standard college degree means an associate or higher degree awarded by
(1)  an institution of higher learning that is accredited as a collegiate institution by a recognized regional or national accrediting agency; or
(2)  an institution of higher learning that is a candidate for accreditation as that term is used by the regional or national accrediting agencies; or
(3)  an institution of higher learning upon completion of a course which is accredited by an agency recognized to accredit specialized degree-level programs. For the purpose of this section, the accrediting agency must be one recognized by the Secretary of Education under the provisions of section 3675 of this title.
(h) The term qualified provider of entrepreneurship courses means any of the following entities insofar as such entity offers, sponsors, or cosponsors an entrepreneurship course (as defined in section 3675 (c)(2) of this title):
(1) Any small business development center described in section 21 of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 648).
(2) The National Veterans Business Development Corporation (established under section 33 of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 657c)).

TITLE 38 - US CODE - SUBCHAPTER II - ELIGIBILITY AND ENTITLEMENT

38 USC 3461 - Eligibility; entitlement; duration

(a) Entitlement.— 
Except as provided in subsection (c) and in the second sentence of this subsection, each eligible veteran shall be entitled to educational assistance under this chapter or chapter 36 for a period of one and one-half months (or the equivalent thereof in part-time educational assistance) for each month or fraction thereof of the veterans service on active duty after January 31, 1955. If an eligible veteran has served a period of 18 months or more on active duty after January 31, 1955, and has been released from such service under conditions that would satisfy the veterans active duty obligation, the veteran shall be entitled to educational assistance under this chapter for a period of 45 months (or the equivalent thereof in part-time educational assistance). In the case of any person serving on active duty on December 31, 1976, or a person whose eligibility is based on section 3452 (a)(1)(B) of this chapter, the ending date for computing such persons entitlement shall be the date of such persons first discharge or release from active duty after December 31, 1976.
(b) Entitlement Limitations.— 
Whenever the period of entitlement under this section of an eligible veteran who is enrolled in an educational institution regularly operated on the quarter or semester system ends during a quarter or semester, such period shall be extended to the termination of such unexpired quarter or semester. In educational institutions not operated on the quarter or semester system, whenever the period of eligibility ends after a major portion of the course is completed such period shall be extended to the end of the course or for twelve weeks, whichever is the lesser period.
(c) Duration of Entitlement.— 
Except as provided in subsection (b) and in subchapter V of this chapter, no eligible veteran shall receive educational assistance under this chapter in excess of 45 months.

38 USC 3462 - Time limitations for completing a program of education

(a) Delimiting Period for Completion.— 

(1)  Subject to paragraph (4) of this subsection, no educational assistance shall be afforded an eligible veteran under this chapter beyond the date 10 years after the veterans last discharge or release from active duty after January 31, 1955; except that, in the case of any eligible veteran who was prevented from initiating or completing such veterans chosen program of education within such time period because of a physical or mental disability which was not the result of such veterans own willful misconduct, such veteran shall, upon application made within one year after
(A)  the last date of the delimiting period otherwise applicable under this section,
(B)  the termination of the period of such mental or physical disability, or
(C)  October 1, 1980, whichever is the latest, be granted an extension of the applicable delimiting period for such length of time as the Secretary determines, from the evidence, that such veteran was so prevented from initiating or completing such program of education. When an extension of the applicable delimiting period is granted a veteran under the preceding sentence, the delimiting period with respect to such veteran will again begin running on the first day following such veterans recovery from such disability on which it is reasonably feasible, as determined in accordance with regulations which the Secretary shall prescribe, for such veteran to initiate or resume pursuit of a program of education with educational assistance under this chapter.
[(2) Repealed. Pub. L. 108–183, title III, § 306(d), Dec. 16, 2003, 117 Stat. 2661.]
[(3) Repealed. Pub. L. 107–14, § 8(a)(5), June 5, 2001, 115 Stat. 34.]
(4) For purposes of paragraph (1) of this subsection, a veterans last discharge or release from active duty shall not include any discharge or release from a period of active duty of less than 90 days of continuous service unless the individual involved is discharged or released for a service-connected disability, for a medical condition which preexisted such service and which the Secretary determines is not service connected, for hardship, or as a result of a reduction in force as described in section 3011 (a)(1)(A)(ii)(III) of this title.
(b) Correction of Discharge.— 
In the case of any eligible veteran who has been prevented, as determined by the Secretary, from completing a program of education under this chapter within the period prescribed by subsection (a), because the veteran had not met the nature of discharge requirements of this chapter before a change, correction, or modification of a discharge or dismissal made pursuant to section 1553 of title 10, the correction of the military records of the proper service department under section 1552 of title 10, or other corrective action by competent authority, then the 10-year delimiting period shall run from the date the veterans discharge or dismissal was changed, corrected, or modified.
(c) Savings Clause.— 
In the case of any eligible veteran who was discharged or released from active duty before June 1, 1966, the 10-year delimiting period shall run from such date, if it is later than the date which otherwise would be applicable. In the case of any eligible veteran who was discharged or released from active duty before August 31, 1967, and who pursues a course of farm cooperative training, apprenticeship or other training on the job, the 10-year delimiting period shall run from August 31, 1967, if it is later than the date which would otherwise be applicable.
(d) Prisoners of War.— 
In the case of any veteran
(1)  who served on or after January 31, 1955,
(2)  who became eligible for educational assistance under the provisions of this chapter or chapter 36 of this title, and
(3)  who, subsequent to the veterans last discharge or release from active duty, was captured and held as a prisoner of war by a foreign government or power, there shall be excluded, in computing the veterans 10-year period of eligibility for educational assistance, any period during which the veteran was so detained and any period immediately following the veterans release from such detention during which the veteran was hospitalized at a military, civilian, or Department of Veterans Affairs medical facility.
(e) Termination of Assistance.— 
No educational assistance shall be afforded any eligible veteran under this chapter or chapter 36 of this title after December 31, 1989.

38 USC 3463 - Vacant]

TITLE 38 - US CODE - SUBCHAPTER III - ENROLLMENT

38 USC 3470 - Selection of program

Subject to the provisions of this chapter, each eligible veteran may select a program of education to assist the veteran in attaining an educational, professional, or vocational objective at any educational institution (approved in accordance with chapter 36 of this title) selected by the veteran, which will accept and retain the veteran as a student or trainee in any field or branch of knowledge which such institution finds the veteran qualified to undertake or pursue.

38 USC 3471 - Applications; approval

Any eligible veteran, or any person on active duty (after consultation with the appropriate service education officer), who desires to initiate a program of education under this chapter shall submit an application to the Secretary which shall be in such form, and contain such information, as the Secretary shall prescribe. The Secretary shall approve such application unless the Secretary finds that
(1)  such veteran or person is not eligible for or entitled to the educational assistance for which application is made,
(2)  the veterans or persons selected educational institution or training establishment fails to meet any requirement of this chapter or chapter 36 of this title,
(3)  the veterans or persons enrollment in, or pursuit of, the program of education selected would violate any provision of this chapter or chapter 36 of this title, or
(4)  the veteran or person is already qualified, by reason of previous education or training, for the educational, professional, or vocational objective for which the program of education is offered. The Secretary shall not treat a person as already qualified for the objective of a program of education offered by a qualified provider of entrepreneurship courses solely because such person is the owner or operator of a business. The Secretary shall notify the veteran or person of the approval or disapproval of the veterans or persons application.

38 USC 3472 - Vacant]

38 USC 3473 - Repealed. Pub. L. 102568, title III, 313(a)(3)(A), Oct. 29, 1992, 106 Stat. 4332]

Section, added Pub. L. 89–358, § 2, Mar. 3, 1966, 80 Stat. 16, 1673; amended Pub. L. 90–77, title III, §§ 302(a), 303 (a), Aug. 31, 1967, 81 Stat. 185; Pub. L. 91–219, title II, § 202, Mar. 26, 1970, 84 Stat. 78; Pub. L. 92–540, title IV, § 401(2), Oct. 24, 1972, 86 Stat. 1090; Pub. L. 93–508, title II, § 203, Dec. 3, 1974, 88 Stat. 1582; Pub. L. 94–502, title II, §§ 205, 211 (7), Oct. 15, 1976, 90 Stat. 2387, 2388; Pub. L. 95–202, title III, § 305(a)(2), Nov. 23, 1977, 91 Stat. 1443; Pub. L. 96–466, title III, §§ 303–305, Oct. 17, 1980, 94 Stat. 2192, 2193; Pub. L. 97–35, title XX, § 2003(b)(2), Aug. 13, 1981, 95 Stat. 782; Pub. L. 97–295, § 4(40), Oct. 12, 1982, 96 Stat. 1308; Pub. L. 97–306, title II, §§ 202(a), 203 (a), Oct. 14, 1982, 96 Stat. 1433; Pub. L. 98–525, title VII, § 703(b), Oct. 19, 1984, 98 Stat. 2564; Pub. L. 100–689, title I, § 111(a)(9), Nov. 18, 1988, 102 Stat. 4172; Pub. L. 101–237, title IV, § 423(b)(1), Dec. 18, 1989, 103 Stat. 2092; renumbered 3473 and amended Pub. L. 102–83, § 5(a), (c)(1), Aug. 6, 1991, 105 Stat. 406, related to disapproval of enrollment in certain courses.

38 USC 3474 - Discontinuance for unsatisfactory conduct or progress

The Secretary shall discontinue the educational assistance allowance of an eligible veteran if, at any time, the Secretary finds that according to the regularly prescribed standards and practices of the educational institution, the veterans attendance, conduct, or progress is unsatisfactory. The Secretary may renew the payment of the educational assistance allowance only if the Secretary finds that
(1) the veteran will be resuming enrollment at the same educational institution in the same program of education and the educational institution has both approved such veterans reenrollment and certified it to the Department of Veterans Affairs; or
(2) in the case of a proposed change of either educational institution or program of education by the veteran
(A) the cause of the unsatisfactory attendance, conduct, or progress has been removed;
(B) the program proposed to be pursued is suitable to the veterans aptitudes, interests, and abilities; and
(C) if a proposed change of program is involved, the change meets the requirements for approval under section 3691 of this title.

38 USC 3475 - Vacant]

38 USC 3476 - Education outside the United States

An eligible veteran may not enroll in any course offered by an educational institution not located in a State unless that educational institution is an approved institution of higher learning and the course is approved by the Secretary. The Secretary may deny or discontinue educational assistance under this chapter in the case of any veteran enrolled in an institution of higher learning not located in a State if the Secretary determines that such enrollment is not in the best interest of the veteran or the Federal Government.

3477, 3478. Vacant]

TITLE 38 - US CODE - SUBCHAPTER IV - PAYMENTS TO ELIGIBLE VETERANS; VETERAN-STUDENT SERVICES

38 USC 3481 - Educational assistance allowance

(a) General.— 
The Secretary shall, in accordance with the applicable provisions of this section and chapter 36 of this title, pay to each eligible veteran who is pursuing a program of education under this chapter an educational assistance allowance to meet, in part, the expenses of the veterans subsistence, tuition, fees, supplies, books, equipment, and other educational costs.
(b) Institutional Training.— 
The educational assistance allowance of an eligible veteran pursuing a program of education, other than a program exclusively by correspondence, at an educational institution shall be paid as provided in chapter 36 of this title.

38 USC 3482 - Computation of educational assistance allowances

(a) 
(1) Except as provided in subsection (b), (c), or (g) of this section, or section 3687 of this title, while pursuing a program of education under this chapter of half-time or more, each eligible veteran shall be paid the monthly educational assistance allowance set forth in column II, III, IV, or V (whichever is applicable as determined by the veterans dependency status) opposite the applicable type of program as shown in column I:
(2) A cooperative program, other than a farm cooperative program, means a full-time program of education which consists of institutional courses and alternate phases of training in a business or industrial establishment with the training in the business or industrial establishment being strictly supplemental to the institutional portion.
(b) The educational assistance allowance of an individual pursuing a program of education
(1) while on active duty, or
(2) on less than a half-time basis,

shall be computed at the rate of

(A)  the established charges for tuition and fees which the institution requires similarly circumstanced nonveterans enrolled in the same program to pay, or
(B)  $376 per month for a full-time course, whichever is the lesser. An individuals entitlement shall be charged for institutional courses on the basis of the applicable monthly training time rate as determined under section 3688 of this title.
(c) 
(1) An eligible veteran who is enrolled in an educational institution for a farm cooperative program consisting of institutional agricultural courses prescheduled to fall within 44 weeks of any period of 12 consecutive months and who pursues such program on
(A) a full-time basis (a minimum of ten clock hours per week or four hundred and forty clock hours in such year prescheduled to provide not less than eighty clock hours in any three-month period),
(B) a three-quarter-time basis (a minimum of 7 clock hours per week), or
(C) a half-time basis (a minimum of 5 clock hours per week),

shall be eligible to receive an educational assistance allowance at the appropriate rate provided in the table in paragraph (2) of this subsection, if such eligible veteran is concurrently engaged in agricultural employment which is relevant to such institutional agricultural courses as determined under standards prescribed by the Secretary. In computing the foregoing clock hour requirements there shall be included the time involved in field trips and individual and group instruction sponsored and conducted by the educational institution through a duly authorized instructor of such institution in which the veteran is enrolled.

(2) The monthly educational assistance allowance of an eligible veteran pursuing a farm cooperative program under this chapter shall be paid as set forth in column II, III, IV, or V (whichever is applicable as determined by the veterans dependency status) opposite the basis shown in column I:
(d) 
(1) Notwithstanding the prohibition in section 3471 of this title prohibiting enrollment of an eligible veteran in a program of education in which such veteran has already qualified, a veteran shall be allowed up to six months of educational assistance (or the equivalent thereof in part-time assistance) for the pursuit of refresher training to permit such veteran to update such veterans knowledge and skills and to be instructed in the technological advances which have occurred in such veterans field of employment during and since the period of such veterans active military service.
(2) A veteran pursuing refresher training under this subsection shall be paid an educational assistance allowance based upon the rate prescribed in the table in subsection (a)(1) or in subsection (c)(2) of this section, whichever is applicable.
(3) The educational assistance allowance paid under the authority of this subsection shall be charged against the period of entitlement the veteran has earned pursuant to section 3461 (a) of this title.
(e) The educational assistance allowance of an eligible veteran pursuing an independent study program which leads to a standard college degree shall be computed at the rate provided in subsection (b) of this section. If the entire training is to be pursued by independent study, the amount of such veterans entitlement to educational assistance under this chapter shall be charged in accordance with the rate at which the veteran is pursuing the independent study program but at not more than the rate at which such entitlement is charged for pursuit of such program on less than a half-time basis. In any case in which independent study is combined with resident training, the educational assistance allowance shall be paid at the applicable institutional rate based on the total training time determined by adding the number of semester hours (or the equivalent thereof) of resident training to the number of semester hours (or the equivalent thereof) of independent study that do not exceed the number of semester hours (or the equivalent thereof) required for the less than half-time institutional rate, as determined by the Secretary, for resident training. A veterans entitlement shall be charged for a combination of independent study and resident training on the basis of the applicable monthly training time rate as determined under section 3688 of this title.
(f) The educational assistance allowance of an eligible veteran pursuing a course by open circuit television shall be computed in the same manner that such allowance is computed under subsection (e) of this section for an independent study program.
(g) 
(1) Subject to the provisions of paragraph (2) of this subsection, the amount of the educational assistance allowance paid to an eligible veteran who is pursuing a program of education under this chapter while incarcerated in a Federal, State, local, or other penal institution or correctional facility for conviction of a felony may not exceed such amount as the Secretary determines, in accordance with regulations which the Secretary shall prescribe, is necessary to cover the cost of established charges for tuition and fees required of similarly circumstanced nonveterans enrolled in the same program and to cover the cost of necessary supplies, books, and equipment, or the applicable monthly educational assistance allowance prescribed for a veteran with no dependents in subsection (a)(1) or (c)(2) of this section or section 3687 (b)(1) of this title, whichever is the lesser. The amount of the educational assistance allowance payable to a veteran while so incarcerated shall be reduced to the extent that the tuition and fees of the veteran for any course are paid under any Federal program (other than a program administered by the Secretary) or under any State or local program.
(2) Paragraph (1) of this subsection shall not apply in the case of any veteran who is pursuing a program of education under this chapter while residing in a halfway house or participating in a work-release program in connection with such veterans conviction of a felony.
(h) 
(1) Subject to paragraph (3), the amount of educational assistance payable under this chapter for a licensing or certification test described in section 3452 (b) of this title is the lesser of $2,000 or the fee charged for the test.
(2) The number of months of entitlement charged in the case of any individual for such licensing or certification test is equal to the number (including any fraction) determined by dividing the total amount paid to such individual for such test by the full-time monthly institutional rate of the educational assistance allowance which, except for paragraph (1), such individual would otherwise be paid under this chapter.
(3) In no event shall payment of educational assistance under this subsection for such a test exceed the amount of the individuals available entitlement under this chapter.

38 USC 3482A - Vacant]

38 USC 3483 - Approval of courses

An eligible veteran shall receive the benefits of this chapter while enrolled in a course of education offered by an educational institution only if such course is approved in accordance with the provisions of subchapter I of chapter 36 of this title.

38 USC 3484 - Apprenticeship or other on-job training; correspondence courses

Any eligible veteran may pursue a program of apprenticeship or other on-job training or a program of education exclusively by correspondence and be paid an educational assistance allowance or training assistance allowance, as applicable, under the provisions of section 3687 or 3686 of this title.

38 USC 3485 - Work-study allowance

(a) 
(1) Individuals utilized under the authority of subsection (b) shall be paid an additional educational assistance allowance (hereinafter in this section referred to as work-study allowance). Such allowance shall be paid in return for an individuals entering into an agreement described in paragraph (3).
(2) Such work-study allowance shall be paid in an amount equal to the product of
(A) the applicable hourly minimum wage; and
(B) the number of hours worked during the applicable period.
(3) An agreement described in this paragraph is an agreement of an individual to perform services, during or between periods of enrollment, aggregating not more than a number of hours equal to 25 times the number of weeks in the semester or other applicable enrollment period, required in connection with a qualifying work-study activity.
(4) For the purposes of this section, the term qualifying work-study activity means any of the following:
(A) The outreach services program under chapter 63 of this title as carried out under the supervision of a Department employee or, during the period preceding June 30, 2010, outreach services to servicemembers and veterans furnished by employees of a State approving agency.
(B) The preparation and processing of necessary papers and other documents at educational institutions or regional offices or facilities of the Department.
(C) The provision of hospital and domiciliary care and medical treatment under chapter 17 of this title, including, during the period preceding June 30, 2010, the provision of such care to veterans in a State home for which payment is made under section 1741 of this title.
(D) Any other activity of the Department as the Secretary determines appropriate.
(E) In the case of an individual who is receiving educational assistance under chapter 1606 or 1607 of title 10, an activity relating to the administration of that chapter at Department of Defense, Coast Guard, or National Guard facilities.
(F) During the period preceding June 30, 2010, an activity relating to the administration of a national cemetery or a State veterans cemetery.
(5) An individual may elect, in a manner prescribed by the Secretary, to be paid in advance an amount equal to 40 percent of the total amount of the work-study allowance agreed to be paid under the agreement in return for the individuals agreement to perform the number of hours of work specified in the agreement (but not more than an amount equal to 50 times the applicable hourly minimum wage).
(6) For the purposes of this subsection and subsection (e), the term applicable hourly minimum wages means
(A) the hourly minimum wage under section 6(a) of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 (29 U.S.C. 206 (a)); or
(B) the hourly minimum wage under comparable law of the State in which the services are to be performed, if such wage is higher than the wage referred to in subparagraph (A) and the Secretary has made a determination to pay such higher wage.
(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Secretary shall, subject to the provisions of subsection (e) of this section, utilize, in connection with the activities specified in subsection (a)(1) of this section, the service of individuals who are pursuing programs of rehabilitation, education, or training under chapter 30, 31, 32, or 34 of this title or chapter 1606 or 1607 of title 10, at a rate equal to at least three-quarters of that required of a full-time student. In carrying out this section, the Secretary, wherever feasible, shall give priority to veterans with disabilities rated at 30 percent or more for purposes of chapter 11 of this title. In the event an individual ceases to be at least a three-quarter-time student before completing such agreement, the individual may, with the approval of the Secretary, be permitted to complete such agreement.
(c) The Secretary shall determine the number of individuals whose services the Department of Veterans Affairs can effectively utilize and the types of services that such individuals may be required to perform, on the basis of a survey, which the Secretary shall conduct annually, of each Department of Veterans Affairs regional office in order to determine the numbers of individuals whose services can effectively be utilized during an enrollment period in each geographical area where Department of Veterans Affairs activities are conducted, and shall determine which individuals shall be offered agreements under this section in accordance with regulations which the Secretary shall prescribe, including as criteria
(1)  the need of the individual to augment the veterans educational assistance or subsistence allowance;
(2)  the availability to the individual of transportation to the place where the individuals services are to be performed;
(3)  the motivation of the individual; and
(4)  in the case of a disabled veteran pursuing a course of vocational rehabilitation under chapter 31 of this title, the compatibility of the work assignment to the veterans physical condition.
(d) While performing the services authorized by this section, individuals shall be deemed employees of the United States for the purposes of the benefits of chapter 81 of title 5 but not for the purposes of laws administrated by the Office of Personnel Management.
(e) 
(1) Subject to paragraph (2) of this subsection, the Secretary may, notwithstanding any other provision of law, enter into an agreement with an individual under this section, or a modification of such an agreement, whereby the individual agrees to perform a qualifying work-study activity described in subsection (a)(4) and agrees that the Secretary shall, in lieu of paying the work-study allowance payable for such services, as provided in subsection (a) of this section, deduct the amount of the allowance from the amount which the individual has been determined to be indebted to the United States by virtue of such individuals participation in a benefits program under this chapter, chapter 30, 31, 32, 35, or 36 of this title, or chapter 1606 or 1607 of title 10 (other than an indebtedness arising from a refund penalty imposed under section 21351 of such title).
(2) 
(A) Subject to subparagraph (B) of this paragraph, the provisions of this section (other than those provisions which are determined by the Secretary to be inapplicable to an agreement under this subsection) shall apply to any agreement authorized under paragraph (1) of this subsection.
(B) For the purposes of this subsection, the Secretary may
(i) waive, in whole or in part, the limitations in subsection (a) of this section concerning the number of hours and periods during which services can be performed by the individual and the provisions of subsection (b) of this section requiring the individuals pursuit of a program of rehabilitation, education, or training;
(ii) in accordance with such terms and conditions as may be specified in the agreement under this subsection, waive or defer charging interest and administrative costs pursuant to section 5315 of this title on the indebtedness to be satisfied by performance of the agreement; and
(iii) notwithstanding the indebtedness offset provisions of section 5314 of this title, waive or defer until the termination of an agreement under this subsection the deduction of all or any portion of the amount of indebtedness covered by the agreement from future payments to the individual as described in section 5314 of this title.
(3) 
(A) Subject to the provisions of subparagraphs (B) and (C) of this paragraph, an agreement authorized under this subsection shall terminate in accordance with the provisions of this section and the terms and conditions of the agreement which are consistent with this subsection.
(B) In no event shall an agreement under this subsection continue in force after the total amount of the individuals indebtedness described in paragraph (1) of this subsection has been recouped, waived, or otherwise liquidated.
(C) Notwithstanding the provisions of subparagraphs (A) and (B) of this paragraph, if the Secretary finds that an individual was without fault and was allowed to perform services described in the agreement after its termination, the Secretary shall, as reasonable compensation therefor, pay the individual at the applicable hourly minimum wage rate for such services as the Secretary determines were satisfactorily performed.
(4) The Secretary shall promulgate regulations to carry out this subsection.
[1] See References in Text note below.

3486, 3487. Vacant]

TITLE 38 - US CODE - SUBCHAPTER V - SPECIAL ASSISTANCE FOR THE EDUCATIONALLY DISADVANTAGED

38 USC 3490 - Purpose

It is the purpose of this subchapter
(1)  to encourage and assist veterans who have academic deficiencies to attain a high school education or its equivalent and to qualify for and pursue courses of higher education,
(2)  to assist eligible veterans to pursue postsecondary education through tutorial assistance where required, and
(3)  to encourage educational institutions to develop programs which provide special tutorial, remedial, preparatory, or other educational or supplementary assistance to such veterans.

38 USC 3491 - Elementary and secondary education and preparatory educational assistance

(a) In the case of any eligible veteran who
(1) has not received a secondary school diploma (or an equivalency certificate), or
(2) is not on active duty and who, in order to pursue a program of education for which the veteran would otherwise be eligible, needs refresher courses, deficiency courses, or other preparatory or special educational assistance to qualify for admission to an appropriate educational institution,

the Secretary may, without regard to so much of the provisions of section 3471 of this title as prohibit the enrollment of an eligible veteran in a program of education in which the veteran is already qualified, approve the enrollment of such veteran in an appropriate course or courses or other special educational assistance program.

(b) 
(1) The Secretary shall pay to an eligible veteran pursuing a course or courses or program pursuant to subsection (a)(2) of this section, an educational assistance allowance as provided in sections 3481 and 3482 (a) or (b) of this title.
(2) The Secretary shall pay to an eligible veteran described in subsection (a)(1) of this section who is pursuing a course or courses or program under this subchapter for the purpose of attaining a secondary school diploma (or an equivalency certificate) an educational assistance allowance
(A)  at the rate of established charges for tuition and fees required of similarly circumstanced nonveterans enrolled in the same course, courses, or program, or
(B)  at the institutional full-time rate provided in section 3482 (a) of this title, whichever is the lesser.
(c) The provisions of section 3473 (d)(1)1 of this title, relating to the disapproval of enrollment in certain courses, shall be applicable to the enrollment of an eligible veteran who, while serving on active duty, enrolls in one or more courses under this subchapter for the purpose of attaining a secondary school diploma (or an equivalency certificate).
[1] See References in Text note below.

38 USC 3492 - Tutorial assistance

(a) In the case of any eligible veteran who
(1) is enrolled in and pursuing a postsecondary course of education on a half-time or more basis at an educational institution; and
(2) has a deficiency in a subject required as a part of, or which is prerequisite to, or which is indispensable to the satisfactory pursuit of, an approved program of education,

the Secretary may approve individualized tutorial assistance for such veteran if such assistance is necessary for the veteran to complete such program successfully.

(b) The Secretary shall pay to an eligible veteran receiving tutorial assistance pursuant to subsection (a) of this section, in addition to the educational assistance allowance provided in section 3482 of this title, the cost of such tutorial assistance in an amount not to exceed $100 per month, for a maximum of twelve months, or until a maximum of $1,200 is utilized, upon certification by the educational institution that
(1) the individualized tutorial assistance is essential to correct a deficiency of the eligible veteran in a subject required as a part of, or which is prerequisite to, or which is indispensable to the satisfactory pursuit of, an approved program of education;
(2) the tutor chosen to perform such assistance is qualified and is not the eligible veterans parent, spouse, child (whether or not married or over eighteen years of age), brother, or sister; and
(3) the charges for such assistance do not exceed the customary charges for such tutorial assistance.

38 USC 3493 - Effect on educational entitlement

The educational assistance allowance or cost of individualized tutorial assistance authorized by this subchapter shall be paid without charge to any period of entitlement the veteran may have earned pursuant to section 3461 (a) of this title.

3495 to 3498. Vacant]

TITLE 38 - US CODE - CHAPTER 35 - SURVIVORS AND DEPENDENTS EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE

TITLE 38 - US CODE - SUBCHAPTER I - DEFINITIONS

38 USC 3500 - Purpose

The Congress hereby declares that the educational program established by this chapter is for the purpose of providing opportunities for education to children whose education would otherwise be impeded or interrupted by reason of the disability or death of a parent from a disease or injury incurred or aggravated in the Armed Forces after the beginning of the Spanish-American War, and for the purpose of aiding such children in attaining the educational status which they might normally have aspired to and obtained but for the disability or death of such parent. The Congress further declares that the educational program extended to the surviving spouses of veterans who died of service-connected disabilities and to spouses of veterans with a service-connected total disability permanent in nature is for the purpose of assisting them in preparing to support themselves and their families at a standard of living level which the veteran, but for the veterans death or service disability, could have expected to provide for the veterans family.

38 USC 3501 - Definitions

(a) For the purposes of this chapter and chapter 36 of this title
(1) The term eligible person means any of the following:
(A) A child of a person who, as a result of qualifying service
(i) died of a service-connected disability; or
(ii) has a total disability permanent in nature resulting from a service-connected disability, or who died while a disability so evaluated was in existence.
(B) The surviving spouse of any person who died of a service-connected disability sustained during a period of qualifying service.
(C) The spouse or child of any member of the Armed Forces serving on active duty who, at the time of application for benefits under this chapter is listed, pursuant to section 556 of title 37 and regulations issued thereunder, by the Secretary concerned in one or more of the following categories and has been so listed for a total of more than ninety days:
(i)  missing in action,
(ii)  captured in line of duty by a hostile force, or
(iii)  forcibly detained or interned in line of duty by a foreign government or power.
(D) 
(i) The spouse of any person who has a total disability permanent in nature resulting from a service-connected disability sustained during a period of qualifying service, or
(ii)  the surviving spouse of a veteran who died while a disability so evaluated was in existence.
(E) The spouse or child of a person who
(i) at the time of the Secretarys determination under clause (ii), is a member of the Armed Forces who is hospitalized or receiving outpatient medical care, services, or treatment;
(ii) the Secretary determines has a total disability permanent in nature incurred or aggravated in the line of duty in the active military, naval, or air service; and
(iii) is likely to be discharged or released from such service for such disability.
(2) The term child includes individuals who are married and individuals who are above the age of twenty-three years.
(3) The term duty with the Armed Forces as used in section 3512 of this title means
(A)  active duty,
(B)  active duty for training for a period of six or more consecutive months, or
(C)  active duty for training required by section 12103 (d) of title 10.
(4) The term guardian includes a fiduciary legally appointed by a court of competent jurisdiction, or any other person who has been appointed by the Secretary under section 5502 of this title to receive payment of benefits for the use and benefit of the eligible person.
(5) The term program of education means any curriculum or any combination of unit courses or subjects pursued at an educational institution which is generally accepted as necessary to fulfill the requirements for the attainment of a predetermined and identified educational, professional, or vocational objective. Such term also includes any preparatory course described in section 3002 (3)(B) of this title. Such term also includes licensing or certification tests, the successful completion of which demonstrates an individuals possession of the knowledge or skill required to enter into, maintain, or advance in employment in a predetermined and identified vocation or profession, provided such tests and the licensing or credentialing organizations or entities that offer such tests are approved by the Secretary in accordance with section 3689 of this title. Such term also includes national tests for admission to institutions of higher learning or graduate schools (such as the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT), Law School Admission Test (LSAT), Graduate Record Exam (GRE), and Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT)) and national tests providing an opportunity for course credit at institutions of higher learning (such as the Advanced Placement (AP) exam and College-Level Examination Program (CLEP)).
(6) The term educational institution means any public or private secondary school, vocational school, correspondence school, business school, junior college, teachers college, college, normal school, professional school, university, or scientific or technical institution, or any other institution if it furnishes education at the secondary school level or above. Such term also includes any private entity (that meets such requirements as the Secretary may establish) that offers, either directly or under an agreement with another entity (that meets such requirements), a course or courses to fulfill requirements for the attainment of a license or certificate generally recognized as necessary to obtain, maintain, or advance in employment in a profession or vocation in a high technology occupation (as determined by the Secretary).
(7) The term special restorative training means training furnished under subchapter V of this chapter.
(8) The term total disability permanent in nature means any disability rated total for the purposes of disability compensation which is based upon an impairment reasonably certain to continue throughout the life of the disabled person.
(9) The term training establishment means any establishment providing apprentice or other training on the job, including those under the supervision of a college or university or any State department of education, or any State apprenticeship agency, or any State board of vocational education, or any joint apprenticeship committee, or the Bureau of Apprenticeship and Training established pursuant to the Act of August 16, 1937, popularly known as the National Apprenticeship Act (29 U.S.C. 50 et seq.), or any agency of the Federal Government authorized to supervise such training.
(10) The term institution of higher learning means a college, university, or similar institution, including a technical or business school, offering postsecondary level academic instruction that leads to an associate or higher degree if the school is empowered by the appropriate State education authority under State law to grant an associate or higher degree. When there is no State law to authorize the granting of a degree, the school may be recognized as an institution of higher learning if it is accredited for degree programs by a recognized accrediting agency. Such term shall also include a hospital offering educational programs at the postsecondary level without regard to whether the hospital grants a postsecondary degree. Such term shall also include an educational institution which is not located in a State, which offers a course leading to a standard college degree, or the equivalent, and which is recognized by the secretary of education (or comparable official) of the country or other jurisdiction in which the institution is located.
(11) The term standard college degree means an associate or higher degree awarded by
(A)  an institution of higher learning that is accredited as a collegiate institution by a recognized regional or national accrediting agency; or
(B)  an institution of higher learning that is a candidate for accreditation as that term is used by the regional or national accrediting agencies; or
(C)  an institution of higher learning upon completion of a course which is accredited by an agency recognized to accredit specialized degree-level programs. For the purpose of this section, the accrediting agency must be one recognized by the Secretary of Education under the provisions of section 3675 of this title.
(12) The term qualifying service means service in the active military, naval, or air service after the beginning of the Spanish-American War that did not terminate under dishonorable conditions.
(b) If an eligible person has attained the persons majority and is under no known legal disability, all references in this chapter to parent or guardian shall refer to the eligible person.
(c) Any provision of this chapter which requires any action to be taken by or with respect to the parent or guardian of an eligible person who has not attained such persons majority, or who, having attained such persons majority, is under a legal disability, shall not apply when the Secretary determines that its application would not be in the best interest of the eligible person, would result in undue delay, or would not be administratively feasible. In such a case the Secretary, where necessary to protect the interest of the eligible person, may designate some other person (who may be the eligible person) as the person by or with respect to whom the action so required should be taken.
(d) No eligible person may be afforded educational assistance under this chapter unless such person was discharged or released after each period such person was on duty with the Armed Forces under conditions other than dishonorable, or while such person is on duty with the Armed Forces.

TITLE 38 - US CODE - SUBCHAPTER II - ELIGIBILITY AND ENTITLEMENT

38 USC 3510 - Eligibility and entitlement generally

Each eligible person shall, subject to the provisions of this chapter, be entitled to receive educational assistance.

38 USC 3511 - Duration of educational assistance

(a) 
(1) Each eligible person, whether made eligible by one or more of the provisions of section 3501 (a)(1) of this title, shall be entitled to educational assistance under this chapter for an aggregate period not in excess of 45 months (or to the equivalent thereof in part-time training).
(2) 
(A) Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter or chapter 36 of this title, any payment of an educational assistance allowance described in subparagraph (B) of this paragraph shall not
(i) be charged against the entitlement of any individual under this chapter; or
(ii) be counted toward the aggregate period for which section 3695 of this title limits an individuals receipt of assistance.
(B) The payment of the educational assistance allowance referred to in subparagraph (A) of this paragraph is the payment of such an allowance to an individual for pursuit of a course or courses under this chapter if the Secretary finds that the individual
(i) had to discontinue such course pursuit as a result of being ordered to serve on active duty under section 688, 12301 (a), 12301 (d), 12301 (g), 12302, or 12304 of title 10 or of being involuntarily ordered to full-time National Guard duty under section 502 (f) of title 32; and
(ii) failed to receive credit or training time toward completion of the individuals approved educational, professional, or vocational objective as a result of having to discontinue, as described in clause (i) of this subparagraph, his or her course pursuit.
(C) The period for which, by reason of this subsection, an educational assistance allowance is not charged against entitlement or counted toward the applicable aggregate period under section 3695 of this title shall not exceed the portion of the period of enrollment in the course or courses for which the individual failed to receive credit or with respect to which the individual lost training time, as determined under subparagraph (B)(ii) of this paragraph.
(b) If any eligible person pursuing a program of education, or of special restorative training, under this chapter ceases to be an eligible person because
(1) the parent or spouse from whom eligibility is derived is found no longer to have a total disability permanent in nature, as defined in section 3501 (a)(8) of this title,
(2) the parent or spouse from whom eligibility is derived based upon section 3501 (a)(1)(C) of this title is no longer listed in one of the categories specified therein,
(3) the spouse, as an eligible person under subparagraph (D) or (E) of section 3501 (a)(1) of this title, is divorced, without fault on such persons part, from the person upon whose disability such persons eligibility is based, or
(4) the parent or spouse from whom such eligibility is derived based upon subparagraph (E) of section 3501 (a)(1) of this title no longer meets a requirement under clause (i), (ii), or (iii) of that subparagraph,

then such eligible person (if such person has sufficient remaining entitlement) may, nevertheless, be afforded educational assistance under this chapter until the end of the quarter or semester for which enrolled if the educational institution in which such person is enrolled is operated on a quarter or semester system, or if the educational institution is not so operated until the end of the course, or until 12 weeks have expired, whichever first occurs.

38 USC 3512 - Periods of eligibility

(a) The educational assistance to which an eligible person whose eligibility is based on the death or disability of a parent or on a parent being listed in one of the categories referred to in section 3501 (a)(1)(C) of this title is entitled under section 3511 of this title or subchapter V of this chapter may be afforded the person during the period beginning on the persons eighteenth birthday, or on the successful completion of the persons secondary schooling, whichever first occurs, and ending on the persons twenty-sixth birthday, except that
(1) if the person is above the age of compulsory school attendance under applicable State law, and the Secretary determines that the persons best interests will be served thereby, such period may begin before the persons eighteenth birthday;
(2) if the person has a mental or physical handicap, and the Secretary determines that the persons best interests will be served by pursuing a program of special restorative training or a specialized course of vocational training approved under section 3536 of this title, such period may begin before the persons eighteenth birthday, but not before the persons fourteenth birthday;
(3) if the Secretary first finds that the parent from whom eligibility is derived has a service-connected total disability permanent in nature, or if the death of the parent from whom eligibility is derived occurs, after the eligible persons eighteenth birthday but before the persons twenty-sixth birthday, then (unless paragraph (4) or (5) applies) such period shall end 8 years after the date that is elected by that person to be the beginning date of entitlement under section 3511 of this title or subchapter V of this chapter if
(A) the Secretary approves that beginning date;
(B) the eligible person elects that beginning date by not later than the end of the 60-day period beginning on the date on which the Secretary provides written notice to that person of that persons opportunity to make such election, such notice including a statement of the deadline for the election imposed under this subparagraph; and
(C) that beginning date
(i) in the case of a person whose eligibility is based on a parent who has a service-connected total disability permanent in nature, is the date determined pursuant to subsection (d), or any date between the two dates described in subsection (d); and
(ii) in the case of a person whose eligibility is based on the death of a parent, is between
(I) the date of the parents death; and
(II) the date of the Secretarys decision that the death was service-connected;
(4) if the person otherwise eligible under paragraph (3) fails to elect a beginning date of entitlement in accordance with that paragraph, the beginning date of the persons entitlement shall be the date of the Secretarys decision that the parent has a service-connected total disability permanent in nature, or that the parents death was service-connected, whichever is applicable;
(5) if the person serves on duty with the Armed Forces as an eligible person after the persons eighteenth birthday but before the persons twenty-sixth birthday, then such period shall end 8 years after the persons first discharge or release from such duty with the Armed Forces (excluding from such 8 years all periods during which the eligible person served on active duty before August 1, 1962, pursuant to
(A)  a call or order thereto issued to the person as a Reserve after July 30, 1961, or
(B)  an extension of enlistment, appointment, or period of duty with the Armed Forces pursuant to section 2 of Public Law 87117); however, in no event shall such period be extended beyond the persons thirty-first birthday by reason of this paragraph;
(6) if the person becomes eligible by reason of a parent being listed in one of the categories referred to in section 3501 (a)(1)(C) of this title after the persons eighteenth birthday but before the persons twenty-sixth birthday, then (unless paragraph (5) applies) such period shall end eight years after the date on which the person becomes eligible by reason of such provisions, but in no event shall such period be extended beyond the persons thirty-first birthday by reason of this clause;[1]
(7) 
(A) if such person is enrolled in an educational institution regularly operated on the quarter or semester system and such period ends during a quarter or semester, such period shall be extended to the end of the quarter or semester; or
(B) if such person is enrolled in an educational institution operated on other than a quarter or semester system and such period ends after a major portion of the course is completed, such period shall be extended to the end of the course, or until 12 weeks have expired, whichever first occurs; and
(8) if the person is pursuing a preparatory course described in section 3002 (3)(B) of this title, such period may begin on the date that is the first day of such course pursuit, notwithstanding that such date may be before the persons eighteenth birthday, except that in no case may such person be afforded educational assistance under this chapter for pursuit of secondary schooling unless such course pursuit would otherwise be authorized under this subsection.
(b) 
(1) 
(A) Except as provided in subparagraph (B) or (C), a person made eligible by subparagraph (B) or (D) of section 3501 (a)(1) of this title or a person made eligible by the disability of a spouse under section 3501 (a)(1)(E) of this title may be afforded educational assistance under this chapter during the 10-year period beginning on the date (as determined by the Secretary) the person becomes an eligible person within the meaning of section 3501 (a)(1)(B), 3501 (a)(1)(D)(i), 3501 (a)(1)(D)(ii), or 3501 (a)(1)(E) of this title. In the case of a surviving spouse made eligible by clause (ii) of section 3501 (a)(1)(D) of this title, the 10-year period may not be reduced by any earlier period during which the person was eligible for educational assistance under this chapter as a spouse made eligible by clause (i) of that section.
(B) Notwithstanding subparagraph (A), an eligible person referred to in that subparagraph may, subject to the Secretarys approval, elect a later beginning date for the 10-year period than would otherwise be applicable to the person under that subparagraph. The beginning date so elected may be any date between the beginning date determined for the person under subparagraph (A) and whichever of the following dates applies:
(i) The date on which the Secretary notifies the veteran from whom eligibility is derived that the veteran has a service-connected total disability permanent in nature.
(ii) The date on which the Secretary determines that the veteran from whom eligibility is derived died of a service-connected disability.
(iii) The date on which the Secretary notifies the member of the Armed Forces from whom eligibility is derived that the member has a total disability permanent in nature incurred or aggravated in the line of duty in the active military, naval, or air service.
(C) Notwithstanding subparagraph (A), an eligible person referred to in that subparagraph who is made eligible under section 3501 (a)(1)(B) of this title by reason of the death of a person on active duty may be afforded educational assistance under this chapter during the 20-year period beginning on the date (as determined by the Secretary) such person becomes an eligible person within the meaning of such section.
(2) Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph (1) of this subsection, in the case of any eligible person (as defined in section 3501 (a)(1)(B), (C), (D), or (E) of this title) whose eligibility is based on the death or disability of a spouse or on a spouse being listed in one of the categories referred to in section 3501 (a)(1)(C) of this title who was prevented from initiating or completing such persons chosen program of education within such period because of a physical or mental disability which was not the result of such persons own willful misconduct, such person shall, upon application made within one year after
(A)  the last date of the delimiting period otherwise applicable under this section,
(B)  the termination of the period of mental or physical disability, or
(C)  October 1, 1980, whichever is the latest, be granted an extension of the applicable delimiting period for such length of time as the Secretary determines, from the evidence, that such person was so prevented from initiating or completing such program of education. When an extension of the applicable delimiting period is granted under the exception in the preceding sentence, the delimiting period will again begin running on the first day following such eligible persons recovery from such disability on which it is reasonably feasible, as determined in accordance with regulations which the Secretary shall prescribe, for such eligible person to initiate or resume pursuit of a program of education with educational assistance under this chapter.
(c) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a) of this section, an eligible person may be afforded educational assistance beyond the age limitation applicable to such person under such subsection if
(1)  such person suspends pursuit of such persons program of education after having enrolled in such program within the time period applicable to such person under such subsection,
(2)  such person is unable to complete such program after the period of suspension and before attaining the age limitation applicable to such person under such subsection, and
(3)  the Secretary finds that the suspension was due to conditions beyond the control of such person; but in no event shall educational assistance be afforded such person by reason of this subsection beyond the age limitation applicable to such person under subsection (a) of this section plus a period of time equal to the period such person was required to suspend the pursuit of such persons program, or beyond such persons thirty-first birthday, whichever is earlier.
(d) The term first finds as used in this section means the effective date of the rating or date of notification to the person from whom eligibility is derived establishing a service-connected total disability permanent in nature whichever is more advantageous to the eligible person.
(e) No person made eligible by section 3501 (a)(1)(C) of this title based on a spouse being listed in one of the categories referred to in section 3501 (a)(1)(C) of this title may be afforded educational assistance under this chapter beyond 10 years after the date on which the spouse was so listed.
[(f) Repealed. Pub. L. 108–183, title III, § 306(f)(2), Dec. 16, 2003, 117 Stat. 2661.]
[(g) Repealed. Pub. L. 107–103, title I, § 108(b)(2), Dec. 27, 2001, 115 Stat. 985.]
(h) Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, if an eligible person, during the delimiting period otherwise applicable to such person under this section, serves on active duty pursuant to an order to active duty issued under section 688, 12301 (a), 12301 (d), 12301 (g), 12302, or 12304 of title 10, or is involuntarily ordered to full-time National Guard duty under section 502 (f) of title 32, such person shall be granted an extension of such delimiting period for the length of time equal to the period of such active duty plus four months.
[1] So in original. Probably should be “this paragraph”.

38 USC 3513 - Application

The parent or guardian of a person or the eligible person if such person has attained legal majority for whom educational assistance is sought under this chapter shall submit an application to the Secretary which shall be in such form and contain such information as the Secretary shall prescribe. If the Secretary finds that the person on whose behalf the application is submitted is an eligible person, the Secretary shall approve the application provisionally. The Secretary shall notify the parent or guardian or eligible person (if the person has attained legal majority) of the provisional approval or of the disapproval of the application.

38 USC 3514 - Processing of applications

(a) Further processing of an application for educational assistance and the award of such assistance shall be pursuant to the requirements of subchapters III and IV of this chapter unless the parent or guardian requests special restorative training for the eligible person, in which case the application will be processed under subchapter V of this chapter.
(b) If the request for special restorative training is approved, educational assistance will be afforded pursuant to the terms of subchapter V of this chapter. If the request for special restorative training is disapproved, or if approved the restorative training is completed or discontinued, any educational assistance subsequently afforded will be in accordance with subchapters III and IV of this chapter.

TITLE 38 - US CODE - SUBCHAPTER III - PROGRAM OF EDUCATION

38 USC 3520 - Educational and vocational counseling

The Secretary may, upon request, arrange for educational or vocational counseling for persons eligible for benefits under this chapter to assist such persons in selecting their educational, vocational, or professional objectives and in developing their programs of education.

38 USC 3521 - Approval of application

The Secretary shall approve an application if the Secretary finds that
(1) the proposed program of education constitutes a program of education as that term is defined in this chapter;
(2) the eligible person is not already qualified, by reason of previous education or training, for the educational, professional, or vocational objective for which the program of education is offered;
(3) the eligible persons proposed educational institution or training establishment is in compliance with all the requirements of this chapter and chapter 36 of this title; and
(4) it does not appear that the enrollment in or pursuit of such persons program of education would violate any provisions of this chapter or chapter 36 of this title.

38 USC 3522 - Vacant]

38 USC 3523 - Disapproval of enrollment in certain courses

(a) The Secretary shall not approve the enrollment of an eligible person in
(1) any bartending course or personality development course;
(2) any sales or sales management course which does not provide specialized training within a specific vocational field;
(3) any type of course which the Secretary finds to be avocational or recreational in character (or the advertising for which the Secretary finds contains significant avocational or recreational themes) unless the eligible person submits justification showing that the course will be a bona fide use in the pursuit of the persons present or contemplated business or occupation; or
(4) any independent study program except an accredited independent study program (including open circuit television) leading to a standard college degree.
(b) The Secretary shall not approve the enrollment of an eligible person in any course of flight training other than one given by an educational institution of higher learning for credit toward a standard college degree the eligible person is seeking.
(c) The Secretary shall not approve the enrollment of an eligible person in any course to be pursued by radio.
(d) The Secretary shall not approve the enrollment of an eligible person in any course which is to be pursued as a part of such persons regular secondary school education (except as provided in section 3533 of this title), but this subsection shall not prevent the enrollment of an eligible person in a course not leading to a standard college degree if the Secretary finds that such person has ended such persons secondary school education (by completion or otherwise) and that such course is a specialized vocational course pursued for the purpose of qualifying in a bona fide vocational objective.
(e) An eligible person may not enroll in any course at an educational institution which is not located in a State or in the Republic of the Philippines, unless such course is pursued at an approved institution of higher learning and the course is approved by the Secretary. The Secretary, in the Secretarys discretion, may deny or discontinue educational assistance under this chapter in the case of any eligible person in such an institution if the Secretary determines that such enrollment is not in the best interest of the eligible person or the Federal Government.

38 USC 3524 - Discontinuance for unsatisfactory progress

The Secretary shall discontinue the educational assistance allowance on behalf of an eligible person if, at any time, the Secretary finds that according to the regularly prescribed standards and practices of the educational institution such person is attending, the persons attendance, conduct, or progress is unsatisfactory. The Secretary may renew the payment of the educational assistance allowance only if the Secretary finds that
(1) the eligible person will be resuming enrollment at the same educational institution in the same program of education and the educational institution has both approved such eligible persons reenrollment and certified it to the Department of Veterans Affairs; or
(2) in the case of a proposed change of either educational institution or program of education by the eligible person
(A) the cause of the unsatisfactory attendance, conduct, or progress has been removed;
(B) the program proposed to be pursued is suitable to the eligible persons aptitudes, interests, and abilities; and
(C) if a proposed change of program is involved, the change meets the requirements for approval under section 3691 of this title.

3525, 3526. Vacant]

TITLE 38 - US CODE - SUBCHAPTER IV - PAYMENTS TO ELIGIBLE PERSONS

38 USC 3531 - Educational assistance allowance

(a) The Secretary shall, in accordance with the provisions of chapter 36 of this title, pay to the parent or guardian of each eligible person who is pursuing a program of education under this chapter, and who applies therefor on behalf of such eligible person, an educational assistance allowance to meet, in part, the expenses of the eligible persons subsistence, tuition, fees, supplies, books, equipment, and other educational costs.
(b) The educational assistance allowance of an eligible person pursuing a program of education at an educational institution shall be paid as provided in chapter 36 of this title.

38 USC 3532 - Computation of educational assistance allowance

(a) 
(1) The educational assistance allowance on behalf of an eligible person who is pursuing a program of education consisting of institutional courses shall be paid at the monthly rate of $788 for full-time, $592 for three-quarter-time, or $394 for half-time pursuit.
(2) The educational assistance allowance on behalf of an eligible person pursuing a program of education on less than a half-time basis shall be paid at the rate of the lesser of
(A) the established charges for tuition and fees that the educational institution involved requires similarly circumstanced nonveterans enrolled in the same program to pay; or
(B) $788 per month for a full-time course.
(b) The educational assistance allowance to be paid on behalf of an eligible person who is pursuing a full-time program of education which consists of institutional courses and alternate phases of training in a business or industrial establishment with the training in the business or industrial establishment being strictly supplemental to the institutional portion, shall be computed at the rate of $788 per month.
(c) 
(1) An eligible person who is enrolled in an educational institution for a farm cooperative program consisting of institutional agricultural courses prescheduled to fall within forty-four weeks of any period of twelve consecutive months and who pursues such program on
(A) a full-time basis (a minimum of ten clock hours per week or four hundred and forty clock hours in such year prescheduled to provide not less than eighty clock hours in any three-month period),
(B) a three-quarter-time basis (a minimum of seven clock hours per week), or
(C) a half-time basis (a minimum of five clock hours per week),

shall be eligible to receive an educational assistance allowance at the appropriate rate provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection, if such eligible person is concurrently engaged in agricultural employment which is relevant to such institutional agricultural courses as determined under standards prescribed by the Secretary. In computing the foregoing clock hour requirements there shall be included the time involved in field trips and individual and group instruction sponsored and conducted by the educational institution through a duly authorized instructor of such institution in which the person is enrolled.

(2) The monthly educational assistance allowance to be paid on behalf of an eligible person pursuing a farm cooperative program under this chapter shall be $636 for full-time, $477 for three-quarter-time, or $319 for half-time pursuit.
(d) If a program of education is pursued by an eligible person at an institution located in the Republic of the Philippines, the educational assistance allowance computed for such person under this section shall be paid at the rate of $0.50 for each dollar.
(e) In the case of an eligible person who is pursuing a program of education under this chapter while incarcerated in a Federal, State, local, or other penal institution or correctional facility for conviction of a felony, the educational assistance allowance shall be paid in the same manner prescribed in section 3482 (g) of this title for incarcerated veterans, except that the references therein to the monthly educational assistance allowance prescribed for a veteran with no dependents shall be deemed to refer to the applicable allowance payable to an eligible person under corresponding provisions of this chapter or chapter 36 of this title, as determined by the Secretary.
(f) 
(1) Subject to paragraph (3), the amount of educational assistance payable under this chapter for a licensing or certification test described in section 3501 (a)(5) of this title is the lesser of $2,000 or the fee charged for the test.
(2) The number of months of entitlement charged in the case of any individual for such licensing or certification test is equal to the number (including any fraction) determined by dividing the total amount paid to such individual for such test by the full-time monthly institutional rate of the educational assistance allowance which, except for paragraph (1), such individual would otherwise be paid under this chapter.
(3) In no event shall payment of educational assistance under this subsection for such a test exceed the amount of the individuals available entitlement under this chapter.
(g) 
(1) Subject to paragraph (3), the amount of educational assistance payable under this chapter for a national test for admission or national test providing an opportunity for course credit at institutions of higher learning described in section 3501 (a)(5) of this title is the amount of the fee charged for the test.
(2) The number of months of entitlement charged in the case of any individual for a test described in paragraph (1) is equal to the number (including any fraction) determined by dividing the total amount of educational assistance paid such individual for such test by the full-time monthly institutional rate of educational assistance, except for paragraph (1), such individual would otherwise be paid under this chapter.
(3) In no event shall payment of educational assistance under this subsection for a test described in paragraph (1) exceed the amount of the individuals available entitlement under this chapter.

38 USC 3533 - Special assistance for the educationally disadvantaged

(a) 
(1) Any eligible person shall be entitled to the assistance provided an eligible veteran under section 3491 (a) (if pursued in a State) of this title and be paid an educational assistance allowance therefor in the manner prescribed by section 3491 (b) of this title, except that the corresponding rate provisions of this chapter shall apply, as determined by the Secretary, to such pursuit by an eligible person.
(2) Educational assistance under this chapter for the first five months of full-time pursuit of a program (or the equivalent thereof in part-time educational assistance) consisting of such course or courses shall be provided without charge to entitlement.
(b) Any eligible person shall, without charge to any entitlement such person may have under section 3511 of this title, be entitled to the benefits provided an eligible veteran under section 3492 of this title.

38 USC 3534 - Apprenticeship or other on-job training; correspondence courses

(a) Any eligible person shall be entitled to pursue, in a State, a program of apprenticeship or other on-job training and be paid a training assistance allowance as provided in section 3687 of this title.
(b) Any eligible spouse or surviving spouse shall be entitled to pursue a program of education exclusively by correspondence and be paid an educational assistance allowance as provided in section 3686 (other than subsection (a)(2)) of this title and the period of such spouses entitlement shall be charged with one month for each $788 which is paid to the spouse as an educational assistance allowance for such course.

38 USC 3535 - Approval of courses

An eligible person shall receive the benefits of this chapter while enrolled in a course of education offered by an educational institution only if such course
(1)  is approved in accordance with the provisions of subchapter I of chapter 36 of this title, or
(2)  is approved for the enrollment of the particular individual under the provisions of section 3536 of this title.

38 USC 3536 - Specialized vocational training courses

The Secretary may approve a specialized course of vocational training leading to a predetermined vocational objective for the enrollment of an eligible person under this subchapter if the Secretary finds that such course, either alone or when combined with other courses, constitutes a program of education which is suitable for that person and is required because of a mental or physical handicap.

38 USC 3537 - Work-study allowance

(a) Subject to subsection (b) of this section, the Secretary shall utilize, in connection with the activities described in section 3485 (a) of this title, the services of any eligible person who is pursuing, in a State, at least a three-quarter-time program of education (other than a course of special restorative training) and shall pay to such person an additional educational assistance allowance (hereinafter in this section referred to as work-study allowance) in return for such eligible persons agreement to perform such services. The amount of the work-study allowance shall be determined in accordance with section 3485 (a) of this title.
(b) The Secretarys utilization of, and payment of a work-study allowance for, the services of an eligible person pursuant to subsection (a) of this section shall be subject to the same requirements, terms, and conditions as are set out in section 3485 of this title with regard to individuals pursuing at least three-quarter-time programs of education referred to in subsection (b) of such section.

38 USC 3538 - Vacant]

TITLE 38 - US CODE - SUBCHAPTER V - SPECIAL RESTORATIVE TRAINING

38 USC 3540 - Purpose

The purpose of special restorative training is to overcome, or lessen, the effects of a manifest physical or mental disability which would handicap an eligible person (other than a person made eligible under subparagraph (C) of such section[1] by reason of a spouse being listed in one of the categories referred to in that subparagraph) in the pursuit of a program of education.
[1] See References in Text note below.

38 USC 3541 - Entitlement to special restorative training

(a) The Secretary at the request of an eligible person is authorized
(1) to determine whether such person is in need of special restorative training; and
(2) where need is found to exist, to prescribe a course which is suitable to accomplish the purposes of this chapter.

Such a course, at the discretion of the Secretary, may contain elements that would contribute toward an ultimate objective of a program of education.

(b) The total period of educational assistance under this subchapter and other subchapters of this chapter may not exceed the amount of entitlement as established in section 3511 of this title, except that the Secretary may extend such period in the case of any person if the Secretary finds that additional assistance is necessary to accomplish the purpose of special restorative training as stated in subsection (a) of this section.

38 USC 3542 - Special training allowance

(a) While the eligible person is enrolled in and pursuing a full-time course of special restorative training, the eligible person shall be entitled to receive a special training allowance computed at the basic rate of $788 per month. If the charges for tuition and fees applicable to any such course are more than $247 per calendar month, the basic monthly allowance may be increased by the amount that such charges exceed $247 a month, upon election by the eligible person to have such persons period of entitlement reduced by one day for each such increased amount of allowance that is equal to one-thirtieth of the full-time basic monthly rate of special training allowance.
(b) No payments of a special training allowance shall be made for the same period for which the payment of an educational assistance allowance is made or for any period during which the training is pursued on less than a full-time basis.
(c) Full-time training for the purpose of this section shall be determined by the Secretary with respect to the capacities of the individual trainee.

38 USC 3543 - Special administrative provisions

(a) In carrying out the Secretarys responsibilities under this chapter the Secretary may by agreement arrange with public or private educational institutions or others to provide training arrangements as may be suitable and necessary to accomplish the purposes of this subchapter. In any instance where the Secretary finds that a customary tuition charge is not applicable, the Secretary may agree on the fair and reasonable amounts which may be charged for the training provided to the eligible person.
(b) The Secretary shall make such rules and regulations as the Secretary may deem necessary in order to promote good conduct on the part of the persons who are following courses of special restorative training and otherwise to carry out the purposes of this chapter.
(c) In a case in which the Secretary authorizes training under section 3541 (a) of this title on behalf of an eligible person, the parent or guardian shall be entitled
(1) to receive on behalf of the eligible person the special training allowance provided for under section 3542 (a) of this title;
(2) to elect an increase in the basic monthly allowance provided for under such section; and
(3) to agree with the Secretary on the fair and reasonable amounts which may be charged under subsection (a).

TITLE 38 - US CODE - SUBCHAPTER VI - MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

38 USC 3561 - Authority and duties of Secretary

(a) The Secretary may provide the educational and vocational counseling authorized under section 3520 of this title, and may provide additional counseling if the Secretary deems it to be necessary to accomplish the purposes of this chapter.
(b) Where any provision of this chapter authorizes or requires any function, power, or duty to be exercised by a State, or by any officer or agency thereof, such function, power, or duty shall, with respect to the Republic of the Philippines, be exercised by the Secretary.

38 USC 3562 - Nonduplication of benefits

The commencement of a program of education or special restorative training under this chapter shall be a bar
(1)  to subsequent payments of compensation, dependency and indemnity compensation, or pension based on the death of a parent to an eligible person over the age of eighteen by reason of pursuing a course in an educational institution, or
(2)  to increased rates, or additional amounts, of compensation, dependency and indemnity compensation, or pension because of such a person whether eligibility is based upon the death or upon the total permanent disability of the parent.

38 USC 3563 - Notification of eligibility

The Secretary shall notify the parent or guardian of each eligible person whose eligibility is based on the death or disability of a parent or on a parent being listed in one of the categories referred to in section 3501 (a)(1)(C) of this title of the educational assistance available to such person under this chapter. Such notification shall be provided not later than the month in which such eligible person attains such persons thirteenth birthday or as soon thereafter as feasible.

38 USC 3564 - Annual adjustment of amounts of educational assistance

(a) With respect to any fiscal year, the Secretary shall provide a percentage increase in the rates payable under sections 3532, 3534 (b), and 3542 (a) of this title equal to the percentage by which
(1) the Consumer Price Index (all items, United States city average) for the 12-month period ending on the June 30 preceding the beginning of the fiscal year for which the increase is made, exceeds
(2) such Consumer Price Index for the 12-month period preceding the 12-month period described in paragraph (1).
(b) Any increase under subsection (a) in a rate with respect to a fiscal year after fiscal year 2004 and before fiscal year 2014 shall be rounded down to the next lower whole dollar amount. Any such increase with respect to a fiscal year after fiscal year 2013 shall be rounded to the nearest whole dollar amount.

TITLE 38 - US CODE - SUBCHAPTER VII - PHILIPPINE COMMONWEALTH ARMY AND PHILIPPINE SCOUTS

38 USC 3565 - Children of certain Philippine veterans

(a) Basic Eligibility.— 
The term eligible person as used in section 3501 (a)(1) of this title includes the children of those Commonwealth Army veterans and New Philippine Scouts who meet the requirements of service-connected disability or death, based on service as defined in section 3566 of this title.
(b) Administrative Provisions.— 
The provisions of this chapter and chapter 36 shall apply to the educational assistance for children of Commonwealth Army veterans and New Philippine Scouts, except that
(1) educational assistance allowances authorized by section 3532 of this title and the special training allowance authorized by section 3542 of this title shall be paid at the rate of $0.50 for each dollar, and
(2) any reference to a State approving agency shall be deemed to refer to the Secretary.
(c) Delimiting Dates.— 
In the case of any individual who is an eligible person solely by virtue of subsection (a) of this section, and who is above the age of seventeen years and below the age of twenty-three years on September 30, 1966, the period referred to in section 3512 of this title shall not end until the expiration of the five-year period which begins on September 30, 1966.

38 USC 3566 - Definitions

(a) The term Commonwealth Army veterans means persons who served before July 1, 1946, in the organized military forces of the Government of the Philippines, while such forces were in the service of the Armed Forces pursuant to the military order of the President dated July 26, 1941, including among such military forces organized guerrilla forces under commanders appointed, designated, or subsequently recognized by the Commander-in-Chief, Southwest Pacific Area, or other competent authority in the Army of the United States, and who were discharged or released from such service under conditions other than dishonorable.
(b) The term New Philippine Scouts means Philippine Scouts who served under section 14 of the Armed Forces Voluntary Recruitment Act of 1945, and who were discharged or released from such service under conditions other than dishonorable.

TITLE 38 - US CODE - CHAPTER 36 - ADMINISTRATION OF EDUCATIONAL BENEFITS

TITLE 38 - US CODE - SUBCHAPTER I - STATE APPROVING AGENCIES

38 USC 3670 - Scope of approval

(a) A course approved under and for the purposes of this chapter shall be deemed approved for the purposes of chapters 34 and 35 of this title.
(b) Any course approved under chapter 33 of this title, prior to February 1, 1965, under subchapter VII of chapter 35 of this title, prior to March 3, 1966, and not disapproved under section 3483, section 1656 (as in effect prior to February 1, 1965), or section 3679 of this title, shall be deemed approved for the purposes of this chapter.

38 USC 3671 - Designation

(a) Unless otherwise established by the law of the State concerned, the chief executive of each State is requested to create or designate a State department or agency as the State approving agency for such State for the purposes of this chapter and chapters 34 and 35 of this title.
(b) 
(1) If any State fails or declines to create or designate a State approving agency, or fails to enter into an agreement under section 3674 (a), the provisions of this chapter which refer to the State approving agency shall, with respect to such State, be deemed to refer to the Secretary.
(2) In the case of courses subject to approval by the Secretary under section 3672 of this title, the provisions of this chapter which refer to a State approving agency shall be deemed to refer to the Secretary.

38 USC 3672 - Approval of courses

(a) An eligible person or veteran shall receive the benefits of this chapter and chapters 34 and 35 of this title while enrolled in a course of education offered by an educational institution only if
(1)  such course is approved as provided in this chapter and chapters 34 and 35 of this title by the State approving agency for the State where such educational institution is located, or by the Secretary, or
(2)  such course is approved
(A)  for the enrollment of the particular individual under the provisions of section 3536 of this title or
(B)  for special restorative training under subchapter V of chapter 35 of this title. Approval of courses by State approving agencies shall be in accordance with the provisions of this chapter and chapters 34 and 35 of this title and such other regulations and policies as the State approving agency may adopt. Each State approving agency shall furnish the Secretary with a current list of educational institutions specifying courses which it has approved, and, in addition to such list, it shall furnish such other information to the Secretary as it and the Secretary may determine to be necessary to carry out the purposes of this chapter and chapters 34 and 35 of this title. Each State approving agency shall notify the Secretary of the disapproval of any course previously approved and shall set forth the reasons for such disapproval.
(b) The Secretary shall be responsible for the approval of courses of education offered by any agency of the Federal Government authorized under other laws to supervise such education. The Secretary may approve any course in any other educational institution in accordance with the provisions of this chapter and chapters 34 and 35 of this title.
(c) 
(1) In the case of programs of apprenticeship where
(A) the apprenticeship standards have been approved by the Secretary of Labor pursuant to section 2 of the Act of August 16, 1937 (popularly known as the National Apprenticeship Act) (29 U.S.C. 50a), as a national apprenticeship program for operation in more than one State, and
(B) the training establishment is a carrier directly engaged in interstate commerce which provides such training in more than one State,

the Secretary shall act as a State approving agency as such term is used in section 3687 (a)(1) of this title and shall be responsible for the approval of all such programs.

(2) The period of a program of apprenticeship may be determined based upon a specific period of time (commonly referred to as a time-based program), based upon the demonstration of successful mastery of skills (commonly referred to as a competency-based program), or based upon a combination thereof.
(3) 
(A) In the case of a competency-based program of apprenticeship, State approving agencies shall determine the period for which payment may be made for such a program under chapters 30 and 35 of this title and chapter 1606 of title 10. In determining the period of such a program, State approving agencies shall take into consideration the approximate term of the program recommended in registered apprenticeship program standards recognized by the Secretary of Labor.
(B) The sponsor of a competency-based program of apprenticeship shall provide notice to the State approving agency involved of any such standards that may apply to the program and the proposed approximate period of training under the program.
(4) The sponsor of a competency-based program of apprenticeship shall notify the Secretary upon the successful completion of a program of apprenticeship by an individual under chapter 30 or 35 of this title, or chapter 1606 of title 10, as the case may be.
(d) 
(1) Pursuant to regulations prescribed by the Secretary in consultation with the Secretary of Labor, the Secretary and State approving agencies shall actively promote the development of apprenticeship and on the job training programs for the purposes of sections 3677 and 3687 of this title and shall utilize the services of disabled veterans outreach program specialists under section 4103A of this title to promote the development of such programs. The Secretary of Labor shall provide assistance and services to the Secretary, and to State approving agencies, to increase the use of apprenticeships.
(2) In conjunction with outreach services provided by the Secretary under chapter 77 of this title for education and training benefits, each State approving agency shall conduct outreach programs and provide outreach services to eligible persons and veterans about education and training benefits available under applicable Federal and State law.
(e) A program of education exclusively by correspondence, and the correspondence portion of a combination correspondence-residence course leading to a vocational objective, that is offered by an educational institution (as defined in section 3452 (c) of this title) may be approved only if
(1)  the educational institution is accredited by an entity recognized by the Secretary of Education, and
(2)  at least 50 percent of those pursuing such a program or course require six months or more to complete the program or course.

38 USC 3673 - Cooperation

(a) The Secretary and each State approving agency shall take cognizance of the fact that definite duties, functions, and responsibilities are conferred upon the Secretary and each State approving agency under the educational programs established under this chapter and chapters 34 and 35 of this title. To assure that such programs are effectively and efficiently administered, the cooperation of the Secretary and the State approving agencies is essential. It is necessary to establish an exchange of information pertaining to activities of educational institutions, and particular attention should be given to the enforcement of approval standards, enforcement of enrollment restrictions, and fraudulent and other criminal activities on the part of persons connected with educational institutions in which eligible persons or veterans are enrolled under this chapter and chapters 34 and 35 of this title.
(b) The Secretary will furnish the State approving agencies with copies of such Department of Veterans Affairs informational material as may aid them in carrying out chapters 34 and 35 of this title.

38 USC 3674 - Reimbursement of expenses

(a) 
(1) Subject to paragraphs (2) through (4) of this subsection, the Secretary is authorized to enter into contracts or agreements with State and local agencies to pay such State and local agencies for reasonable and necessary expenses of salary and travel incurred by employees of such agencies and an allowance for administrative expenses in accordance with the formula contained in subsection (b) of this section in
(A)  rendering necessary services in ascertaining the qualifications of educational institutions for furnishing courses of education to eligible persons or veterans under this chapter and chapters 30 through 35 of this title and chapter 106 of title 10, and in the supervision of such educational institutions, and
(B)  furnishing, at the request of the Secretary, any other services in connection with such chapters. Each such contract or agreement shall be conditioned upon compliance with the standards and provisions of such chapters. The Secretary may also reimburse such agencies for work performed by their subcontractors where such work has a direct relationship to the requirements of such chapters, and has had the prior approval of the Secretary.
(2) 
(A) The Secretary shall make payments to State and local agencies, out of amounts available for the payment of readjustment benefits, for the reasonable and necessary expenses of salary and travel incurred by employees of such agencies in carrying out contracts or agreements entered into under this section, for expenses approved by the Secretary that are incurred in carrying out activities described in section 3674A (a)(3) of this title (except for administrative overhead expenses allocated to such activities), and for the allowance for administrative expenses described in subsection (b).
(B) The Secretary shall make such a payment to an agency within a reasonable time after the agency has submitted a report pursuant to paragraph (3) of this subsection.
(C) Subject to paragraph (4) of this subsection, the amount of any such payment made to an agency for any period shall be equal to the amount of the reasonable and necessary expenses of salary and travel certified by such agency for such period in accordance with paragraph (3) of this subsection plus the allowance for administrative expenses described in subsection (b) and the amount of expenses approved by the Secretary that are incurred in carrying out activities described in section 3674A (a)(3) of this title for such period (except for administrative overhead expenses allocated to such activities).
(3) Each State and local agency with which a contract or agreement is entered into under this section shall submit to the Secretary on a monthly or quarterly basis, as determined by the agency, a report containing a certification of the reasonable and necessary expenses incurred for salary and travel by such agency under such contract or agreement for the period covered by the report. The report shall be submitted in the form and manner required by the Secretary.
(4) The total amount made available under this section for any fiscal year may not exceed $13,000,000 or, for each of fiscal years 2001 and 2002, $14,000,000, for fiscal year 2003, $14,000,000, for fiscal year 2004, $18,000,000, for fiscal year 2005, $18,000,000, for fiscal year 2006, $19,000,000, and for fiscal year 2007, $19,000,000. For any fiscal year in which the total amount that would be made available under this section would exceed the amount applicable to that fiscal year under the preceding sentence except for the provisions of this paragraph, the Secretary shall provide that each agency shall receive the same percentage of the amount applicable to that fiscal year under the preceding sentence as the agency would have received of the total amount that would have been made available without the limitation of this paragraph.
(b) The allowance for administrative expenses incurred pursuant to subsection (a) of this section shall be paid in accordance with the following formula:
(c) Each State and local agency with which the Secretary contracts or enters into an agreement under subsection (a) of this section shall report to the Secretary periodically, but not less often than annually, as determined by the Secretary, on the activities in the preceding twelve months (or the period which has elapsed since the last report under this subsection was submitted) carried out under such contract or agreement. Each such report shall describe, in such detail as the Secretary shall prescribe, services performed and determinations made in connection with ascertaining the qualifications of educational institutions in connection with this chapter and chapters 32, 34, and 35 of this title and in supervising such institutions.

38 USC 3674A - Evaluations of agency performance; qualifications and performance of agency personnel

(a) The Secretary shall
(1) 
(A) conduct, in conjunction with State approving agencies, an annual evaluation of each State approving agency on the basis of standards developed by the Secretary in conjunction with the State approving agencies, and
(B)  provide each such agency an opportunity to comment on the evaluation;
(2) take into account the results of annual evaluations carried out under paragraph (1) when negotiating the terms and conditions of a contract or agreement under section 3674 of this title;
(3) cooperate with State approving agencies in developing and implementing a uniform national curriculum, to the extent practicable, for training new employees and for continuing the training of employees of such agencies, and sponsor, with the agencies, such training and continuation of training; and
(4) prescribe prototype qualification and performance standards, developed in conjunction with State approving agencies, for use by such agencies in the development of qualification and performance standards for State approving agency personnel carrying out approval responsibilities under a contract or agreement entered into under section 3674 (a).
(b) 
(1) Each State approving agency carrying out a contract or agreement with the Secretary under section 3674 (a) of this title shall
(A) apply qualification and performance standards based on the standards developed under subsection (a)(4); and
(B) make available to any person, upon request, the criteria used to carry out its functions under a contract or agreement entered into under section 3674 (a) of this title.
(2) In developing and applying standards described in subsection (a)(4), the State approving agency may take into consideration the States merit system requirements and other local requirements and conditions.
(3) The Secretary shall provide assistance in developing such standards to a State approving agency that requests it.

38 USC 3675 - Approval of accredited courses

(a) 
(1) A State approving agency may approve the courses offered by an educational institution when
(A) such courses have been accredited and approved by a nationally recognized accrediting agency or association;
(B) such courses are conducted under the Act of February 23, 1917 (20 U.S.C. 11 et seq.);[1]
(C) such courses are accepted by the State department of education for credit for a teachers certificate or a teachers degree; or
(D) such courses are approved by the State as meeting the requirement of regulations prescribed by the Secretary of Health and Human Services under sections 1819(f)(2)(A)(i) and 1919(f)(2)(A)(i) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395i–3 (f)(2)(A)(i) and 1396r (f)(2)(A)(i)).
(2) 
(A) For the purposes of this chapter, the Secretary of Education shall publish a list of nationally recognized accrediting agencies and associations which that Secretary determines to be reliable authority as to the quality of training offered by an educational institution.
(B) Except as provided in section 3672 (e) of this title, a State approving agency may utilize the accreditation of any accrediting association or agency listed pursuant to subparagraph (A) of this paragraph for approval of courses specifically accredited and approved by such accrediting association or agency.
(3) 
(A) An educational institution shall submit an application for approval of courses to the appropriate State approving agency. In making application for approval, the institution (other than an elementary school or secondary school) shall transmit to the State approving agency copies of its catalog or bulletin which must be certified as true and correct in content and policy by an authorized representative of the institution.
(B) Each catalog or bulletin transmitted by an institution under subparagraph (A) of this paragraph shall
(i) state with specificity the requirements of the institution with respect to graduation;
(ii) include the information required under paragraphs (6) and (7) of section 3676 (b) of this title; and
(iii) include any attendance standards of the institution, if the institution has and enforces such standards.
(b) As a condition of approval under this section, the State approving agency must find the following:
(1) The educational institution keeps adequate records, as prescribed by the State approving agency, to show the progress and grades of the eligible person or veteran and to show that satisfactory standards relating to progress and conduct are enforced.
(2) The educational institution maintains a written record of the previous education and training of the eligible person or veteran that clearly indicates that appropriate credit has been given by the educational institution for previous education and training, with the training period shortened proportionately.
(3) The educational institution and its approved courses meet the criteria of paragraphs (1), (2), and (3) of section 3676 (c) of this title.
(c) 
(1) A State approving agency may approve the entrepreneurship courses offered by a qualified provider of entrepreneurship courses.
(2) For purposes of this subsection, the term entrepreneurship course means a non-degree, non-credit course of business education that enables or assists a person to start or enhance a small business concern (as defined pursuant to section 3(a) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 632 (a))).
(3) Subsection (a) and paragraphs (1) and (2) of subsection (b) shall not apply to
(A) an entrepreneurship course offered by a qualified provider of entrepreneurship courses; and
(B) a qualified provider of entrepreneurship courses by reason of such provider offering one or more entrepreneurship courses.
(4) Notwithstanding paragraph (3), a qualified provider of entrepreneurship courses shall maintain such records as the Secretary determines to be necessary to comply with reporting requirements that apply under section 3684 (a)(1) of this title with respect to eligible persons and veterans enrolled in an entrepreneurship course offered by the provider.
[1] See References in Text note below.

38 USC 3676 - Approval of nonaccredited courses

(a) No course of education which has not been approved by a State approving agency pursuant to section 3675 of this title, which is offered by a public or private, profit or nonprofit">nonprofit, educational institution shall be approved for the purposes of this chapter unless the educational institution offering such course submits to the appropriate State approving agency a written application for approval of such course in accordance with the provisions of this chapter.
(b) Such application shall be accompanied by not less than two copies of the current catalog or bulletin which is certified as true and correct in content and policy by an authorized owner or official and includes the following:
(1) Identifying data, such as volume number and date of publication;
(2) Names of the institution and its governing body, officials and faculty;
(3) A calendar of the institution showing legal holidays, beginning and ending date of each quarter, term, or semester, and other important dates;
(4) Institution policy and regulations on enrollment with respect to enrollment dates and specific entrance requirements for each course;
(5) Institution policy and regulations relative to leave, absences, class cuts, makeup work, tardiness and interruptions for unsatisfactory attendance;
(6) Institution policy and regulations relative to standards of progress required of the student by the institution (this policy will define the grading system of the institution, the minimum grades considered satisfactory, conditions for interruption for unsatisfactory grades or progress and a description of the probationary period, if any, allowed by the institution, and conditions of reentrance for those students dismissed for unsatisfactory progress. A statement will be made regarding progress records kept by the institution and furnished the student);
(7) Institution policy and regulations relating to student conduct and conditions for dismissal for unsatisfactory conduct;
(8) Detailed schedules of fees, charges for tuition, books, supplies, tools, student activities, laboratory fees, service charges, rentals, deposits, and all other charges;
(9) Policy and regulations of the institution relative to the refund of the unused portion of tuition, fees, and other charges in the event the student does not enter the course or withdraws or is discontinued therefrom;
(10) A description of the available space, facilities, and equipment;
(11) A course outline for each course for which approval is requested, showing subjects or units in the course, type of work or skill to be learned, and approximate time and clock hours to be spent on each subject or unit; and
(12) Policy and regulations of the institution relative to granting credit for previous educational training.
(c) The appropriate State approving agency may approve the application of such institution when the institution and its non-accredited courses are found upon investigation to have met the following criteria:
(1) The courses, curriculum, and instruction are consistent in quality, content, and length with similar courses in public schools and other private schools in the State, with recognized accepted standards.
(2) There is in the institution adequate space, equipment, instructional material, and instructor personnel to provide training of good quality.
(3) Educational and experience qualifications of directors, administrators, and instructors are adequate.
(4) The institution maintains a written record of the previous education and training of the eligible person and clearly indicates that appropriate credit has been given by the institution for previous education and training, with the training period shortened proportionately and the eligible person and the Secretary so notified.
(5) A copy of the course outline, schedule of tuition, fees, and other charges, regulations pertaining to absence, grading policy, and rules of operation and conduct will be furnished the eligible person upon enrollment.
(6) Upon completion of training, the eligible person is given a certificate by the institution indicating the approved course and indicating that training was satisfactorily completed.
(7) Adequate records as prescribed by the State approving agency are kept to show attendance and progress or grades, and satisfactory standards relating to attendance, progress, and conduct are enforced.
(8) The institution complies with all local, city, county, municipal, State, and Federal regulations, such as fire codes, building and sanitation codes. The State approving agency may require such evidence of compliance as is deemed necessary.
(9) The institution is financially sound and capable of fulfilling its commitments for training.
(10) The institution does not utilize advertising of any type which is erroneous or misleading, either by actual statement, omission, or intimation. The institution shall not be deemed to have met this requirement until the State approving agency
(A)  has ascertained from the Federal Trade Commission whether the Commission has issued an order to the institution to cease and desist from any act or practice, and
(B)  has, if such an order has been issued, given due weight to that fact.
(11) The institution does not exceed its enrollment limitations as established by the State approving agency.
(12) The institutions administrators, directors, owners, and instructors are of good reputation and character.
(13) The institution has and maintains a policy for the refund of the unused portion of tuition, fees, and other charges in the event the eligible person fails to enter the course or withdraws or is discontinued therefrom at any time before completion and
(A) in the case of an institution (other than
(i)  a Federal, State, or local Government institution or
(ii)  an institution described in subparagraph (B)), such policy provides that the amount charged to the eligible person for tuition, fees, and other charges for a portion of the course shall not exceed the approximate pro rata portion of the total charges for tuition, fees, and other charges that the length of the completed portion of the course bears to its total length; or
(B) in the case of an institution that is a nonaccredited public educational institution, the institution has and maintains a refund policy regarding the unused portion of tuition, fees, and other charges that is substantially the same as the refund policy followed by accredited public educational institutions located within the same State as such institution.
(14) Such additional criteria as may be deemed necessary by the State approving agency.
(d) The Secretary may waive, in whole or in part, the requirements of subsection (c)(13) of this section in the case of an educational institution which
(1) is a college, university, or similar institution offering postsecondary level academic instruction that leads to an associate or higher degree,
(2) is operated by an agency of a State or of a unit of local government,
(3) is located within such State or, in the case of an institution operated by an agency of a unit of local government, within the boundaries of the area over which such unit has taxing jurisdiction, and
(4) is a candidate for accreditation by a regional accrediting association,

if the Secretary determines, pursuant to regulations which the Secretary shall prescribe, that such requirements would work an undue administrative hardship because the total amount of tuition, fees, and other charges at such institution is nominal.

(e) Notwithstanding any other provision of this title, a course of education shall not be approved under this section if it is to be pursued in whole or in part by independent study.

38 USC 3677 - Approval of training on the job

(a) Any State approving agency may approve a program of training on the job (other than a program of apprenticeship) only when it finds that the job which is the objective of the training is one in which progression and appointment to the next higher classification are based upon skills learned through organized and supervised training on the job and not on such factors as length of service and normal turnover, and that the provisions of subsections (b) and (c) of this section are met.
(b) 
(1) The training establishment offering training which is desired to be approved for the purposes of this chapter must submit to the appropriate State approving agency a written application for approval which, in addition to furnishing such information as is required by the State approving agency, contains a certification that
(A) the wages to be paid the eligible veteran or person
(i)  upon entrance into training, are not less than wages paid nonveterans in the same training position and are at least 50 per centum of the wages paid for the job for which the veteran or person is to be trained, and
(ii)  such wages will be increased in regular periodic increments until, not later than the last full month of the training period, they will be at least 85 per centum of the wages paid for the job for which such eligible veteran or person is being trained; and
(B) there is reasonable certainty that the job for which the eligible veteran or person is to be trained will be available to the veteran or person at the end of the training period.
(2) The requirement under paragraph (1)(A)(ii) shall not apply with respect to a training establishment operated by the United States or by a State or local government.
(c) As a condition for approving a program of training on the job (other than a program of apprenticeship) the State approving agency must find upon investigation that the following criteria are met:
(1) The training content of the course is adequate to qualify the eligible veteran or person for appointment to the job for which the veteran or person is to be trained.
(2) The job customarily requires full-time training for a period of not less than six months and not more than two years.
(3) The length of the training period is not longer than that customarily required by the training establishments in the community to provide an eligible veteran or person with the required skills, arrange for the acquiring of job knowledge, technical information, and other facts which the eligible veteran or person will need to learn in order to become competent on the job for which the veteran or person is being trained.
(4) Provision is made for related instruction for the individual eligible veteran or person who may need it.
(5) There is in the training establishment adequate space, equipment, instructional material, and instructor personnel to provide satisfactory training on the job.
(6) Adequate records are kept to show the progress made by each eligible veteran or person toward such veterans or persons job objective.
(7) No course of training will be considered bona fide if given to an eligible veteran or person who is already qualified by training and experience for the job.
(8) A signed copy of the training agreement for each eligible veteran or person, including the training program and wage scale as approved by the State approving agency, is provided to the veteran or person and to the Secretary and the State approving agency by the employer.
(9) That the course meets such other criteria as may be established by the State approving agency.
(d) 
(1) The Secretary may conduct a pilot program under which the Secretary operates a program of training on the job under this section for a period (notwithstanding subsection (c)(2)) of up to three years in duration to train employees of the Department to become qualified adjudicators of claims for compensation, dependency and indemnity compensation, and pension.
(2) 
(A) Not later than three years after the implementation of the pilot project, the Secretary shall submit to Congress an initial report on the pilot project. The report shall include an assessment of the usefulness of the program in recruiting and retaining of personnel of the Department as well as an assessment of the value of the program as a training program.
(B) Not later than 18 months after the date on which the initial report under subparagraph (A) is submitted, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a final report on the pilot project. The final report shall include recommendations of the Secretary with respect to continuation of the pilot project and with respect to expansion of the types of claims for which the extended period of on the job training is available to train such employees.

38 USC 3678 - Notice of approval of courses

The State approving agency, upon determining that an educational institution has complied with all the requirements of this chapter, will issue a letter to such institution setting forth the courses which have been approved for the purposes of this chapter, and will furnish an official copy of such letter and any subsequent amendments to the Secretary. The letter of approval shall be accompanied by a copy of the catalog or bulletin of the institution, as approved by the State approving agency, and shall contain the following information:
(1) date of letter and effective date of approval of courses;
(2) proper address and name of each educational institution;
(3) authority for approval and conditions of approval, referring specifically to the approved catalog or bulletin published by the educational institution;
(4) name of each course approved;
(5) where applicable, enrollment limitations such as maximum numbers authorized and student-teacher ratio;
(6) signature of responsible official of State approving agency; and
(7) such other fair and reasonable provisions as are considered necessary by the appropriate State approving agency.

38 USC 3679 - Disapproval of courses

(a) Any course approved for the purposes of this chapter which fails to meet any of the requirements of this chapter shall be immediately disapproved by the appropriate State approving agency. An educational institution which has its courses disapproved by a State approving agency will be notified of such disapproval by a certified or registered letter of notification and a return receipt secured.
(b) Each State approving agency shall notify the Secretary of each course which it has disapproved under this section. The Secretary shall notify the State approving agency of the Secretarys disapproval of any educational institution under chapter 31 of this title.

TITLE 38 - US CODE - SUBCHAPTER II - MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

38 USC 3680 - Payment of educational assistance or subsistence allowances

(a) Period for Which Payment May Be Made.— 
Payment of educational assistance or subsistence allowances to eligible veterans or eligible persons pursuing a program of education or training, other than a program by correspondence, in an educational institution under chapter 31, 34, or 35 of this title shall be paid as provided in this section and, as applicable, in section 3108, 3482, 3491, or 3532 of this title. Such payments shall be paid only for the period of such veterans or persons enrollment in, and pursuit of, such program, but no amount shall be paid
(1) to any eligible veteran or eligible person for any period when such veteran or person is not pursuing such veterans or persons course in accordance with the regularly established policies and regulations of the educational institution, with the provisions of such regulations as may be prescribed by the Secretary pursuant to subsection (g) of this section, and with the requirements of this chapter or of chapter 34 or 35 of this title, but payment may be made for an actual period of pursuit of one or more unit subjects pursued for a period of time shorter than the enrollment period at the educational institution;
(2) to any eligible veteran or person for auditing a course; or
(3) to any eligible veteran or person for a course for which the grade assigned is not used in computing the requirements for graduation including a course from which the student withdraws unless
(A) the eligible veteran or person withdraws because he or she is ordered to active duty; or
(B) the Secretary finds there are mitigating circumstances, except that, in the first instance of withdrawal (without regard to withdrawals described in subclause (A) of this clause) by the eligible veteran or person from a course or courses with respect to which the veteran or person has been paid assistance under this title, mitigating circumstances shall be considered to exist with respect to courses totaling not more than six semester hours or the equivalent thereof. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Secretary may, subject to such regulations as the Secretary shall prescribe, continue to pay allowances to eligible veterans and eligible persons enrolled in courses set forth in clause (1) of this subsection
(A) during periods when the schools are temporarily closed under an established policy based upon an Executive order of the President or due to an emergency situation;
(B) during periods between consecutive school terms where such veterans or persons transfer from one approved educational institution to another approved educational institution for the purpose of enrolling in and pursuing a similar course at the second institution if the period between such consecutive terms does not exceed 30 days; or
(C) during periods between school terms where the educational institution certifies the enrollment of the eligible veteran or eligible person on an individual term basis if
(i)  the period between those terms does not exceed eight weeks, and
(ii)  both the terms preceding and following the period are not shorter in length than the period.
(b) Correspondence Training Certifications.— 
No educational assistance allowance shall be paid to an eligible veteran or spouse or surviving spouse enrolled in and pursuing a program of education exclusively by correspondence until the Secretary shall have received
(1) from the eligible veteran or spouse or surviving spouse a certificate as to the number of lessons actually completed by the veteran or spouse or surviving spouse and serviced by the educational institution; and
(2) from the training establishment a certification or an endorsement on the veterans or spouses or surviving spouses certificate, as to the number of lessons completed by the veteran or spouse or surviving spouse and serviced by the institution.
(c) Apprenticeship and Other On-Job Training.— 
No training assistance allowance shall be paid to an eligible veteran or eligible person enrolled in and pursuing a program of apprenticeship or other on-job training until the Secretary shall have received
(1) from such veteran or person a certification as to such veterans or persons actual attendance during such period; and
(2) from the training establishment a certification, or an endorsement on the veterans or persons certificate, that such veteran or person was enrolled in and pursuing a program of apprenticeship or other on-job training during such period.
(d) Advance Payment of Initial Educational Assistance or Subsistence Allowance.— 

(1) The educational assistance or subsistence allowance advance payment provided for in this subsection is based upon a finding by the Congress that eligible veterans and eligible persons may need additional funds at the beginning of a school term to meet the expenses of books, travel, deposits, and payment for living quarters, the initial installment of tuition, and the other special expenses which are concentrated at the beginning of a school term.
(2) Subject to the provisions of this subsection, and under regulations which the Secretary shall prescribe, an eligible veteran or eligible person shall be paid an educational assistance allowance or subsistence allowance, as appropriate, advance payment. Such advance payment shall be made in an amount equivalent to the allowance for the month or fraction thereof in which pursuit of the program will commence, plus the allowance for the succeeding month. In the case of a person on active duty, who is pursuing a program of education, the advance payment shall be in a lump sum based upon the amount payable for the entire quarter, semester, or term, as applicable. In no event shall an advance payment be made under this subsection to a veteran or person intending to pursue a program of education on less than a half-time basis. An advance payment may not be made under this subsection to any veteran or person unless the veteran or person requests such payment and the Secretary finds that the educational institution at which such veteran or person is accepted or enrolled has agreed to, and can satisfactorily, carry out the provisions of paragraphs (4)(B) and (C) and (5) of this subsection. The application for advance payment, to be made on a form prescribed by the Secretary, shall
(A) in the case of an initial enrollment of a veteran or person in an educational institution, contain information showing that the veteran or person
(i)  is eligible for educational benefits,
(ii)  has been accepted by the institution, and
(iii)  has notified the institution of such veterans or persons intention to attend that institution; and
(B) in the case of a re-enrollment of a veteran or person, contain information showing that the veteran or person
(i)  is eligible to continue such veterans or persons program of education or training and
(ii)  intends to re-enroll in the same institution,

and, in either case, shall also state the number of semester or clock-hours to be pursued by such veteran or person.

(3) For purposes of the Secretarys determination whether any veteran or person is eligible for an advance payment under this section, the information submitted by the institution, the veteran or person, shall establish such veterans or persons eligibility unless there is evidence in such veterans or persons file in the processing office establishing that the veteran or person is not eligible for such advance payment.
(4) The advance payment authorized by paragraph (2) of this subsection shall, in the case of an eligible veteran or eligible person, be
(A)  drawn in favor of the veteran or person;
(B)  mailed to the educational institution listed on the application form for temporary care and delivery to the veteran or person by such institution; and
(C)  delivered to the veteran or person upon such veterans or persons registration at such institution, but in no event shall such delivery be made earlier than thirty days before the program of education is to commence.
(5) Upon delivery of the advance payment pursuant to paragraph (4) of this subsection, the institution shall submit to the Secretary a certification of such delivery. If such delivery is not effected within thirty days after commencement of the program of education in question, such institution shall return such payment to the Secretary forthwith.
(e) Recovery of Erroneous Payments.— 

(1) Subject to paragraph (2), if an eligible veteran or eligible person fails to enroll in or pursue a course for which an educational assistance or subsistence allowance advance payment is made, the amount of such payment and any amount of subsequent payments which, in whole or in part, are due to erroneous information required to be furnished under subsection (d)(2) of this section, shall become an overpayment and shall constitute a liability of such veteran or person to the United States and may be recovered, unless waived pursuant to section 5302 of this title, from any benefit otherwise due such veteran or person under any law administered by the Department of Veterans Affairs or may be recovered in the same manner as any other debt due the United States.
(2) Paragraph (1) shall not apply to the recovery of an overpayment of an educational allowance or subsistence allowance advance payment to an eligible veteran or eligible person who fails to enroll in or pursue a course of education for which the payment is made if such failure is due to the death of the veteran or person.
(f) Payments for Less Than Half-Time Training.— 
Payment of educational assistance allowance in the case of any eligible veteran or eligible person pursuing a program of education on less than a half-time basis shall be made in an amount computed for the entire quarter, semester, or term not later than the last day of the month immediately following the month in which certification is received from the educational institution that such veteran or person has enrolled in and is pursuing a program at such institution. Such lump sum payment shall be computed at the rate provided in section 3482 (b) or 3532 (a)(2) of this title, as applicable.
(g) Determination of Enrollment, Pursuit, and Attendance.— 

(1) The Secretary may, pursuant to regulations which the Secretary shall prescribe, determine and define with respect to an eligible veteran and eligible person the following:
(A) Enrollment in a course or program of education or training.
(B) Pursuit of a course or program of education or training.
(C) Attendance at a course or program of education or training.
(2) The Secretary may withhold payment of benefits to an eligible veteran or eligible person until the Secretary receives such proof as the Secretary may require of enrollment in and satisfactory pursuit of a program of education by the eligible veteran or eligible person. The Secretary shall adjust the payment withheld, when necessary, on the basis of the proof the Secretary receives.
(3) In the case of an individual other than an individual described in paragraph (4), the Secretary may accept the individuals monthly certification of enrollment in and satisfactory pursuit of a program of education as sufficient proof of the certified matters.
(4) In the case of an individual who has received an accelerated payment of basic educational assistance under section 3014A of this title during an enrollment period for a program of education, the Secretary may accept the individuals certification of enrollment in and satisfactory pursuit of the program of education as sufficient proof of the certified matters if the certification is submitted after the enrollment period has ended.

38 USC 3680A - Disapproval of enrollment in certain courses

(a) The Secretary shall not approve the enrollment of an eligible veteran in
(1) any bartending course or personality development course;
(2) any sales or sales management course which does not provide specialized training within a specific vocational field;
(3) any type of course which the Secretary finds to be avocational or recreational in character (or the advertising for which the Secretary finds contains significant avocational or recreational themes) unless the veteran submits justification showing that the course will be of bona fide use in the pursuit of the veterans present or contemplated business or occupation; or
(4) any independent study program except an accredited independent study program (including open circuit television) leading
(A)  to a standard college degree, or
(B)  to a certificate that reflects educational attainment offered by an institution of higher learning.
(b) Except to the extent otherwise specifically provided in this title or chapter 106 of title 10, the Secretary shall not approve the enrollment of an eligible veteran in any course of flight training other than one given by an educational institution of higher learning for credit toward a standard college degree the eligible veteran is seeking.
(c) The Secretary shall not approve the enrollment of an eligible veteran in any course to be pursued by radio.
(d) 
(1) Except as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection, the Secretary shall not approve the enrollment of any eligible veteran, not already enrolled, in any course for any period during which the Secretary finds that more than 85 percent of the students enrolled in the course are having all or part of their tuition, fees, or other charges paid to or for them by the educational institution or by the Department of Veterans Affairs under this title or under chapter 106 of title 10. The Secretary may waive the requirements of this subsection, in whole or in part, if the Secretary determines, pursuant to regulations which the Secretary shall prescribe, it to be in the interest of the eligible veteran and the Federal Government. The provisions of this subsection shall not apply to any course offered by an educational institution if the total number of veterans and persons receiving assistance under this chapter or chapter 30, 31, 32, or 35 of this title or under chapter 106 of title 10 who are enrolled in such institution equals 35 percent or less, or such other percent as the Secretary prescribes in regulations, of the total student enrollment at such institution (computed separately for the main campus and any branch or extension of such institution), except that the Secretary may apply the provisions of this subsection with respect to any course in which the Secretary has reason to believe that the enrollment of such veterans and persons may be in excess of 85 percent of the total student enrollment in such course.
(2) Paragraph (1) of this subsection does not apply with respect to the enrollment of a veteran
(A) in a course offered pursuant to section 3019, 3034 (a)(3), 3234, or 3241 (a)(2) of this title;
(B) in a farm cooperative training course; or
(C) in a course described in subsection (g).
(e) The Secretary may not approve the enrollment of an eligible veteran in a course not leading to a standard college degree offered by a proprietary profit or proprietary nonprofit">nonprofit educational institution if
(1) the educational institution has been operating for less than two years;
(2) the course is offered at a branch of the educational institution and the branch has been operating for less than two years; or
(3) following either a change in ownership or a complete move outside its original general locality, the educational institution does not retain substantially the same faculty, student body, and courses as before the change in ownership or the move outside the general locality (as determined in accordance with regulations the Secretary shall prescribe) unless the educational institution following such change or move has been in operation for at least two years.
(f) The Secretary may not approve the enrollment of an eligible veteran in a course as a part of a program of education offered by an educational institution if the course is provided under contract by another educational institution or entity and
(1) the Secretary would be barred under subsection (e) from approving the enrollment of an eligible veteran in the course of the educational institution or entity providing the course under contract; or
(2) the educational institution or entity providing the course under contract has not obtained approval for the course under this chapter.
(g) Notwithstanding subsections (e) and (f)(1), the Secretary may approve the enrollment of an eligible veteran in a course approved under this chapter if the course is offered by an educational institution under contract with the Department of Defense or the Department of Homeland Security and is given on or immediately adjacent to a military base, Coast Guard station, National Guard facility, or facility of the Selected Reserve.

38 USC 3681 - Limitations on educational assistance

(a) No educational assistance allowance granted under chapter 30, 34, 35, or 36 of this title or 106 or 107 of title 10, or subsistence allowance granted under chapter 31 of this title shall be paid to any eligible person
(1)  who is on active duty and is pursuing a course of education which is being paid for by the Armed Forces (or by the Department of Health and Human Services in the case of the Public Health Service; or
(2)  who is attending a course of education or training paid for under chapter 41 of title 5.
(b) No person may receive benefits concurrently under two or more of the provisions of law listed below:
(1) Chapters 30, 31, 32, 34, 35, and 36 of this title.
(2) Chapters 106 and 107 of title 10.
(3) Section 903 of the Department of Defense Authorization Act, 1981 (Public Law 96342, 10 U.S.C. 2141 note ).
(4) The Hostage Relief Act of 1980 (Public Law 96449, 5 U.S.C. 5561 note ).
(5) The Omnibus Diplomatic Security and Antiterrorism Act of 1986 (Public Law 99399).

38 USC 3682 - Control by agencies of the United States

Except as provided in section 3674A of this title, no department, agency, or officer of the United States, in carrying out this chapter, shall exercise any supervision or control, whatsoever, over any State approving agency, or State educational agency, or any educational institution. Nothing in this section shall be deemed to prevent any department, agency, or officer of the United States from exercising any supervision or control which such department, agency, or officer is authorized by law to exercise over any Federal educational institution or to prevent the furnishing of education under this chapter or chapter 34 or 35 of this title in any institution over which supervision or control is exercised by such other department, agency, or officer under authority of law.

38 USC 3683 - Conflicting interests

(a) Every officer or employee of the Department of Veterans Affairs who has, while such an officer or employee, owned any interest in, or received any wages, salary, dividends, profits, gratuities, or services from, any educational institution operated for profit in which an eligible person or veteran was pursuing a program of education or course under this chapter or chapter 34 or 35 of this title shall be immediately dismissed from such officers or employees office or employment.
(b) If the Secretary finds that any person who is an officer or employee of a State approving agency has, while such person was such an officer or employee, owned any interest in, or received any wages, salary, dividends, profits, gratuities, or services from, an educational institution operated for profit in which an eligible person or veteran was pursuing a program of education or course under this chapter or chapter 34 or 35 of this title, the Secretary shall discontinue making payments under section 3674 of this title to such State approving agency unless such agency shall, without delay, take such steps as may be necessary to terminate the employment of such person and such payments shall not be resumed while such person is an officer or employee of the State approving agency, or State department of veterans affairs or State department of education.
(c) A State approving agency shall not approve any course offered by an educational institution operated for profit, and, if any such course has been approved, shall disapprove each such course, if it finds that any officer or employee of the Department of Veterans Affairs or the State approving agency owns an interest in, or receives any wages, salary, dividends, profits, gratuities, or services from, such institution.
(d) The Secretary may, after reasonable notice and public hearings, waive in writing the application of this section in the case of any officer or employee of the Department of Veterans Affairs or of a State approving agency, if the Secretary finds that no detriment will result to the United States or to eligible persons or veterans by reasons of such interest or connection of such officer or employee.

38 USC 3684 - Reports by veterans, eligible persons, and institutions; reporting fee

(a) 
(1) Except as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection, the veteran or eligible person and the educational institution offering a course in which such veteran or eligible person is enrolled under chapter 31, 34,,[1] 35, or 36 of this title shall, without delay, report to the Secretary, in the form prescribed by the Secretary, such enrollment and any interruption or termination of the education of each such veteran or eligible person. The date of such interruption or termination will be the last date of pursuit, or, in the case of correspondence training, the last date a lesson was serviced by a school.
(2) 
(A) In the case of a program of independent study pursued on less than a half-time basis in an educational institution, the Secretary may approve a delay by the educational institution in reporting the enrollment or reenrollment of an eligible veteran or eligible person until the end of the term, quarter, or semester if the educational institution requests the delay and the Secretary determines that it is not feasible for the educational institution to monitor interruption or termination of the veterans or eligible persons pursuit of such program.
(B) An educational institution which, pursuant to subparagraph (A) of this paragraph, is delaying the reporting of the enrollment or reenrollment of a veteran shall provide the veteran with notice of the delay at the time that the veteran enrolls or reenrolls.
(3) 
(A) Subject to subparagraph (B) of this paragraph, an educational institution offering courses on a term, quarter, or semester basis may certify the enrollment of a veteran who is not on active duty, or of an eligible person, in such courses for more than one term, quarter, or semester at a time, but not for a period extending beyond the end of a school year (including the summer enrollment period).
(B) Subparagraph (A) of this paragraph shall not apply with respect to any term, quarter, or semester for which the veteran or eligible person is enrolled on a less than half-time basis and shall not be construed as restricting the Secretary from requiring that an educational institution, in reporting an enrollment for more than one term, quarter, or semester, specify the dates of any intervals within or between any such terms, quarters, or semesters.
(b) The Secretary, prior to making payment of a reporting fee to an educational institution, as provided for in subsection (c) of this section, shall require such institution to certify that it has exercised reasonable diligence in determining whether such institution or any course offered by such institution approved for the enrollment of veterans or eligible persons meets all of the applicable requirements of chapters 31, 34, 35, and 36 of this title and that it will, without delay, report any failure to meet any such requirement to the Secretary.
(c) The Secretary may pay to any educational institution, or to the sponsor of a program of apprenticeship, furnishing education or training under either this chapter or chapter 31, 34, or 35 of this title, a reporting fee which will be in lieu of any other compensation or reimbursement for reports or certifications which such educational institution or joint apprenticeship training committee is required to submit to the Secretary by law or regulation. Such reporting fee shall be computed for each calendar year by multiplying $7 by the number of eligible veterans or eligible persons enrolled under this chapter or chapter 31, 34, or 35 of this title, or $11 in the case of those eligible veterans and eligible persons whose educational assistance checks are directed in care of each institution for temporary custody and delivery and are delivered at the time of registration as provided under section 3680 (d)(4) of this title, during the calendar year. The reporting fee shall be paid to such educational institution or joint apprenticeship training committee as soon as feasible after the end of the calendar year for which it is applicable. No reporting fee payable to an educational institution under this subsection shall be subject to offset by the Secretary against any liability of such institution for any overpayment for which such institution may be administratively determined to be liable under section 3685 of this title unless such liability is not contested by such institution or has been upheld by a final decree of a court of appropriate jurisdiction. The reporting fee payable under this subsection shall be paid from amounts appropriated for readjustment benefits.
[1] So in original.

38 USC 3684A - Procedures relating to computer matching program

(a) 
(1) Notwithstanding section 552a (p) of title 5 and subject to paragraph (2) of this subsection, the Secretary may suspend, terminate, reduce, or make a final denial of any financial assistance or payment under an educational assistance program provided for in chapter 30 or 32 of this title or in chapter 106 of title 10 in the case of any individual, or take other adverse action against such individual, based on information produced by a matching program with the Department of Defense.
(2) The Secretary may not take any action referred to in paragraph (1) of this subsection until
(A) the individual concerned has been provided a written notice containing a statement of the findings of the Secretary based on the matching program, a description of the proposed action, and notice of the individuals right to contest such findings within 10 days after the date of the notice; and
(B) the 10-day period referred to in subparagraph (A) of this paragraph has expired.
(3) In computing the 10-day period referred to in paragraph (2) of this subsection, Saturdays, Sundays, and Federal holidays shall be excluded.
(b) For the purposes of subsection (q) of section 552a of title 5, compliance with the provisions of subsection (a) of this section shall be considered compliance with the provisions of subsection (p) of such section 552a.
(c) For purposes of this section, the term matching program has the same meaning provided in section 552a (a)(8) of title 5.

38 USC 3685 - Overpayments to eligible persons or veterans

(a) Whenever the Secretary finds that an overpayment has been made to a veteran or eligible person, the amount of such overpayment shall constitute a liability of such veteran or eligible person to the United States.
(b) Whenever the Secretary finds that an overpayment has been made to a veteran or eligible person as the result of
(1)  the willful or negligent failure of an educational institution to report, as required under this chapter or chapter 34 or 35 of this title, to the Department of Veterans Affairs excessive absences from a course, or discontinuance or interruption of a course by the veteran or eligible person, or
(2)  the willful or negligent false certification by an educational institution, the amount of such overpayment shall constitute a liability of the educational institution to the United States.
(c) Any overpayment referred to in subsection (a) or (b) of this section may be recovered, except as otherwise provided in the last sentence of section 3684 (c) of this title, in the same manner as any other debt due the United States.
(d) Any overpayment referred to in subsection (a) or (b) of this section may be waived as to a veteran or eligible person as provided in section 5302 of this title. Waiver of any such overpayment as to a veteran or eligible person shall in no way release any educational institution from liability under subsection (b) of this section.
(e) 
(1) Any amount collected from a veteran or eligible person pursuant to this section shall be reimbursed to the educational institution which is liable pursuant to subsection (b) of this section to the extent that collection was made from the educational institution.
(2) Nothing in this section or any other provision of this title shall be construed as
(A)  precluding the imposition of any civil or criminal liability under this title or any other law, or
(B)  requiring any institution of higher learning to maintain daily attendance records for any course leading to a standard college degree.

38 USC 3686 - Correspondence courses

(a) 
(1) Each eligible veteran (as defined in section 3452 (a)(1) and (2) of this title) and each eligible spouse or surviving spouse (as defined in section 3501 (a)(1)(B), (C), (D), or (E) of this title) who enters into an enrollment agreement to pursue a program of education exclusively by correspondence shall be paid an educational assistance allowance computed at the rate of 55 percent of the established charge which the institution requires nonveterans to pay for the course or courses pursued by the eligible veteran or spouse or surviving spouse. The term established charge as used herein means the charge for the course or courses determined on the basis of the lowest extended time payment plan offered by the institution and approved by the appropriate State approving agency or the actual cost to the veteran or spouse or surviving spouse, whichever is the lesser. Such allowance shall be paid quarterly on a pro rata basis for the lessons completed by the veteran or spouse or surviving spouse and serviced by the institution.
(2) The period of entitlement of any veteran or spouse or surviving spouse who is pursuing any program of education exclusively by correspondence shall be charged with one month for each $376 which is paid to the veteran or spouse or surviving spouse as an educational assistance allowance for such course.
(3) Notwithstanding any other provision of law unless enacted in express limitation of this paragraph, funds in the Department of Veterans Affairs readjustment benefits account shall be available for payments under paragraph (1) of this subsection for pursuit of a program of education exclusively by correspondence in which the veteran or spouse or surviving spouse enrolls after September 30, 1981.
(b) The enrollment agreement shall fully disclose the obligation of both the institution and the veteran or spouse or surviving spouse and shall prominently display the provisions for affirmance, termination, refunds, and the conditions under which payment of the allowance is made by the Secretary to the veteran or spouse or surviving spouse. A copy of the enrollment agreement shall be furnished to each such veteran or spouse or surviving spouse at the time such veteran or spouse or surviving spouse signs such agreement. No such agreement shall be effective unless such veteran or spouse or surviving spouse shall, after the expiration of ten days after the enrollment agreement is signed, have signed and submitted to the Secretary a written statement, with a signed copy to the institution, specifically affirming the enrollment agreement. In the event the veteran or spouse or surviving spouse at any time notifies the institution of such veterans or spouses intention not to affirm the agreement in accordance with the preceding sentence, the institution, without imposing any penalty or charging any fee shall promptly make a full refund of all amounts paid.
(c) In the event a veteran or spouse or surviving spouse elects to terminate such veterans or spouses enrollment under an affirmed enrollment agreement, the institution may charge the veteran or spouse or surviving spouse a registration or similar fee not in excess of 10 percent of the tuition for the course, or $50, whichever is less. Where the veteran or spouse or surviving spouse elects to terminate the agreement after completion of one or more but less than 25 percent of the total number of lessons comprising the course, the institution may retain such registration or similar fee plus 25 percent of the tuition for the course. Where the veteran or spouse or surviving spouse elects to terminate the agreement after completion of 25 percent but less than 50 percent of the lessons comprising the course, the institution may retain the full registration or similar fee plus 50 percent of the course tuition. If 50 percent or more of the lessons are completed, no refund of tuition is required.

38 USC 3687 - Apprenticeship or other on-job training

(a) An eligible veteran (as defined in section 3452 (a)(1) of this title) or an eligible person (as defined in section 3501 (a) of this title) shall be paid a training assistance allowance as prescribed by subsection (b) of this section while pursuing a full-time
(1) program of apprenticeship approved by a State approving agency as meeting the standards of apprenticeship published by the Secretary of Labor pursuant to section 2 of the Act of August 16, 1937 (popularly known as the National Apprenticeship Act) (29 U.S.C. 50a), or
(2) program of other on-job training approved under provisions of section 3677 of this title,

subject to the conditions and limitations of chapters 34 and 35 of this title with respect to educational assistance.

(b) 
(1) The monthly training assistance allowance of an eligible veteran pursuing a program described under subsection (a) shall be as follows:
(2) The monthly training assistance allowance of an eligible person pursuing a program described under subsection (a) shall be $574 for the first six months, $429 for the second six months, $285 for the third six months, and $144 for the fourth and any succeeding six-month period of training.
(3) In any month in which an eligible veteran or person pursuing a program of apprenticeship or a program of other on-job training fails to complete one hundred and twenty hours of training in such month, the monthly training assistance allowance set forth in subsection (b)(1) or (2) of this section, as applicable, shall be reduced proportionately in the proportion that the number of hours worked bears to one hundred and twenty hours rounded off to the nearest eight hours.
(c) For the purpose of this chapter, the terms program of apprenticeship and program of other on-job training shall have the same meaning as program of education; and the term training assistance allowance shall have the same meaning as educational assistance allowance as set forth in chapters 34 and 35 of this title.
(d) With respect to any fiscal year, the Secretary shall provide a percentage increase (rounded to the nearest dollar) in the rates payable under subsection (b)(2) equal to the percentage by which
(1) the Consumer Price Index (all items, United States city average) for the 12-month period ending on the June 30 preceding the beginning of the fiscal year for which the increase is made, exceeds
(2) such Consumer Price Index for the 12-month period preceding the 12-month period described in paragraph (1).
(e) 
(1) For each month that an individual (as defined in paragraph (3)) is paid a training assistance allowance under subsection (a), the entitlement of the individual shall be charged at a percentage rate (rounded to the nearest percent) that is equal to the ratio of
(A) the training assistance allowance for the month involved, to
(B) the monthly educational assistance allowance otherwise payable for full-time enrollment in an educational institution.
(2) For any month in which an individual fails to complete 120 hours of training, the entitlement otherwise chargeable under paragraph (1) shall be reduced in the same proportion as the monthly training assistance allowance payable is reduced under subsection (b)(3).
(3) In this section, the term individual means
(A) an eligible veteran who is entitled to monthly educational assistance allowances payable under section 3015 (e) of this title, or
(B) an eligible person who is entitled to monthly educational assistance allowances payable under section 3532 (a) of this title,

as the case may be.

38 USC 3688 - Measurement of courses

(a) For the purposes of this chapter and chapters 34 and 35 of this title
(1) an institutional trade or technical course offered on a clock-hour basis, not leading to a standard college degree, involving shop practice as an integral part thereof, shall be considered a full-time course when a minimum of 22 hours per week of attendance (excluding supervised study) is required, with no more than 21/2 hours of rest periods per week allowed;
(2) an institutional course offered on a clock-hour basis, not leading to a standard college degree, in which theoretical or classroom instruction predominates shall be considered a full-time course when a minimum of 18 hours per week net of instruction (excluding supervised study but which may include customary intervals not to exceed 10 minutes between hours of instruction) is required;
(3) an academic high school course requiring sixteen units for a full course shall be considered a full-time course when
(A)  a minimum of four units per year is required or
(B)  an individual is pursuing a program of education leading to an accredited high school diploma at a rate which, if continued, would result in receipt of such a diploma in four ordinary school years. For the purpose of subclause (A) of this clause, a unit is defined to be not less than one hundred and twenty sixty-minute hours or their equivalent of study in any subject in one academic year;
(4) an institutional undergraduate course offered by a college or university on a standard quarter- or semester-hour basis, other than a course pursued as part of a program of education beyond the baccalaureate level, shall be considered a full-time course when a minimum of fourteen semester hours per semester or the equivalent thereof (including such hours for which no credit is granted but which are required to be taken to correct an educational deficiency and which the educational institution considers to be quarter or semester hours for other administrative purposes), for which credit is granted toward a standard college degree, is required, except that where such college or university certifies, upon the request of the Secretary, that
(A)  full-time tuition is charged to all undergraduate students carrying a minimum of less than fourteen such semester hours or the equivalent thereof, or
(B)  all undergraduate students carrying a minimum of less than fourteen such semester hours or the equivalent thereof, are considered to be pursuing a full-time course for other administrative purposes, then such an institutional undergraduate course offered by such college or university with such minimum number of such semester hours shall be considered a full-time course, but in the event such minimum number of semester hours is less than twelve semester hours or the equivalent thereof, then twelve semester hours or the equivalent thereof shall be considered a full-time course;
(5) a program of apprenticeship or a program of other on-job training shall be considered a full-time program when the eligible veteran or person is required to work the number of hours constituting the standard workweek of the training establishment, but a workweek of less than thirty hours shall not be considered to constitute full-time training unless a lesser number of hours has been established as the standard workweek for the particular establishment through bona fide collective bargaining;
(6) an institutional course offered as part of a program of education, not leading to a standard college degree, under section 3034 (a)(3), 3241 (a)(2), or 3533 (a) of this title shall be considered a full-time course on the basis of measurement criteria provided in clause (2), (3), or (4) of this subsection as determined by the educational institution; and
(7) an institutional course not leading to a standard college degree offered by an educational institution on a standard quarter- or semester-hour basis shall be measured as full time on the same basis as provided in paragraph (4) of this subsection, but if the educational institution offering the course is not an institution of higher learning, then in no event shall such course be considered full time when it requires less than the minimum weekly hours of attendance required for full time by paragraph (1) or (2) of this subsection, as appropriate.
(b) The Secretary shall define part-time training in the case of the types of courses referred to in subsection (a), and shall define full-time and part-time training in the case of all other types of courses pursued under this chapter, chapter 30, 32, or 35 of this title, or chapter 106 of title 10.

38 USC 3689 - Approval requirements for licensing and certification testing

(a) In General.— 

(1) No payment may be made for a licensing or certification test described in section 3452 (b) or 3501 (a)(5) of this title unless the Secretary determines that the requirements of this section have been met with respect to such test and the organization or entity offering the test. The requirements of approval for tests and organizations or entities offering tests shall be in accordance with the provisions of this chapter and chapters 30, 32, 34, and 35 of this title and with regulations prescribed by the Secretary to carry out this section.
(2) To the extent that the Secretary determines practicable, State approving agencies may, in lieu of the Secretary, approve licensing and certification tests, and organizations and entities offering such tests, under this section.
(b) Requirements for Tests.— 

(1) Subject to paragraph (2), a licensing or certification test is approved for purposes of this section only if
(A) the test is required under Federal, State, or local law or regulation for an individual to enter into, maintain, or advance in employment in a predetermined and identified vocation or profession; or
(B) the Secretary determines that the test is generally accepted, in accordance with relevant government, business, or industry standards, employment policies, or hiring practices, as attesting to a level of knowledge or skill required to qualify to enter into, maintain, or advance in employment in a predetermined and identified vocation or profession.
(2) A licensing or certification test offered by a State, or a political subdivision of a State, is deemed approved by the Secretary for purposes of this section.
(c) Requirements for Organizations or Entities Offering Tests.— 

(1) Each organization or entity that is not an entity of the United States, a State, or political subdivision of a State, that offers a licensing or certification test for which payment may be made under chapter 30, 32, 34, or 35 of this title and that meets the following requirements, shall be approved by the Secretary to offer such test:
(A) The organization or entity certifies to the Secretary that the licensing or certification test offered by the organization or entity is generally accepted, in accordance with relevant government, business, or industry standards, employment policies, or hiring practices, as attesting to a level of knowledge or skill required to qualify to enter into, maintain, or advance in employment in a predetermined and identified vocation or profession.
(B) The organization or entity is licensed, chartered, or incorporated in a State and has offered such test, or a test to certify or license in a similar or related occupation, for a minimum of two years before the date on which the organization or entity first submits to the Secretary an application for approval under this section.
(C) The organization or entity employs, or consults with, individuals with expertise or substantial experience with respect to all areas of knowledge or skill that are measured by the test and that are required for the license or certificate issued.
(D) The organization or entity has no direct financial interest in
(i) the outcome of the test; or
(ii) organizations that provide the education or training of candidates for licenses or certificates required for vocations or professions.
(E) The organization or entity maintains appropriate records with respect to all candidates who take the test for a period prescribed by the Secretary, but in no case for a period of less than three years.
(F) 
(i) The organization or entity promptly issues notice of the results of the test to the candidate for the license or certificate.
(ii) The organization or entity has in place a process to review complaints submitted against the organization or entity with respect to the test or the process for obtaining a license or certificate required for vocations or professions.
(G) The organization or entity furnishes to the Secretary such information with respect to the test as the Secretary requires to determine whether payment may be made for the test under chapter 30, 32, 34, or 35 of this title, including personal identifying information, fee payment, and test results. Such information shall be furnished in the form prescribed by the Secretary.
(H) The organization or entity furnishes to the Secretary the following information:
(i) A description of the licensing or certification test offered by the organization or entity, including the purpose of the test, the vocational, professional, governmental, and other entities that recognize the test, and the license or certificate issued upon successful completion of the test.
(ii) The requirements to take the test, including the amount of the fee charged for the test and any prerequisite education, training, skills, or other certification.
(iii) The period for which the license or certificate awarded upon successful completion of the test is valid, and the requirements for maintaining or renewing the license or certificate.
(I) Upon request of the Secretary, the organization or entity furnishes such information to the Secretary that the Secretary determines necessary to perform an assessment of
(i) the test conducted by the organization or entity as compared to the level of knowledge or skills that a license or certificate attests; and
(ii) the applicability of the test over such periods of time as the Secretary determines appropriate.
(2) With respect to each organization or entity that is an entity of the United States, a State, or political subdivision of a State, that offers a licensing or certification test for which payment may be made under chapters 30, 32, 34, or 35 of this title, the following provisions of paragraph (1) shall apply to the entity: subparagraphs (E), (F), (G), and (H).
(d) Administration.— 
Except as otherwise specifically provided in this section or chapter 30, 32, 34, or 35 of this title, in implementing this section and making payment under any such chapter for a licensing or certification test, the test is deemed to be a course and the organization or entity that offers such test is deemed to be an institution or educational institution, respectively, as those terms are applied under and for purposes of sections 3671, 3673, 3674, 3678, 3679, 3681, 3682, 3683, 3685, 3690, and 3696 of this title.
(e) Professional Certification and Licensure Advisory Committee.— 

(1) There is established within the Department a committee to be known as the Professional Certification and Licensure Advisory Committee (hereinafter in this section referred to as the Committee).
(2) The Committee shall advise the Secretary with respect to the requirements of organizations or entities offering licensing and certification tests to individuals for which payment for such tests may be made under chapter 30, 32, 34, or 35 of this title, and such other related issues as the Committee determines to be appropriate.
(3) 
(A) The Secretary shall appoint seven individuals with expertise in matters relating to licensing and certification tests to serve as members of the Committee.
(B) The Secretary of Labor and the Secretary of Defense shall serve as ex officio members of the Committee.
(C) A vacancy in the Committee shall be filled in the manner in which the original appointment was made.
(4) 
(A) The Secretary shall appoint the chairman of the Committee.
(B) The Committee shall meet at the call of the chairman.
(5) The Committee shall terminate December 31, 2006.

38 USC 3690 - Overcharges by educational institutions; discontinuance of allowances; examination of records; false or misleading statements

(a) Overcharges by Educational Institutions.— 
If the Secretary finds that an educational institution has
(1) charged or received from any eligible veteran or eligible person pursuing a program of education under this chapter or chapter 34 or 35 of this title any amount for any course in excess of the charges for tuition and fees which such institution requires similarly circumstanced nonveterans not receiving assistance under such chapters who are enrolled in the same course to pay, or
(2) instituted, after October 24, 1972, a policy or practice with respect to the payment of tuition, fees, or other charges in the case of eligible veterans and the Secretary finds that the effect of such policy or practice substantially denies to veterans the benefits of the advance allowances under such section,

the Secretary may disapprove such educational institution for the enrollment of any eligible veteran or eligible person not already enrolled therein under this chapter or chapter 31, 34, or 35 of this title.

(b) Discontinuance of Allowances.— 

(1) The Secretary may discontinue the educational assistance allowance of any eligible veteran or eligible person if the Secretary finds that the program of education or any course in which the veteran or person is enrolled fails to meet any of the requirements of this chapter or chapter 34 or 35 of this title, or if the Secretary finds that the educational institution offering such program or course has violated any provision of this chapter or chapter 34 or 35 of this title, or fails to meet any of the requirements of such chapters.
(2) Except as provided in paragraph (3) of this subsection, any action by the Secretary under paragraph (1) of this subsection to discontinue (including to suspend) assistance provided to any eligible veteran or eligible person under this chapter or chapter 31, 32, 34, or 35 of this title shall be based upon evidence that the veteran or eligible person is not or was not entitled to such assistance. Whenever the Secretary so discontinues any such assistance, the Secretary shall concurrently provide written notice to such veteran or person of such discontinuance and that such veteran or person is entitled thereafter to a statement of the reasons for such action and an opportunity to be heard thereon.
(3) 
(A) The Secretary may suspend educational assistance to eligible veterans and eligible persons already enrolled, and may disapprove the enrollment or reenrollment of any eligible veteran or eligible person, in any course as to which the Secretary has evidence showing a substantial pattern of eligible veterans or eligible persons, or both, who are receiving such assistance by virtue of their enrollment in such course but who are not entitled to such assistance because
(i)  the course approval requirements of this chapter are not being met, or
(ii)  the educational institution offering such course has violated one or more of the recordkeeping or reporting requirements of this chapter or chapter 30, 32, 34, or 35 of this title.
(B) Action may be taken under subparagraph (A) of this paragraph only after
(i) the Secretary provides to the State approving agency concerned and the educational institution concerned written notice of any such failure to meet such approval requirements and any such violation of such recordkeeping or reporting requirements;
(ii) such institution refuses to take corrective action or does not within 60 days after such notice (or within such longer period as the Secretary determines is reasonable and appropriate) take corrective action; and
(iii) the Secretary, not less than 30 days before taking action under such subparagraph, provides to each eligible veteran and eligible person already enrolled in such course written notice of the Secretarys intent to take such action (and the reasons therefor) unless such corrective action is taken within such 60 days (or within such longer period as the Secretary has determined is reasonable and appropriate), and of the date on which the Secretary intends to take action under such subparagraph.
(c) Examination of Records.— 
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the records and accounts of educational institutions pertaining to eligible veterans or eligible persons who received educational assistance under this chapter or chapter 31, 32, 34, or 35 of this title, as well as the records of other students which the Secretary determines necessary to ascertain institutional compliance with the requirements of such chapters, shall be available for examination by duly authorized representatives of the Government.
(d) False or Misleading Statements.— 
Whenever the Secretary finds that an educational institution has willfully submitted a false or misleading claim, or that a veteran or person, with the complicity of an educational institution, has submitted such a claim, the Secretary shall make a complete report of the facts of the case to the appropriate State approving agency and, where deemed advisable, to the Attorney General of the United States for appropriate action.

38 USC 3691 - Change of program

(a) Except as provided in subsections (b) and (c) of this section, each eligible veteran and eligible person may make not more than one change of program of education, but an eligible veteran or eligible person whose program has been interrupted or discontinued due to the veterans or persons own misconduct, the veterans or persons own neglect, or the veterans or persons own lack of application shall not be entitled to any such change.
(b) The Secretary, in accordance with procedures that the Secretary may establish, may approve a change other than a change under subsection (a) of this section (or an initial change in the case of a veteran or person not eligible to make a change under subsection (a)) in program if the Secretary finds that
(1) the program of education which the eligible veteran or eligible person proposes to pursue is suitable to the veterans or persons aptitudes, interests, and abilities; and
(2) in any instance where the eligible veteran or eligible person has interrupted, or failed to progress in, the veterans or persons program due to the veterans or persons own misconduct, the veterans or persons own neglect, or the veterans or persons own lack of application, there exists a reasonable likelihood with respect to the program which the eligible veteran or eligible person proposes to pursue that there will not be a recurrence of such an interruption or failure to progress.
(c) The Secretary may also approve additional changes in program if the Secretary finds such changes are necessitated by circumstances beyond the control of the eligible veteran or eligible person.
(d) For the purposes of this section, the term change of program of education shall not be deemed to include a change by a veteran or eligible person from the pursuit of one program to the pursuit of another program if
(1) the veteran or eligible person has successfully completed the former program;
(2) the program leads to a vocational, educational, or professional objective in the same general field as the former program;
(3) the former program is a prerequisite to, or generally required for, pursuit of the subsequent program; or
(4) in the case of a change from the pursuit of a subsequent program to the pursuit of a former program, the veteran or eligible person resumes pursuit of the former program without loss of credit or standing in the former program.

38 USC 3692 - Advisory committee

(a) There shall be a Veterans Advisory Committee on Education formed by the Secretary which shall be composed of persons who are eminent in their respective fields of education, labor, and management and of representatives of institutions and establishments furnishing education to eligible veterans or persons enrolled under chapter 30, 32, or 35 of this title and chapter 1606 of title 10. The committee shall also, to the maximum extent practicable, include veterans representative of World War II, the Korean conflict era, the post-Korean conflict era, the Vietnam era, the post-Vietnam era, and the Persian Gulf War. The Assistant Secretary of Education for Postsecondary Education (or such other comparable official of the Department of Education as the Secretary of Education may designate) and the Assistant Secretary of Labor for Veterans Employment and Training shall be ex officio members of the advisory committee.
(b) The Secretary shall consult with and seek the advice of the committee from time to time with respect to the administration of this chapter, chapters 30, 32, and 35 of this title, and chapter 1606 of title 10. The committee may make such reports and recommendations as it considers desirable to the Secretary and the Congress.
(c) The committee shall remain in existence until December 31, 2009.

38 USC 3693 - Compliance surveys

(a) Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, the Secretary shall conduct an annual compliance survey of each institution offering one or more courses approved for the enrollment of eligible veterans or persons if at least 300 veterans or persons are enrolled in such course or courses under provisions of this title or if any such course does not lead to a standard college degree. Such compliance survey shall be designed to ensure that the institution and approved courses are in compliance with all applicable provisions of chapters 30 through 36 of this title. The Secretary shall assign at least one education compliance specialist to work on compliance surveys in any year for each 40 compliance surveys required to be made under this section for such year.
(b) The Secretary may waive the requirement in subsection (a) of this section for an annual compliance survey with respect to an institution if the Secretary determines, based on the institutions demonstrated record of compliance with all the applicable provisions of chapters 30 through 36 of this title, that the waiver would be appropriate and in the best interest of the United States Government.

38 USC 3694 - Use of other Federal agencies

(a) In General.— 
In carrying out the Secretarys functions under this chapter or chapter 34 or 35 of this title, the Secretary may utilize the facilities and services of any other Federal department or agency. Any such utilization shall be pursuant to proper agreement with the Federal department or agency concerned; and payment to cover the cost thereof shall be made either in advance or by way of reimbursement, as may be provided in such agreement.
(b) Coordination of Information Among the Departments of Veterans Affairs, Defense, and Labor With Respect to On-Job Training.— 
At the time of a servicemembers discharge or release from active duty service, the Secretary of Defense shall furnish to the Secretary such pertinent information concerning each registered apprenticeship pursued by the servicemember during the period of active duty service of the servicemember. The Secretary, in conjunction with the Secretary of Labor, shall encourage and assist States and private organizations to give credit to servicemembers for the registered apprenticeship program so pursued in the case of any related apprenticeship program the servicemember may pursue as a civilian.

38 USC 3695 - Limitation on period of assistance under two or more programs

(a) The aggregate period for which any person may receive assistance under two or more of the provisions of law listed below may not exceed 48 months (or the part-time equivalent thereof):
(1) Parts VII or VIII, Veterans Regulation numbered 1(a), as amended.
(2) Title II of the Veterans Readjustment Assistance Act of 1952.
(3) The War Orphans Educational Assistance Act of 1956.
(4) Chapters 30, 32, 34, 35, and 36 of this title, and the former chapter 33.
(5) Chapters 107, 1606, 1607, and 1611 of title 10.
(6) Section 903 of the Department of Defense Authorization Act, 1981 (Public Law 96342, 10 U.S.C. 2141 note ).
(7) The Hostage Relief Act of 1980 (Public Law 96449, 5 U.S.C. 5561 note ).
(8) The Omnibus Diplomatic Security and Antiterrorism Act of 1986 (Public Law 99399).
(b) No person may receive assistance under chapter 31 of this title in combination with assistance under any of the provisions of law cited in subsection (a) of this section in excess of 48 months (or the part-time equivalent thereof) unless the Secretary determines that additional months of benefits under chapter 31 of this title are necessary to accomplish the purposes of a rehabilitation program (as defined in section 3101 (5) of this title) in the individual case.

38 USC 3696 - Limitation on certain advertising, sales, and enrollment practices

(a) The Secretary shall not approve the enrollment of an eligible veteran or eligible person in any course offered by an institution which utilizes advertising, sales, or enrollment practices of any type which are erroneous, deceptive, or misleading either by actual statement, omission, or intimation.
(b) To ensure compliance with this section, any institution offering courses approved for the enrollment of eligible persons or veterans shall maintain a complete record of all advertising, sales, or enrollment materials (and copies thereof) utilized by or on behalf of the institution during the preceding 12-month period. Such record shall be available for inspection by the State approving agency or the Secretary. Such materials shall include but are not limited to any direct mail pieces, brochures, printed literature used by sales persons, films, video tapes, and audio tapes disseminated through broadcast media, material disseminated through print media, tear sheets, leaflets, handbills, fliers, and any sales or recruitment manuals used to instruct sales personnel, agents, or representatives of such institution.
(c) The Secretary shall, pursuant to section 3694 of this title, enter into an agreement with the Federal Trade Commission to utilize, where appropriate, its services and facilities, consistent with its available resources, in carrying out investigations and making the Secretarys determinations under subsection (a) of this section. Such agreement shall provide that cases arising under subsection (a) of this section or any similar matters with respect to any of the requirements of this chapter or chapters 34 and 35 of this title shall be referred to the Federal Trade Commission which in its discretion will conduct an investigation and make preliminary findings. The findings and results of any such investigations shall be referred to the Secretary who shall take appropriate action in such cases within ninety days after such referral.

38 USC 3697 - Funding of contract educational and vocational counseling

(a) Subject to subsection (b) of this section, educational or vocational counseling services obtained by the Department of Veterans Affairs by contract and provided to an individual under section 3697A of this title or to an individual applying for or receiving benefits under section 1524 or chapter 30section 1524 or chapter 30, 32, 34, or 35 of this title, or chapter 106 of title 10, shall be paid for out of funds appropriated, or otherwise available, to the Department of Veterans Affairs for payment of readjustment benefits.
(b) Payments under this section shall not exceed $6,000,000 in any fiscal year.

38 USC 3697A - Educational and vocational counseling

(a) The Secretary shall make available to an individual described in subsection (b) of this section, upon such individuals request, counseling services, including such educational and vocational counseling and guidance, testing, and other assistance as the Secretary determines necessary to aid the individual in selecting
(1) an educational or training objective and an educational institution or training establishment appropriate for the attainment of such objective; or
(2) an employment objective that would be likely to provide such individual with satisfactory employment opportunities in the light of the individuals personal circumstances.
(b) For the purposes of this section, the term individual means an individual who
(1) is eligible for educational assistance under chapter 30, 31, or 32 of this title or chapter 106 or 107 of title 10;
(2) was discharged or released from active duty under conditions other than dishonorable if not more than one year has elapsed since the date of such last discharge or release from active duty; or
(3) is serving on active duty in any State with the Armed Forces and is within 180 days of the estimated date of such individuals discharge or release from active duty under conditions other than dishonorable, including those who are making a determination of whether to continue as members of the Armed Forces.
(c) In any case in which the Secretary has rated the individual as being incompetent, the counseling services described in subsection (a) of this section shall be required to be provided to the individual before the selection of a program of education or training.
(d) At such intervals as the Secretary determines necessary, the Secretary shall make available information concerning the need for general education and for trained personnel in the various crafts, trades, and professions. Facilities of other Federal agencies collecting such information shall be utilized to the extent the Secretary determines practicable.
(e) The Secretary shall take appropriate steps (including individual notification where feasible) to acquaint all individuals described in subsection (b) of this section with the availability and advantages of counseling services under this section.

[SUBCHAPTER III - REPEALED]

3698, 3699. Repealed. Pub. L. 108183, title III, 306(e), Dec. 16, 2003, 117 Stat. 2661]

Section 3698, added Pub. L. 93–508, title III, § 301(a), Dec. 3, 1974, 88 Stat. 1589, 1798; amended Pub. L. 94–502, title V, §§ 502(a), 513 (a)(23), Oct. 15, 1976, 90 Stat. 2399, 2403; Pub. L. 95–202, title I, § 104(3), title II, 202, Nov. 23, 1977, 91 Stat. 1435, 1438; Pub. L. 95–476, title II, § 201, Oct. 18, 1978, 92 Stat. 1502; Pub. L. 96–466, title II, §§ 203(4), 213 (4), title VI, 601(h), 603 (b), title VIII, 801(g), Oct. 17, 1980, 94 Stat. 2189, 2191, 2208, 2209, 2216; Pub. L. 97–35, title XX, § 2005(d), Aug. 13, 1981, 95 Stat. 783; Pub. L. 97–295, § 4(60), Oct. 12, 1982, 96 Stat. 1309; Pub. L. 97–306, title II, § 208, Oct. 14, 1982, 96 Stat. 1436; Pub. L. 98–543, title II, § 204(3), Oct. 24, 1984, 98 Stat. 2742; Pub. L. 100–689, title I, § 124(b), Nov. 18, 1988, 102 Stat. 4174; Pub. L. 101–237, title IV, § 423(b)(1)(A), Dec. 18, 1989, 103 Stat. 2092; Pub. L. 102–16, § 5(a), Mar. 22, 1991, 105 Stat. 50; renumbered 3698 and amended Pub. L. 102–83, § 5(a), (c)(1), Aug. 6, 1991, 105 Stat. 406, related to eligibility for loans under this subchapter. Section 3699, added Pub. L. 93–508, title III, § 301(a), Dec. 3, 1974, 88 Stat. 1591, 1799; amended Pub. L. 94–502, title V, § 513(a)(24), Oct. 15, 1976, 90 Stat. 2404; Pub. L. 97–295, § 4(61), Oct. 12, 1982, 96 Stat. 1309; Pub. L. 101–237, title IV, § 423(b)(1), (2), Dec. 18, 1989, 103 Stat. 2092; renumbered 3699 and amended Pub. L. 102–83, § 5(a), (c)(1), Aug. 6, 1991, 105 Stat. 406, related to revolving fund available for making of loans under this subchapter.

TITLE 38 - US CODE - CHAPTER 37 - HOUSING AND SMALL BUSINESS LOANS

TITLE 38 - US CODE - SUBCHAPTER I - GENERAL

38 USC 3701 - Definitions

(a) For the purpose of this chapter, the term housing loan means a loan for any of the purposes specified by sections 3710 (a) and 3712 (a)(1) of this title.
(b) For the purposes of housing loans under this chapter
(1) The term World War II
(A)  means the period beginning on September 16, 1940, and ending on July 25, 1947, and
(B)  includes, in the case of any veteran who enlisted or reenlisted in a Regular component of the Armed Forces after October 6, 1945, and before October 7, 1946, the period of the first such enlistment or reenlistment.
(2) The term veteran includes the surviving spouse of any veteran (including a person who died in the active military, naval, or air service) who died from a service-connected disability, but only if such surviving spouse is not eligible for benefits under this chapter on the basis of the spouses own active duty. The active duty or service in the Selected Reserve of the deceased spouse shall be deemed to have been active duty or service in the Selected Reserve by such surviving spouse for the purposes of this chapter.
(3) The term veteran also includes, for purposes of home loans, the spouse of any member of the Armed Forces serving on active duty who is listed, pursuant to section 556 of title 37, United States Code, and regulations issued thereunder, by the Secretary concerned in one or more of the following categories and has been so listed for a total of more than ninety days:
(A)  missing in action,
(B)  captured in line of duty by a hostile force, or
(C)  forcibly detained or interned in line of duty by a foreign government or power. The active duty of the member shall be deemed to have been active duty by such spouse for the purposes of this chapter. The loan eligibility of such spouse under this paragraph shall be limited to one loan guaranteed or made for the acquisition of a home, and entitlement to such loan shall terminate automatically, if not used, upon receipt by such spouse of official notice that the member is no longer listed in one of the categories specified in the first sentence of this paragraph.
(4) The term veteran also includes an individual serving on active duty.
(5) 
(A) The term veteran also includes an individual who is not otherwise eligible for the benefits of this chapter and
(i)  who has completed a total service of at least 6 years in the Selected Reserve and, following the completion of such service, was discharged from service with an honorable discharge, was placed on the retired list, was transferred to the Standby Reserve or an element of the Ready Reserve other than the Selected Reserve after service in the Selected Reserve characterized by the Secretary concerned as honorable service, or continues serving in the Selected Reserve, or
(ii)  who was discharged or released from the Selected Reserve before completing 6 years of service because of a service-connected disability.
(B) The term Selected Reserve means the Selected Reserve of the Ready Reserve of any of the reserve components (including the Army National Guard of the United States and the Air National Guard of the United States) of the Armed Forces, as required to be maintained under section 10143 (a) of title 10.
(c) Benefits shall not be afforded under this chapter to any individual on account of service as a commissioned officer of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (or predecessor entity), or of the Regular or Reserve Corps of the Public Health Service, unless such service would have qualified such individual for benefits under title III of the Servicemens Readjustment Act of 1944.

38 USC 3702 - Basic entitlement

(a) 
(1) The veterans described in paragraph (2) of this subsection are eligible for the housing loan benefits of this chapter. In the case of any veteran who served on active duty during two or more of the periods specified in paragraph (2) for which eligibility for the housing loan benefits under this chapter may be granted, entitlement derived from service during the most recent such period
(A)  shall cancel any unused entitlement derived from service during any earlier such period, and
(B)  shall be reduced by the amount by which entitlement from service during any earlier such period has been used to obtain a direct, guaranteed, or insured housing loan
(i) on real property which the veteran owns at the time of application; or
(ii) as to which the Secretary has incurred actual liability or loss, unless in the event of loss or the incurrence and payment of such liability by the Secretary the resulting indebtedness of the veteran to the United States has been paid in full.
(2) The veterans referred to in the first sentence of paragraph (1) of this subsection are the following:
(A) Each veteran who served on active duty at any time during World War II, the Korean conflict, or the Vietnam era and whose total service was for 90 days or more.
(B) Each veteran who after September 15, 1940, was discharged or released from a period of active duty for a service-connected disability.
(C) Each veteran, other than a veteran described in clause (A) or (B) of this paragraph, who
(i) served after July 25, 1947, for a period of more than 180 days and was discharged or released therefrom under conditions other than dishonorable; or
(ii) has served more than 180 days in active duty status and continues on active duty without a break therein.
(D) Each veteran who served on active duty for 90 days or more at any time during the Persian Gulf War, other than a veteran ineligible for benefits under this title by reason of section 5303A (b) of this title.
(E) Each veteran described in section 3701 (b)(5) of this title.
(3) Any unused entitlement of World War II or Korean conflict veterans which expired under provisions of law in effect before October 23, 1970, is hereby restored and shall not expire until used.
(4) A veterans entitlement under this chapter shall not be reduced by any entitlement used by the veterans spouse which was based upon the provisions of paragraph (3) of section 3701 (b) of this title.
(b) In computing the aggregate amount of guaranty or insurance housing loan entitlement available to a veteran under this chapter, the Secretary may exclude the amount of guaranty or insurance housing loan entitlement used for any guaranteed, insured, or direct loan under the following circumstances:
(1) 
(A) The property which secured the loan has been disposed of by the veteran or has been destroyed by fire or other natural hazard; and
(B) the loan has been repaid in full, or the Secretary has been released from liability as to the loan, or if the Secretary has suffered a loss on such loan, the loss has been paid in full.
(2) A veteran-transferee has agreed to assume the outstanding balance on the loan and consented to the use of the veteran-transferees entitlement, to the extent that the entitlement of the veteran-transferor had been used originally, in place of the veteran-transferors for the guaranteed, insured, or direct loan, and the veteran-transferee otherwise meets the requirements of this chapter.
(3) 
(A) The loan has been repaid in full; and
(B) the loan for which the veteran seeks to use entitlement under this chapter is secured by the same property which secured the loan referred to in subparagraph (A) of this paragraph.
(4) In a case not covered by paragraph (1) or (2)
(A) the loan has been repaid in full and, if the Secretary has suffered a loss on the loan, the loss has been paid in full; or
(B) the Secretary has been released from liability as to the loan and, if the Secretary has suffered a loss on the loan, the loss has been paid in full.

The Secretary may, in any case involving circumstances the Secretary deems appropriate, waive one or more of the conditions prescribed in paragraph (1). The authority of the Secretary under this subsection to exclude an amount of guaranty or insurance housing loan entitlement previously used by a veteran may be exercised only once for that veteran under the authority of paragraph (4).

(c) An honorable discharge shall be deemed to be a certificate of eligibility to apply for a guaranteed loan. Any veteran who does not have a discharge certificate, or who received a discharge other than honorable, may apply to the Secretary for a certificate of eligibility. Upon making a loan guaranteed or insured under this chapter, the lender shall forthwith transmit to the Secretary a report thereon in such detail as the Secretary may, from time to time, prescribe. Where the loan is guaranteed, the Secretary shall provide the lender with a loan guaranty certificate or other evidence of the guaranty. The Secretary shall also endorse on the veterans discharge, or eligibility certificate, the amount and type of guaranty used, and the amount, if any, remaining. Nothing in this chapter shall preclude the assignment of any guaranteed loan or the security therefor.
(d) Housing loans will be automatically guaranteed under this chapter only if made
(1)  by any Federal land bank, national bank, State bank, private bank, building and loan association, insurance company, credit union, or mortgage and loan company, that is subject to examination and supervision by an agency of the United States or of any State, or
(2)  by any State, or
(3)  by any lender approved by the Secretary pursuant to standards established by the Secretary. Any housing loan proposed to be made to a veteran pursuant to this chapter by any lender not of a class specified in the preceding sentence may be guaranteed by the Secretary if the Secretary finds that it is in accord otherwise with the provisions of this chapter.
(e) The Secretary may at any time upon thirty days notice require housing loans to be made by any lender or class of lenders to be submitted to the Secretary for prior approval. No guaranty or insurance liability shall exist with respect to any such loan unless evidence of guaranty or insurance is issued by the Secretary.
(f) Any housing loan at least 20 percent of which is guaranteed under this chapter may be made by any national bank or Federal savings and loan association, or by any bank, trust company, building and loan association, or insurance company, organized or authorized to do business in the District of Columbia. Any such loan may be so made without regard to the limitations and restrictions of any other law relating to
(1) ratio of amount of loan to the value of the property;
(2) maturity of loan;
(3) requirement for mortgage or other security;
(4) dignity of lien; or
(5) percentage of assets which may be invested in real estate loans.

38 USC 3703 - Basic provisions relating to loan guaranty and insurance

(a) 
(1) 
(A) Any loan to a veteran eligible for benefits under this chapter, if made for any of the purposes specified in section 3710 of this title and in compliance with the provisions of this chapter, is automatically guaranteed by the United States in an amount not to exceed the lesser of
(i) 
(I) in the case of any loan of not more than $45,000, 50 percent of the loan;
(II) in the case of any loan of more than $45,000, but not more than $56,250, $22,500;
(III) except as provided in subclause (IV) of this clause, in the case of any loan of more than $56,250, the lesser of $36,000 or 40 percent of the loan; or
(IV) in the case of any loan of more than $144,000 for a purpose specified in clause (1), (2), (3), (6), or (8) of section 3710 (a) of this title, the lesser of the maximum guaranty amount (as defined in subparagraph (C)) or 25 percent of the loan; or
(ii) the maximum amount of guaranty entitlement available to the veteran as specified in subparagraph (B) of this paragraph.
(B) The maximum amount of guaranty entitlement available to a veteran for purposes specified in section 3710 of this title shall be $36,000, or in the case of a loan described in subparagraph (A)(i)(IV) of this paragraph, the maximum guaranty amount (as defined in subparagraph (C)), reduced by the amount of entitlement previously used by the veteran under this chapter and not restored as a result of the exclusion in section 3702 (b) of this title.
(C) In this paragraph, the term maximum guaranty amount means the dollar amount that is equal to 25 percent of the Freddie Mac conforming loan limit limitation determined under section 305(a)(2) of the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation Act (12 U.S.C. 1454 (a)(2)) for a single-family residence, as adjusted for the year involved.
(2) 
(A) Any housing loan which might be guaranteed under the provisions of this chapter, when made or purchased by any financial institution subject to examination and supervision by any agency of the United States or of any State may, in lieu of such guaranty, be insured by the Secretary under an agreement whereby the Secretary will reimburse any such institution for losses incurred on such loan up to 15 per centum of the aggregate of loans so made or purchased by it.
(B) Loans insured under this section shall be made on such other terms, conditions, and restrictions as the Secretary may prescribe within the limitations set forth in this chapter.
(b) The liability of the United States under any guaranty, within the limitations of this chapter, shall decrease or increase pro rata with any decrease or increase of the amount of the unpaid portion of the obligation.
(c) 
(1) Loans guaranteed or insured under this chapter shall be payable upon such terms and conditions as may be agreed upon by the parties thereto, subject to the provisions of this chapter and regulations of the Secretary issued pursuant to this chapter, and shall bear interest not in excess of such rate as the Secretary may from time to time find the loan market demands, except that in establishing the rate of interest that shall be applicable to such loans, the Secretary shall consult with the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development regarding the rate of interest applicable to home loans insured under section 203(b) of the National Housing Act (12 U.S.C. 1709 (b)). In establishing rates of interest under this paragraph for one or more of the purposes described in clauses (4) and (7) of section 3710 (a) of this title, the Secretary may establish a rate or rates higher than the rate specified for other purposes under such section, but any such rate may not exceed such rate as the Secretary may from time to time find the loan market demands for loans for such purposes.
(2) The provisions of the Servicemens Readjustment Act of 1944 which were in effect before April 1, 1958, with respect to the interest chargeable on loans made or guaranteed under such Act shall, notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph (1) of this subsection, continue to be applicable
(A) to any loan made or guaranteed before April 1, 1958; and
(B) to any loan with respect to which a commitment to guarantee was entered into by the Secretary before April 1, 1958.
(3) This section shall not be construed to prohibit a veteran from paying to a lender any reasonable discount required by such lender, when the proceeds from the loan are to be used
(A) to refinance indebtedness pursuant to clause (5), (8), or (9)(B)(i) of section 3710 (a) of this title or section 3712 (a)(1)(F) of this title;
(B) to repair, alter, or improve a farm residence or other dwelling pursuant to clauses (4) and (7) of section 3710 (a) of this title;
(C) to construct a dwelling or farm residence on land already owned or to be acquired by the veteran except where the land is directly or indirectly acquired from a builder or developer who has contracted to construct such dwelling for the veteran;
(D) to purchase a dwelling from a class of sellers which the Secretary determines are legally precluded under all circumstances from paying such a discount if the best interest of the veteran would be so served; or
(E) to refinance indebtedness and purchase a manufactured-home lot pursuant to section 3710 (a)(9)(B)(ii) or 3712 (a)(1)(G) of this title, but only with respect to that portion of the loan used to refinance such indebtedness.
(4) 
(A) In guaranteeing or insuring loans under this chapter, the Secretary may elect whether to require that such loans bear interest at a rate that is
(i) agreed upon by the veteran and the mortgagee; or
(ii) established under paragraph (1).

The Secretary may, from time to time, change the election under this subparagraph.

(B) Any veteran, under a loan described in subparagraph (A)(i), may pay reasonable discount points in connection with the loan. Except in the case of a loan for the purpose specified in section 3710 (a)(8), 3710 (b)(7), or 3712 (a)(1)(F) of this title, discount points may not be financed as part of the principal amount of a loan guaranteed or insured under this chapter.
(C) Not later than 10 days after an election under subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall transmit to the Committees on Veterans Affairs of the Senate and House of Representatives a notification of the election, together with an explanation of the reasons therefor.
(d) 
(1) The maturity of any housing loan shall not be more than thirty years and thirty-two days.
(2) 
(A) Any loan for a term of more than five years shall be amortized in accordance with established procedure.
(B) The Secretary may guarantee loans with provisions for various rates of amortization corresponding to anticipated variations in family income. With respect to any loan guaranteed under this subparagraph
(i) the initial principal amount of the loan may not exceed the reasonable value of the property as of the time the loan is made; and
(ii) the principal amount of the loan thereafter (including the amount of all interest to be deferred and added to principal) may not at any time be scheduled to exceed the projected value of the property.
(C) For the purposes of subparagraph (B) of this paragraph, the projected value of the property shall be calculated by the Secretary by increasing the reasonable value of the property as of the time the loan is made at a rate not in excess of 2.5 percent per year, but in no event may the projected value of the property for the purposes of such subparagraph exceed 115 percent of such reasonable value. A loan made for a purpose other than the acquisition of a single-family dwelling unit may not be guaranteed under such subparagraph.
(3) Any real estate housing loan (other than for repairs, alterations, or improvements) shall be secured by a first lien on the realty. In determining whether a loan for the purchase or construction of a home is so secured, the Secretary may disregard a superior lien created by a duly recorded covenant running with the realty in favor of a private entity to secure an obligation to such entity for the homeowners share of the costs of the management, operation, or maintenance of property, services or programs within and for the benefit of the development or community in which the veterans realty is located, if the Secretary determines that the interests of the veteran borrower and of the Government will not be prejudiced by the operation of such covenant. In respect to any such superior lien to be created after June 6, 1969, the Secretarys determination must have been made prior to the recordation of the covenant.
(e) 
(1) Except as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection, an individual who pays a fee under section 3729 of this title, or who is exempted under section 3729 (c) of this title from paying such fee, with respect to a housing loan guaranteed or insured under this chapter that is closed after December 31, 1989, shall have no liability to the Secretary with respect to the loan for any loss resulting from any default of such individual except in the case of fraud, misrepresentation, or bad faith by such individual in obtaining the loan or in connection with the loan default.
(2) The exemption from liability provided by paragraph (1) of this subsection shall not apply to
(A) an individual from whom a fee is collected (or who is exempted from such fee) under section 3729 (b)(2)(I) of this title; or
(B) a loan made for any purpose specified in section 3712 of this title.
(f) The application for or obtaining of a loan made, insured, or guaranteed under this chapter shall not be subject to reporting requirements applicable to requests for, or receipts of, Federal contracts, grants, loans, loan guarantees, loan insurance, or cooperative agreements except to the extent that such requirements are provided for in, or by the Secretary pursuant to, this title.

38 USC 3704 - Restrictions on loans

(a) No loan for the purchase or construction of residential property shall be financed through the assistance of this chapter unless the property meets or exceeds minimum requirements for planning, construction, and general acceptability prescribed by the Secretary; however, this subsection shall not apply to a loan for the purchase of residential property on which construction is fully completed more than one year before such loan is made.
(b) Subject to notice and opportunity for a hearing, the Secretary may refuse to appraise any dwelling or housing project owned, sponsored, or to be constructed by any person identified with housing previously sold to veterans under this chapter as to which substantial deficiencies have been discovered, or as to which there has been a failure or indicated inability to discharge contractual liabilities to veterans, or as to which it is ascertained that the type of contract of sale or the methods or practices pursued in relation to the marketing of such properties were unfair or unduly prejudicial to veteran purchasers. The Secretary may also refuse to appraise any dwelling or housing project owned, sponsored, or to be constructed by any person refused the benefits of participation under the National Housing Act pursuant to a determination of the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development.
(c) 
(1) Except as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection, no loan for the purchase or construction of residential property shall be financed through the assistance of this chapter unless the veteran applicant, at the time that the veteran applies for the loan, and also at the time that the loan is closed, certifies in such form as the Secretary may require, that the veteran intends to occupy the property as the veterans home. Except as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection, no loan for the repair, alteration, or improvement of residential property shall be financed through the assistance of the provisions of this chapter unless the veteran applicant, at the time that the veteran applies to the lender for the loan, and also at the time that the loan is closed, certifies, in such form as may be required by the Secretary, that the veteran occupies the property as the veterans home. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this subsection, in the case of a loan automatically guaranteed under this chapter, the veteran shall be required to make the certification only at the time the loan is closed. For the purposes of this chapter the requirement that the veteran recipient of a guaranteed or direct home loan must occupy or intend to occupy the property as the veterans home means that the veteran as of the date of the veterans certification actually lives in the property personally as the veterans residence or actually intends upon completion of the loan and acquisition of the dwelling unit to move into the property personally within a reasonable time and to utilize such property as the veterans residence. Notwithstanding the foregoing requirements of this subsection, the provisions for certification by the veteran at the time the veteran applies for the loan and at the time the loan is closed shall be considered to be satisfied if the Secretary finds that (1) in the case of a loan for repair, alteration, or improvement the veteran in fact did occupy the property at such times, or (2) in the case of a loan for construction or purchase the veteran intended to occupy the property as the veterans home at such times and the veteran did in fact so occupy it when, or within a reasonable time after, the loan was closed.
(2) In any case in which a veteran is in active duty status as a member of the Armed Forces and is unable to occupy a property because of such status, the occupancy requirements of
(A) paragraph (1) of this subsection;
(B) paragraphs (1) through (5) and paragraph (7) of section 3710 (a) of this title;
(C) section 3712 (a)(5)(A)(i) of this title; and
(D) section 3712 (e)(5) of this title;

shall be considered to be satisfied if the spouse of the veteran occupies the property as the spouses home and the spouse makes the certification required by paragraph (1) of this subsection.

(d) Subject to notice and opportunity for a hearing, whenever the Secretary finds with respect to guaranteed or insured loans that any lender or holder has failed to maintain adequate loan accounting records, or to demonstrate proper ability to service loans adequately or to exercise proper credit judgment or has willfully or negligently engaged in practices otherwise detrimental to the interest of veterans or of the Government, the Secretary may refuse either temporarily or permanently to guarantee or insure any loans made by such lender or holder and may bar such lender or holder from acquiring loans guaranteed or insured under this chapter; however, the Secretary shall not refuse to pay a guaranty or insurance claim on loans theretofore entered into in good faith between a veteran and such lender. The Secretary may also refuse either temporarily or permanently to guarantee or insure any loans made by a lender or holder refused the benefits of participation under the National Housing Act pursuant to a determination of the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development.
(e) Any housing loan which is financed through the assistance of this chapter and to which section 3714 of this chapter applies shall include a provision that the loan is immediately due and payable upon transfer of the property securing such loan to any transferee unless the acceptability of the assumption of the loan is established pursuant to such section 3714.
(f) A loan for the purchase or construction of new residential property, the construction of which began after the energy efficiency standards under section 109 of the Cranston-Gonzalez National Affordable Housing Act (42 U.S.C. 12709), as amended by section 101(c) of the Energy Policy Act of 1992, take effect, may not be financed through the assistance of this chapter unless the new residential property is constructed in compliance with such standards.

38 USC 3705 - Warranties

(a) The Secretary shall require that in connection with any property upon which there is located a dwelling designed principally for not more than a four-family residence and which is appraised for guaranty or insurance before the beginning of construction, the seller or builder, and such other person as may be required by the Secretary to become warrantor, shall deliver to the purchaser or owner of such property a warranty that the dwelling is constructed in substantial conformity with the plans and specifications (including any amendments thereof, or changes and variations therein, which have been approved in writing by the Secretary) on which the Secretary based the Secretarys valuation of the dwelling. The Secretary shall deliver to the builder, seller, or other warrantor the Secretarys written approval (which shall be conclusive evidence of such appraisal) of any amendment of, or change or variation in, such plans and specifications which the Secretary deems to be a substantial amendment thereof, or change or variation therein, and shall file a copy of such written approval with such plans and specifications. Such warranty shall apply only with respect to such instances of substantial nonconformity to such approved plans and specifications (including any amendments thereof, or changes or variations therein, which have been approved in writing, as provided in this section, by the Secretary) as to which the purchaser or home owner has given written notice to the warrantor within one year from the date of conveyance of title to, or initial occupancy of, the dwelling, whichever first occurs. Such warranty shall be in addition to, and not in derogation of, all other rights and privileges which such purchaser or owner may have under any other law or instrument. The provisions of this section shall apply to any such property covered by a mortgage insured or guaranteed by the Secretary on and after October 1, 1954, unless such mortgage is insured or guaranteed pursuant to a commitment therefor made before October 1, 1954.
(b) The Secretary shall permit copies of the plans and specifications (including written approvals of any amendments thereof, or changes or variations therein, as provided in this section) for dwellings in connection with which warranties are required by subsection (a) of this section to be made available in their appropriate local offices for inspection or for copying by any purchaser, home owner, or warrantor during such hours or periods of time as the Secretary may determine to be reasonable.

38 USC 3706 - Escrow of deposits and downpayments

(a) Any deposit or downpayment made by an eligible veteran in connection with the purchase of proposed or newly constructed and previously unoccupied residential property in a project on which the Secretary has issued a Certificate of Reasonable Value, which purchase is to be financed with a loan guaranteed, insured, or made under the provisions of this chapter, shall be deposited forthwith by the seller, or the agent of the seller, receiving such deposit or payment, in a trust account to safeguard such deposit or payment from the claims of creditors of the seller. The failure of the seller or the sellers agent to create such trust account and to maintain it until the deposit or payment has been disbursed for the benefit of the veteran purchaser at settlement or, if the transaction does not materialize, is otherwise disposed of in accordance with the terms of the contract, may constitute an unfair marketing practice within the meaning of section 3704 (b) of this title.
(b) If an eligible veteran contracts for the construction of a property in a project on which the Secretary has issued a Certificate of Reasonable Value and such construction is to be financed with the assistance of a construction loan to be guaranteed, insured, or made under the provisions of this chapter, it may be considered an unfair marketing practice under section 3704 (b) of this title if any deposit or downpayment of the veteran is not maintained in a special trust account by the recipient until it is either (1) applied on behalf of the veteran to the cost of the land or to the cost of construction or (2), if the transaction does not materialize, is otherwise disposed of in accordance with the terms of the contract.

38 USC 3707 - Adjustable rate mortgages

(a) The Secretary shall carry out a demonstration project under this section during fiscal years 1993 through 2008 for the purpose of guaranteeing loans in a manner similar to the manner in which the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development insures adjustable rate mortgages under section 251 of the National Housing Act.
(b) Interest rate adjustment provisions of a mortgage guaranteed under this section shall
(1) correspond to a specified national interest rate index approved by the Secretary, information on which is readily accessible to mortgagors from generally available published sources;
(2) be made by adjusting the monthly payment on an annual basis;
(3) be limited, with respect to any single annual interest rate adjustment, to a maximum increase or decrease of 1 percentage point; and
(4) be limited, over the term of the mortgage, to a maximum increase of 5 percentage points above the initial contract interest rate.
(c) The Secretary shall promulgate underwriting standards for loans guaranteed under this section, taking into account
(1) the status of the interest rate index referred to in subsection (b)(1) and available at the time an underwriting decision is made, regardless of the actual initial rate offered by the lender;
(2) the maximum and likely amounts of increases in mortgage payments that the loans would require;
(3) the underwriting standards applicable to adjustable rate mortgages insured under title II of the National Housing Act; and
(4) such other factors as the Secretary finds appropriate.
(d) The Secretary shall require that the mortgagee make available to the mortgagor, at the time of loan application, a written explanation of the features of the adjustable rate mortgage, including a hypothetical payment schedule that displays the maximum potential increases in monthly payments to the mortgagor over the first five years of the mortgage term.

38 USC 3707A - Hybrid adjustable rate mortgages

(a) The Secretary shall carry out a demonstration project under this section during fiscal years 2004 through 2008 for the purpose of guaranteeing loans in a manner similar to the manner in which the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development insures adjustable rate mortgages under section 251 of the National Housing Act in accordance with the provisions of this section with respect to hybrid adjustable rate mortgages described in subsection (b).
(b) Adjustable rate mortgages that are guaranteed under this section shall be adjustable rate mortgages (commonly referred to as hybrid adjustable rate mortgages) having interest rate adjustment provisions that
(1) specify an initial rate of interest that is fixed for a period of not less than the first three years of the mortgage term;
(2) provide for an initial adjustment in the rate of interest by the mortgagee at the end of the period described in paragraph (1); and
(3) comply in such initial adjustment, and any subsequent adjustment, with subsection (c).
(c) Interest rate adjustment provisions of a mortgage guaranteed under this section shall
(1) correspond to a specified national interest rate index approved by the Secretary, information on which is readily accessible to mortgagors from generally available published sources;
(2) be made by adjusting the monthly payment on an annual basis;
(3) in the case of the initial contract interest rate adjustment
(A) if the initial contract interest rate remained fixed for less than 5 years, be limited to a maximum increase or decrease of 1 percentage point; or
(B) if the initial contract interest rate remained fixed for 5 years or more, be limited to a maximum increase or decrease of such percentage point or points as the Secretary may prescribe;
(4) in the case of any single annual interest rate adjustment after the initial contract interest rate adjustment, be limited to a maximum increase or decrease of such percentage points as the Secretary may prescribe; and
(5) be limited, over the term of the mortgage, to a maximum increase of such number of percentage points as the Secretary shall prescribe for purposes of this section.
(d) The Secretary shall promulgate underwriting standards for loans guaranteed under this section, taking into account
(1) the status of the interest rate index referred to in subsection (c)(1) and available at the time an underwriting decision is made, regardless of the actual initial rate offered by the lender;
(2) the maximum and likely amounts of increases in mortgage payments that the loans would require;
(3) the underwriting standards applicable to adjustable rate mortgages insured under title II of the National Housing Act; and
(4) such other factors as the Secretary finds appropriate.
(e) The Secretary shall require that the mortgagee make available to the mortgagor, at the time of loan application, a written explanation of the features of the adjustable rate mortgage, including a hypothetical payment schedule that displays the maximum potential increases in monthly payments to the mortgagor over the first five years of the mortgage term.

38 USC 3708 - Authority to buy down interest rates: pilot program

(a) In order to enable the purchase of housing in areas where the supply of suitable military housing is inadequate, the Secretary may conduct a pilot program under which the Secretary may make periodic or lump sum assistance payments on behalf of an eligible veteran for the purpose of buying down the interest rate on a loan to that veteran that is guaranteed under this chapter for a purpose described in paragraph (1), (6), or (10) of section 3710 (a) of this title.
(b) An individual is an eligible veteran for the purposes of this section if
(1) the individual is a veteran, as defined in section 3701 (b)(4) of this title;
(2) the individual submits an application for a loan guaranteed under this chapter within one year of an assignment of the individual to duty at a military installation in the United States designated by the Secretary of Defense as a housing shortage area;
(3) at the time the loan referred to in subsection (a) is made, the individual is an enlisted member, warrant officer, or an officer (other than a warrant officer) at a pay grade of O3 or below;
(4) the individual has not previously used any of the individuals entitlement to housing loan benefits under this chapter; and
(5) the individual receives comprehensive prepurchase counseling from the Secretary (or the designee of the Secretary) before making application for a loan guaranteed under this chapter.
(c) Loans with respect to which the Secretary may exercise the buy down authority under subsection (a) shall
(1) provide for a buy down period of not more than three years in duration;
(2) specify the maximum and likely amounts of increases in mortgage payments that the loans would require; and
(3) be subject to such other terms and conditions as the Secretary may prescribe by regulation.
(d) The Secretary shall promulgate underwriting standards for loans for which the interest rate assistance payments may be made under subsection (a). Such standards shall be based on the interest rate for the second year of the loan.
(e) The Secretary or lender shall provide comprehensive prepurchase counseling to eligible veterans explaining the features of interest rate buy downs under subsection (a), including a hypothetical payment schedule that displays the increases in monthly payments to the mortgagor over the first five years of the mortgage term. For the purposes of this subsection, the Secretary may assign personnel to military installations referred to in subsection (b)(2).
(f) There is authorized to be appropriated $3,000,000 annually to carry out this section.
(g) The Secretary may not guarantee a loan under this chapter after September 30, 1998, on which the Secretary is obligated to make payments under this section.

TITLE 38 - US CODE - SUBCHAPTER II - LOANS

38 USC 3710 - Purchase or construction of homes

(a) Except as provided in section 3704 (c)(2) of this title, any loan to a veteran, if made pursuant to the provisions of this chapter, is automatically guaranteed if such loan is for one or more of the following purposes:
(1) To purchase or construct a dwelling to be owned and occupied by the veteran as a home.
(2) To purchase a farm on which there is a farm residence to be owned and occupied by the veteran as the veterans home.
(3) To construct on land owned by the veteran a farm residence to be occupied by the veteran as the veterans home.
(4) To repair, alter, or improve a farm residence or other dwelling owned by the veteran and occupied by the veteran as the veterans home.
(5) To refinance existing mortgage loans or other liens which are secured of record on a dwelling or farm residence owned and occupied by the veteran as the veterans home.
(6) To purchase a one-family residential unit in a condominium housing development or project, if such development or project is approved by the Secretary under criteria which the Secretary shall prescribe in regulations.
(7) To improve a dwelling or farm residence owned by the veteran and occupied by the veteran as the veterans home through energy efficiency improvements, as provided in subsection (d).
(8) To refinance in accordance with subsection (e) of this section an existing loan guaranteed, insured, or made under this chapter.
(9) 
(A) 
(i) To purchase a manufactured home to be permanently affixed to a lot that is owned by the veteran.
(ii) To purchase a manufactured home and a lot to which the home will be permanently affixed.
(B) 
(i) To refinance, in accordance with the terms and conditions applicable under the provisions of subsection (e) of this section (other than paragraph (1)(E) of such subsection) to the guaranty of a loan for the purpose specified in clause (8) of this subsection, an existing loan guaranteed, insured, or made under this chapter that is secured by a manufactured home permanently affixed to a lot that is owned by the veteran.
(ii) To refinance, in accordance with section 3712 (a)(5) of this title, an existing loan that was made for the purchase of, and that is secured by, a manufactured home that is permanently affixed to a lot and to purchase the lot to which the manufactured home is affixed.
(10) To purchase a dwelling to be owned and occupied by the veteran as a home and make energy efficiency improvements, as provided in subsection (d).
(11) To refinance in accordance with subsection (e) an existing loan guaranteed, insured, or made under this chapter, and to improve the dwelling securing such loan through energy efficiency improvements, as provided in subsection (d).
(12) With respect to a loan guaranteed after the date of the enactment of this paragraph and before the date that is five years after that date, to purchase stock or membership in a cooperative housing corporation for the purpose of entitling the veteran to occupy for dwelling purposes a single family residential unit in a development, project, or structure owned or leased by such corporation, in accordance with subsection (h).

If there is an indebtedness which is secured by a lien against land owned by the veteran, the proceeds of a loan guaranteed under this section or made under section 3711 of this title for construction of a dwelling or farm residence on such land may be used also to liquidate such lien, but only if the reasonable value of the land is equal to or greater than the amount of the lien.

(b) No loan may be guaranteed under this section or made under section 3711 of this title unless
(1) the proceeds of such loan will be used to pay for the property purchased, constructed, or improved;
(2) the contemplated terms of payment required in any mortgage to be given in part payment of the purchase price or the construction cost bear a proper relation to the veterans present and anticipated income and expenses;
(3) the veteran is a satisfactory credit risk, as determined in accordance with the credit underwriting standards established pursuant to subsection (g) of this section;
(4) the nature and condition of the property is such as to be suitable for dwelling purposes;
(5) except in the case of a loan described in clause (7) or (8) of this subsection, the loan to be paid by the veteran for such property or for the cost of construction, repairs, or alterations, does not exceed the reasonable value thereof as determined pursuant to section 3731 of this title;
(6) if the loan is for repair, alteration, or improvement of property, such repair, alteration, or improvement substantially protects or improves the basic livability or utility of such property;
(7) in the case of a loan (other than a loan made for a purpose specified in subsection (a)(8) of this section) that is made to refinance
(A) a construction loan,
(B) an installment land sales contract, or
(C) a loan assumed by the veteran that provides for a lower interest rate than the loan being refinanced, the amount of the loan to be guaranteed or made does not exceed the lesser of
(i) the reasonable value of the dwelling or farm residence securing the loan, as determined pursuant to section 3731 of this title; or
(ii) the sum of the outstanding balance on the loan to be refinanced and the closing costs (including discounts) actually paid by the veteran, as specified by the Secretary in regulations; and
(8) in the case of a loan to refinance a loan (other than a loan or installment sales contract described in clause (7) of this subsection or a loan made for a purpose specified in subsection (a)(8) of this section), the amount of the loan to be guaranteed or made does not exceed 90 percent of the reasonable value of the dwelling or farm residence securing the loan, as determined pursuant to section 3731 of this title.
[(c) Repealed. Pub. L. 100–198, § 3(a)(2), Dec. 21, 1987, 101 Stat. 1315.]
(d) 
(1) The Secretary shall carry out a program to demonstrate the feasibility of guaranteeing loans for the acquisition of an existing dwelling and the cost of making energy efficiency improvements to the dwelling or for energy efficiency improvements to a dwelling owned and occupied by a veteran. A loan may be guaranteed under this subsection only if it meets the requirements of this chapter, except as those requirements are modified by this subsection.
(2) The cost of energy efficiency measures that may be financed by a loan guaranteed under this section may not exceed the greater of
(A) the cost of the energy efficiency improvements, up to $3,000; or
(B) $6,000, if the increase in the monthly payment for principal and interest does not exceed the likely reduction in monthly utility costs resulting from the energy efficiency improvements.
(3) Notwithstanding the provisions of section 3703 (a)(1)(A) of this title, any loan guaranteed under this subsection shall be guaranteed in an amount equal to the sum of
(A) the guaranty that would be provided under those provisions for the dwelling without the energy efficiency improvements; and
(B) an amount that bears the same relation to the cost of the energy efficiency improvements as the guaranty referred to in subparagraph (A) bears to the amount of the loan minus the cost of such improvements.
(4) The amount of the veterans entitlement, calculated in accordance with section 3703 (a)(1)(B) of this title, shall not be affected by the amount of the guaranty referred to in paragraph (3)(B).
(5) The Secretary shall take appropriate actions to notify eligible veterans, participating lenders, and interested realtors of the availability of loan guarantees under this subsection and the procedures and requirements that apply to the obtaining of such guarantees.
(6) For the purposes of this subsection:
(A) The term energy efficiency improvement includes a solar heating system, a solar heating and cooling system, or a combined solar heating and cooling system, and the application of a residential energy conservation measure.
(B) The term solar heating has the meaning given such term in section 3(1) of the Solar Heating and Cooling Demonstration Act of 1974 (42 U.S.C. 5502 (1)) and, in addition, includes a passive system based on conductive, convective, or radiant energy transfer.
(C) The terms solar heating and cooling and combined solar heating and cooling have the meaning given such terms in section 3(2) of the Solar Heating and Cooling Demonstration Act of 1974 (42 U.S.C. 5502 (2)) and, in addition, include a passive system based on conductive, convective, or radiant energy transfer.
(D) The term passive system includes window and skylight glazing, thermal floors, walls, and roofs, movable insulation panels (when in conjunction with glazing), portions of a residential structure that serve as solar furnaces so as to add heat to the structure, double-pane window insulation, and such other energy-related components as are determined by the Secretary to enhance the natural transfer of energy for the purpose of heating or heating and cooling a residence.
(E) The term residential energy conservation measure means
(i) caulking and weatherstripping of all exterior doors and windows;
(ii) furnace efficiency modifications limited to
(I) replacement burners, boilers, or furnaces designed to reduce the firing rate or to achieve a reduction in the amount of fuel consumed as a result of increased combustion efficiency,
(II) devices for modifying flue openings which will increase the efficiency of the heating system, and
(III) electrical or mechanical furnace ignition systems which replace standing gas pilot lights;
(iii) clock thermostats;
(iv) ceiling, attic, wall, and floor insulation;
(v) water heater insulation;
(vi) storm windows and doors;
(vii) heat pumps; and
(viii) such other energy conservation measures as the Secretary may identify for the purposes of this subparagraph.
(e) 
(1) For a loan to be guaranteed for the purpose specified in subsection (a)(8) or for the purpose specified in subsection (a)(11) of this section
(A) the interest rate of the loan must be less than the interest rate of the loan being refinanced or, in a case in which the loan is a fixed rate loan and the loan being refinanced is an adjustable rate loan, the loan bears interest at a rate that is agreed upon by the veteran and the mortgagee;
(B) the loan must be secured by the same dwelling or farm residence as was the loan being refinanced;
(C) the amount of the loan may not exceed
(i) an amount equal to the sum of the balance of the loan being refinanced and such closing costs (including any discount permitted pursuant to section 3703 (c)(3)(A) of this title) as may be authorized by the Secretary (under regulations which the Secretary shall prescribe) to be included in the loan; or
(ii) in the case of a loan for the purpose specified in subsection (a)(11), an amount equal to the sum of the amount referred to with respect to the loan under clause (i) and the amount specified under subsection (d)(2);
(D) notwithstanding section 3703 (a)(1) of this title, the amount of the guaranty of the loan may not exceed the greater of
(i)  the original guaranty amount of the loan being refinanced, or
(ii)  25 percent of the loan;
(E) the term of the loan may not exceed the original term of the loan being refinanced by more than 10 years; and
(F) the veteran must own the dwelling or farm residence securing the loan and
(i) must occupy such dwelling or residence as such veterans home;
(ii) must have previously occupied such dwelling or residence as such veterans home and must certify, in such form as the Secretary shall require, that the veteran has previously so occupied such dwelling or residence; or
(iii) in any case in which a veteran is in active duty status as a member of the Armed Forces and is unable to occupy such residence or dwelling as a home because of such status, the spouse of the veteran must occupy, or must have previously occupied, such dwelling or residence as such spouses home and must certify such occupancy in such form as the Secretary shall require.
(2) A loan to a veteran may be guaranteed by the Secretary under this chapter for the purpose specified in clause (8) of subsection (a) of this section without regard to the amount of outstanding guaranty entitlement available for use by such veteran, and the amount of such veterans guaranty entitlement shall not be charged as a result of any guaranty provided for such purpose. For purposes of section 3702 (b) of this title, such loan shall be deemed to have been obtained with the guaranty entitlement used to obtain the loan being refinanced.
(3) If a veteran is deceased and if such veterans surviving spouse was a co-obligor under an existing loan guaranteed, insured, or made under this chapter, such surviving spouse shall, only for the purpose specified in subsection (a)(8) of this section, be deemed to be a veteran eligible for benefits under this chapter.
(f) 
(1) For a loan to be guaranteed for the purpose specified in subclause (A)(ii) or (B)(ii) of subsection (a)(9) of this section, the purchase of (or the refinancing of a loan secured by) the manufactured home and the lot for that home shall be considered as one loan and must comply with such criteria as may be prescribed by the Secretary in regulations.
(2) A loan may not be guaranteed for the purposes of subsection (a)(9) of this section unless the manufactured home purchased, upon being permanently affixed to the lot, is considered to be real property under the laws of the State where the lot is located.
(g) 
(1) For the purposes of this subsection, the term veteran, when used with respect to a loan guaranteed or to be guaranteed under this chapter, includes the veterans spouse if the spouse is jointly liable with the veteran under the loan.
(2) For the purpose of determining whether a veteran meets the standards referred to in subsection (b)(3) of this section and section 3712 (e)(2) of this title, the Secretary shall prescribe regulations which establish
(A) credit underwriting standards to be used in evaluating loans to be guaranteed under this chapter; and
(B) standards to be used by lenders in obtaining credit information and processing loans to be guaranteed under this chapter.
(3) In the regulations prescribed under paragraph (2) of this subsection, the Secretary shall establish standards that include
(A) debt-to-income ratios to apply in the case of the veteran applying for the loan;
(B) criteria for evaluating the reliability and stability of the income of the veteran applying for the loan; and
(C) procedures for ascertaining the monthly income required by the veteran to meet the anticipated loan payment terms.

If the procedures described in clause (C) of this paragraph include standards for evaluating residual income, the Secretary shall, in establishing such standards, give appropriate consideration to State statistics (in States as to which the Secretary determines that such statistics are reliable) pertinent to residual income and the cost of living in the State in question rather than in a larger region.

(4) 
(A) Any lender making a loan under this chapter shall certify, in such form as the Secretary shall prescribe, that the lender has complied with the credit information and loan processing standards established under paragraph (2)(B) of this subsection, and that, to the best of the lenders knowledge and belief, the loan meets the underwriting standards established under paragraph (2)(A) of this subsection.
(B) Any lender who knowingly and willfully makes a false certification under subparagraph (A) of this paragraph shall be liable to the United States Government for a civil penalty equal to two times the amount of the Secretarys loss on the loan involved or to another appropriate amount, not to exceed $10,000, whichever is greater. All determinations necessary to carry out this subparagraph shall be made by the Secretary.
(5) Pursuant to regulations prescribed to carry out this paragraph, the Secretary may, in extraordinary situations, waive the application of the credit underwriting standards established under paragraph (2) of this subsection when the Secretary determines, considering the totality of circumstances, that the veteran is a satisfactory credit risk.
(h) 
(1) A loan may not be guaranteed under subsection (a)(12) unless
(A) the development, project, or structure of the cooperative housing corporation complies with such criteria as the Secretary prescribes in regulations; and
(B) the dwelling unit that the purchase of stock or membership in the development, project, or structure of the cooperative housing corporation entitles the purchaser to occupy is a single family residential unit.
(2) In this subsection, the term cooperative housing corporation has the meaning given such term in section 216(b)(1) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.
(3) When applying the term value of the property to a loan guaranteed under subsection (a)(12), such term means the appraised value of the stock or membership entitling the purchaser to the permanent occupancy of the dwelling unit in the development, project, or structure of the cooperative housing corporation.

38 USC 3711 - Direct loans to veterans

(a) The Congress finds that housing credit for purposes specified in section 3710 or 3712 of this title is not and has not been generally available to veterans living in rural areas, or in small cities and towns not near large metropolitan areas. It is therefore the purpose of this section to provide housing credit for veterans living in such rural areas and such small cities and towns.
(b) Whenever the Secretary finds that private capital is not generally available in any rural area or small city or town for the financing of loans guaranteed for purposes specified in section 3710 or 3712 of this title, the Secretary shall designate such rural area or small city or town as a housing credit shortage area. The Secretary shall, with respect to any such area, make, or enter into commitments to make, to any veteran eligible under this title, a loan for any or all of the purposes described in section 3710 (a) or 3712 of this title (other than the refinancing of a loan under section 3710 (a)(8) or 3712 (a)(1)(F)).
(c) No loan may be made under this section to a veteran unless the veteran shows to the satisfaction of the Secretary that
(1) the veteran is unable to obtain from a private lender in such housing credit shortage area, at an interest rate not in excess of the rate authorized for guaranteed home loans or manufactured home loans, as appropriate, a loan for such purpose for which the veteran is qualified under section 3710 or 3712 of this title, as appropriate; and
(2) the veteran is unable to obtain a loan for such purpose from the Secretary of Agriculture under title III of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1921 et seq.) or title V of the Housing Act of 1949 (42 U.S.C. 1471 et seq.).
(d) 
(1) Loans made under this section shall bear interest at a rate determined by the Secretary, not to exceed the rate authorized for guaranteed home loans, or manufactured home loans, as appropriate, and shall be subject to such requirements or limitations prescribed for loans guaranteed under this title as may be applicable.
(2) 
(A) Except for any loan made under this chapter for the purposes described in section 3712 of this title, the original principal amount of any loan made under this section shall not exceed an amount which bears the same ratio to $33,000 as the amount of guaranty to which the veteran is entitled under section 3710 of this title at the time the loan is made bears to $36,000; and the guaranty entitlement of any veteran who heretofore or hereafter has been granted a loan under this section shall be charged with an amount which bears the same ratio to $36,000 as the amount of the loan bears to $33,000.
(B) The original principal amount of any loan made under this section for the purposes described in section 3712 of this title shall not exceed the amount that bears the same ratio to $33,000 as the amount of guaranty to which the veteran is entitled under such section at the time the loan is made bears to $20,000. The amount of the guaranty entitlement for purposes specified in section 3710 of this title of any veteran who is granted a loan under this section, or who before October 18, 1978, was granted a loan under this section, shall be charged with the amount that bears the same ratio to $20,000 as the amount of the loan bears to $33,000.
(3) No veteran may obtain loans under this section aggregating more than $33,000.
(e) Loans made under this section shall be repaid in monthly installments, except that in the case of any such loan made for any of the purposes described in paragraphs (2), (3), or (4) of section 3710 (a) of this title, the Secretary may provide that such loan shall be repaid in quarterly, semiannual, or annual installments.
(f) In connection with any loan under this section, the Secretary may make advances in cash to pay taxes and assessments on the real estate, to provide for repairs, alterations, and improvements, and to meet the incidental expenses of the transaction. The Secretary shall determine the expenses incident to origination of loans made under this section, which expenses, or a reasonable flat allowance in lieu thereof, shall be paid by the veteran in addition to the loan closing costs.
(g) The Secretary may sell, and shall offer for sale, to any person or entity approved for such purpose by the Secretary, any loan made under this section at a price which the Secretary determines to be reasonable under the conditions prevailing in the mortgage market when the agreement to sell the loan is made; and shall guarantee any loan thus sold subject to the same conditions, terms, and limitations which would be applicable were the loan guaranteed for purposes specified in section 3710 or 3712 of this title, as appropriate.
(h) The Secretary may exempt dwellings constructed through assistance provided by this section from the minimum land planning and subdivision requirements prescribed pursuant to subsection (a) of section 3704 of this title, and with respect to such dwellings may prescribe special minimum land planning and subdivision requirements which shall be in keeping with the general housing facilities in the locality but shall require that such dwellings meet minimum requirements of structural soundness and general acceptability.
(i) The Secretary is authorized, without regard to the provisions of subsections (a), (b), and (c) of this section, to make or enter into a commitment to make a loan to any veteran to assist the veteran in acquiring a specially adapted housing unit authorized under chapter 21 of this title, if the veteran is determined to be eligible for the benefits of such chapter 21, and is eligible for loan guaranty benefits under this chapter.
(j) 
(1) If any builder or sponsor proposes to construct one or more dwellings in a housing credit shortage area, or in any area for a veteran who is determined to be eligible for assistance in acquiring a specially adapted housing unit under chapter 21 of this title, the Secretary may enter into commitment with such builder or sponsor, under which funds available for loans under this section will be reserved for a period not in excess of three months, or such longer period as the Secretary may authorize to meet the needs in any particular case, for the purpose of making loans to veterans to purchase such dwellings. Such commitment may not be assigned or transferred except with the written approval of the Secretary. The Secretary shall not enter into any such commitment unless such builder or sponsor pays a nonrefundable commitment fee to the Secretary in an amount determined by the Secretary, not to exceed 2 percent of the funds reserved for such builder or sponsor.
(2) Whenever the Secretary finds that a dwelling with respect to which funds are being reserved under this subsection has been sold, or contracted to be sold, to a veteran eligible for a direct loan under this section, the Secretary shall enter into a commitment to make the veteran a loan for the purchase of such dwelling. With respect to any loan made to an eligible veteran under this subsection, the Secretary may make advances during the construction of the dwelling, up to a maximum in advances of
(A)  the cost of the land plus
(B)  80 percent of the value of the construction in place.
(k) Without regard to any other provision of this chapter, the Secretary may take or cause to be taken such action as in the Secretarys judgment may be necessary or appropriate for or in connection with the custody, management, protection, and realization or sale of investments under this section, may determine the Secretarys necessary expenses and expenditures, and the manner in which the same shall be incurred, allowed and paid, may make such rules, regulations, and orders as the Secretary may deem necessary or appropriate for carrying out the Secretarys functions under this section and, except as otherwise expressly provided in this chapter, may employ, utilize, compensate, and, to the extent not inconsistent with the Secretarys basic responsibilities under this chapter, delegate any of the Secretarys functions under this section to such persons and such corporate or other agencies, including agencies of the United States, as the Secretary may designate.

38 USC 3712 - Loans to purchase manufactured homes and lots

(a) 
(1) Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, any loan to a veteran eligible for the housing loan benefits of this chapter, if made pursuant to the provisions of this section, may be guaranteed if such loan is for one of the following purposes:
(A) To purchase a lot on which to place a manufactured home already owned by the veteran.
(B) To purchase a single-wide manufactured home.
(C) To purchase a single-wide manufactured home and a lot on which to place such home.
(D) To purchase a double-wide manufactured home.
(E) To purchase a double-wide manufactured home and a lot on which to place such home.
(F) To refinance in accordance with paragraph (4) of this subsection an existing loan guaranteed, insured, or made under this section.
(G) To refinance in accordance with paragraph (5) of this subsection an existing loan that was made for the purchase of, and that is secured by, a manufactured home and to purchase a lot on which such manufactured home is or will be placed.
(2) A loan for any of the purposes described in paragraph (1) of this subsection (other than the refinancing under clause (F) of such paragraph of an existing loan) may include an amount determined by the Secretary to be appropriate to cover the cost of necessary preparation of a lot already owned or to be acquired by the veteran, including the costs of installing utility connections and sanitary facilities, of paving, and of constructing a suitable pad for the manufactured home.
(3) Any loan made for the purposes described in clause (C), (E), or (G) of paragraph (1) of this subsection shall be considered as part of one loan. The transaction may be evidenced by a single loan instrument or by separate loan instruments for
(A)  that portion of the loan which finances the purchase of the manufactured home, and
(B)  that portion of the loan which finances the purchase of the lot and the necessary preparation of such lot.
(4) 
(A) For a loan to be guaranteed for the purpose specified in clause (F) of paragraph (1) of this subsection
(i) the interest rate of the loan must be less than the interest rate of the loan being refinanced;
(ii) the loan must be secured by the same manufactured home or manufactured-home lot, or manufactured home and manufactured-home lot, as was the loan being refinanced;
(iii) the amount of the loan may not exceed an amount equal to the sum of the balance of the loan being refinanced and such closing costs (including any discount permitted pursuant to section 3703 (c)(3)(A) of this title) as may be authorized by the Secretary, under regulations which the Secretary shall prescribe, to be included in such loan;
(iv) notwithstanding section 3703 (a)(1) of this title, the amount of the guaranty of the loan may not exceed the greater of
(I)  the original guaranty amount of the loan being refinanced, or
(II)  25 percent of the loan;
(v) the term of the loan may not exceed the original term of the loan being refinanced;
(vi) the veteran must own the manufactured home, or the manufactured-home lot, or the manufactured home and the manufactured-home lot, securing the loan and
(I) must occupy the home, a manufactured home on the lot, or the home and the lot, securing the loan;
(II) must have previously occupied the home, a manufactured home on the lot, or the home and the lot, securing the loan as the veterans home and must certify, in such form as the Secretary shall require, that the veteran has previously so occupied the home (or such a home on the lot); or
(III) in any case in which a veteran is in active duty status as a member of the Armed Forces and is unable to occupy the home, a manufactured home on the lot, or the home and the lot, as a home because of such status, the spouse of the veteran must occupy, or must have previously occupied, the manufactured home on the lot, or the home and the lot, as such spouses home and must certify such occupancy in such form as the Secretary shall require.
(B) A loan to a veteran may be guaranteed by the Secretary under this chapter for the purpose specified in clause (F) of paragraph (1) of this subsection without regard to the amount of outstanding guaranty entitlement available for use by such veteran, and the amount of such veterans guaranty entitlement shall not be charged as a result of any guaranty provided for such purpose. For purposes of section 3702 (b) of this title, such loan shall be deemed to have been obtained with the guaranty entitlement used to obtain the loan being refinanced.
(C) If a veteran is deceased and if such veterans surviving spouse was a co-obligor under an existing loan previously guaranteed, insured, or made for purposes specified in this section, such surviving spouse shall, only for the purpose specified in clause (F) of paragraph (1) of this subsection, be deemed to be a veteran eligible for benefits under this chapter.
(5) 
(A) For a loan to be guaranteed for the purpose specified in paragraph (1)(G) of this subsection or section 3710 (a)(9)(B)(ii) of this title
(i) the loan must be secured by the same manufactured home as was the loan being refinanced and such manufactured home must be owned and occupied by the veteran (except as provided in section 3704 (c)(2) of this title) as such veterans home; and
(ii) the amount of the loan may not exceed an amount equal to the sum of
(I) the purchase price of the lot,
(II) the amount (if any) determined by the Secretary to be appropriate under paragraph (2) of this subsection to cover the cost of necessary preparation of such lot,
(III) the balance of the loan being refinanced, and
(IV) such closing costs (including any discount permitted pursuant to section 3703 (c)(3)(E) of this title) as may be authorized by the Secretary, under regulations which the Secretary shall prescribe, to be included in such loan.
(B) When a loan is made to a veteran for the purpose specified in paragraph (1)(G) of this subsection or section 3710 (a)(9)(B)(ii) of this title, and the loan being refinanced was guaranteed, insured, or made under this section, the portion of the loan made for the purpose of refinancing such loan may be guaranteed by the Secretary under this chapter without regard to the amount of outstanding guaranty entitlement available for use by such veteran, and the amount of such veterans guaranty entitlement shall not be charged as a result of any guaranty provided for such portion of such loan. For the purposes of section 3702 (b) of this title, such portion of such loan shall be deemed to have been obtained with the guaranty entitlement used to obtain the loan being refinanced.
(b) 
(1) Use of entitlement for purposes specified in this section for the purchase of a manufactured home unit shall preclude the use of remaining entitlement for the purchase of an additional manufactured home unit until the unit which secured the loan has been disposed of by the veteran or has been destroyed by fire or other natural hazard.
(2) The Secretary shall restore entitlement to all housing loan benefits under this chapter for the veteran when the conditions prescribed in section 3702 (b) of this title have been met.
(c) 
(1) Loans for any of the purposes authorized by subsection (a) of this section shall be submitted to the Secretary for approval prior to the closing of the loan, except that the Secretary may exempt any lender of a class listed in section 3702 (d) of this title from compliance with such prior approval requirement if the Secretary determines that the experience of such lender or class of lenders in manufactured home financing warrants such exemption.
(2) Upon determining that a loan submitted for prior approval is eligible for guaranty for purposes specified in this section, the Secretary shall issue a commitment to guarantee such loan and shall thereafter guarantee the loan when made if such loan qualifies therefor in all respects.
(3) 
(A) The Secretarys guaranty may not exceed the lesser of
(i)  the lesser of $20,000 or 40 percent of the loan, or
(ii)  the maximum amount of the guaranty entitlement available to the veteran as specified in paragraph (4) of this subsection.
(B) A claim under the Secretarys guaranty shall, at the election of the holder of a loan, be made by the filing of an accounting with the Secretary
(i) within a reasonable time after the receipt by such holder of an appraisal by the Secretary of the value of the security for the loan; or
(ii) after liquidation of the security for the loan.
(C) If the holder of a loan applies for payment of a claim under clause (i) of subparagraph (B) of this paragraph, the amount of such claim payable by the Secretary shall be the lesser of
(i) the amount equal to the excess, if any, of the total indebtedness over the amount of the appraisal referred to in such clause; or
(ii) the amount equal to the guaranty under this section.
(D) If the holder of a loan files for payment of a claim under clause (ii) of subparagraph (B) of this paragraph, the amount of such claim payable by the Secretary shall be the lesser of
(i) the amount equal to the excess, if any, of the total indebtedness over the greater of the value of the property securing the loan, as determined by the Secretary, or the amount of the liquidation or resale proceeds; or
(ii) the amount equal to the guaranty under this section.
(E) In any accounting filed pursuant to subparagraph (B)(ii) of this paragraph, the Secretary shall permit to be included therein accrued unpaid interest from the date of the first uncured default to such cutoff date as the Secretary may establish, and the Secretary shall allow the holder of the loan to charge against the liquidation or resale proceeds accrued interest from the cutoff date established to such further date as the Secretary may determine and such costs and expenses as the Secretary determines to be reasonable and proper.
(F) The liability of the United States under the guaranty provided for by this paragraph shall decrease or increase pro rata with any decrease or increase of the amount of the unpaid portion of the obligation.
(4) The maximum amount of guaranty entitlement available to a veteran for purposes specified in this section shall be $20,000 reduced by the amount of any such entitlement previously used by the veteran. Use of entitlement for purposes specified in section 3710 or 3711 of this title shall reduce entitlement available for use for purposes specified in this section to the same extent that entitlement available for purposes specified in such section 3710 is reduced below $20,000.
(5) The amount of any loan guaranteed for purposes specified in this section shall not exceed an amount equal to 95 percent of the purchase price of the property securing the loan.
(d) 
(1) The maturity of any loan guaranteed for purposes specified in this section shall not be more than
(A) fifteen years and thirty-two days, in the case of a loan for the purchase of a lot;
(B) twenty years and thirty-two days, in the case of a loan for the purchase of
(i) a single-wide manufactured home; or
(ii) a single-wide manufactured home and a lot;
(C) twenty-three years and thirty-two days, in the case of a loan for the purchase of a double-wide manufactured home; or
(D) twenty-five years and thirty-two days, in the case of a loan for the purchase of a double-wide manufactured home and a lot.
(2) Nothing in paragraph (1) of this subsection shall preclude the Secretary, under regulations which the Secretary shall prescribe, from consenting to necessary advances for the protection of the security or the holders lien, to a reasonable extension of the term of such loan, or to a reasonable reamortization of such loan.
(e) No loan shall be guaranteed for purposes specified in this section unless
(1) the loan is repayable in approximately equal monthly installments;
(2) the terms of repayment bear a proper relationship to the veterans present and anticipated income and expenses, and the veteran is a satisfactory credit risk, as determined in accordance with the regulations prescribed under section 3710 (g) of this title and taking into account the purpose of this program to make available lower cost housing to low and lower income veterans, especially those who have been recently discharged or released from active military, naval, or air service, who may not have previously established credit ratings;
(3) the loan is secured by a first lien on the manufactured home purchased with the proceeds of the loan and on any lot acquired or improved with the proceeds of the loan;
(4) the amount of the loan to be paid by the veteran is not in excess of the amount determined to be reasonable, based upon
(A) with respect to any portion of the loan to purchase a new manufactured home, such cost factors as the Secretary considers proper to take into account;
(B) with respect to any portion of the loan to purchase a used manufactured home, the reasonable value of the property, as determined by the Secretary;
(C) with respect to any portion of the loan to purchase a lot, the reasonable value of such lot, as determined by the Secretary; and
(D) with respect to any portion of the loan to cover the cost of necessary site preparation, an appropriate amount, as determined by the Secretary;
(5) the veteran certifies, in such form as the Secretary shall prescribe, that the veteran will personally occupy the property as the veterans home; except that the requirement of this clause shall not apply (A) in the case of a guaranteed loan that is for the purpose described in paragraph (1)(F) of subsection (a), or (B) in the case described in section 3704 (c)(2);
(6) the manufactured home is or will be placed on a site which meets specifications which the Secretary shall establish by regulation; and
(7) the interest rate to be charged on the loan does not exceed the permissible rate established by the Secretary.
(f) The Secretary shall establish such rate of interest for manufactured home loans and manufactured home lot loans as the Secretary determines to be necessary in order to assure a reasonable supply of manufactured home loan financing for veterans for purposes specified in this section.
(g) The Secretary shall promulgate such regulations as the Secretary determines to be necessary or appropriate in order to fully implement the provisions of this section, and such regulations may specify which provisions in other sections of this chapter the Secretary determines should be applicable to loans guaranteed or made for purposes specified in this section. The Secretary shall have such powers and responsibilities in respect to matters arising under this section as the Secretary has in respect to loans made or guaranteed or under other sections of this chapter.
(h) 
(1) No loan for the purchase of a manufactured home shall be guaranteed for purposes specified in this section unless the manufactured home and lot, if any, meet or exceed standards for planning, construction, and general acceptability as prescribed by the Secretary and no loan for the purchase of a lot on which to place a manufactured home owned by a veteran shall be guaranteed for purposes specified in this section unless the lot meets such standards prescribed for manufactured home lots. Such standards shall be designed to encourage the maintenance and development of sites for manufactured homes which will be attractive residential areas and which will be free from, and not substantially contribute to, adverse scenic or environmental conditions.
(2) Any manufactured housing unit properly displaying a certification of conformity to all applicable Federal manufactured home construction and safety standards pursuant to section 616 of the National Manufactured Housing Construction and Safety Standards Act of 1974 (42 U.S.C. 5415) shall be deemed to meet the standards required by paragraph (1).
(i) The Secretary shall require the manufacturer to become a warrantor of any new manufactured home which is approved for purchase with financing through the assistance of this chapter and to furnish to the purchaser a written warranty in such form as the Secretary shall require. Such warranty shall include (1) a specific statement that the manufactured home meets the standards prescribed by the Secretary pursuant to the provisions of subsection (h) of this section; and (2) a provision that the warrantors liability to the purchaser or owner is limited under the warranty to instances of substantial nonconformity to such standards which become evident within one year from date of purchase and as to which the purchaser or owner gives written notice to the warrantor not later than ten days after the end of the warranty period. The warranty prescribed herein shall be in addition to, and not in derogation of, all other rights and privileges which such purchaser or owner may have under any other law or instrument and shall so provide in the warranty document.
(j) Subject to notice and opportunity for a hearing, the Secretary is authorized to deny guaranteed or direct loan financing in the case of
(1) manufactured homes constructed by a manufacturer who fails or is unable to discharge the manufacturers obligations under the warranty;
(2) manufactured homes which are determined by the Secretary not to conform to the standards provided for in subsection (h); or
(3) a manufacturer of manufactured homes who has engaged in procedures or practices determined by the Secretary to be unfair or prejudicial to veterans or the Government.
(k) Subject to notice and opportunity for a hearing, the Secretary may refuse to approve as acceptable any site in a manufactured home park or subdivision owned or operated by any person whose rental or sale methods, procedures, requirements, or practices are determined by the Secretary to be unfair or prejudicial to veterans renting or purchasing such sites. The Secretary may also refuse to guarantee or make direct loans for veterans to purchase manufactured homes offered for sale by any dealer if substantial deficiencies have been discovered in such homes, or if the Secretary determines that there has been a failure or indicated inability of the dealer to discharge contractual liabilities to veterans, or that the type of contract of sale or methods, procedures, or practices pursued by the dealer in the marketing of such properties have been unfair or prejudicial to veteran purchasers.
(l) The provisions of sections 3704 (d) and 3721 of this title shall be fully applicable to lenders making guaranteed manufactured home loans and manufactured home lot loans and holders of such loans.

38 USC 3713 - Release from liability under guaranty

(a) Whenever any veteran disposes of residential property securing a guaranteed, insured, or direct housing loan obtained by the veteran, the Secretary, upon application made by such veteran and by the transferee incident to such disposal, shall issue to such veteran in connection with such disposal a release relieving the veteran of all further liability to the Secretary on account of such loan (including liability for any loss resulting from any default of the transferee or any subsequent purchaser of such property) if the Secretary has determined, after such investigation as the Secretary may deem appropriate, that
(1)  the loan is current, and
(2)  the purchaser of such property from such veteran
(A)  is obligated by contract to purchase such property and to assume full liability for the repayment of the balance of the loan remaining unpaid, and has assumed by contract all of the obligations of the veteran under the terms of the instruments creating and securing the loan, and
(B)  qualifies from a credit standpoint, to the same extent as if the transferee were a veteran eligible for purposes specified in section 3710 of this title, for a guaranteed or insured or direct loan in an amount equal to the unpaid balance of the obligation for which the transferee has assumed liability.
(b) If any veteran disposes of residential property securing a guaranteed, insured, or direct housing loan obtained by the veteran under this chapter without receiving a release from liability with respect to such loan under subsection (a), and a default subsequently occurs which results in liability of the veteran to the Secretary on account of the loan, the Secretary may relieve the veteran of such liability if the Secretary determines, after such investigation as the Secretary deems appropriate, that the property was disposed of by the veteran in such a manner, and subject to such conditions, that the Secretary would have issued the veteran a release from liability under subsection (a) with respect to the loan if the veteran had made application therefor incident to such disposal. Failure of a transferee to assume by contract all of the liabilities of the original veteran-borrower shall bar such release of liability only in cases in which no acceptable transferee, either immediate or remote, is legally liable to the Secretary for the indebtedness of the original veteran-borrower arising from termination of the loan. The failure of a veteran to qualify for release from liability under this subsection does not preclude relief from being granted under section 5302 (b) of this title, if the veteran is eligible for relief under that section.
(c) This section shall apply only to loans for which commitments are made before March 1, 1988.

38 USC 3714 - Assumptions; release from liability

(a) 
(1) Except as provided in subsection (f) of this section, if a veteran or any other person disposes of residential property securing a loan guaranteed, insured, or made under this chapter and the veteran or other person notifies the holder of the loan in writing before the property is disposed of, the veteran or other person, as the case may be, shall be relieved of all further liability to the Secretary with respect to the loan (including liability for any loss resulting from any default of the purchaser or any subsequent owner of the property) and the application for assumption shall be approved if the holder determines that
(A) the loan is current; and
(B) the purchaser of the property from such veteran or other person
(i) is obligated by contract to purchase such property and to assume full liability for the repayment of the balance of the loan remaining unpaid and has assumed by contract all of the obligations of the veteran under the terms of the instruments creating and securing the loan; and
(ii) qualifies from a credit standpoint, to the same extent as if the purchaser were a veteran eligible under section 3710 of this title, for a guaranteed or insured or direct loan in an amount equal to the unpaid balance of the obligation for which the purchaser is to assume liability.
(2) For the purposes of paragraph (1), paragraph (3), and paragraph (4)(C)(ii) of this subsection, the Secretary shall be considered to be the holder of the loan if the actual holder is not an approved lender described in section 3702.
(3) If the holder of the loan determines that the loan is not current or that the purchaser of the property does not meet the requirements of paragraph (1)(B) of this subsection, the holder shall
(A) notify the transferor and the Secretary of such determination; and
(B) notify the transferor that the transferor may appeal the determination to the Secretary.
(4) 
(A) Upon the appeal of the transferor after a determination described in paragraph (3) is made, the Secretary shall, in a timely manner, review and make a determination (or a redetermination in any case in which the Secretary made the determination described in such paragraph) with respect to whether the loan is current and whether the purchaser of the property meets the requirements of paragraph (1)(B) of this subsection. The Secretary shall transmit, in writing, a notice of the nature of such determination to the transferor and the holder and shall inform them of the action that shall or may be taken under subparagraph (B) of this paragraph as a result of the determination of the Secretary.
(B) 
(i) If the Secretary determines under subparagraph (A) of this paragraph that the loan is current and that the purchaser meets the requirements of paragraph (1)(B) of this subsection, the holder shall approve the assumption of the loan, and the transferor shall be relieved of all liability to the Secretary with respect to such loan.
(ii) If the Secretary determines under subparagraph (A) of this paragraph that the purchaser does not meet the requirements of paragraph (1)(B) of this subsection, the Secretary may direct the holder to approve the assumption of the loan if
(I) the Secretary determines that the transferor of the property is unable to make payments on the loan and has made reasonable efforts to find a buyer who meets the requirements of paragraph (1)(B) of this subsection and that, as a result, the proposed transfer is in the best interests of the Department and the transferor;
(II) the transferor has requested, within 15 days after receiving the notice referred to in subparagraph (A) of this paragraph, that the Secretary approve the assumption; and
(III) the transferor will, upon assumption of the loan by the purchaser, be secondarily liable on the loan.
(C) If
(i) the loan is not approved for assumption under subparagraph (B) of this paragraph or paragraph (1) of this subsection; or
(ii) no appeal is made by the transferor under subparagraph (A) of this paragraph within 30 days after the holder informs the transferor of its determination under paragraph (3) of this subsection,

the holder may demand immediate, full payment of the principal, and all interest earned thereon, of such loan if the transferor disposes of the property.

(b) If a person disposes of residential property described in subsection (a)(1) of this section and the person fails to notify the holder of the loan before the property is disposed of, the holder, upon learning of such action by the person, may demand immediate and full payment of the principal, interest, and all other amounts owing under the terms of the loan.
(c) 
(1) In any case in which the holder of a loan described in subsection (a)(1) of this section has knowledge of a persons disposing of residential property securing the loan, the holder shall notify the Secretary of such action.
(2) If the holder fails to notify the Secretary in such a case, the holder shall be liable to the Secretary for any damage sustained by the Secretary as a result of the holders failure, as determined at the time the Secretary is required to make payments in accordance with any insurance or guaranty provided by the Secretary with respect to the loan concerned.
(d) With respect to a loan guaranteed, insured, or made under this chapter, the Secretary shall provide, by regulation, that at least one instrument evidencing either the loan or the mortgage or deed of trust therefor, shall conspicuously contain, in such form as the Secretary shall specify, a notice in substantially the following form: This loan is not assumable without the approval of the Department of Veterans Affairs or its authorized agent.
(e) The Secretary shall establish in regulations a reasonable amount as the maximum amount that a lender may charge for processing an application for a creditworthiness determination and assumption of a loan pursuant to this section. Such regulations shall establish requirements for the timely processing of applications for acceptance of assumptions.
(f) 
(1) This section shall apply
(A) in the case of loans other than loans to finance the purchase of real property described in section 3733 (a)(1) of this title, only to loans for which commitments are made on or after March 1, 1988; and
(B) in the case of loans to finance the purchase of such property, only to loans which are closed after January 1, 1989.
(2) This section shall not apply to a loan which the Secretary has sold without recourse.

3715 to 3719. Vacant]

TITLE 38 - US CODE - SUBCHAPTER III - ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS

38 USC 3720 - Powers of Secretary

(a) Notwithstanding the provisions of any other law, with respect to matters arising by reason of this chapter, the Secretary may
(1) sue and be sued in the Secretarys official capacity in any court of competent jurisdiction, State or Federal, but nothing in this clause shall be construed as authorizing garnishment or attachment against the Secretary, the Department of Veterans Affairs, or any of its employees;
(2) subject to specific limitations in this chapter, consent to the modification, with respect to rate of interest, time of payment of principal or interest or any portion thereof, security or other provisions of any note, contract, mortgage or other instrument securing a loan which has been guaranteed, insured, made or acquired under this chapter;
(3) pay, or compromise, any claim on, or arising because of, any such guaranty or insurance;
(4) pay, compromise, waive or release any right, title, claim, lien or demand, however acquired, including any equity or any right of redemption;
(5) purchase at any sale, public or private, upon such terms and for such prices as the Secretary determines to be reasonable, and take title to, property, real, personal or mixed; and similarly sell, at public or private sale, exchange, assign, convey, or otherwise dispose of any such property; and
(6) complete, administer, operate, obtain and pay for insurance on, and maintain, renovate, repair, modernize, lease, or otherwise deal with any property acquired or held pursuant to this chapter. The acquisition of any such property shall not deprive any State or political subdivision thereof of its civil or criminal jurisdiction of, on, or over such property (including power to tax) or impair the rights under the State or local law of any persons on such property. Without regard to section 3302 (b) of title 31 or any other provision of law not expressly in limitation of this paragraph, the Secretary may permit brokers utilized by the Secretary in connection with such properties to deduct from rental collections amounts covering authorized fees, costs, and expenses incurred in connection with the management, repair, sale, or lease of any such properties and remit the net balances to the Secretary.
(b) The powers granted by this section may be exercised by the Secretary without regard to any other provision of law not enacted expressly in limitation of this section, which otherwise would govern the expenditure of public funds, except that title III of the Federal Property and Administrative Services Act of 1949 (41 U.S.C. 251 et seq.) shall apply to any contract for services or supplies on account of any property acquired pursuant to this section.
(c) The financial transactions of the Secretary incident to, or arising out of, the guaranty or insurance of loans pursuant to this chapter, and the acquisition, management, and disposition of property, real, personal, or mixed, incident to such activities and pursuant to this section, shall be final and conclusive upon all officers of the Government.
(d) The right to redeem provided for by section 2410 (c) of title 28 shall not arise in any case in which the subordinate lien or interest of the United States derives from a guaranteed or insured loan.
[(e) Repealed. Pub. L. 105–368, title VI, § 602(c)(1), Nov. 11, 1998, 112 Stat. 3346.]
(f) Whenever loss, destruction, or damage to any residential property securing loans guaranteed, insured, made, or acquired by the Secretary under this chapter occurs as the result of a major disaster as determined by the President under the Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5121 et seq.), the Secretary shall
(1)  provide counseling and such other service to the owner of such property as may be feasible and shall inform such owner concerning the disaster assistance available from other Federal agencies and from State or local agencies, and
(2)  pursuant to subsection (a)(2) of this section, extend on an individual case basis such forebearance or indulgence to such owner as the Secretary determines to be warranted by the facts of the case and the circumstances of such owner.
(g) The Secretary shall, at the request of the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development and without reimbursement, certify to such Secretary whether an applicant for assistance under any law administered by the Department of Housing and Urban Development is a veteran.
(h) 
(1) The Secretary may, upon such terms and conditions as the Secretary considers appropriate, issue or approve the issuance of, and guarantee the timely payment of principal and interest on, certificates or other securities evidencing an interest in a pool of mortgage loans made in connection with the sale of properties acquired under this chapter.
(2) The Secretary may not under this subsection guarantee the payment of principal and interest on certificates or other securities issued or approved after December 31, 2011.

38 USC 3721 - Incontestability

Any evidence of guaranty or insurance issued by the Secretary shall be conclusive evidence of the eligibility of the loan for guaranty or insurance under the provisions of this chapter and of the amount of such guaranty or insurance. Nothing in this section shall preclude the Secretary from establishing, as against the original lender, defenses based on fraud or material misrepresentation. The Secretary shall not, by reason of anything contained in this section, be barred from establishing, by regulations in force at the date of such issuance or disbursement, whichever is the earlier, partial defenses to the amount payable on the guaranty or insurance.

38 USC 3722 - Veterans Housing Benefit Program Fund

(a) There is hereby established in the Treasury of the United States a fund known as the Veterans Housing Benefit Program Fund (hereinafter in this section referred to as the Fund).
(b) The Fund shall be available to the Secretary, without fiscal year limitation, for all housing loan operations under this chapter, other than administrative expenses, consistent with the Federal Credit Reform Act of 1990.
(c) There shall be deposited into the Fund the following, which shall constitute the assets of the Fund:
(1) Any amount appropriated to the Fund.
(2) Amounts paid into the Fund under section 3729 of this title or any other provision of law or regulation established by the Secretary imposing fees on persons or other entities participating in the housing loan programs under this chapter.
(3) All other amounts received by the Secretary on or after October 1, 1998, incident to housing loan operations under this chapter, including
(A) collections of principal and interest on housing loans made by the Secretary under this chapter;
(B) proceeds from the sale, rental, use, or other disposition of property acquired under this chapter;
(C) proceeds from the sale of loans pursuant to sections 3720 (h) and 3733 (a)(3) of this title; and
(D) penalties collected pursuant to section 3710 (g)(4)(B) of this title.
(d) Amounts deposited into the Fund under paragraphs (2) and (3) of subsection (c) shall be deposited in the appropriate financing or liquidating account of the Fund.
(e) For purposes of this section, the term housing loan shall not include a loan made pursuant to subchapter V of this chapter.

3723 to 3725. Repealed. Pub. L. 105368, title VI, 602(a)(1), Nov. 11, 1998, 112 Stat. 3345]

Section 3723, Pub. L. 85–857, Sept. 2, 1958, 72 Stat. 1214, 1823; Pub. L. 86–73, § 4, June 30, 1959, 73 Stat. 156; Pub. L. 86–665, § 4, July 14, 1960, 74 Stat. 532; Pub. L. 87–84, § 3, July 6, 1961, 75 Stat. 202; Pub. L. 88–274, Feb. 29, 1964, 78 Stat. 147; Pub. L. 88–560, title VII, § 701(e)(2), Sept. 2, 1964, 78 Stat. 801; Pub. L. 94–324, §§ 6, 7 (27), June 30, 1976, 90 Stat. 721, 722; Pub. L. 97–295, § 4(68), Oct. 12, 1982, 96 Stat. 1310; Pub. L. 97–452, § 2(e)(2), Jan. 12, 1983, 96 Stat. 2479; Pub. L. 99–576, title IV, § 405, Oct. 28, 1986, 100 Stat. 3281; Pub. L. 101–237, title III, § 313(b)(1), (8), (9), Dec. 18, 1989, 103 Stat. 2077, 2078; renumbered 3723 and amended Pub. L. 102–83, § 5(a), (c)(1), Aug. 6, 1991, 105 Stat. 406, related to direct loan revolving fund. See section 3722 of this title. Section 3724, added Pub. L. 86–665, § 7(a), July 14, 1960, 74 Stat. 532, 1824; amended Pub. L. 94–324, § 7(28), June 30, 1976, 90 Stat. 722; Pub. L. 97–72, title III, § 303(j), Nov. 3, 1981, 95 Stat. 1060; Pub. L. 98–369, div. B, title V, 2511(b), July 18, 1984, 98 Stat. 1117; Pub. L. 99–322, § 2(a), May 23, 1986, 100 Stat. 494; Pub. L. 100–689, title III, § 303, Nov. 18, 1988, 102 Stat. 4177; Pub. L. 101–237, title III, §§ 302(a)(2), (3)(A), (c), 313 (b)(1), (2), Dec. 18, 1989, 103 Stat. 2070, 2071, 2077; renumbered 3724 and amended Pub. L. 102–83, § 5(a), (c)(1), Aug. 6, 1991, 105 Stat. 406, related to Loan Guaranty Revolving Fund. See section 3722 of this title. Section 3725, Pub. L. 85–857, Sept. 2, 1958, 72 Stat. 1215, 1824; renumbered 1825, Pub. L. 86–665, § 7(a), July 14, 1960, 74 Stat. 532; amended Pub. L. 94–324, § 7(29), June 30, 1976, 90 Stat. 722; Pub. L. 101–237, title III, § 302(a)(1), Dec. 18, 1989, 103 Stat. 2069; Pub. L. 102–54, § 15(a)(2), June 13, 1991, 105 Stat. 289; renumbered 3725 and amended Pub. L. 102–83, § 5(a), (c)(1), Aug. 6, 1991, 105 Stat. 406; Pub. L. 102–547, § 2(b)(2), Oct. 28, 1992, 106 Stat. 3634, related to Guaranty and Indemnity Fund. See section 3722 of this title.

38 USC 3726 - Withholding of payments, benefits, etc.

(a) No officer, employee, department, or agency of the United States shall set off against, or otherwise withhold from, any veteran or the surviving spouse of any veteran any payments (other than benefit payments under any law administered by the Department of Veterans Affairs) which such veteran or surviving spouse would otherwise be entitled to receive because of any liability to the Secretary allegedly arising out of any loan made to, assumed by, or guaranteed or insured on account of, such veteran or surviving spouse under this chapter, unless the Secretary provides such veteran or surviving spouse with notice by certified mail with return receipt requested of the authority of the Secretary to waive the payment of indebtedness under section 5302 (b) of this title.
(b) If the Secretary does not waive the entire amount of the liability, the Secretary shall then determine whether the veteran or surviving spouse should be released from liability under section 3713 (b) of this title.
(c) If the Secretary determines that the veteran or surviving spouse should not be released from liability, the Secretary shall notify the veteran or surviving spouse of that determination and provide a notice of the procedure for appealing that determination, unless the Secretary has previously made such determination and notified the veteran or surviving spouse of the procedure for appealing the determination.

38 USC 3727 - Expenditures to correct or compensate for structural defects in mortgaged homes

(a) The Secretary is authorized, with respect to any property improved by a one- to four-family dwelling inspected during construction by the Department of Veterans Affairs or the Federal Housing Administration which the Secretary finds to have structural defects seriously affecting the livability of the property, to make expenditures for
(1)  correcting such defects,
(2)  paying the claims of the owner of the property arising from such defects, or
(3)  acquiring title to the property; except that such authority of the Secretary shall exist only
(A)  if the owner requests assistance under this section not later than four years (or such shorter time as the Secretary may prescribe) after the mortgage loan was made, guaranteed, or insured, and
(B)  if the property is encumbered by a mortgage which is made, guaranteed, or insured under this chapter after May 7, 1968.
(b) The Secretary shall by regulation prescribe the terms and conditions under which expenditures and payments may be made under the provisions of this section, and the Secretarys decisions regarding such expenditures or payments, and the terms and conditions under which the same are approved or disapproved, shall be final and conclusive, and shall not be subject to judicial review.
(c) The Secretary is authorized to make expenditures for the purposes of this section from the fund established pursuant to section 3722 of this title.

38 USC 3728 - Exemption from State anti-usury provisions

If, under any law of the United States, loans and mortgages insured under title I or title II of the National Housing Act are exempt from the application of the provisions of any State constitution or law
(1)  limiting the rate or amount of interest, discount points, or other charges which may be charged, taken, received, or reserved by lenders,
(2)  restricting the manner of calculating such interest (including prohibition of the charging of interest on interest), or
(3)  requiring a minimum amortization of principal, then loans guaranteed or insured under this chapter are also exempt from the application of such provisions.

38 USC 3729 - Loan fee

(a) Requirement of Fee.— 

(1) Except as provided in subsection (c), a fee shall be collected from each person obtaining a housing loan guaranteed, insured, or made under this chapter, and each person assuming a loan to which section 3714 of this title applies. No such loan may be guaranteed, insured, made, or assumed until the fee payable under this section has been remitted to the Secretary.
(2) The fee may be included in the loan and paid from the proceeds thereof.
(b) Determination of Fee.— 

(1) The amount of the fee shall be determined from the loan fee table in paragraph (2). The fee is expressed as a percentage of the total amount of the loan guaranteed, insured, or made, or, in the case of a loan assumption, the unpaid principal balance of the loan on the date of the transfer of the property.
(2) The loan fee table referred to in paragraph (1) is as follows:
(3) Any reference to a section in the Type of loan column in the loan fee table in paragraph (2) refers to a section of this title.
(4) For the purposes of paragraph (2):
(A) The term active duty veteran means any veteran eligible for the benefits of this chapter other than a Reservist.
(B) The term Reservist means a veteran described in section 3701 (b)(5)(A) of this title who is eligible under section 3702 (a)(2)(E) of this title.
(C) The term other obligor means a person who is not a veteran, as defined in section 101 of this title or other provision of this chapter.
(D) The term initial loan means a loan to a veteran guaranteed under section 3710 or made under section 3711 of this title if the veteran has never obtained a loan guaranteed under section 3710 or made under section 3711 of this title.
(E) The term subsequent loan means a loan to a veteran, other than an interest rate reduction refinancing loan, guaranteed under section 3710 or made under section 3711 of this title if the veteran has previously obtained a loan guaranteed under section 3710 or made under section 3711 of this title.
(F) The term interest rate reduction refinancing loan means a loan described in section 3710 (a)(8), 3710 (a)(9)(B)(i), 3710 (a)(11), 3712 (a)(1)(F), or 3762 (h) of this title.
(G) The term 0-down means a downpayment, if any, of less than 5 percent of the total purchase price or construction cost of the dwelling.
(H) The term 5-down means a downpayment of at least 5 percent or more, but less than 10 percent, of the total purchase price or construction cost of the dwelling.
(I) The term 10-down means a downpayment of 10 percent or more of the total purchase price or construction cost of the dwelling.
(c) Waiver of Fee.— 

(1) A fee may not be collected under this section from a veteran who is receiving compensation (or who, but for the receipt of retirement pay, would be entitled to receive compensation) or from a surviving spouse of any veteran (including a person who died in the active military, naval, or air service) who died from a service-connected disability.
(2) A veteran who is rated eligible to receive compensation as a result of a pre-discharge disability examination and rating shall be treated as receiving compensation for purposes of this subsection as of the date on which the veteran is rated eligible to receive compensation as a result of the pre-discharge disability examination and rating without regard to whether an effective date of the award of compensation is established as of that date.

38 USC 3730 - Use of attorneys in court

(a) The Secretary shall authorize attorneys employed by the Department of Veterans Affairs to exercise the right of the United States to bring suit in court to foreclose a loan made or acquired by the Secretary under this chapter and to recover possession of any property acquired by the Secretary under this chapter. The Secretary may acquire the services of attorneys, other than those who are employees of the Department of Veterans Affairs, to exercise that right. The activities of attorneys in bringing suit under this section shall be subject to the direction and supervision of the Attorney General and to such terms and conditions as the Attorney General may prescribe.
(b) Nothing in this section derogates from the authority of the Attorney General under sections 516 and 519 of title 28 to direct and supervise all litigation to which the United States or an agency or officer of the United States is a party.

38 USC 3731 - Appraisals

(a) The Secretary shall
(1) subject to subsection (b)(2) and in consultation with appropriate representatives of institutions which are regularly engaged in making housing loans, prescribe uniform qualifications for appraisers, including the successful completion of a written test, submission of a sample appraisal, certification of an appropriate number of years of experience as an appraiser, and submission of recommendations from other appraisers;
(2) use such qualifications in determining whether to approve an appraiser to make appraisals of the reasonable value of any property, construction, repairs, or alterations for the purposes of this chapter; and
(3) in consultation with local representatives of institutions described in clause (1) of this subsection, develop and maintain lists of appraisers who are approved under clause (2) of this subsection to make appraisals for the purposes of this chapter.
(b) 
(1) The Secretary shall select appraisers from a list required by subsection (a)(3) of this section on a rotating basis to make appraisals for the purposes of this chapter.
(2) If uniform qualifications become applicable for appraisers who perform appraisals for or in connection with the Federal Government, the qualifications required by subsection (a)(1) of this section may be more stringent than such uniform qualifications, but the Secretary may use no written test in determining the qualifications of appraisers other than the test prescribed to implement such uniform qualifications.
(c) Except as provided in subsection (f) of this section, the appraiser shall forward an appraisal report to the Secretary for review. Upon receipt of such report, the Secretary shall determine the reasonable value of the property, construction, repairs, or alterations for purposes of this chapter, and notify the veteran of such determination. Upon request, the Secretary shall furnish a copy of the appraisal made of property for the purposes of this chapter to the lender proposing to make the loan which is to be secured by such property and is to be guaranteed under this chapter.
(d) If a lender (other than a lender authorized under subsection (f) of this section to determine reasonable value)
(1) has proposed to make a loan to be guaranteed under this chapter,
(2) has been furnished a certificate of reasonable value of any property or of any construction, repairs, or alterations of property which is to be the security for such loan, and
(3) within a reasonable period prescribed by the Secretary, has furnished to the Secretary an additional appraisal of the reasonable value of such property, construction, repairs, or alterations which was made by an appraiser selected by the lender from the list required by subsection (a)(3) of this section,

the Secretary shall consider both the initial appraisal and the additional appraisal and shall, if appropriate, issue a revised certificate of reasonable value of such property, construction, repairs, or alterations.

(e) 
(1) In no case may a veteran be required to pay all or any portion of the cost of the additional appraisal described in subsection (d)(3) of this section.
(2) If a veteran, within a reasonable period prescribed by the Secretary, has furnished to the Secretary an additional appraisal of the reasonable value of such property, construction, repairs, or alterations which was made by an appraiser selected by the veteran from the list required by subsection (a)(3) of this section, the Secretary shall consider such appraisal, along with other appraisals furnished to the Secretary, and shall, if appropriate, issue a revised certificate of reasonable value of such property, construction, repairs, or alterations.
(f) 
(1) Subject to the provisions of paragraphs (2) and (3) of this subsection, the Secretary may, in accordance with standards and procedures established in regulations prescribed by the Secretary, authorize a lender to determine the reasonable value of property for the purposes of this chapter if the lender is authorized to make loans which are automatically guaranteed under section 3702 (d) of this title. In such a case, the appraiser selected by the Secretary pursuant to subsection (b) of this section shall submit the appraisal report directly to the lender for review, and the lender shall, as soon as possible thereafter, furnish a copy of the appraisal to the veteran who is applying for the loan concerned and to the Secretary.
(2) In exercising the authority provided in paragraph (1) of this subsection, the Secretary shall assign a sufficient number of personnel to carry out an appraisal-review system to monitor, on at least a random-sampling basis, the making of appraisals by appraisers and the effectiveness and the efficiency of the determination of reasonable value of property by lenders.
[(3) Repealed. Pub. L. 104–110, title I, § 101(g), Feb. 13, 1996, 110 Stat. 768.]
(4) Not later than April 30 of each year following a year in which the Secretary authorizes lenders to determine reasonable value of property under this subsection, the Secretary shall submit to the Committees on Veterans Affairs of the Senate and the House of Representatives a report relating to the exercise of that authority during the year in which the authority was exercised.
(5) A report submitted pursuant to paragraph (4) of this subsection shall include, for the period covered by each report
(A) the number and value of loans made by lenders exercising the authority of this subsection;
(B) the number and value of such loans reviewed by the appraisal-review monitors referred to in paragraph (2) of this subsection;
(C) the number and value of loans made under this subsection of which the Secretary received notification of default;
(D) the amount of guaranty paid by the Secretary to such lenders by reason of defaults on loans as to which reasonable value was determined under this subsection; and
(E) such recommendations as the Secretary considers appropriate to improve the exercise of the authority provided for in this subsection and to protect the interests of the United States.

38 USC 3732 - Procedure on default

(a) 
(1) In the event of default in the payment of any loan guaranteed under this chapter, the holder of the obligation shall notify the Secretary of such default. Upon receipt of such notice, the Secretary may, subject to subsection (c) of this section, pay to such holder the guaranty not in excess of the pro rata portion of the amount originally guaranteed. Except as provided in section 3703 (e) of this title, if the Secretary makes such a payment, the Secretary shall be subrogated to the rights of the holder of the obligation to the extent of the amount paid on the guaranty.
(2) Before suit or foreclosure the holder of the obligation shall notify the Secretary of the default, and within thirty days thereafter the Secretary may, at the Secretarys option, pay the holder of the obligation the unpaid balance of the obligation plus accrued interest and receive an assignment of the loan and security. Nothing in this section shall preclude any forebearance for the benefit of the veteran as may be agreed upon by the parties to the loan and approved by the Secretary.
(3) The Secretary may establish the date, not later than the date of judgment and decree of foreclosure or sale, upon which accrual of interest or charges shall cease.
(4) 
(A) Upon receiving a notice pursuant to paragraph (1) of this subsection, the Secretary shall
(i) provide the veteran with information and, to the extent feasible, counseling regarding
(I) alternatives to foreclosure, as appropriate in light of the veterans particular circumstances, including possible methods of curing the default, conveyance of the property to the Secretary by means of a deed in lieu of foreclosure, and the actions authorized by paragraph (2) of this subsection; and
(II) what the Department of Veterans Affairs and the veterans liabilities would be with respect to the loan in the event of foreclosure; and
(ii) advise the veteran regarding the availability of such counseling;

except with respect to loans made by a lender which the Secretary has determined has a demonstrated record of consistently providing timely and accurate information to veterans with respect to such matters.

(B) The Secretary shall, to the extent of the availability of appropriations, ensure that sufficient personnel are available to administer subparagraph (A) of this paragraph effectively and efficiently.
(5) In the event of default in the payment of any loan guaranteed or insured under this chapter in which a partial payment has been tendered by the veteran concerned and refused by the holder, the holder of the obligation shall notify the Secretary as soon as such payment has been refused. The Secretary may require that any such notification include a statement of the circumstances of the default, the amount tendered, the amount of the indebtedness on the date of the tender, and the reasons for the holders refusal.
(b) With respect to any loan made under section 3711 which has not been sold as provided in subsection (g) of such section, if the Secretary finds, after there has been a default in the payment of any installment of principal or interest owing on such loan, that the default was due to the fact that the veteran who is obligated under the loan has become unemployed as the result of the closing (in whole or in part) of a Federal installation, the Secretary shall
(1)  extend the time for curing the default to such time as the Secretary determines is necessary and desirable to enable such veteran to complete payments on such loan, including an extension of time beyond the stated maturity thereof, or
(2)  modify the terms of such loan for the purpose of changing the amortization provisions thereof by recasting, over the remaining term of the loan, or over such longer period as the Secretary may determine, the total unpaid amount then due with the modification to become effective currently or upon the termination of an agreed-upon extension of the period for curing the default.
(c) 
(1) For purposes of this subsection
(A) The term defaulted loan means a loan that is guaranteed under this chapter, that was made for a purpose described in section 3710 (a) of this title, and that is in default.
(B) The term liquidation sale means a judicial sale or other disposition of real property to liquidate a defaulted loan that is secured by such property.
(C) The term net value, with respect to real property, means the amount equal to
(i)  the fair market value of the property, minus
(ii)  the total of the amounts which the Secretary estimates the Secretary would incur (if the Secretary were to acquire and dispose of the property) for property taxes, assessments, liens, property maintenance, property improvement, administration, resale (including losses sustained on the resale of the property), and other costs resulting from the acquisition and disposition of the property, excluding any amount attributed to the cost to the Government of borrowing funds.
(D) Except as provided in subparagraph (D) of paragraph (10) of this subsection, the term total indebtedness, with respect to a defaulted loan, means the amount equal to the total of
(i)  the unpaid principal of the loan,
(ii)  the interest on the loan as of the date applicable under paragraph (10) of this subsection, and
(iii)  such reasonably necessary and proper charges (as specified in the loan instrument and permitted by regulations prescribed by the Secretary to implement this subsection) associated with liquidation of the loan, including advances for taxes, insurance, and maintenance or repair of the real property securing the loan.
(2) 
(A) Except as provided in subparagraph (B) of this paragraph, this subsection applies to any case in which the holder of a defaulted loan undertakes to liquidate the loan by means of a liquidation sale.
(B) This subsection does not apply to a case in which the Secretary proceeds under subsection (a)(2) of this section.
(3) 
(A) Before carrying out a liquidation sale of real property securing a defaulted loan, the holder of the loan shall notify the Secretary of the proposed sale. Such notice shall be provided in accordance with regulations prescribed by the Secretary to implement this subsection.
(B) After receiving a notice described in subparagraph (A) of this paragraph, the Secretary shall determine the net value of the property securing the loan and the amount of the total indebtedness under the loan and shall notify the holder of the loan of the determination of such net value.
(4) A case referred to in paragraphs (5), (6), and (7) of this subsection as being described in this paragraph is a case in which the net value of the property securing a defaulted loan exceeds the amount of the total indebtedness under the loan minus the amount guaranteed under this chapter.
(5) In a case described in paragraph (4) of this subsection, if the holder of the defaulted loan acquires the property securing the loan at a liquidation sale for an amount that does not exceed the lesser of the net value of the property or the total indebtedness under the loan
(A) the holder shall have the option to convey the property to the United States in return for payment by the Secretary of an amount equal to the lesser of such net value or total indebtedness; and
(B) the liability of the United States under the loan guaranty under this chapter shall be limited to the amount of such total indebtedness minus the net value of the property.
(6) In a case described in paragraph (4) of this subsection, if the holder of the defaulted loan does not acquire the property securing the loan at the liquidation sale, the liability of the United States under the loan guaranty under this chapter shall be limited to the amount equal to
(A)  the amount of such total indebtedness, minus
(B)  the amount realized by the holder incident to the sale or the net value of the property, whichever is greater.
(7) In a case described in paragraph (4) of this subsection, if the holder of the defaulted loan acquires the property securing the loan at the liquidation sale for an amount that exceeds the lesser of the total indebtedness under the loan or the net value and
(A) 
(i) the amount was the minimum amount for which, under applicable State law, the property was permitted to be sold at the liquidation sale, the holder shall have the option to convey the property to the United States in return for payment by the Secretary of an amount equal to the lesser of the amount for which the holder acquired the property or the total indebtedness under the loan; or
(ii) there was no minimum amount for which the property had to be sold at the liquidation sale under applicable State law, the holder shall have the option to convey the property to the United States in return for payment by the Secretary of an amount equal to the lesser of such net value or total indebtedness; and
(B) the liability of the United States under the loan guaranty under this chapter is as provided in paragraph (6) of this subsection.
(8) If the net value of the property securing a defaulted loan is not greater than the amount of the total indebtedness under the loan minus the amount guaranteed under this chapter
(A) the Secretary may not accept conveyance of the property from the holder of the loan; and
(B) the liability of the United States under the loan guaranty shall be limited to the amount of the total indebtedness under the loan minus the amount realized by the holder of the loan incident to the sale at a liquidation sale of the property.
(9) In no event may the liability of the United States under a guaranteed loan exceed the amount guaranteed with respect to that loan under section 3703 (b) of this title. All determinations under this subsection of net value and total indebtedness shall be made by the Secretary.
(10) 
(A) Except as provided in subparagraphs (B) and (C) of this paragraph, the date referred to in paragraph (1)(D)(ii) of this subsection shall be the date of the liquidation sale of the property securing the loan (or such earlier date following the expiration of a reasonable period of time for such sale to occur as the Secretary may specify pursuant to regulations prescribed by the Secretary to implement this subsection).
(B) 
(i) Subject to division (ii) of this subparagraph, in any case in which there is a substantial delay in such sale caused by the holder of the loan exercising forebearance at the request of the Secretary, the date referred to in paragraph (1)(D)(ii) of this subsection shall be such date, on or after the date on which forebearance was requested and prior to the date of such sale, as the Secretary specifies pursuant to regulations which the Secretary shall prescribe to implement this paragraph.
(ii) The Secretary may specify a date under subdivision (i) of this subparagraph only if, based on the use of a date so specified for the purposes of such paragraph (1)(D)(ii), the Secretary is authorized, under paragraph (5)(A) or (7)(A) of this subsection, to accept conveyance of the property.
(C) In any case in which there is an excessive delay in such liquidation sale caused
(i) by the Department of Veterans Affairs (including any delay caused by its failure to provide bidding instructions in a timely fashion); or
(ii) by a voluntary case commenced under title 11, United States Code (relating to bankruptcy);

the date referred to in paragraph (1)(D)(ii) of this subsection shall be a date, earlier than the date of such liquidation sale, which the Secretary specifies pursuant to regulations which the Secretary shall prescribe to implement this paragraph.

(D) For the purpose of determining the liability of the United States under a loan guaranty under paragraphs (5)(B), (6), (7)(B), and (8)(B), the amount of the total indebtedness with respect to such loan guaranty shall include, in any case in which there was an excessive delay caused by the Department of Veterans Affairs in the liquidation sale of the property securing such loan, any interest which had accrued as of the date of such sale and which would not be included, except for this subparagraph, in the calculation of such total indebtedness as a result of the specification of an earlier date under subparagraph (C)(i) of this paragraph.
(11) This subsection shall apply to loans closed before October 1, 2012.

38 USC 3733 - Property management

(a) 
(1) Of the number of purchases made during any fiscal year of real property acquired by the Secretary as the result of a default on a loan guaranteed under this chapter for a purpose described in section 3710 (a) of this title, not more than 65 percent, nor less than 50 percent, of such purchases may be financed by a loan made by the Secretary. The maximum percentage stated in the preceding sentence may be increased to 80 percent for any fiscal year if the Secretary determines that such an increase is necessary in order to maintain the effective functioning of the loan guaranty program.
(2) After September 30, 1990, the percentage limitations described in paragraph (1) of this subsection shall have no effect.
(3) The Secretary may, beginning on October 1, 1990, sell any note evidencing a loan referred to in paragraph (1)
(A) with recourse; or
(B) without recourse, but only if the amount received is equal to an amount which is not less than the unpaid balance of such loan.
(4) 
(A) Except as provided in subparagraph (B), the amount of a loan made by the Secretary to finance the purchase of real property from the Secretary described in paragraph (1) may not exceed an amount equal to 95 percent of the purchase price of such real property.
(B) 
(i) The Secretary may waive the provisions of subparagraph (A) in the case of any loan described in paragraph (5).
(ii) A loan described in subparagraph (A) may, to the extent the Secretary determines to be necessary in order to market competitively the property involved, exceed 95 percent of the purchase price.
(5) The Secretary may include, as part of a loan to finance a purchase of real property from the Secretary described in paragraph (1), an amount to be used only for the purpose of rehabilitating such property. Such amount may not exceed the amount necessary to rehabilitate the property to a habitable state, and payments shall be made available periodically as such rehabilitation is completed.
(6) The Secretary shall make a loan to finance the sale of real property described in paragraph (1) at an interest rate that is lower than the prevailing mortgage market interest rate in areas where, and to the extent, the Secretary determines, in light of prevailing conditions in the real estate market involved, that such lower interest rate is necessary in order to market the property competitively and is in the interest of the long-term stability and solvency of the Veterans Housing Benefit Program Fund established by section 3722 (a) of this title.
(7) During the period that begins on December 16, 2003[1] and ends on September 30, 2013, the Secretary shall carry out the provisions of this subsection as if
(A) the references in the first sentence of paragraph (1) to 65 percent and may be financed were references to 85 percent and shall be financed, respectively;
(B) the second sentence of paragraph (1) were repealed; and
(C) the reference in paragraph (2) to September 30, 1990, were a reference to September 30, 2013,.
(b) The Secretary may not make a loan to finance a purchase of property acquired by the Secretary as a result of a default on a loan guaranteed under this chapter unless the purchaser meets the credit underwriting standards established under section 3710 (g)(2)(A) of this title.
(c) 
(1) The Secretary shall identify and compile information on common factors which the Secretary finds contribute to foreclosures on loans guaranteed under this chapter.
(2) The Secretary shall include a summary of the information compiled, and the Secretarys findings, under paragraph (1) in the annual report submitted to the Congress under section 529 of this title. As part of such summary and findings, the Secretary shall provide a separate analysis of the factors which contribute to foreclosures of loans which have been assumed.
(d) 
(1) The Secretary shall furnish to real estate brokers and other real estate sales professionals information on the availability of real property for disposition under this chapter and the procedures used by the Department of Veterans Affairs to dispose of such property.
(2) For the purpose of facilitating the most expeditious sale, at the highest possible price, of real property acquired by the Secretary as the result of a default on a loan guaranteed, insured, or made under this chapter, the Secretary shall list all such property with real estate brokers under such arrangements as the Secretary determines to be most appropriate and cost effective.
[1] So in original. Probably should be followed by a comma.

38 USC 3734 - Annual submission of information on the Veterans Housing Benefit Program Fund and housing programs

(a) In the documents providing detailed information on the budget for the Department of Veterans Affairs that the Secretary submits to the Congress in conjunction with the Presidents budget submission for each fiscal year pursuant to section 1105 of title 31, the Secretary shall include
(1) a description of the operations of the Veterans Housing Benefit Program Fund during the fiscal year preceding the fiscal year in which such budget is submitted; and
(2) the needs of such fund, if any, for appropriations for
(A) the fiscal year in which the budget is submitted; and
(B) the fiscal year for which the budget is submitted.
(b) The matters submitted under subsection (a) of this section shall include, with respect to the fund referred to in subsection (a), the following:
(1) Information and financial data on the operations of the fund during the fiscal year before the fiscal year in which such matters are submitted and estimated financial data and related information on the operation of the fund for
(A) the fiscal year of the submission; and
(B) the fiscal year following the fiscal year of the submission.
(2) Estimates of the amount of revenues derived by the fund in the fiscal year preceding the fiscal year of the submission, in the fiscal year of the submission, and in the fiscal year following the fiscal year of the submission from each of the following sources:
(A) Fees collected under section 3729 (a) of this title for each category of loan guaranteed, insured, or made under this chapter or collected under section 3729 (b) of this title for assumed loans.
(B) Investment income.
(C) Sales of foreclosed properties.
(D) Loan asset sales.
(E) Each additional source of revenue.
(3) Information, for each fiscal year referred to in paragraph (2) of this subsection, regarding the types of dispositions made and anticipated to be made of defaults on loans guaranteed, insured, or made under this chapter, including the cost to the fund, and the numbers, of such types of dispositions.
(c) The information submitted under subsection (a) shall include a statement that summarizes the financial activity of each of the housing programs operated under this chapter. The statement shall be presented in a form that is simple, concise, and readily understandable, and shall not include references to financing accounts, liquidating accounts, or program accounts.

38 USC 3735 - Renumbered 2041]

38 USC 3736 - Reporting requirements

The annual report required by section 529 of this title shall include a discussion of the activities under this chapter. Beginning with the report submitted at the close of fiscal year 1996, and every second year thereafter, this discussion shall include information regarding the following:
(1) Loans made to veterans whose only qualifying service was in the Selected Reserve.
(2) Interest rates and discount points which were negotiated between the lender and the veteran pursuant to section 3703 (c)(4)(A)(i) of this title.
(3) The determination of reasonable value by lenders pursuant to section 3731 (f) of this title.
(4) Loans that include funds for energy efficiency improvements pursuant to section 3710 (a)(10) of this title.
(5) Direct loans to Native American veterans made pursuant to subchapter V of this chapter.

TITLE 38 - US CODE - SUBCHAPTER IV - SMALL BUSINESS LOANS

38 USC 3741 - Definitions

For the purposes of this subchapter
(1) The term disabled veteran means
(A)  a veteran who is entitled to compensation under laws administered by the Secretary for a disability rated at 30 percent or more, or
(B)  a veteran whose discharge or release from active duty was for a disability incurred or aggravated in line of duty.
(2) The term veteran of the Vietnam era means a person
(A)  who served on active duty for a period of more than 180 days, any part of which occurred during the Vietnam era, and who was discharged or released therefrom with other than a dishonorable discharge, or
(B)  who was discharged or released from active duty for a service-connected disability if any part of such active duty was performed during the Vietnam era.

38 USC 3742 - Small business loan program

(a) 
(1) Subject to subsection (b) of this section, the Secretary may provide financial assistance to veterans small business concerns for the purpose of
(A)  financing plant construction, conversion, or expansion (including the acquisition of land),
(B)  financing the acquisition of equipment, facilities, machinery, supplies, or materials, or
(C)  supplying such concerns with working capital.
(2) Subject to paragraph (3)(A) of this subsection, financial assistance under this section may be provided in the form of
(A)  loan guaranties, or
(B)  direct loans.
(3) The Secretary shall specify in regulations the criteria to be met for a business concern to qualify as a veterans small business concern for the purposes of this subchapter. Such regulations shall include requirements
(A) that at least 51 percent of a business concern must be owned by individuals who are veterans of the Vietnam era or disabled veterans in order for such concern to qualify for a loan guaranty and that at least 51 percent of a business concern must be owned by disabled veterans in order for such concern to qualify for a direct loan; and
(B) that the management and daily business operations of the concern must be directed by one or more of the veterans whose ownership interest is part of the majority ownership for the purposes of meeting the requirement in clause (A) of this paragraph.
(b) The availability of financial assistance under subsection (a) of this section is subject to the following limitations:
(1) The Secretary may not make a direct loan under this section unless the veterans small business concern applying for the loan shows to the satisfaction of the Secretary that the concern is unable to obtain a loan guaranteed by the Department under this section or made or guaranteed by the Small Business Administration.
(2) The Secretary may not guarantee a loan under this section if the loan bears a rate of interest in excess of the maximum rate of interest prescribed under section 3745 of this title.
(3) The Secretary may not make or guarantee a loan under this section for an amount in excess of $200,000.
(4) The original liability of the Secretary on any loan guaranteed under this section may not exceed 90 percent of the amount of the loan, and such liability shall decrease or increase pro rata with any decrease or increase of the amount of the unpaid portion of the loan, but such liability may not exceed the amount of the original guaranty.
(c) Each loan made or guaranteed under this subchapter shall be of such sound value, taking into account the creditworthiness of the veterans small business concern (and the individual owners) applying for such loan, or so secured as reasonably to assure payment.
(d) 
(1) Except as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection, the Secretary may not make or guarantee a loan under this subchapter to a veterans small business concern in which an ownership interest is held by a veteran who also has an ownership interest in another small business concern if such ownership interest was considered in qualifying that other concern for an outstanding loan made or guaranteed under this subchapter or the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 631 et seq.).
(2) Paragraph (1) of this subsection shall not apply if 51 percent or more of the business concern seeking a direct or guaranteed loan under this subchapter is owned by veterans of the Vietnam era or disabled veterans without including the ownership interest of the veteran whose ownership interest in another small business concern was previously considered in qualifying that other concern for an outstanding guaranteed or direct business loan under this subchapter or the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 631 et seq.).
(e) 
(1) In order to protect the interest of the United States, upon application by a veterans small business concern which is the recipient of a loan guaranteed under this subchapter, the Secretary (subject to the provisions of this subsection) may undertake the veterans small business concerns obligation to make payments under such loan or, if the loan was a direct loan made by the Secretary, may suspend such obligation. While such payments are being made by the Secretary pursuant to the undertaking of such obligation or while such obligation is suspended, no such payment with respect to the loan may be required from the concern.
(2) The Secretary may undertake or suspend a veterans small business concerns obligation under this subsection only if
(A) such undertaking or suspension of the obligation is, in the judgment of the Secretary, necessary to protect the interest of the United States;
(B) with the undertaking or suspension of the obligation, the small business concern would, in the judgment of the Secretary, become or remain a viable small business entity; and
(C) the small business concern executes an agreement in writing satisfactory to the Secretary as provided by paragraph (4) of this subsection.
(3) The period of time for which the Secretary undertakes or suspends the obligation on a loan under this subsection may not exceed five years. The Secretary may extend the maturity of any loan on which the Secretary undertakes or suspends the obligation under this subsection for a corresponding period of time.
(4) 
(A) Before the Secretary may undertake or suspend a veterans small business concerns obligation under this subsection, the Secretary shall require the small business concern to execute an agreement to repay the aggregate amount of the payments which were required under the loan during the period for which the obligation was undertaken or suspended
(i) by periodic payments not less in amount or less frequently falling due than those which were due under the loan during such period,
(ii) pursuant to a repayment schedule agreed upon by the Secretary and the small business concern, or
(iii) by a combination of the method of payments described in clauses (i) and (ii) of this subparagraph.
(B) In addition to requiring the small business concern to execute the agreement described in subparagraph (A) of this paragraph, the Secretary shall, before the undertaking or suspension of the obligation, take such action and require the small business concern to take such action as the Secretary considers appropriate in the circumstances, including the provision of such security as the Secretary considers necessary or appropriate, to assure that the rights and interest of the United States and any lender will be safeguarded adequately during and after the period in which such obligation is so undertaken or suspended.

38 USC 3743 - Liability on loans

Each individual who has an ownership interest in a veterans small business concern that is provided a direct loan under this subchapter, or that obtains a loan guaranteed under this subchapter, shall execute a note or other document evidencing the direct or guaranteed business loan, and such individuals shall be jointly and severally liable to the United States for the amount of such direct loan or, in the case of a guaranteed loan, for any amount paid by the Secretary on account of such loan.

38 USC 3744 - Approval of loans by the Secretary

(a) Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, a loan may not be guaranteed under this subchapter unless, before the closing of the loan, it is submitted to the Secretary for approval and the Secretary grants approval.
(b) The Secretary may exempt any lender of a class of lenders listed in section 3702 (d) of this title from the prior approval requirement in subsection (a) of this section if the Secretary determines that the experience of such lender or class of lenders warrants such exemption.
(c) The Secretary may at any time upon thirty days notice require loans to be made by any lender or class of lenders under this subchapter to be submitted to the Secretary for prior approval. No guaranty shall exist with respect to any such loan unless evidence of the guaranty is issued by the Secretary.

38 USC 3745 - Interest on loans

(a) Loans guaranteed under this subchapter shall bear interest not in excess of such rate as the Secretary may from time to time find the loan market demands. In establishing the rate of interest that shall be applicable to such loans, the Secretary shall consult with the Administrator of the Small Business Administration.
(b) The rate of interest on any direct loan made by the Secretary under this subchapter may not exceed the maximum rate in effect under subsection (a) of this section at the time the direct loan is made.

38 USC 3746 - Maturity of loans

The maturity of a loan made or guaranteed under this subchapter that is used in whole or in part for the construction, conversion, or expansion of facilities or for acquisition of real property may not exceed twenty years plus such additional reasonable time as the Secretary may determine, at the time the loan is made, is required to complete the construction, acquisition, or expansion of such facilities. The maturity of any other loan made or guaranteed under this subchapter may not exceed ten years.

38 USC 3747 - Eligible financial institutions

The Secretary may not guarantee under this subchapter a loan made by an entity not subject to examination and supervision by an agency of the United States or of a State.

38 USC 3748 - Preference for disabled veterans

In the extension of financial assistance under this subchapter, the Secretary shall give preference, first, to veterans small business concerns in which disabled veterans who have successfully completed a vocational rehabilitation program for self-employment in a small business enterprise under chapter 31 of this title have a significant ownership interest, and, second, to veterans small business concerns in which other disabled veterans have a significant ownership interest.

38 USC 3749 - Revolving fund

(a) There is established in the Treasury a revolving fund to be known as the Department of Veterans Affairs Small Business Loan Revolving Fund (hereinafter in this section referred to as the fund).
(b) Amounts in the fund shall be available to the Secretary without fiscal year limitation for all loan guaranty and direct loan operations under this subchapter other than administrative expenses and may not be used for any other purpose.
(c) 
(1) There is authorized to be appropriated to the fund a total of $25,000,000.
(2) There shall be deposited into the fund all amounts received by the Secretary derived from loan operations under this subchapter, including all collection of principal and interest and the proceeds from the use of property held or of property sold.
(d) The Secretary shall determine annually whether there has developed in the fund a surplus which, in the Secretarys judgment, is more than necessary to meet the needs of the fund. Any such surplus shall immediately be transferred into the general fund of the Treasury.
(e) Not later than two years after the termination of the authority of the Secretary to make new commitments for financial assistance under this subchapter, the Secretary shall transfer into the general fund of the Treasury all amounts in the fund except those that the Secretary determines may be required for the liquidation of obligations under this subchapter. All amounts received thereafter derived from loan operations under this subchapter, except so much thereof as the Secretary may determine to be necessary for liquidating outstanding obligations under this subchapter, shall also be so deposited.

38 USC 3750 - Incorporation of other provisions by the Secretary

The Secretary may provide that the provisions of sections of other subchapters of this chapter that are not otherwise applicable to loans made or guaranteed under this subchapter shall be applicable to loans made or guaranteed under this subchapter. The Secretary shall exercise authority under the preceding sentence by regulations prescribed after publication in the Federal Register and a period of not less than thirty days for public comment.

38 USC 3751 - Termination of program

The Secretary may not make commitments for financial assistance under this subchapter after September 30, 1986.

TITLE 38 - US CODE - SUBCHAPTER V - DIRECT HOUSING LOANS FOR NATIVE AMERICAN VETERANS

38 USC 3761 - Direct housing loans to Native American veterans; program authority

(a) The Secretary shall make direct housing loans to Native American veterans. The purpose of such loans is to permit such veterans to purchase, construct, or improve dwellings on trust land. The Secretary shall make such loans in accordance with the provisions of this subchapter.
(b) The Secretary shall, to the extent practicable, make direct housing loans to Native American veterans who are located in a variety of geographic areas and in areas experiencing a variety of economic circumstances.

38 USC 3762 - Direct housing loans to Native American veterans; program administration

(a) The Secretary may make a direct housing loan to a Native American veteran under this subchapter if
(1) 
(A) the Secretary has entered into a memorandum of understanding with respect to such loans with the tribal organization that has jurisdiction over the veteran; or
(B) the tribal organization that has jurisdiction over the veteran has entered into a memorandum of understanding with any department or agency of the United States with respect to direct housing loans to Native Americans that the Secretary determines substantially complies with the requirements of subsection (b); and
(2) the memorandum is in effect when the loan is made.
(b) 
(1) Subject to paragraph (2), the Secretary shall ensure that each memorandum of understanding that the Secretary enters into with a tribal organization shall provide for the following:
(A) That each Native American veteran who is under the jurisdiction of the tribal organization and to whom the Secretary makes a direct loan under this subchapter
(i) holds, possesses, or purchases using the proceeds of the loan a meaningful interest in a lot or dwelling (or both) that is located on trust land; and
(ii) will purchase, construct, or improve (as the case may be) a dwelling on the lot using the proceeds of the loan.
(B) That each such Native American veteran will convey to the Secretary by an appropriate instrument the interest referred to in subparagraph (A) as security for a direct housing loan under this subchapter.
(C) That the tribal organization and each such Native American veteran will permit the Secretary to enter upon the trust land of that organization or veteran for the purposes of carrying out such actions as the Secretary determines are necessary
(i) to evaluate the advisability of the loan; and
(ii) to monitor any purchase, construction, or improvements carried out using the proceeds of the loan.
(D) That the tribal organization has established standards and procedures that apply to the foreclosure of the interest conveyed by a Native American veteran pursuant to subparagraph (B), including
(i) procedures for foreclosing the interest; and
(ii) procedures for the resale of the lot or the dwelling (or both) purchased, constructed, or improved using the proceeds of the loan.
(E) That the tribal organization agrees to such other terms and conditions with respect to the making of direct loans to Native American veterans under the jurisdiction of the tribal organization as the Secretary may require in order to ensure that loans under this subchapter are made in a responsible and prudent manner.
(2) The Secretary may not enter into a memorandum of understanding with a tribal organization under this subsection unless the Secretary determines that the memorandum provides for such standards and procedures as are necessary for the reasonable protection of the financial interests of the United States.
(c) 
(1) 
(A) Except as provided in subparagraph (B), the principal amount of any direct housing loan made to a Native American veteran under this section may not exceed $80,000.
(B) 
(i) Subject to clause (ii), the Secretary may make loans exceeding the amount specified in subparagraph (A) in a geographic area if the Secretary determines that housing costs in the area are significantly higher than average housing costs nationwide. The amount of such increase shall be the amount that the Secretary determines is necessary in order to make direct housing loans under this subchapter to Native American veterans who are located in a variety of geographic areas and in geographic areas experiencing a variety of economic conditions.
(ii) The amount of a loan made by the Secretary under this subchapter may not exceed the maximum loan amount authorized for loans guaranteed under section 3703 (a)(1)(C) of this title.
(2) Loans made under this section shall bear interest at a rate determined by the Secretary, which rate may not exceed the appropriate rate authorized for guaranteed loans under section 3703 (c)(1) or section 3712 (f) of this title, and shall be subject to such requirements or limitations prescribed for loans guaranteed under this title as the Secretary may prescribe.
(3) Notwithstanding section 3704 (a) of this title, the Secretary shall establish minimum requirements for planning, construction, improvement, and general acceptability relating to any direct loan made under this section.
(d) 
(1) The Secretary shall establish credit underwriting standards to be used in evaluating loans made under this subchapter. In establishing such standards, the Secretary shall take into account the purpose of this program to make available housing to Native American veterans living on trust lands.
(2) The Secretary shall determine the reasonable value of the interest in property that will serve as security for a loan made under this section and shall establish procedures for appraisals upon which the Secretary may base such determinations. The procedures shall incorporate generally the relevant requirements of section 3731 of this title, unless the Secretary determines that such requirements are impracticable to implement in a geographic area, on particular trust lands, or under circumstances specified by the Secretary.
(e) Loans made under this section shall be repaid in monthly installments.
(f) In connection with any loan under this section, the Secretary may make advances in cash to provide for repairs, alterations, and improvements and to meet incidental expenses of the loan transaction. The Secretary shall determine the amount of any expenses incident to the origination of loans made under this section, which expenses, or a reasonable flat allowance in lieu thereof, shall be paid by the veteran in addition to the loan closing costs.
(g) Without regard to any provision of this chapter (other than a provision of this section), the Secretary may
(1) take any action that the Secretary determines to be necessary with respect to the custody, management, protection, and realization or sale of investments under this section;
(2) determine any necessary expenses and expenditures and the manner in which such expenses and expenditures shall be incurred, allowed, and paid;
(3) make such rules, regulations, and orders as the Secretary considers necessary for carrying out the Secretarys functions under this section; and
(4) in a manner consistent with the provisions of this chapter and with the Secretarys functions under this subchapter, employ, utilize, and compensate any persons, organizations, or departments or agencies (including departments and agencies of the United States) designated by the Secretary to carry out such functions.
(h) 
(1) The Secretary may make direct loans to Native American veterans in order to enable such veterans to refinance existing loans made under this section.
(2) 
(A) The Secretary may not make a loan under this subsection unless the loan meets the requirements set forth in subparagraphs (B), (C), and (E) of paragraph (1) of section 3710 (e) of this title.
(B) The Secretary may not make a loan under this subsection unless the loan will bear an interest rate at least one percentage point less than the interest rate borne by the loan being refinanced.
(C) Paragraphs (2) and (3) of such section 3710 (e) shall apply to any loan made under this subsection, except that for the purposes of this subsection the reference to subsection (a)(8) of section 3710 of this title in such paragraphs (2) and (3) shall be deemed to be a reference to this subsection.
(i) 
(1) The Secretary shall, in consultation with tribal organizations (including the National Congress of American Indians and the National American Indian Housing Council), carry out an outreach program to inform and educate Native American veterans of the availability of direct housing loans for Native American veterans who live on trust lands.
(2) Activities under the outreach program shall include the following:
(A) Attending conferences and conventions conducted by the National Congress of American Indians in order to work with the National Congress in providing information and training to tribal organizations and Native American veterans regarding the availability of housing benefits under this subchapter and in assisting such organizations and veterans with respect to such housing benefits.
(B) Attending conferences and conventions conducted by the National American Indian Housing Council in order to work with the Housing Council in providing information and training to tribal organizations and tribal housing entities regarding the availability of such benefits.
(C) Attending conferences and conventions conducted by the Department of Hawaiian Homelands in order to work with the Department of Hawaiian Homelands in providing information and training to tribal housing entities in Hawaii regarding the availability of such benefits.
(D) Producing and disseminating information to tribal governments, tribal veterans service organizations, and tribal organizations regarding the availability of such benefits.
(E) Assisting tribal organizations and Native American veterans with respect to such benefits.
(F) Outstationing loan guarantee specialists in tribal facilities on a part-time basis if requested by the tribal government.
(j) The Secretary shall include as part of the annual benefits report of the Veterans Benefits Administration information concerning the cost and number of loans provided under this subchapter for the fiscal year covered by the report.

38 USC 3763 - Native American Veteran Housing Loan Program Account

(a) There is hereby established in the Treasury of the United States an account known as the Native American Veteran Housing Loan Program Account (hereinafter in this subchapter referred to as the Account).
(b) The Account shall be available to the Secretary to carry out all operations relating to the making of direct housing loans to Native American veterans under this subchapter, including any administrative expenses relating to the making of such loans. Amounts in the Account shall be available without fiscal year limitation.

38 USC 3764 - Qualified non-Native American veterans

(a) Treatment of Non-Native American Veterans.— 
Subject to the succeeding provisions of this section, for purposes of this subchapter
(1) a qualified non-Native American veteran is deemed to be a Native American veteran; and
(2) for purposes of applicability to a non-Native American veteran, any reference in this subchapter to the jurisdiction of a tribal organization over a Native American veteran is deemed to be a reference to jurisdiction of a tribal organization over the Native American spouse of the qualified non-Native American veteran.
(b) Use of Loan.— 
In making direct loans under this subchapter to a qualified non-Native American veteran by reason of eligibility under subsection (a), the Secretary shall ensure that the tribal organization permits, and the qualified non-Native American veteran actually holds, possesses, or purchases, using the proceeds of the loan, jointly with the Native American spouse of the qualified non-Native American veteran, a meaningful interest in the lot, dwelling, or both, that is located on trust land.
(c) Restrictions Imposed by Tribal Organizations.— 
Nothing in subsection (b) shall be construed as precluding a tribal organization from imposing reasonable restrictions on the right of the qualified non-Native American veteran to convey, assign, or otherwise dispose of such interest in the lot or dwelling, or both, if such restrictions are designed to ensure the continuation in trust status of the lot or dwelling, or both. Such requirements may include the termination of the interest of the qualified non-Native American veteran in the lot or dwelling, or both, upon the dissolution of the marriage of the qualified non-Native American veteran to the Native American spouse.

38 USC 3765 - Definitions

For the purposes of this subchapter
(1) The term trust land means any land that
(A) is held in trust by the United States for Native Americans;
(B) is subject to restrictions on alienation imposed by the United States on Indian lands (including native Hawaiian homelands);
(C) is owned by a Regional Corporation or a Village Corporation, as such terms are defined in section 3(g) and 3(j) of the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act, respectively (43 U.S.C. 1602 (g), (j)); or
(D) is on any island in the Pacific Ocean if such land is, by cultural tradition, communally-owned land, as determined by the Secretary.
(2) The term Native American veteran means any veteran who is a Native American.
(3) The term Native American means
(A) an Indian, as defined in section 4(d) of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 450b (d));
(B) a native Hawaiian, as that term is defined in section 201(a)(7) of the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act, 1920 (Public Law 6734; 42 Stat. 108);
(C) an Alaska Native, within the meaning provided for the term Native in section 3(b) of the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (43 U.S.C. 1602 (b)); and
(D) a Pacific Islander, within the meaning of the Native American Programs Act of 1974 (42 U.S.C. 2991 et seq.).
(4) The term tribal organization shall have the meaning given such term in section 4(l) of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 450b (l)) and shall include the Department of Hawaiian Homelands, in the case of native Hawaiians, and such other organizations as the Secretary may prescribe.
(5) The term qualified non-Native American veteran means a veteran who
(A) is the spouse of a Native American, but
(B) is not a Native American.

[SUBCHAPTER VI - TRANSFERRED]

38 USC 3771 - Repealed. Pub. L. 10795, 5(d)(3), Dec. 21, 2001, 115 Stat. 918]

Section, added Pub. L. 105–368, title VI, § 601(a), Nov. 11, 1998, 112 Stat. 3342; amended Pub. L. 106–400, § 2, Oct. 30, 2000, 114 Stat. 1675, defined terms veteran, homeless veteran, and homeless individual, for purposes of this subchapter.

3772 to 3775. Renumbered 2051 to 2054]

TITLE 38 - US CODE - CHAPTER 39 - AUTOMOBILES AND ADAPTIVE EQUIPMENT FOR CERTAIN DISABLED VETERANS AND MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES

38 USC 3901 - Definitions

For purposes of this chapter
(1) The term eligible person means
(A) any veteran entitled to compensation under chapter 11 of this title for any of the disabilities described in subclause (i), (ii), or (iii) below, if the disability is the result of an injury incurred or disease contracted in or aggravated by active military, naval, or air service:
(i) The loss or permanent loss of use of one or both feet;
(ii) The loss or permanent loss of use of one or both hands;
(iii) The permanent impairment of vision of both eyes of the following status: central visual acuity of 20/200 or less in the better eye, with corrective glasses, or central visual acuity of more than 20/200 if there is a field defect in which the peripheral field has contracted to such an extent that the widest diameter of visual field subtends an angular distance no greater than twenty degrees in the better eye; or
(B) any member of the Armed Forces serving on active duty who is suffering from any disability described in subclause (i), (ii), or (iii) of clause (A) of this paragraph if such disability is the result of an injury incurred or disease contracted in or aggravated by active military, naval, or air service.
(2) The term adaptive equipment includes, but is not limited to, power steering, power brakes, power window lifts, power seats, and special equipment necessary to assist the eligible person into and out of the automobile or other conveyance. Such term also includes
(A)  air-conditioning equipment when such equipment is necessary to the health and safety of the veteran and to the safety of others, regardless of whether the automobile or other conveyance is to be operated by the eligible person or is to be operated for such person by another person; and
(B)  any modification of the size of the interior space of the automobile or other conveyance if needed because of the physical condition of such person in order for such person to enter or operate the vehicle.

38 USC 3902 - Assistance for providing automobile and adaptive equipment

(a) The Secretary, under regulations which the Secretary shall prescribe, shall provide or assist in providing an automobile or other conveyance to each eligible person by paying the total purchase price of the automobile or other conveyance (including all State, local, and other taxes) or $11,000, whichever is the lesser, to the seller from whom the eligible person is purchasing under a sales agreement between the seller and the eligible person.
(b) 
(1) The Secretary, under regulations which the Secretary shall prescribe, shall provide each eligible person the adaptive equipment deemed necessary to insure that the eligible person will be able to operate the automobile or other conveyance in a manner consistent with such persons own safety and the safety of others and so as to satisfy the applicable standards of licensure established by the State of such persons residency or other proper licensing authority.
(2) In the case of any veteran (other that a person eligible for assistance under paragraph (1) of this subsection) who is entitled to compensation for ankylosis of one or both knees, or one or both hips, the Secretary, under the terms and conditions set forth in subsections (a), (c), and (d) of section 3903 of this title and under regulations which the Secretary shall prescribe, shall provide such adaptive equipment to overcome the disability resulting from such ankylosis as
(A)  is necessary to meet the applicable standards of licensure established by the State of such veterans residency or other proper licensing authority for the operation of such veterans automobile or other conveyance by such veteran, and
(B)  is determined to be necessary by the Under Secretary for Health for the safe operation of such automobile or other conveyance by such veteran.
(c) In accordance with regulations which the Secretary shall prescribe, the Secretary shall
(1)  repair, replace, or reinstall adaptive equipment deemed necessary for the operation of an automobile or other conveyance acquired in accordance with the provisions of this chapter, and
(2)  provide, repair, replace, or reinstall such adaptive equipment for any automobile or other conveyance which an eligible person may previously or subsequently have acquired.
(d) If an eligible person cannot qualify to operate an automobile or other conveyance, the Secretary shall provide or assist in providing an automobile or other conveyance to such person, as provided in subsection (a) of this section, if the automobile or other conveyance is to be operated for the eligible person by another person.

38 USC 3903 - Limitations on assistance; special training courses

(a) No eligible person shall be entitled to receive more than one automobile or other conveyance under the provisions of this chapter, and no payment shall be made under this chapter for the repair, maintenance, or replacement of an automobile or other conveyance.
(b) Except as provided in subsection (d) of section 3902 of this title, no eligible person shall be provided an automobile or other conveyance under this chapter until it is established to the satisfaction of the Secretary, in accordance with regulations the Secretary shall prescribe, that the eligible person will be able to operate the automobile or other conveyance in a manner consistent with such persons own safety and the safety of others and will satisfy the applicable standards of licensure to operate the automobile or other conveyance established by the State of such persons residency or other proper licensing authority.
(c) 
(1) An eligible person shall not be entitled to adaptive equipment under this chapter for more than two automobiles or other conveyances at any one time or (except as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection) during any four-year period.
(2) In a case in which the four-year limitation in paragraph (1) of this subsection precludes an eligible person from being entitled to adaptive equipment under this chapter, if the Secretary determines that, due to circumstances beyond the control of such person, one of the automobiles or other conveyances for which adaptive equipment was provided to such person during the applicable four-year period is no longer available for the use of such person, the Secretary may provide adaptive equipment to such person for an additional automobile or other conveyance during such period. Provision of adaptive equipment under this paragraph is within the discretion of the Secretary. Any action to provide adaptive equipment under this paragraph shall be made pursuant to regulations which the Secretary shall prescribe.
(d) Adaptive equipment shall not be provided under this chapter unless it conforms to minimum standards of safety and quality prescribed by the Secretary.
(e) 
(1) The Secretary shall provide, directly or by contract, for the conduct of special driver training courses at every hospital and, where appropriate, at regional offices and other medical facilities, of the Department to instruct such eligible person to operate the type of automobile or other conveyance such person wishes to obtain with assistance under this chapter, and may make such courses available to any veteran, eligible for care under chapter 17 of this title or member of the Armed Forces, who is determined by the Secretary to need the special training provided in such courses even though such veteran or member is not eligible for the assistance provided under this chapter.
(2) The Secretary is authorized to obtain insurance on automobiles and other conveyances used in conducting the special driver training courses provided under this subsection and to obtain, at Government expense, personal liability and property damage insurance for all persons taking such courses without regard to whether such persons are taking the course on an in-patient or out-patient basis.
(3) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Secretary may obtain, by purchase, lease, gift, or otherwise, any automobile, motor vehicle, or other conveyance deemed necessary to carry out the purposes of this subsection, and may sell, assign, transfer, or convey any such automobile, vehicle, or conveyance to which the Department obtains title for such price and upon such terms as the Secretary deems appropriate; and any proceeds received from any such disposition shall be credited to the applicable Department appropriation.

38 USC 3904 - Research and development

(a) In carrying out medical and prosthetic research under section 7303 of this title, the Secretary, through the Under Secretary for Health, shall provide for special emphasis on the research and development of adaptive equipment and adapted conveyances (including vans) meeting standards of safety and quality prescribed under subsection (d) of section 3903, including support for the production and distribution of devices and conveyances so developed.
(b) In carrying out subsection (a) of this section, the Secretary, through the Under Secretary for Health, shall consult and cooperate with the Secretary of Health and Human Services and the Secretary of Education, in connection with programs carried out under section 204(b)(3) of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (relating to the establishment and support of Rehabilitation Engineering Research Centers).

TITLE 38 - US CODE - CHAPTER 41 - JOB COUNSELING, TRAINING, AND PLACEMENT SERVICE FOR VETERANS

38 USC 4100 - Findings

The Congress makes the following findings:
(1) As long as unemployment and underemployment continue as serious problems among disabled veterans and Vietnam-era veterans, alleviating unemployment and underemployment among such veterans is a national responsibility.
(2) Because of the special nature of employment and training needs of such veterans and the national responsibility to meet those needs, policies and programs to increase opportunities for such veterans to obtain employment, job training, counseling, and job placement services and assistance in securing advancement in employment should be effectively and vigorously implemented by the Secretary of Labor and such implementation should be accomplished through the Assistant Secretary of Labor for Veterans Employment and Training.

38 USC 4101 - Definitions

For the purposes of this chapter
(1) The term special disabled veteran has the same meaning provided in section 4211 (1) of this title.
(2) The term veteran of the Vietnam era has the same meaning provided in section 4211 (2) of this title.
(3) The term disabled veteran has the same meaning provided in section 4211 (3) of this title.
(4) The term eligible veteran has the same meaning provided in section 4211 (4) of this title.
(5) The term eligible person means
(A) the spouse of any person who died of a service-connected disability,
(B) the spouse of any member of the Armed Forces serving on active duty who, at the time of application for assistance under this chapter, is listed, pursuant to section 556 of title 37 and regulations issued thereunder, by the Secretary concerned in one or more of the following categories and has been so listed for a total of more than ninety days:
(i)  missing in action,
(ii)  captured in line of duty by a hostile force, or
(iii)  forcibly detained or interned in line of duty by a foreign government or power, or
(C) the spouse of any person who has a total disability permanent in nature resulting from a service-connected disability or the spouse of a veteran who died while a disability so evaluated was in existence.
(6) The term State means each of the several States of the United States, the District of Columbia, and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and may include, to the extent determined necessary and feasible, Guam, American Samoa, the Virgin Islands, the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas Islands, and the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands.
(7) The term employment service delivery system means a service delivery system at which or through which labor exchange services, including employment, training, and placement services, are offered in accordance with the Wagner-Peyser Act.
(8) The term Secretary means the Secretary of Labor.
(9) The term intensive services means local employment and training services of the type described in section 134(d)(3) of the Workforce Investment Act of 1998.

38 USC 4102 - Purpose

The Congress declares as its intent and purpose that there shall be an effective
(1)  job and job training intensive services program,
(2)  employment placement service program, and
(3)  job training placement service program for eligible veterans and eligible persons and that, to this end policies and regulations shall be promulgated and administered by an Assistant Secretary of Labor for Veterans Employment and Training, established by section 4102A of this title, through a Veterans Employment and Training Service within the Department of Labor, so as to provide such veterans and persons the maximum of employment and training opportunities, with priority given to the needs of disabled veterans and veterans who served on active duty during a war or in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge has been authorized through existing programs, coordination and merger of programs and implementation of new programs, including programs carried out by the Veterans Employment and Training Service to implement all efforts to ease the transition of servicemembers to civilian careers that are consistent with, or an outgrowth of, the military experience of the servicemembers.

38 USC 4102A - Assistant Secretary of Labor for Veterans Employment and Training; program functions; Regional Administrators

(a) Establishment of Position of Assistant Secretary of Labor for Veterans’ Employment and Training.— 

(1)  There is established within the Department of Labor an Assistant Secretary of Labor for Veterans Employment and Training, appointed by the President by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, who shall formulate and implement all departmental policies and procedures to carry out
(A)  the purposes of this chapter, chapter 42, and chapter 43 of this title, and
(B)  all other Department of Labor employment, unemployment, and training programs to the extent they affect veterans.
(2) The employees of the Department of Labor administering chapter 43 of this title shall be administratively and functionally responsible to the Assistant Secretary of Labor for Veterans Employment and Training.
(3) 
(A) There shall be within the Department of Labor a Deputy Assistant Secretary of Labor for Veterans Employment and Training. The Deputy Assistant Secretary shall perform such functions as the Assistant Secretary of Labor for Veterans Employment and Training prescribes.
(B) No individual may be appointed as a Deputy Assistant Secretary of Labor for Veterans Employment and Training unless the individual has at least five years of service in a management position as an employee of the Federal civil service or comparable service in a management position in the Armed Forces. For purposes of determining such service of an individual, there shall be excluded any service described in subparagraphs (A), (B), and (C) of section 308 (d)(2) of this title.
(b) Program Functions.— 
The Secretary shall carry out the following functions:
(1) Except as expressly provided otherwise, carry out all provisions of this chapter and chapter 43 of this title through the Assistant Secretary of Labor for Veterans Employment and Training and administer through such Assistant Secretary all programs under the jurisdiction of the Secretary for the provision of employment and training services designed to meet the needs of all veterans and persons eligible for services furnished under this chapter.
(2) In order to make maximum use of available resources in meeting such needs, encourage all such programs, and all grantees and contractors under such programs to enter into cooperative arrangements with private industry and business concerns (including small business concerns owned by veterans or disabled veterans), educational institutions, trade associations, and labor unions.
(3) Ensure that maximum effectiveness and efficiency are achieved in providing services and assistance to eligible veterans under all such programs by coordinating and consulting with the Secretary of Veterans Affairs with respect to
(A)  programs conducted under other provisions of this title, with particular emphasis on coordination of such programs with readjustment counseling activities carried out under section 1712A of this title, apprenticeship or other on-the-job training programs carried out under section 3687 of this title, and rehabilitation and training activities carried out under chapter 31 of this title and
(B)  determinations covering veteran population in a State.
(4) Ensure that employment, training, and placement activities are carried out in coordination and cooperation with appropriate State public employment service officials.
(5) Subject to subsection (c), make available for use in each State by grant or contract such funds as may be necessary to support
(A) disabled veterans outreach program specialists appointed under section 4103A (a)(1) of this title,
(B) local veterans employment representatives assigned under section 4104 (b) of this title, and
(C) the reasonable expenses of such specialists and representatives described in subparagraphs (A) and (B), respectively, for training, travel, supplies, and other business expenses, including travel expenses and per diem for attendance at the National Veterans Employment and Training Services Institute established under section 4109 of this title.
(6) Monitor and supervise on a continuing basis the distribution and use of funds provided for use in the States under paragraph (5).
(7) Establish, and update as appropriate, a comprehensive performance accountability system (as described in subsection (f)) and carry out annual performance reviews of veterans employment, training, and placement services provided through employment service delivery systems, including through disabled veterans outreach program specialists and through local veterans employment representatives in States receiving grants, contracts, or awards under this chapter.
(8) With advice and assistance from the Advisory Committee on Veterans Employment and[1] Training, and Employer Outreach established under section 4110 of this title, furnish information to employers (through meetings in person with hiring executives of corporations and otherwise) with respect to the training and skills of veterans and disabled veterans, and the advantages afforded employers by hiring veterans with such training and skills, and to facilitate employment of veterans and disabled veterans through participation in labor exchanges (Internet-based and otherwise), and other means.
(c) Conditions for Receipt of Funds.— 

(1) The distribution and use of funds under subsection (b)(5) in order to carry out sections 4103A (a) and 4104 (a) of this title shall be subject to the continuing supervision and monitoring of the Secretary and shall not be governed by the provisions of any other law, or any regulations prescribed thereunder, that are inconsistent with this section or section 4103A or 4104 of this title.
(2) 
(A) A State shall submit to the Secretary an application for a grant or contract under subsection (b)(5). The application shall contain the following information:
(i) A plan that describes the manner in which the State shall furnish employment, training, and placement services required under this chapter for the program year, including a description of
(I) duties assigned by the State to disabled veterans outreach program specialists and local veterans employment representatives consistent with the requirements of sections 4103A and 4104 of this title;
(II) the manner in which such specialists and representatives are integrated in the employment service delivery systems in the State; and
(III) the program of performance incentive awards described in section 4112 of this title in the State for the program year.
(ii) The veteran population to be served.
(iii) For each employee of the State who is assigned to perform the duties of a disabled veterans outreach program specialist or a local veterans employment representative under this chapter
(I) the date on which the employee is so assigned; and
(II) whether the employee has satisfactorily completed such training by the National Veterans Employment and Training Services Institute as the Secretary requires for purposes of paragraph (8).
(iv) Such additional information as the Secretary may require to make a determination with respect to awarding a grant or contract to the State.
(B) 
(i) Subject to the succeeding provisions of this subparagraph, of the amount available under subsection (b)(5) for a fiscal year, the Secretary shall make available to each State with an application approved by the Secretary an amount of funding in proportion to the number of veterans seeking employment using such criteria as the Secretary may establish in regulation, including civilian labor force and unemployment data, for the State on an annual basis. The proportion of funding shall reflect the ratio of
(I) the total number of veterans residing in the State that are seeking employment; to
(II) the total number of veterans seeking employment in all States.
(ii) The Secretary shall phase in over the three fiscal-year period that begins on October 1, 2003, the manner in which amounts are made available to States under subsection (b)(5) and this subsection, as amended by the Jobs for Veterans Act.
(iii) In carrying out this paragraph, the Secretary may establish minimum funding levels and hold-harmless criteria for States.
(3) 
(A) 
(i) As a condition of a grant or contract under this section for a program year, in the case of a State that the Secretary determines has an entered-employment rate for veterans that is deficient for the preceding program year, the State shall develop a corrective action plan to improve that rate for veterans in the State.
(ii) The State shall submit the corrective action plan to the Secretary for approval, and if approved, shall expeditiously implement the plan.
(iii) If the Secretary does not approve a corrective action plan submitted by the State under clause (i), the Secretary shall take such steps as may be necessary to implement corrective actions in the State to improve the entered-employment rate for veterans in that State.
(B) To carry out subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall establish in regulations a uniform national threshold entered-employment rate for veterans for a program year by which determinations of deficiency may be made under subparagraph (A).
(C) In making a determination with respect to a deficiency under subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall take into account the applicable annual unemployment data for the State and consider other factors, such as prevailing economic conditions, that affect performance of individuals providing employment, training, and placement services in the State.
(4) In determining the terms and conditions of a grant or contract under which funds are made available to a State in order to carry out section 4103A or 4104 of this title, the Secretary shall take into account
(A) the results of reviews, carried out pursuant to subsection (b)(7), of the performance of the employment, training, and placement service delivery system in the State, and
(B) the monitoring carried out under this section.
(5) Each grant or contract by which funds are made available to a State shall contain a provision requiring the recipient of the funds
(A) to comply with the provisions of this chapter; and
(B) on an annual basis, to notify the Secretary of, and provide supporting rationale for, each nonveteran who is employed as a disabled veterans outreach program specialist and local veterans employment representative for a period in excess of 6 months.
(6) Each State shall coordinate employment, training, and placement services furnished to veterans and eligible persons under this chapter with such services furnished with respect to such veterans and persons under the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 and the Wagner-Peyser Act.
(7) Of the amount of a grant or contract under which funds are made available to a State in order to carry out section 4103A or 4104 of this title for any program year, one percent shall be for the purposes of making cash awards under the program of performance incentive awards described in section 4112 of this title in the State.
(8) 
(A) As a condition of a grant or contract under which funds are made available to a State in order to carry out section 4103A or 4104 of this title, the Secretary shall require the State to require each employee hired by the State who is assigned to perform the duties of a disabled veterans outreach program specialist or a local veterans employment representative under this chapter to satisfactorily complete training provided by the National Veterans Employment and Training Services Institute during the three-year period that begins on the date on which the employee is so assigned.
(B) For any employee described in subparagraph (A) who does not complete such training during such period, the Secretary may reduce by an appropriate amount the amount made available to the State employing that employee.
(C) The Secretary may establish such reasonable exceptions to the completion of training otherwise required under subparagraph (A) as the Secretary considers appropriate.
(d) Participation in Other Federally Funded Job Training Programs.— 
The Assistant Secretary of Labor for Veterans Employment and Training shall promote and monitor participation of qualified veterans and eligible persons in employment and training opportunities under title I of the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 and other federally funded employment and training programs.
(e) Regional Administrators.— 

(1) The Secretary shall assign to each region for which the Secretary operates a regional office a representative of the Veterans Employment and Training Service to serve as the Regional Administrator for Veterans Employment and Training in such region.
(2) Each such Regional Administrator shall carry out such duties as the Secretary may require to promote veterans employment and reemployment within the region that the Administrator serves.
(f) Establishment of Performance Standards and Outcomes Measures.— 

(1) The Assistant Secretary of Labor for Veterans Employment and Training shall establish and implement a comprehensive performance accountability system to measure the performance of employment service delivery systems, including disabled veterans outreach program specialists and local veterans employment representatives providing employment, training, and placement services under this chapter in a State to provide accountability of that State to the Secretary for purposes of subsection (c).
(2) Such standards and measures shall
(A) be consistent with State performance measures applicable under section 136(b) of the Workforce Investment Act of 1998; and
(B) be appropriately weighted to provide special consideration for placement of
(i)  veterans requiring intensive services (as defined in section 4101 (9) of this title), such as special disabled veterans and disabled veterans, and
(ii)  veterans who enroll in readjustment counseling under section 1712A of this title.
(g) Authority to Provide Technical Assistance to States.— 
The Secretary may provide such technical assistance as the Secretary determines appropriate to any State that the Secretary determines has, or may have, an entered-employment rate in the State that is deficient, as determined under subsection (c)(3) with respect to a program year, including assistance in the development of a corrective action plan under that subsection.
[1] So in original. The word “and” probably should be a comma.

38 USC 4103 - Directors and Assistant Directors for Veterans Employment and Training; additional Federal personnel

(a) Directors and Assistant Directors.— 

(1) The Secretary shall assign to each State a representative of the Veterans Employment and Training Service to serve as the Director for Veterans Employment and Training, and shall assign full-time Federal clerical or other support personnel to each such Director.
(2) Each Director for Veterans Employment and Training for a State shall, at the time of appointment, have been a bona fide resident of the State for at least two years.
(3) Full-time Federal clerical or other support personnel assigned to Directors for Veterans Employment and Training shall be appointed in accordance with the provisions of title 5 governing appointments in the competitive service and shall be paid in accordance with the provisions of chapter 51 and subchapter III of chapter 53 of title 5.
(b) Additional Federal Personnel.— 
The Secretary may also assign as supervisory personnel such representatives of the Veterans Employment and Training Service as the Secretary determines appropriate to carry out the employment, training, and placement services required under this chapter, including Assistant Directors for Veterans Employment and Training.

38 USC 4103A - Disabled veterans outreach program

(a) Requirement for Employment by States of a Sufficient Number of Specialists.— 

(1) Subject to approval by the Secretary, a State shall employ such full- or part-time disabled veterans outreach program specialists as the State determines appropriate and efficient to carry out intensive services under this chapter to meet the employment needs of eligible veterans with the following priority in the provision of services:
(A) Special disabled veterans.
(B) Other disabled veterans.
(C) Other eligible veterans in accordance with priorities determined by the Secretary taking into account applicable rates of unemployment and the employment emphases set forth in chapter 42 of this title.
(2) In the provision of services in accordance with this subsection, maximum emphasis in meeting the employment needs of veterans shall be placed on assisting economically or educationally disadvantaged veterans.
(b) Requirement for Qualified Veterans.— 
A State shall, to the maximum extent practicable, employ qualified veterans to carry out the services referred to in subsection (a). Preference shall be given in the appointment of such specialists to qualified disabled veterans.
(c) Part-Time Employees.— 
A part-time disabled veterans outreach program specialist shall perform the functions of a disabled veterans outreach program specialist under this section on a half-time basis.

38 USC 4104 - Local veterans employment representatives

(a) Requirement for Employment by States of a Sufficient Number of Representatives.— 
Subject to approval by the Secretary, a State shall employ such full- and part-time local veterans employment representatives as the State determines appropriate and efficient to carry out employment, training, and placement services under this chapter.
(b) Principal Duties.— 
As principal duties, local veterans employment representatives shall
(1) conduct outreach to employers in the area to assist veterans in gaining employment, including conducting seminars for employers and, in conjunction with employers, conducting job search workshops and establishing job search groups; and
(2) facilitate employment, training, and placement services furnished to veterans in a State under the applicable State employment service delivery systems.
(c) Requirement for Qualified Veterans and Eligible Persons.— 
A State shall, to the maximum extent practicable, employ qualified veterans or eligible persons to carry out the services referred to in subsection (a). Preference shall be accorded in the following order:
(1) To qualified service-connected disabled veterans.
(2) If no veteran described in paragraph (1) is available, to qualified eligible veterans.
(3) If no veteran described in paragraph (1) or (2) is available, then to qualified eligible persons.
(d) Part-Time Employees.— 
A part-time local veterans employment representative shall perform the functions of a local veterans employment representative under this section on a half-time basis.
(e) Reporting.— 
Each local veterans employment representative shall be administratively responsible to the manager of the employment service delivery system and shall provide reports, not less frequently than quarterly, to the manager of such office and to the Director for Veterans Employment and Training for the State regarding compliance with Federal law and regulations with respect to special services and priorities for eligible veterans and eligible persons.

38 USC 4104A - Repealed. Pub. L. 107288, 4(a)(3)(A)(i), Nov. 7, 2002, 116 Stat. 2042]

Section, added Pub. L. 100–323, § 4(a)(1), May 20, 1988, 102 Stat. 562, 2004A; renumbered 4104A and amended Pub. L. 102–83, § 5(a), (c)(1), Aug. 6, 1991, 105 Stat. 406, related to performance of disabled veterans outreach program specialists and local veterans employment representatives.

38 USC 4105 - Cooperation of Federal agencies

(a) All Federal agencies shall furnish the Secretary such records, statistics, or information as the Secretary may deem necessary or appropriate in administering the provisions of this chapter, and shall otherwise cooperate with the Secretary in providing continuous employment and training opportunities for eligible veterans and eligible persons.
(b) For the purpose of assisting the Secretary and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs in identifying employers with potential job training opportunities under the Veterans Job Training Act (Public Law 9877; 29 U.S.C. 1721 note )[1] and otherwise in order to carry out this chapter, the Secretary of Defense shall, on the 15th day of each month, provide the Secretary and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs with updated information regarding any list maintained by the Secretary of Defense of employers participating in the National Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve.
[1] See References in Text note below.

38 USC 4106 - Estimate of funds for administration; authorization of appropriations

(a) The Secretary shall estimate the funds necessary for the proper and efficient administration of this chapter and chapters 42 and 43 of this title. Such estimated sums shall include the annual amounts necessary for salaries, rents, printing and binding, travel, and communications. Sums thus estimated shall be included as a special item in the annual budget for the Department of Labor. Estimated funds necessary for proper intensive services, placement, and training services to eligible veterans and eligible persons provided by the various State public employment service agencies shall each be separately identified in the budgets of those agencies as approved by the Department of Labor. Funds estimated pursuant to the first sentence of this subsection shall include amounts necessary in all of the States for the purposes specified in paragraph (5) of section 4102A (b) of this title and to fund the National Veterans Employment and Training Services Institute under section 4109 of this title and shall be approved by the Secretary only if the level of funding proposed is in compliance with such sections. Each budget submission with respect to such funds shall include a separate listing of the amount for the National Veterans Employment and Training Services Institute together with information demonstrating the compliance of such budget submission with the funding requirements specified in the preceding sentence.
(b) There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary for the proper and efficient administration of this chapter.
(c) In the event that the regular appropriations Act making appropriations for administrative expenses for the Department of Labor with respect to any fiscal year does not specify an amount for the purposes specified in subsection (b) of this section for that fiscal year, then of the amounts appropriated in such Act there shall be available only for the purposes specified in subsection (b) of this section such amount as was set forth in the budget estimate submitted pursuant to subsection (a) of this section.
(d) Any funds made available pursuant to subsections (b) and (c) of this section shall not be available for any purpose other than those specified in such subsections.

38 USC 4107 - Administrative controls; annual report

(a) The Secretary shall establish administrative controls for the following purposes:
(1) To insure that each eligible veteran, especially veterans of the Vietnam era and disabled veterans, and each eligible person who requests assistance under this chapter shall promptly be placed in a satisfactory job or job training opportunity or receive some other specific form of assistance designed to enhance such veterans and eligible persons employment prospects substantially, such as individual job development or intensive services.
(2) To determine whether or not the employment service agencies in each State have committed the necessary staff to insure that the provisions of this chapter are carried out; and to arrange for necessary corrective action where staff resources have been determined by the Secretary to be inadequate.
(b) The Secretary shall apply performance standards established under section 4102A (f) of this title for determining compliance by the State public employment service agencies with the provisions of this chapter and chapter 42 of this title. Not later than February 1 of each year, the Secretary shall report to the Committees on Veterans Affairs of the Senate and the House of Representatives on the performance of States and organizations and entities carrying out employment, training, and placement services under this chapter, as measured under subsection (b)(7) of section 4102A of this title. In the case of a State that the Secretary determines has not met the minimum standard of performance (established by the Secretary under subsection (f) of such section), the Secretary shall include an analysis of the extent and reasons for the States failure to meet that minimum standard, together with the States plan for corrective action during the succeeding year.
(c) Not later than February 1 of each year, the Secretary shall report to the Committees on Veterans Affairs of the Senate and the House of Representatives on the success during the preceding program year of the Department of Labor and its affiliated State employment service agencies in carrying out the provisions of this chapter and programs for the provision of employment and training services to meet the needs of eligible veterans and eligible persons. The report shall include
(1) specification, by State and by age group, of the numbers of eligible veterans, disabled veterans, special disabled veterans, eligible persons, recently separated veterans (as defined in section 4211 (6) of this title), and servicemembers transitioning to civilian careers who registered for assistance with, or who are identified as veterans by, the public employment service system and, for each of such categories, the numbers referred to and placed in permanent and other jobs, the numbers referred to and placed in jobs and job training programs supported by the Federal Government, the number who received intensive services, and the number who received some, and the number who received no, reportable service;
(2) a comparison of the rate of entered employment (as determined in a manner consistent with State performance measures applicable under section 136(b) of the Workforce Investment Act of 1998) for each of the categories of veterans and persons described in clause (1) of this subsection with such rate of entered employment (as so determined) for nonveterans of the same age groups registered for assistance with the public employment system in each State;
(3) any determination made by the Secretary during the preceding fiscal year under section 4106 of this title or subsection (a)(2) of this section and a statement of the reasons for such determination;
(4) a report on activities carried out during the preceding program year under section 4212 (d) of this title;
(5) a report on the operation during the preceding program year of programs for the provision of employment and training services designed to meet the needs of eligible veterans and eligible persons, including an evaluation of the effectiveness of such programs during such program year in meeting the requirements of section 4102A (b) of this title, the efficiency with which services were provided through such programs during such year, and such recommendations for further legislative action relating to veterans employment and training as the Secretary considers appropriate; and
(6) a report on the operation during the preceding program year of the program of performance incentive awards for quality employment services under section 4112 of this title.

38 USC 4108 - Cooperation and coordination

(a) In carrying out the Secretarys responsibilities under this chapter, the Secretary shall from time to time consult with the Secretary of Veterans Affairs and keep the Secretary of Veterans Affairs fully advised of activities carried out and all data gathered pursuant to this chapter to insure maximum cooperation and coordination between the Department of Labor and the Department of Veterans Affairs.
(b) The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall provide to appropriate employment service offices and Department of Labor offices, as designated by the Secretary, on a monthly or more frequent basis, the name and address of each employer located in the areas served by such offices that offer a program of job training which has been approved by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs under section 7 of the Veterans Job Training Act (29 U.S.C. 1721 note ).

38 USC 4109 - National Veterans Employment and Training Services Institute

(a) In order to provide for such training as the Secretary considers necessary and appropriate for the efficient and effective provision of employment, job-training, intensive services, placement, job-search, and related services to veterans, the Secretary shall establish and make available such funds as may be necessary to operate a National Veterans Employment and Training Services Institute for the training of disabled veterans outreach program specialists, local veterans employment representatives, Directors for Veterans Employment and Training, and Assistant Directors for Veterans Employment and Training, Regional Administrators for Veterans Employment and Training, and such other personnel involved in the provision of employment, job-training, intensive services, placement, or related services to veterans as the Secretary considers appropriate, including travel expenses and per diem for attendance at the Institute.
(b) In implementing this section, the Secretary shall, as the Secretary considers appropriate, provide, out of program funds designated for the Institute, training for Veterans Employment and Training Service personnel, including travel expenses and per diem to attend the Institute.
(c) 
(1) Nothing in this section shall be construed as preventing the Institute to enter into contracts or agreements with departments or agencies of the United States or of a State, or with other organizations, to carry out training of personnel of such departments, agencies, or organizations in the provision of services referred to in subsection (a).
(2) All proceeds collected by the Institute under a contract or agreement referred to in paragraph (1) shall be applied to the applicable appropriation.

38 USC 4110 - Advisory Committee on Veterans Employment, Training, and Employer Outreach

(a) 
(1) There is hereby established within the Department of Labor an advisory committee to be known as the Advisory Committee on Veterans Employment, Training, and Employer Outreach.
(2) The advisory committee shall
(A) assess the employment and training needs of veterans and their integration into the workforce;
(B) determine the extent to which the programs and activities of the Department of Labor are meeting such needs;
(C) assist the Assistant Secretary of Labor for Veterans Employment and Training in carrying out outreach activities to employers with respect to the training and skills of veterans and the advantages afforded employers by hiring veterans;
(D) make recommendations to the Secretary, through the Assistant Secretary of Labor for Veterans Employment and Training, with respect to outreach activities and the employment and training of veterans; and
(E) carry out such other activities that are necessary to make the reports and recommendations referred to in subsection (f) of this section.
(b) The Secretary of Labor shall, on a regular basis, consult with and seek the advice of the advisory committee with respect to the matters referred to in subsection (a)(2) of this section.
(c) 
(1) The Secretary of Labor shall appoint at least 12, but no more than 15, individuals to serve as members of the advisory committee as follows:
(A) Seven individuals, one each from among representatives nominated by each of the following organizations:
(i) The National Society of Human Resource Managers.
(ii) The Business Roundtable.
(iii) The National Association of State Workforce Agencies.
(iv) The United States Chamber of Commerce.
(v) The National Federation of Independent Business.
(vi) A nationally recognized labor union or organization.
(vii) The National Governors Association.
(B) Not more than five individuals from among representatives nominated by veterans service organizations that have a national employment program.
(C) Not more than five individuals who are recognized authorities in the fields of business, employment, training, rehabilitation, or labor and who are not employees of the Department of Labor.
(2) A vacancy in the advisory committee shall be filled in the manner in which the original appointment was made.
(d) The following, or their representatives, shall be ex officio, nonvoting members of the advisory committee:
(1) The Secretary of Veterans Affairs.
(2) The Secretary of Defense.
(3) The Director of the Office of Personnel Management.
(4) The Assistant Secretary of Labor for Veterans Employment and Training.
(5) The Assistant Secretary of Labor for Employment and Training.
(6) The Administrator of the Small Business Administration.
(e) 
(1) The advisory committee shall meet at least quarterly.
(2) The Secretary of Labor shall appoint the chairman of the advisory committee who shall serve in that position for no more than 2 consecutive years.
(3) 
(A) Members of the advisory committee shall serve without compensation.
(B) Members of the advisory committee shall be allowed reasonable and necessary travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, at rates authorized for persons serving intermittently in the Government service in accordance with the provisions of subchapter I of chapter 57 of title 5 while away from their homes or regular places of business in the performance of the responsibilities of the advisory committee.
(4) The Secretary of Labor shall provide staff and administrative support to the advisory committee through the Veterans Employment and Training Service.
(f) 
(1) Not later than December 31 of each year, the advisory committee shall submit to the Secretary and to the Committees on Veterans Affairs of the Senate and House of Representatives a report on the employment and training needs of veterans, with special emphasis on disabled veterans, for the previous fiscal year. Each such report shall contain
(A) an assessment of the employment and training needs of veterans and their integration into the workforce;
(B) an assessment of the outreach activities carried out by the Secretary of Labor to employers with respect to the training and skills of veterans and the advantages afforded employers by hiring veterans;
(C) an evaluation of the extent to which the programs and activities of the Department of Labor are meeting such needs;
(D) a description of the activities of the advisory committee during that fiscal year;
(E) a description of activities that the advisory committee proposes to undertake in the succeeding fiscal year; and
(F) any recommendations for legislation, administrative action, and other action that the advisory committee considers appropriate.
(2) In addition to the annual reports made under paragraph (1), the advisory committee may make recommendations to the Secretary of Labor with respect to the employment and training needs of veterans at such times and in such manner as the advisory committee determines appropriate.
(g) Within 60 days after receiving each annual report referred to in subsection (f)(1), the Secretary of Labor shall transmit to Congress a copy of the report together with any comments concerning the report that the Secretary considers appropriate.
(h) The advisory committee shall continue until terminated by law.

38 USC 4110A - Special unemployment study

(a) 
(1) The Secretary, through the Bureau of Labor Statistics, shall conduct a study every two years of unemployment among each of the following categories of veterans:
(A) Special disabled veterans.
(B) Veterans of the Vietnam era who served in the Vietnam theater of operations during the Vietnam era.
(C) Veterans who served on active duty during the Vietnam era who did not serve in the Vietnam theater of operations.
(D) Veterans who served on active duty after the Vietnam era.
(E) Veterans discharged or released from active duty within four years of the applicable study.
(2) Within each of the categories of veterans specified in paragraph (1), the Secretary shall include a separate category for women who are veterans.
(b) The Secretary shall promptly submit to Congress a report on the results of each study under subsection (a).

38 USC 4110B - Coordination and nonduplication

In carrying out this chapter, the Secretary shall require that an appropriate administrative entity in each State enter into an agreement with the Secretary regarding the implementation of the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 that includes the description and information described in paragraphs (8) and (14) of section 112(b) of the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (29 U.S.C. 2822 (b)).

38 USC 4111 - Repealed. Pub. L. 10795, 5(e)(3), Dec. 21, 2001, 115 Stat. 918]

Section, added Pub. L. 106–117, title IX, § 901(a), Nov. 30, 1999, 113 Stat. 1586, related to homeless veterans reintegration programs.

38 USC 4112 - Performance incentive awards for quality employment, training, and placement services

(a) Criteria for Performance Incentive Awards.— 

(1) For purposes of carrying out a program of performance incentive awards under section 4102A (c)(2)(A)(i)(III) of this title, the Secretary, acting through the Assistant Secretary of Labor for Veterans Employment and Training, shall establish criteria for performance incentive awards programs to be administered by States to
(A) encourage the improvement and modernization of employment, training, and placement services provided under this chapter; and
(B) recognize eligible employees and employment service offices for excellence in the provision of such services or for having made demonstrable improvements in the provision of such services.
(2) The Secretary shall establish such criteria in consultation with representatives of States, political subdivisions of States, and other providers of employment, training, and placement services under the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 consistent with the performance measures established under section 4102A (b)(7) of this title.
(b) Form of Awards.— 
Under the criteria established by the Secretary for performance incentive awards to be administered by States, an award under such criteria may be a cash award or such other nonfinancial awards as the Secretary may specify.
(c) Administration and Use of Awards.— 
Performance incentive cash awards under this section
(1) shall be made from amounts allocated from the grant or contract amount for a State for a program year under section 4102A (c)(7) of this title;
(2) in the case of such an award made to an eligible employee, shall be in addition to the regular pay of the recipient; and
(3) in the case of such an award made to an employment service office, may be used by that employment service office for any purpose.
(d) Eligible Employee Defined.— 
In this section, the term eligible employee means any of the following:
(1) A disabled veterans outreach program specialist.
(2) A local veterans employment representative.
(3) An individual providing employment, training, and placement services to veterans under the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 or through an employment service delivery system (as defined in section 4101 (7) of this title).

38 USC 4113 - Outstationing of Transition Assistance Program personnel

(a) Stationing of TAP Personnel at Overseas Military Installations.— 

(1) The Secretary
(A) shall station employees of the Veterans Employment and Training Service, or contractors under subsection (c), at each veterans assistance office described in paragraph (2); and
(B) may station such employees or contractors at such other military installations outside the United States as the Secretary, after consultation with the Secretary of Defense, determines to be appropriate or desirable to carry out the purposes of this chapter.
(2) Veterans assistance offices referred to in paragraph (1)(A) are those offices that are established by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs on military installations pursuant to the second sentence of section 6304 (a) of this title.
(b) Functions.— 
Employees (or contractors) stationed at military installations pursuant to subsection (a) shall provide, in person, counseling, assistance in identifying employment and training opportunities, help in obtaining such employment and training, and other related information and services to members of the Armed Forces who are being separated from active duty, and the spouses of such members, under the Transition Assistance Program and Disabled Transition Assistance Program established in section 1144 of title 10.
(c) Authority To Contract With Private Entities.— 
The Secretary, consistent with section 1144 of title 10, may enter into contracts with public or private entities to provide, in person, some or all of the counseling, assistance, information and services under the Transition Assistance Program required under subsection (a).

38 USC 4114 - Credentialing and licensure of veterans: demonstration project

(a) Demonstration Project Authorized.— 
The Assistant Secretary for Veterans Employment and Training may carry out a demonstration project on credentialing in accordance with this section for the purpose of facilitating the seamless transition of members of the Armed Forces from service on active duty to civilian employment.
(b) Identification of Military Occupational Specialties and Associated Credentials and Licenses.— 

(1) The Assistant Secretary shall select not less than 10 military occupational specialties for purposes of the demonstration project. Each specialty so selected by the Assistant Secretary shall require a skill or set of skills that is required for civilian employment in an industry with high growth or high worker demand.
(2) The Assistant Secretary shall consult with appropriate Federal, State, and industry officials to identify requirements for credentials, certifications, and licenses that require a skill or set of skills required by a military occupational specialty selected under paragraph (1).
(3) The Assistant Secretary shall analyze the requirements identified under paragraph (2) to determine which requirements may be satisfied by the skills, training, or experience acquired by members of the Armed Forces with the military occupational specialties selected under paragraph (1).
(c) Elimination of Barriers to Credentialing and Licensure.— 
The Assistant Secretary shall cooperate with appropriate Federal, State, and industry officials to reduce or eliminate any barriers to providing a credential, certification, or license to a veteran who acquired any skill, training, or experience while serving as a member of the Armed Forces with a military occupational specialty selected under subsection (b)(1) that satisfies the Federal and State requirements for the credential, certification, or license.
(d) Task Force.— 
The Assistant Secretary may establish a task force of individuals with appropriate expertise to provide assistance to the Assistant Secretary in carrying out this section.
(e) Consultation.— 
In carrying out this section, the Assistant Secretary shall consult with the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, appropriate Federal and State officials, private-sector employers, labor organizations, and industry trade associations.
(f) Contract Authority.— 
For purposes of carrying out any part of the demonstration project under this section, the Assistant Secretary may enter into a contract with a public or private entity with appropriate expertise.
(g) Period of Project.— 
The period during which the Assistant Secretary may carry out the demonstration project under this section shall be the period beginning on the date that is 60 days after the date of the enactment of the Veterans Benefits, Health Care, and Information Technology Act of 2006 and ending on September 30, 2009.
(h) Funding.— 
The Assistant Secretary may carry out the demonstration project under this section utilizing unobligated funds that are appropriated in accordance with the authorization set forth in section 4106 of this title.

TITLE 38 - US CODE - CHAPTER 42 - EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING OF VETERANS

38 USC 4211 - Definitions

As used in this chapter
(1) The term special disabled veteran means
(A) a veteran who is entitled to compensation (or who but for the receipt of military retired pay would be entitled to compensation) under laws administered by the Secretary for a disability
(i)  rated at 30 percent or more, or
(ii)  rated at 10 or 20 percent in the case of a veteran who has been determined under section 3106 of this title to have a serious employment handicap; or
(B) a person who was discharged or released from active duty because of service-connected disability.
(2) The term veteran of the Vietnam era means an eligible veteran any part of whose active military, naval, or air service was during the Vietnam era.
(3) The term disabled veteran means
(A)  a veteran who is entitled to compensation (or who but for the receipt of military retired pay would be entitled to compensation) under laws administered by the Secretary, or
(B)  a person who was discharged or released from active duty because of a service-connected disability.
(4) The term eligible veteran means a person who
(A) served on active duty for a period of more than 180 days and was discharged or released therefrom with other than a dishonorable discharge;
(B) was discharged or released from active duty because of a service-connected disability; or
(C) as a member of a reserve component under an order to active duty pursuant to section 12301 (a), (d), or (g), 12302, or 12304 of title 10, served on active duty during a period of war or in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge is authorized and was discharged or released from such duty with other than a dishonorable discharge.
(5) The term department or agency means any agency of the Federal Government or the District of Columbia, including any Executive agency as defined in section 105 of title 5 and the United States Postal Service and the Postal Regulatory Commission, and the term department, agency, or instrumentality in the executive branch includes the United States Postal Service and the Postal Regulatory Commission.
(6) The term recently separated veteran means any veteran during the three-year period beginning on the date of such veterans discharge or release from active duty.

38 USC 4212 - Veterans employment emphasis under Federal contracts

(a) 
(1) Any contract in the amount of $100,000 or more entered into by any department or agency of the United States for the procurement of personal property and nonpersonal services (including construction) for the United States, shall contain a provision requiring that the party contracting with the United States take affirmative action to employ and advance in employment qualified covered veterans. This section applies to any subcontract in the amount of $100,000 or more entered into by a prime contractor in carrying out any such contract.
(2) In addition to requiring affirmative action to employ such qualified covered veterans under such contracts and subcontracts and in order to promote the implementation of such requirement, the Secretary of Labor shall prescribe regulations requiring that
(A) each such contractor for each such contract shall immediately list all of its employment openings with the appropriate employment service delivery system (as defined in section 4101 (7) of this title), and may also list such openings with one-stop career centers under the Workforce Investment Act of 1998, other appropriate service delivery points, or Americas Job Bank (or any additional or subsequent national electronic job bank established by the Department of Labor), except that the contractor may exclude openings for executive and senior management positions and positions which are to be filled from within the contractors organization and positions lasting three days or less;
(B) each such employment service delivery system shall give such qualified covered veterans priority in referral to such employment openings; and
(C) each such employment service delivery system shall provide a list of such employment openings to States, political subdivisions of States, or any private entities or organizations under contract to carry out employment, training, and placement services under chapter 41 of this title.
(3) In this section:
(A) The term covered veteran means any of the following veterans:
(i) Disabled veterans.
(ii) Veterans who served on active duty in the Armed Forces during a war or in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge has been authorized.
(iii) Veterans who, while serving on active duty in the Armed Forces, participated in a United States military operation for which an Armed Forces service medal was awarded pursuant to Executive Order No. 12985 (61 Fed. Reg. 1209).
(iv) Recently separated veterans.
(B) The term qualified, with respect to an employment position, means having the ability to perform the essential functions of the position with or without reasonable accommodation for an individual with a disability.
(b) If any veteran covered by the first sentence of subsection (a) believes any contractor of the United States has failed to comply or refuses to comply with the provisions of the contractors contract relating to the employment of veterans, the veteran may file a complaint with the Secretary of Labor, who shall promptly investigate such complaint and take appropriate action in accordance with the terms of the contract and applicable laws and regulations.
(c) The Secretary of Labor shall include as part of the annual report required by section 4107 (c) of this title the number of complaints filed pursuant to subsection (b) of this section, the actions taken thereon and the resolutions thereof. Such report shall also include the number of contractors listing employment openings, the nature, types, and number of positions listed and the number of veterans receiving priority pursuant to subsection (a)(2)(B).
(d) 
(1) Each contractor to whom subsection (a) applies shall, in accordance with regulations which the Secretary of Labor shall prescribe, report at least annually to the Secretary of Labor on
(A) the number of employees in the workforce of such contractor, by job category and hiring location, and the number of such employees, by job category and hiring location, who are qualified covered veterans;
(B) the total number of new employees hired by the contractor during the period covered by the report and the number of such employees who are qualified covered veterans; and
(C) the maximum number and the minimum number of employees of such contractor during the period covered by the report.
(2) The Secretary of Labor shall ensure that the administration of the reporting requirement under paragraph (1) is coordinated with respect to any requirement for the contractor to make any other report to the Secretary of Labor.

38 USC 4213 - Eligibility requirements for veterans under Federal employment and training programs

(a) Amounts and periods of time specified in subsection (b) shall be disregarded in determining eligibility under any of the following:
(1) Any public service employment program.
(2) Any emergency employment program.
(3) Any job training program assisted under the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964.
(4) Any employment or training program carried out under title I of the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (29 U.S.C. 2801 et seq.).
(5) Any other employment or training (or related) program financed in whole or in part with Federal funds.
(b) Subsection (a) applies with respect to the following amounts and periods of time:
(1) Any amount received as pay or allowances by any person while serving on active duty.
(2) Any period of time during which such person served on active duty.
(3) Any amount received under chapters 11, 13, 30, 31, 32, and 36 of this title by an eligible veteran.
(4) Any amount received by an eligible person under chapters 13 and 35 of this title.
(5) Any amount received by an eligible member under chapter 106 of title 10.

38 USC 4214 - Employment within the Federal Government

(a) 
(1) The United States has an obligation to assist veterans of the Armed Forces in readjusting to civilian life. The Federal Government is also continuously concerned with building an effective work force, and veterans constitute a uniquely qualified recruiting source. It is, therefore, the policy of the United States and the purpose of this section to promote the maximum of employment and job advancement opportunities within the Federal Government for qualified covered veterans (as defined in paragraph (2)(B)) who are qualified for such employment and advancement.
(2) In this section:
(A) The term agency has the meaning given the term department or agency in section 4211 (5) of this title.
(B) The term qualified covered veteran means a veteran described in section 4212 (a)(3) of this title.
(b) 
(1) To further the policy stated in subsection (a) of this section, veterans referred to in paragraph (2) of this subsection shall be eligible, in accordance with regulations which the Office of Personnel Management shall prescribe, for veterans recruitment appointments, and for subsequent career-conditional appointments, under the terms and conditions specified in Executive Order Numbered 11521 (March 26, 1970), except that
(A) such an appointment may be made up to and including the level GS11 or its equivalent;
(B) a veteran shall be eligible for such an appointment without regard to the number of years of education completed by such veteran;
(C) a veteran who is entitled to disability compensation under the laws administered by the Department of Veterans Affairs or whose discharge or release from active duty was for a disability incurred or aggravated in line of duty shall be given a preference for such an appointment over other veterans;
(D) a veteran receiving such an appointment shall
(i) in the case of a veteran with less than 15 years of education, receive training or education; and
(ii) upon successful completion of the prescribed probationary period, acquire a competitive status; and
(E) a veteran given an appointment under the authority of this subsection whose employment under the appointment is terminated within one year after the date of such appointment shall have the same right to appeal that termination to the Merit Systems Protection Board as a career or career-conditional employee has during the first year of employment.
(2) This subsection applies to qualified covered veterans.
(3) A qualified covered veteran may receive such an appointment at any time.
(c) Each agency shall include in its affirmative action plan for the hiring, placement, and advancement of handicapped individuals in such agency as required by section 501(b) of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. 791 (b)), a separate specification of plans (in accordance with regulations which the Office of Personnel Management shall prescribe in consultation with the Secretary, the Secretary of Labor, and the Secretary of Health and Human Services, consistent with the purposes, provisions, and priorities of such Act) to promote and carry out such affirmative action with respect to disabled veterans in order to achieve the purpose of this section.
(d) The Office of Personnel Management shall be responsible for the review and evaluation of the implementation of this section and the activities of each agency to carry out the purpose and provisions of this section. The Office shall periodically obtain (on at least an annual basis) information on the implementation of this section by each agency and on the activities of each agency to carry out the purpose and provisions of this section. The information obtained shall include specification of the use and extent of appointments made by each agency under subsection (b) of this section and the results of the plans required under subsection (c) of this section.
(e) 
(1) The Office of Personnel Management shall submit to the Congress annually a report on activities carried out under this section. Each such report shall include the following information with respect to each agency:
(A) The number of appointments made under subsection (b) of this section since the last such report and the grade levels in which such appointments were made.
(B) The number of individuals receiving appointments under such subsection whose appointments were converted to career or career-conditional appointments, or whose employment under such an appointment has terminated, since the last such report, together with a complete listing of categories of causes of appointment terminations and the number of such individuals whose employment has terminated falling into each such category.
(C) The number of such terminations since the last such report that were initiated by the agency involved and the number of such terminations since the last such report that were initiated by the individual involved.
(D) A description of the education and training programs in which individuals appointed under such subsection are participating at the time of such report.
(2) Information shown for an agency under clauses (A) through (D) of paragraph (1) of this subsection
(A) shall be shown for all veterans; and
(B) shall be shown separately
(i)  for veterans who are entitled to disability compensation under the laws administered by the Secretary or whose discharge or release from active duty was for a disability incurred or aggravated in line of duty, and
(ii)  for other veterans.
(f) Notwithstanding section 4211 of this title, the terms veteran and disabled veteran as used in subsection (a) of this section shall have the meaning provided for under generally applicable civil service law and regulations.
(g) To further the policy stated in subsection (a) of this section, the Secretary may give preference to qualified covered veterans for employment in the Department as veterans benefits counselors and veterans claims examiners and in positions to provide the outreach services required under section 6303 of this title, to serve as veterans representatives at certain educational institutions as provided in section 6305 of this title, or to provide readjustment counseling under section 1712A of this title.

38 USC 4215 - Priority of service for veterans in Department of Labor job training programs

(a) Definitions.— 
In this section:
(1) The term covered person means any of the following individuals:
(A) A veteran.
(B) The spouse of any of the following individuals:
(i) Any veteran who died of a service-connected disability.
(ii) Any member of the Armed Forces serving on active duty who, at the time of application for assistance under this section, is listed, pursuant to section 556 of title 37 and regulations issued thereunder, by the Secretary concerned in one or more of the following categories and has been so listed for a total of more than 90 days:
(I)  missing in action,
(II)  captured in line of duty by a hostile force, or
(III)  forcibly detained or interned in line of duty by a foreign government or power.
(iii) Any veteran who has a total disability resulting from a service-connected disability.
(iv) Any veteran who died while a disability so evaluated was in existence.
(2) The term qualified job training program means any workforce preparation, development, or delivery program or service that is directly funded, in whole or in part, by the Department of Labor and includes the following:
(A) Any such program or service that uses technology to assist individuals to access workforce development programs (such as job and training opportunities, labor market information, career assessment tools, and related support services).
(B) Any such program or service under the public employment service system, one-stop career centers, the Workforce Investment Act of 1998, a demonstration or other temporary program, and those programs implemented by States or local service providers based on Federal block grants administered by the Department of Labor.
(C) Any such program or service that is a workforce development program targeted to specific groups.
(3) The term priority of service means, with respect to any qualified job training program, that a covered person shall be given priority over nonveterans for the receipt of employment, training, and placement services provided under that program, notwithstanding any other provision of law.
(b) Entitlement to Priority of Service.— 

(1) A covered person is entitled to priority of service under any qualified job training program if the person otherwise meets the eligibility requirements for participation in such program.
(2) The Secretary of Labor may establish priorities among covered persons for purposes of this section to take into account the needs of disabled veterans and special disabled veterans, and such other factors as the Secretary determines appropriate.
(c) Administration of Programs at State and Local Levels.— 
An entity of a State or a political subdivision of the State that administers or delivers services under a qualified job training program shall
(1) provide information and priority of service to covered persons regarding benefits and services that may be obtained through other entities or service providers; and
(2) ensure that each covered person who applies to or who is assisted by such a program is informed of the employment-related rights and benefits to which the person is entitled under this section.
(d) Addition to Annual Report.— 
In the annual report required under section 4107 (c) of this title for the program year beginning in 2003 and each subsequent program year, the Secretary of Labor shall evaluate whether covered persons are receiving priority of service and are being fully served by qualified job training programs, and whether the representation of veterans in such programs is in proportion to the incidence of representation of veterans in the labor market, including within groups that the Secretary may designate for priority under such programs, if any.

TITLE 38 - US CODE - CHAPTER 43 - EMPLOYMENT AND REEMPLOYMENT RIGHTS OF MEMBERS OF THE UNIFORMED SERVICES

TITLE 38 - US CODE - SUBCHAPTER I - GENERAL

38 USC 4301 - Purposes; sense of Congress

(a) The purposes of this chapter are
(1) to encourage noncareer service in the uniformed services by eliminating or minimizing the disadvantages to civilian careers and employment which can result from such service;
(2) to minimize the disruption to the lives of persons performing service in the uniformed services as well as to their employers, their fellow employees, and their communities, by providing for the prompt reemployment of such persons upon their completion of such service; and
(3) to prohibit discrimination against persons because of their service in the uniformed services.
(b) It is the sense of Congress that the Federal Government should be a model employer in carrying out the provisions of this chapter.

38 USC 4302 - Relation to other law and plans or agreements

(a) Nothing in this chapter shall supersede, nullify or diminish any Federal or State law (including any local law or ordinance), contract, agreement, policy, plan, practice, or other matter that establishes a right or benefit that is more beneficial to, or is in addition to, a right or benefit provided for such person in this chapter.
(b) This chapter supersedes any State law (including any local law or ordinance), contract, agreement, policy, plan, practice, or other matter that reduces, limits, or eliminates in any manner any right or benefit provided by this chapter, including the establishment of additional prerequisites to the exercise of any such right or the receipt of any such benefit.

38 USC 4303 - Definitions

For the purposes of this chapter
(1) The term Attorney General means the Attorney General of the United States or any person designated by the Attorney General to carry out a responsibility of the Attorney General under this chapter.
(2) The term benefit, benefit of employment, or rights and benefits means any advantage, profit, privilege, gain, status, account, or interest (other than wages or salary for work performed) that accrues by reason of an employment contract or agreement or an employer policy, plan, or practice and includes rights and benefits under a pension plan, a health plan, an employee stock ownership plan, insurance coverage and awards, bonuses, severance pay, supplemental unemployment benefits, vacations, and the opportunity to select work hours or location of employment.
(3) The term employee means any person employed by an employer. Such term includes any person who is a citizen, national, or permanent resident alien of the United States employed in a workplace in a foreign country by an employer that is an entity incorporated or otherwise organized in the United States or that is controlled by an entity organized in the United States, within the meaning of section 4319 (c) of this title.
(4) 
(A) Except as provided in subparagraphs (B) and (C), the term employer means any person, institution, organization, or other entity that pays salary or wages for work performed or that has control over employment opportunities, including
(i) a person, institution, organization, or other entity to whom the employer has delegated the performance of employment-related responsibilities;
(ii) the Federal Government;
(iii) a State;
(iv) any successor in interest to a person, institution, organization, or other entity referred to in this subparagraph; and
(v) a person, institution, organization, or other entity that has denied initial employment in violation of section 4311.
(B) In the case of a National Guard technician employed under section 709 of title 32, the term employer means the adjutant general of the State in which the technician is employed.
(C) Except as an actual employer of employees, an employee pension benefit plan described in section 3(2) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (29 U.S.C. 1002 (2)) shall be deemed to be an employer only with respect to the obligation to provide benefits described in section 4318.
(5) The term Federal executive agency includes the United States Postal Service, the Postal Regulatory Commission, any nonappropriated fund instrumentality of the United States, any Executive agency (as that term is defined in section 105 of title 5) other than an agency referred to in section 2302 (a)(2)(C)(ii) of title 5, and any military department (as that term is defined in section 102 of title 5) with respect to the civilian employees of that department.
(6) The term Federal Government includes any Federal executive agency, the legislative branch of the United States, and the judicial branch of the United States.
(7) The term health plan means an insurance policy or contract, medical or hospital service agreement, membership or subscription contract, or other arrangement under which health services for individuals are provided or the expenses of such services are paid.
(8) The term notice means (with respect to subchapter II) any written or verbal notification of an obligation or intention to perform service in the uniformed services provided to an employer by the employee who will perform such service or by the uniformed service in which such service is to be performed.
(9) The term qualified, with respect to an employment position, means having the ability to perform the essential tasks of the position.
(10) The term reasonable efforts, in the case of actions required of an employer under this chapter, means actions, including training provided by an employer, that do not place an undue hardship on the employer.
(11) Notwithstanding section 101, the term Secretary means the Secretary of Labor or any person designated by such Secretary to carry out an activity under this chapter.
(12) The term seniority means longevity in employment together with any benefits of employment which accrue with, or are determined by, longevity in employment.
(13) The term service in the uniformed services means the performance of duty on a voluntary or involuntary basis in a uniformed service under competent authority and includes active duty, active duty for training, initial active duty for training, inactive duty training, full-time National Guard duty, a period for which a person is absent from a position of employment for the purpose of an examination to determine the fitness of the person to perform any such duty, and a period for which a person is absent from employment for the purpose of performing funeral honors duty as authorized by section 12503 of title 10 or section 115 of title 32.
(14) The term State means each of the several States of the United States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, the Virgin Islands, and other territories of the United States (including the agencies and political subdivisions thereof).
(15) The term undue hardship, in the case of actions taken by an employer, means actions requiring significant difficulty or expense, when considered in light of
(A) the nature and cost of the action needed under this chapter;
(B) the overall financial resources of the facility or facilities involved in the provision of the action; the number of persons employed at such facility; the effect on expenses and resources, or the impact otherwise of such action upon the operation of the facility;
(C) the overall financial resources of the employer; the overall size of the business of an employer with respect to the number of its employees; the number, type, and location of its facilities; and
(D) the type of operation or operations of the employer, including the composition, structure, and functions of the work force of such employer; the geographic separateness, administrative, or fiscal relationship of the facility or facilities in question to the employer.
(16) The term uniformed services means the Armed Forces, the Army National Guard and the Air National Guard when engaged in active duty for training, inactive duty training, or full-time National Guard duty, the commissioned corps of the Public Health Service, and any other category of persons designated by the President in time of war or national emergency.

38 USC 4304 - Character of service

A persons entitlement to the benefits of this chapter by reason of the service of such person in one of the uniformed services terminates upon the occurrence of any of the following events:
(1) A separation of such person from such uniformed service with a dishonorable or bad conduct discharge.
(2) A separation of such person from such uniformed service under other than honorable conditions, as characterized pursuant to regulations prescribed by the Secretary concerned.
(3) A dismissal of such person permitted under section 1161 (a) of title 10.
(4) A dropping of such person from the rolls pursuant to section 1161 (b) of title 10.

TITLE 38 - US CODE - SUBCHAPTER II - EMPLOYMENT AND REEMPLOYMENT RIGHTS AND LIMITATIONS; PROHIBITIONS

38 USC 4311 - Discrimination against persons who serve in the uniformed services and acts of reprisal prohibited

(a) A person who is a member of, applies to be a member of, performs, has performed, applies to perform, or has an obligation to perform service in a uniformed service shall not be denied initial employment, reemployment, retention in employment, promotion, or any benefit of employment by an employer on the basis of that membership, application for membership, performance of service, application for service, or obligation.
(b) An employer may not discriminate in employment against or take any adverse employment action against any person because such person
(1)  has taken an action to enforce a protection afforded any person under this chapter,
(2)  has testified or otherwise made a statement in or in connection with any proceeding under this chapter,
(3)  has assisted or otherwise participated in an investigation under this chapter, or
(4)  has exercised a right provided for in this chapter. The prohibition in this subsection shall apply with respect to a person regardless of whether that person has performed service in the uniformed services.
(c) An employer shall be considered to have engaged in actions prohibited
(1) under subsection (a), if the persons membership, application for membership, service, application for service, or obligation for service in the uniformed services is a motivating factor in the employers action, unless the employer can prove that the action would have been taken in the absence of such membership, application for membership, service, application for service, or obligation for service; or
(2) under subsection (b), if the persons
(A)  action to enforce a protection afforded any person under this chapter,
(B)  testimony or making of a statement in or in connection with any proceeding under this chapter,
(C)  assistance or other participation in an investigation under this chapter, or
(D)  exercise of a right provided for in this chapter, is a motivating factor in the employers action, unless the employer can prove that the action would have been taken in the absence of such persons enforcement action, testimony, statement, assistance, participation, or exercise of a right.
(d) The prohibitions in subsections (a) and (b) shall apply to any position of employment, including a position that is described in section 4312 (d)(1)(C) of this title.

38 USC 4312 - Reemployment rights of persons who serve in the uniformed services

(a) Subject to subsections (b), (c), and (d) and to section 4304, any person whose absence from a position of employment is necessitated by reason of service in the uniformed services shall be entitled to the reemployment rights and benefits and other employment benefits of this chapter if
(1) the person (or an appropriate officer of the uniformed service in which such service is performed) has given advance written or verbal notice of such service to such persons employer;
(2) the cumulative length of the absence and of all previous absences from a position of employment with that employer by reason of service in the uniformed services does not exceed five years; and
(3) except as provided in subsection (f), the person reports to, or submits an application for reemployment to, such employer in accordance with the provisions of subsection (e).
(b) No notice is required under subsection (a)(1) if the giving of such notice is precluded by military necessity or, under all of the relevant circumstances, the giving of such notice is otherwise impossible or unreasonable. A determination of military necessity for the purposes of this subsection shall be made pursuant to regulations prescribed by the Secretary of Defense and shall not be subject to judicial review.
(c) Subsection (a) shall apply to a person who is absent from a position of employment by reason of service in the uniformed services if such persons cumulative period of service in the uniformed services, with respect to the employer relationship for which a person seeks reemployment, does not exceed five years, except that any such period of service shall not include any service
(1) that is required, beyond five years, to complete an initial period of obligated service;
(2) during which such person was unable to obtain orders releasing such person from a period of service in the uniformed services before the expiration of such five-year period and such inability was through no fault of such person;
(3) performed as required pursuant to section 10147 of title 10, under section 502 (a) or 503 of title 32, or to fulfill additional training requirements determined and certified in writing by the Secretary concerned, to be necessary for professional development, or for completion of skill training or retraining; or
(4) performed by a member of a uniformed service who is
(A) ordered to or retained on active duty under section 688, 12301 (a), 12301 (g), 12302, 12304, or 12305 of title 10 or under section 331, 332, 359, 360, 367, or 712 of title 14;
(B) ordered to or retained on active duty (other than for training) under any provision of law because of a war or national emergency declared by the President or the Congress, as determined by the Secretary concerned;
(C) ordered to active duty (other than for training) in support, as determined by the Secretary concerned, of an operational mission for which personnel have been ordered to active duty under section 12304 of title 10;
(D) ordered to active duty in support, as determined by the Secretary concerned, of a critical mission or requirement of the uniformed services; or
(E) called into Federal service as a member of the National Guard under chapter 15 of title 10 or under section 12406 of title 10.
(d) 
(1) An employer is not required to reemploy a person under this chapter if
(A) the employers circumstances have so changed as to make such reemployment impossible or unreasonable;
(B) in the case of a person entitled to reemployment under subsection (a)(3), (a)(4), or (b)(2)(B) of section 4313, such employment would impose an undue hardship on the employer; or
(C) the employment from which the person leaves to serve in the uniformed services is for a brief, nonrecurrent period and there is no reasonable expectation that such employment will continue indefinitely or for a significant period.
(2) In any proceeding involving an issue of whether
(A) any reemployment referred to in paragraph (1) is impossible or unreasonable because of a change in an employers circumstances,
(B) any accommodation, training, or effort referred to in subsection (a)(3), (a)(4), or (b)(2)(B) of section 4313 would impose an undue hardship on the employer, or
(C) the employment referred to in paragraph (1)(C) is for a brief, nonrecurrent period and there is no reasonable expectation that such employment will continue indefinitely or for a significant period,

the employer shall have the burden of proving the impossibility or unreasonableness, undue hardship, or the brief or nonrecurrent nature of the employment without a reasonable expectation of continuing indefinitely or for a significant period.

(e) 
(1) Subject to paragraph (2), a person referred to in subsection (a) shall, upon the completion of a period of service in the uniformed services, notify the employer referred to in such subsection of the persons intent to return to a position of employment with such employer as follows:
(A) In the case of a person whose period of service in the uniformed services was less than 31 days, by reporting to the employer
(i) not later than the beginning of the first full regularly scheduled work period on the first full calendar day following the completion of the period of service and the expiration of eight hours after a period allowing for the safe transportation of the person from the place of that service to the persons residence; or
(ii) as soon as possible after the expiration of the eight-hour period referred to in clause (i), if reporting within the period referred to in such clause is impossible or unreasonable through no fault of the person.
(B) In the case of a person who is absent from a position of employment for a period of any length for the purposes of an examination to determine the persons fitness to perform service in the uniformed services, by reporting in the manner and time referred to in subparagraph (A).
(C) In the case of a person whose period of service in the uniformed services was for more than 30 days but less than 181 days, by submitting an application for reemployment with the employer not later than 14 days after the completion of the period of service or if submitting such application within such period is impossible or unreasonable through no fault of the person, the next first full calendar day when submission of such application becomes possible.
(D) In the case of a person whose period of service in the uniformed services was for more than 180 days, by submitting an application for reemployment with the employer not later than 90 days after the completion of the period of service.
(2) 
(A) A person who is hospitalized for, or convalescing from, an illness or injury incurred in, or aggravated during, the performance of service in the uniformed services shall, at the end of the period that is necessary for the person to recover from such illness or injury, report to the persons employer (in the case of a person described in subparagraph (A) or (B) of paragraph (1)) or submit an application for reemployment with such employer (in the case of a person described in subparagraph (C) or (D) of such paragraph). Except as provided in subparagraph (B), such period of recovery may not exceed two years.
(B) Such two-year period shall be extended by the minimum time required to accommodate the circumstances beyond such persons control which make reporting within the period specified in subparagraph (A) impossible or unreasonable.
(3) A person who fails to report or apply for employment or reemployment within the appropriate period specified in this subsection shall not automatically forfeit such persons entitlement to the rights and benefits referred to in subsection (a) but shall be subject to the conduct rules, established policy, and general practices of the employer pertaining to explanations and discipline with respect to absence from scheduled work.
(f) 
(1) A person who submits an application for reemployment in accordance with subparagraph (C) or (D) of subsection (e)(1) or subsection (e)(2) shall provide to the persons employer (upon the request of such employer) documentation to establish that
(A) the persons application is timely;
(B) the person has not exceeded the service limitations set forth in subsection (a)(2) (except as permitted under subsection (c)); and
(C) the persons entitlement to the benefits under this chapter has not been terminated pursuant to section 4304.
(2) Documentation of any matter referred to in paragraph (1) that satisfies regulations prescribed by the Secretary shall satisfy the documentation requirements in such paragraph.
(3) 
(A) Except as provided in subparagraph (B), the failure of a person to provide documentation that satisfies regulations prescribed pursuant to paragraph (2) shall not be a basis for denying reemployment in accordance with the provisions of this chapter if the failure occurs because such documentation does not exist or is not readily available at the time of the request of the employer. If, after such reemployment, documentation becomes available that establishes that such person does not meet one or more of the requirements referred to in subparagraphs (A), (B), and (C) of paragraph (1), the employer of such person may terminate the employment of the person and the provision of any rights or benefits afforded the person under this chapter.
(B) An employer who reemploys a person absent from a position of employment for more than 90 days may require that the person provide the employer with the documentation referred to in subparagraph (A) before beginning to treat the person as not having incurred a break in service for pension purposes under section 4318 (a)(2)(A).
(4) An employer may not delay or attempt to defeat a reemployment obligation by demanding documentation that does not then exist or is not then readily available.
(g) The right of a person to reemployment under this section shall not entitle such person to retention, preference, or displacement rights over any person with a superior claim under the provisions of title 5, United States Code, relating to veterans and other preference eligibles.
(h) In any determination of a persons entitlement to protection under this chapter, the timing, frequency, and duration of the persons training or service, or the nature of such training or service (including voluntary service) in the uniformed services, shall not be a basis for denying protection of this chapter if the service does not exceed the limitations set forth in subsection (c) and the notice requirements established in subsection (a)(1) and the notification requirements established in subsection (e) are met.

38 USC 4313 - Reemployment positions

(a) Subject to subsection (b) (in the case of any employee) and sections 4314 and 4315 (in the case of an employee of the Federal Government), a person entitled to reemployment under section 4312, upon completion of a period of service in the uniformed services, shall be promptly reemployed in a position of employment in accordance with the following order of priority:
(1) Except as provided in paragraphs (3) and (4), in the case of a person whose period of service in the uniformed services was for less than 91 days
(A) in the position of employment in which the person would have been employed if the continuous employment of such person with the employer had not been interrupted by such service, the duties of which the person is qualified to perform; or
(B) in the position of employment in which the person was employed on the date of the commencement of the service in the uniformed services, only if the person is not qualified to perform the duties of the position referred to in subparagraph (A) after reasonable efforts by the employer to qualify the person.
(2) Except as provided in paragraphs (3) and (4), in the case of a person whose period of service in the uniformed services was for more than 90 days
(A) in the position of employment in which the person would have been employed if the continuous employment of such person with the employer had not been interrupted by such service, or a position of like seniority, status and pay, the duties of which the person is qualified to perform; or
(B) in the position of employment in which the person was employed on the date of the commencement of the service in the uniformed services, or a position of like seniority, status and pay, the duties of which the person is qualified to perform, only if the person is not qualified to perform the duties of a position referred to in subparagraph (A) after reasonable efforts by the employer to qualify the person.
(3) In the case of a person who has a disability incurred in, or aggravated during, such service, and who (after reasonable efforts by the employer to accommodate the disability) is not qualified due to such disability to be employed in the position of employment in which the person would have been employed if the continuous employment of such person with the employer had not been interrupted by such service
(A) in any other position which is equivalent in seniority, status, and pay, the duties of which the person is qualified to perform or would become qualified to perform with reasonable efforts by the employer; or
(B) if not employed under subparagraph (A), in a position which is the nearest approximation to a position referred to in subparagraph (A) in terms of seniority, status, and pay consistent with circumstances of such persons case.
(4) In the case of a person who
(A)  is not qualified to be employed in
(i)  the position of employment in which the person would have been employed if the continuous employment of such person with the employer had not been interrupted by such service, or
(ii)  in the position of employment in which such person was employed on the date of the commencement of the service in the uniformed services for any reason (other than disability incurred in, or aggravated during, service in the uniformed services), and
(B)  cannot become qualified with reasonable efforts by the employer, in any other position which is the nearest approximation to a position referred to first in clause (A)(i) and then in clause (A)(ii) which such person is qualified to perform, with full seniority.
(b) 
(1) If two or more persons are entitled to reemployment under section 4312 in the same position of employment and more than one of them has reported for such reemployment, the person who left the position first shall have the prior right to reemployment in that position.
(2) Any person entitled to reemployment under section 4312 who is not reemployed in a position of employment by reason of paragraph (1) shall be entitled to be reemployed as follows:
(A) Except as provided in subparagraph (B), in any other position of employment referred to in subsection (a)(1) or (a)(2), as the case may be (in the order of priority set out in the applicable subsection), that provides a similar status and pay to a position of employment referred to in paragraph (1) of this subsection, consistent with the circumstances of such persons case, with full seniority.
(B) In the case of a person who has a disability incurred in, or aggravated during, a period of service in the uniformed services that requires reasonable efforts by the employer for the person to be able to perform the duties of the position of employment, in any other position referred to in subsection (a)(3) (in the order of priority set out in that subsection) that provides a similar status and pay to a position referred to in paragraph (1) of this subsection, consistent with circumstances of such persons case, with full seniority.

38 USC 4314 - Reemployment by the Federal Government

(a) Except as provided in subsections (b), (c), and (d), if a person is entitled to reemployment by the Federal Government under section 4312, such person shall be reemployed in a position of employment as described in section 4313.
(b) 
(1) If the Director of the Office of Personnel Management makes a determination described in paragraph (2) with respect to a person who was employed by a Federal executive agency at the time the person entered the service from which the person seeks reemployment under this section, the Director shall
(A) identify a position of like seniority, status, and pay at another Federal executive agency that satisfies the requirements of section 4313 and for which the person is qualified; and
(B) ensure that the person is offered such position.
(2) The Director shall carry out the duties referred to in subparagraphs (A) and (B) of paragraph (1) if the Director determines that
(A) the Federal executive agency that employed the person referred to in such paragraph no longer exists and the functions of such agency have not been transferred to another Federal executive agency; or
(B) it is impossible or unreasonable for the agency to reemploy the person.
(c) If the employer of a person described in subsection (a) was, at the time such person entered the service from which such person seeks reemployment under this section, a part of the judicial branch or the legislative branch of the Federal Government, and such employer determines that it is impossible or unreasonable for such employer to reemploy such person, such person shall, upon application to the Director of the Office of Personnel Management, be ensured an offer of employment in an alternative position in a Federal executive agency on the basis described in subsection (b).
(d) If the adjutant general of a State determines that it is impossible or unreasonable to reemploy a person who was a National Guard technician employed under section 709 of title 32, such person shall, upon application to the Director of the Office of Personnel Management, be ensured an offer of employment in an alternative position in a Federal executive agency on the basis described in subsection (b).

38 USC 4315 - Reemployment by certain Federal agencies

(a) The head of each agency referred to in section 2302 (a)(2)(C)(ii) of title 5 shall prescribe procedures for ensuring that the rights under this chapter apply to the employees of such agency.
(b) In prescribing procedures under subsection (a), the head of an agency referred to in that subsection shall ensure, to the maximum extent practicable, that the procedures of the agency for reemploying persons who serve in the uniformed services provide for the reemployment of such persons in the agency in a manner similar to the manner of reemployment described in section 4313.
(c) 
(1) The procedures prescribed under subsection (a) shall designate an official at the agency who shall determine whether or not the reemployment of a person referred to in subsection (b) by the agency is impossible or unreasonable.
(2) Upon making a determination that the reemployment by the agency of a person referred to in subsection (b) is impossible or unreasonable, the official referred to in paragraph (1) shall notify the person and the Director of the Office of Personnel Management of such determination.
(3) A determination pursuant to this subsection shall not be subject to judicial review.
(4) The head of each agency referred to in subsection (a) shall submit to the Select Committee on Intelligence and the Committee on Veterans Affairs of the Senate and the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence and the Committee on Veterans Affairs of the House of Representatives on an annual basis a report on the number of persons whose reemployment with the agency was determined under this subsection to be impossible or unreasonable during the year preceding the report, including the reason for each such determination.
(d) 
(1) Except as provided in this section, nothing in this section, section 4313, or section 4325 shall be construed to exempt any agency referred to in subsection (a) from compliance with any other substantive provision of this chapter.
(2) This section may not be construed
(A) as prohibiting an employee of an agency referred to in subsection (a) from seeking information from the Secretary regarding assistance in seeking reemployment from the agency under this chapter, alternative employment in the Federal Government under this chapter, or information relating to the rights and obligations of employee and Federal agencies under this chapter; or
(B) as prohibiting such an agency from voluntarily cooperating with or seeking assistance in or of clarification from the Secretary or the Director of the Office of Personnel Management of any matter arising under this chapter.
(e) The Director of the Office of Personnel Management shall ensure the offer of employment to a person in a position in a Federal executive agency on the basis described in subsection (b) if
(1) the person was an employee of an agency referred to in section 2302 (a)(2)(C)(ii) of title 5 at the time the person entered the service from which the person seeks reemployment under this section;
(2) the appropriate officer of the agency determines under subsection (c) that reemployment of the person by the agency is impossible or unreasonable; and
(3) the person submits an application to the Director for an offer of employment under this subsection.

38 USC 4316 - Rights, benefits, and obligations of persons absent from employment for service in a uniformed service

(a) A person who is reemployed under this chapter is entitled to the seniority and other rights and benefits determined by seniority that the person had on the date of the commencement of service in the uniformed services plus the additional seniority and rights and benefits that such person would have attained if the person had remained continuously employed.
(b) 
(1) Subject to paragraphs (2) through (6), a person who is absent from a position of employment by reason of service in the uniformed services shall be
(A) deemed to be on furlough or leave of absence while performing such service; and
(B) entitled to such other rights and benefits not determined by seniority as are generally provided by the employer of the person to employees having similar seniority, status, and pay who are on furlough or leave of absence under a contract, agreement, policy, practice, or plan in effect at the commencement of such service or established while such person performs such service.
(2) 
(A) Subject to subparagraph (B), a person who
(i) is absent from a position of employment by reason of service in the uniformed services, and
(ii) knowingly provides written notice of intent not to return to a position of employment after service in the uniformed service,

is not entitled to rights and benefits under paragraph (1)(B).

(B) For the purposes of subparagraph (A), the employer shall have the burden of proving that a person knowingly provided clear written notice of intent not to return to a position of employment after service in the uniformed service and, in doing so, was aware of the specific rights and benefits to be lost under subparagraph (A).
(3) A person deemed to be on furlough or leave of absence under this subsection while serving in the uniformed services shall not be entitled under this subsection to any benefits to which the person would not otherwise be entitled if the person had remained continuously employed.
(4) Such person may be required to pay the employee cost, if any, of any funded benefit continued pursuant to paragraph (1) to the extent other employees on furlough or leave of absence are so required.
(5) The entitlement of a person to coverage under a health plan is provided for under section 4317.
(6) The entitlement of a person to a right or benefit under an employee pension benefit plan is provided for under section 4318.
(c) A person who is reemployed by an employer under this chapter shall not be discharged from such employment, except for cause
(1) within one year after the date of such reemployment, if the persons period of service before the reemployment was more than 180 days; or
(2) within 180 days after the date of such reemployment, if the persons period of service before the reemployment was more than 30 days but less than 181 days.
(d) Any person whose employment with an employer is interrupted by a period of service in the uniformed services shall be permitted, upon request of that person, to use during such period of service any vacation, annual, or similar leave with pay accrued by the person before the commencement of such service. No employer may require any such person to use vacation, annual, or similar leave during such period of service.
(e) 
(1) An employer shall grant an employee who is a member of a reserve component an authorized leave of absence from a position of employment to allow that employee to perform funeral honors duty as authorized by section 12503 of title 10 or section 115 of title 32.
(2) For purposes of section 4312 (e)(1) of this title, an employee who takes an authorized leave of absence under paragraph (1) is deemed to have notified the employer of the employees intent to return to such position of employment.

38 USC 4317 - Health plans

(a) 
(1) In any case in which a person (or the persons dependents) has coverage under a health plan in connection with the persons position of employment, including a group health plan (as defined in section 607(1) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974), and such person is absent from such position of employment by reason of service in the uniformed services, or such person becomes eligible for medical and dental care under chapter 55 of title 10 by reason of subsection (d) of section 1074 of that title, the plan shall provide that the person may elect to continue such coverage as provided in this subsection. The maximum period of coverage of a person and the persons dependents under such an election shall be the lesser of
(A) the 24-month period beginning on the date on which the persons absence begins; or
(B) the day after the date on which the person fails to apply for or return to a position of employment, as determined under section 4312 (e).
(2) A person who elects to continue health-plan coverage under this paragraph may be required to pay not more than 102 percent of the full premium under the plan (determined in the same manner as the applicable premium under section 4980B(f)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986) associated with such coverage for the employers other employees, except that in the case of a person who performs service in the uniformed services for less than 31 days, such person may not be required to pay more than the employee share, if any, for such coverage.
(3) In the case of a health plan that is a multiemployer plan, as defined in section 3(37) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, any liability under the plan for employer contributions and benefits arising under this paragraph shall be allocated
(A) by the plan in such manner as the plan sponsor shall provide; or
(B) if the sponsor does not provide
(i) to the last employer employing the person before the period served by the person in the uniformed services, or
(ii) if such last employer is no longer functional, to the plan.
(b) 
(1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), in the case of a person whose coverage under a health plan was terminated by reason of service in the uniformed services, or by reason of the persons having become eligible for medical and dental care under chapter 55 of title 10 by reason of subsection (d) of section 1074 of that title, an exclusion or waiting period may not be imposed in connection with the reinstatement of such coverage upon reemployment under this chapter if an exclusion or waiting period would not have been imposed under a health plan had coverage of such person by such plan not been terminated as a result of such service or eligibility. This paragraph applies to the person who is reemployed and to any individual who is covered by such plan by reason of the reinstatement of the coverage of such person.
(2) Paragraph (1) shall not apply to the coverage of any illness or injury determined by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to have been incurred in, or aggravated during, performance of service in the uniformed services.
(3) In the case of a person whose coverage under a health plan is terminated by reason of the person having become eligible for medical and dental care under chapter 55 of title 10 by reason of subsection (d) of section 1074 of that title but who subsequently does not commence a period of active duty under the order to active duty that established such eligibility because the order is canceled before such active duty commences, the provisions of paragraph (1) relating to any exclusion or waiting period in connection with the reinstatement of coverage under a health plan shall apply to such persons continued employment, upon the termination of such eligibility for medical and dental care under chapter 55 of title 10 that is incident to the cancellation of such order, in the same manner as if the person had become reemployed upon such termination of eligibility.

38 USC 4318 - Employee pension benefit plans

(a) 
(1) 
(A) Except as provided in subparagraph (B), in the case of a right provided pursuant to an employee pension benefit plan (including those described in sections 3(2) and 3(33) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974) or a right provided under any Federal or State law governing pension benefits for governmental employees, the right to pension benefits of a person reemployed under this chapter shall be determined under this section.
(B) In the case of benefits under the Thrift Savings Plan, the rights of a person reemployed under this chapter shall be those rights provided in section 8432b of title 5. The first sentence of this subparagraph shall not be construed to affect any other right or benefit under this chapter.
(2) 
(A) A person reemployed under this chapter shall be treated as not having incurred a break in service with the employer or employers maintaining the plan by reason of such persons period or periods of service in the uniformed services.
(B) Each period served by a person in the uniformed services shall, upon reemployment under this chapter, be deemed to constitute service with the employer or employers maintaining the plan for the purpose of determining the nonforfeitability of the persons accrued benefits and for the purpose of determining the accrual of benefits under the plan.
(b) 
(1) An employer reemploying a person under this chapter shall, with respect to a period of service described in subsection (a)(2)(B), be liable to an employee pension benefit plan for funding any obligation of the plan to provide the benefits described in subsection (a)(2) and shall allocate the amount of any employer contribution for the person in the same manner and to the same extent the allocation occurs for other employees during the period of service. For purposes of determining the amount of such liability and any obligation of the plan, earnings and forfeitures shall not be included. For purposes of determining the amount of such liability and for purposes of section 515 of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 or any similar Federal or State law governing pension benefits for governmental employees, service in the uniformed services that is deemed under subsection (a) to be service with the employer shall be deemed to be service with the employer under the terms of the plan or any applicable collective bargaining agreement. In the case of a multiemployer plan, as defined in section 3(37) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, any liability of the plan described in this paragraph shall be allocated
(A) by the plan in such manner as the sponsor maintaining the plan shall provide; or
(B) if the sponsor does not provide
(i) to the last employer employing the person before the period served by the person in the uniformed services, or
(ii) if such last employer is no longer functional, to the plan.
(2) A person reemployed under this chapter shall be entitled to accrued benefits pursuant to subsection (a) that are contingent on the making of, or derived from, employee contributions or elective deferrals (as defined in section 402(g)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986) only to the extent the person makes payment to the plan with respect to such contributions or deferrals. No such payment may exceed the amount the person would have been permitted or required to contribute had the person remained continuously employed by the employer throughout the period of service described in subsection (a)(2)(B). Any payment to the plan described in this paragraph shall be made during the period beginning with the date of reemployment and whose duration is three times the period of the persons service in the uniformed services, such payment period not to exceed five years.
(3) For purposes of computing an employers liability under paragraph (1) or the employees contributions under paragraph (2), the employees compensation during the period of service described in subsection (a)(2)(B) shall be computed
(A) at the rate the employee would have received but for the period of service described in subsection (a)(2)(B), or
(B) in the case that the determination of such rate is not reasonably certain, on the basis of the employees average rate of compensation during the 12-month period immediately preceding such period (or, if shorter, the period of employment immediately preceding such period).
(c) Any employer who reemploys a person under this chapter and who is an employer contributing to a multiemployer plan, as defined in section 3(37) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, under which benefits are or may be payable to such person by reason of the obligations set forth in this chapter, shall, within 30 days after the date of such reemployment, provide information, in writing, of such reemployment to the administrator of such plan.

38 USC 4319 - Employment and reemployment rights in foreign countries

(a) Liability of Controlling United States Employer of Foreign Entity.— 
If an employer controls an entity that is incorporated or otherwise organized in a foreign country, any denial of employment, reemployment, or benefit by such entity shall be presumed to be by such employer.
(b) Inapplicability to Foreign Employer.— 
This subchapter does not apply to foreign operations of an employer that is a foreign person not controlled by an United States employer.
(c) Determination of Controlling Employer.— 
For the purpose of this section, the determination of whether an employer controls an entity shall be based upon the interrelations of operations, common management, centralized control of labor relations, and common ownership or financial control of the employer and the entity.
(d) Exemption.— 
Notwithstanding any other provision of this subchapter, an employer, or an entity controlled by an employer, shall be exempt from compliance with any of sections 4311 through 4318 of this title with respect to an employee in a workplace in a foreign country, if compliance with that section would cause such employer, or such entity controlled by an employer, to violate the law of the foreign country in which the workplace is located.

TITLE 38 - US CODE - SUBCHAPTER III - PROCEDURES FOR ASSISTANCE, ENFORCEMENT, AND INVESTIGATION

38 USC 4321 - Assistance in obtaining reemployment or other employment rights or benefits

The Secretary (through the Veterans Employment and Training Service) shall provide assistance to any person with respect to the employment and reemployment rights and benefits to which such person is entitled under this chapter. In providing such assistance, the Secretary may request the assistance of existing Federal and State agencies engaged in similar or related activities and utilize the assistance of volunteers.

38 USC 4322 - Enforcement of employment or reemployment rights

(a) A person who claims that
(1) such person is entitled under this chapter to employment or reemployment rights or benefits with respect to employment by an employer; and
(2) 
(A) such employer has failed or refused, or is about to fail or refuse, to comply with the provisions of this chapter; or
(B) in the case that the employer is a Federal executive agency, such employer or the Office of Personnel Management has failed or refused, or is about to fail or refuse, to comply with the provisions of this chapter,

may file a complaint with the Secretary in accordance with subsection (b), and the Secretary shall investigate such complaint.

(b) Such complaint shall be in writing, be in such form as the Secretary may prescribe, include the name and address of the employer against whom the complaint is filed, and contain a summary of the allegations that form the basis for the complaint.
(c) The Secretary shall, upon request, provide technical assistance to a potential claimant with respect to a complaint under this subsection, and when appropriate, to such claimants employer.
(d) The Secretary shall investigate each complaint submitted pursuant to subsection (a). If the Secretary determines as a result of the investigation that the action alleged in such complaint occurred, the Secretary shall attempt to resolve the complaint by making reasonable efforts to ensure that the person or entity named in the complaint complies with the provisions of this chapter.
(e) If the efforts of the Secretary with respect to any complaint filed under subsection (a) do not resolve the complaint, the Secretary shall notify the person who submitted the complaint of
(1) the results of the Secretarys investigation; and
(2) the complainants entitlement to proceed under the enforcement of rights provisions provided under section 4323 (in the case of a person submitting a complaint against a State or private employer) or section 4324 (in the case of a person submitting a complaint against a Federal executive agency or the Office of Personnel Management).
(f) This subchapter does not apply to any action relating to benefits to be provided under the Thrift Savings Plan under title 5.

38 USC 4323 - Enforcement of rights with respect to a State or private employer

(a) Action for Relief.— 

(1) A person who receives from the Secretary a notification pursuant to section 4322 (e) of this title of an unsuccessful effort to resolve a complaint relating to a State (as an employer) or a private employer may request that the Secretary refer the complaint to the Attorney General. If the Attorney General is reasonably satisfied that the person on whose behalf the complaint is referred is entitled to the rights or benefits sought, the Attorney General may appear on behalf of, and act as attorney for, the person on whose behalf the complaint is submitted and commence an action for relief under this chapter for such person. In the case of such an action against a State (as an employer), the action shall be brought in the name of the United States as the plaintiff in the action.
(2) A person may commence an action for relief with respect to a complaint against a State (as an employer) or a private employer if the person
(A) has chosen not to apply to the Secretary for assistance under section 4322 (a) of this title;
(B) has chosen not to request that the Secretary refer the complaint to the Attorney General under paragraph (1); or
(C) has been refused representation by the Attorney General with respect to the complaint under such paragraph.
(b) Jurisdiction.— 

(1) In the case of an action against a State (as an employer) or a private employer commenced by the United States, the district courts of the United States shall have jurisdiction over the action.
(2) In the case of an action against a State (as an employer) by a person, the action may be brought in a State court of competent jurisdiction in accordance with the laws of the State.
(3) In the case of an action against a private employer by a person, the district courts of the United States shall have jurisdiction of the action.
(c) Venue.— 

(1) In the case of an action by the United States against a State (as an employer), the action may proceed in the United States district court for any district in which the State exercises any authority or carries out any function.
(2) In the case of an action against a private employer, the action may proceed in the United States district court for any district in which the private employer of the person maintains a place of business.
(d) Remedies.— 

(1) In any action under this section, the court may award relief as follows:
(A) The court may require the employer to comply with the provisions of this chapter.
(B) The court may require the employer to compensate the person for any loss of wages or benefits suffered by reason of such employers failure to comply with the provisions of this chapter.
(C) The court may require the employer to pay the person an amount equal to the amount referred to in subparagraph (B) as liquidated damages, if the court determines that the employers failure to comply with the provisions of this chapter was willful.
(2) 
(A) Any compensation awarded under subparagraph (B) or (C) of paragraph (1) shall be in addition to, and shall not diminish, any of the other rights and benefits provided for under this chapter.
(B) In the case of an action commenced in the name of the United States for which the relief includes compensation awarded under subparagraph (B) or (C) of paragraph (1), such compensation shall be held in a special deposit account and shall be paid, on order of the Attorney General, directly to the person. If the compensation is not paid to the person because of inability to do so within a period of 3 years, the compensation shall be covered into the Treasury of the United States as miscellaneous receipts.
(3) A State shall be subject to the same remedies, including prejudgment interest, as may be imposed upon any private employer under this section.
(e) Equity Powers.— 
The court may use its full equity powers, including temporary or permanent injunctions, temporary restraining orders, and contempt orders, to vindicate fully the rights or benefits of persons under this chapter.
(f) Standing.— 
An action under this chapter may be initiated only by a person claiming rights or benefits under this chapter under subsection (a) or by the United States under subsection (a)(1).
(g) Respondent.— 
In any action under this chapter, only an employer or a potential employer, as the case may be, shall be a necessary party respondent.
(h) Fees, Court Costs.— 

(1) No fees or court costs may be charged or taxed against any person claiming rights under this chapter.
(2) In any action or proceeding to enforce a provision of this chapter by a person under subsection (a)(2) who obtained private counsel for such action or proceeding, the court may award any such person who prevails in such action or proceeding reasonable attorney fees, expert witness fees, and other litigation expenses.
(i) Inapplicability of State Statute of Limitations.— 
No State statute of limitations shall apply to any proceeding under this chapter.
(j) Definition.— 
In this section, the term private employer includes a political subdivision of a State.

38 USC 4324 - Enforcement of rights with respect to Federal executive agencies

(a) 
(1) A person who receives from the Secretary a notification pursuant to section 4322 (e) may request that the Secretary refer the complaint for litigation before the Merit Systems Protection Board. The Secretary shall refer the complaint to the Office of Special Counsel established by section 1211 of title 5.
(2) 
(A) If the Special Counsel is reasonably satisfied that the person on whose behalf a complaint is referred under paragraph (1) is entitled to the rights or benefits sought, the Special Counsel (upon the request of the person submitting the complaint) may appear on behalf of, and act as attorney for, the person and initiate an action regarding such complaint before the Merit Systems Protection Board.
(B) If the Special Counsel declines to initiate an action and represent a person before the Merit Systems Protection Board under subparagraph (A), the Special Counsel shall notify such person of that decision.
(b) A person may submit a complaint against a Federal executive agency or the Office of Personnel Management under this subchapter directly to the Merit Systems Protection Board if that person
(1) has chosen not to apply to the Secretary for assistance under section 4322 (a);
(2) has received a notification from the Secretary under section 4322 (e);
(3) has chosen not to be represented before the Board by the Special Counsel pursuant to subsection (a)(2)(A); or
(4) has received a notification of a decision from the Special Counsel under subsection (a)(2)(B).
(c) 
(1) The Merit Systems Protection Board shall adjudicate any complaint brought before the Board pursuant to subsection (a)(2)(A) or (b), without regard as to whether the complaint accrued before, on, or after October 13, 1994. A person who seeks a hearing or adjudication by submitting such a complaint under this paragraph may be represented at such hearing or adjudication in accordance with the rules of the Board.
(2) If the Board determines that a Federal executive agency or the Office of Personnel Management has not complied with the provisions of this chapter relating to the employment or reemployment of a person by the agency, the Board shall enter an order requiring the agency or Office to comply with such provisions and to compensate such person for any loss of wages or benefits suffered by such person by reason of such lack of compliance.
(3) Any compensation received by a person pursuant to an order under paragraph (2) shall be in addition to any other right or benefit provided for by this chapter and shall not diminish any such right or benefit.
(4) If the Board determines as a result of a hearing or adjudication conducted pursuant to a complaint submitted by a person directly to the Board pursuant to subsection (b) that such person is entitled to an order referred to in paragraph (2), the Board may, in its discretion, award such person reasonable attorney fees, expert witness fees, and other litigation expenses.
(d) 
(1) A person adversely affected or aggrieved by a final order or decision of the Merit Systems Protection Board under subsection (c) may petition the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit to review the final order or decision. Such petition and review shall be in accordance with the procedures set forth in section 7703 of title 5.
(2) Such person may be represented in the Federal Circuit proceeding by the Special Counsel unless the person was not represented by the Special Counsel before the Merit Systems Protection Board regarding such order or decision.

38 USC 4325 - Enforcement of rights with respect to certain Federal agencies

(a) This section applies to any person who alleges that
(1) the reemployment of such person by an agency referred to in subsection (a) of section 4315 was not in accordance with procedures for the reemployment of such person under subsection (b) of such section; or
(2) the failure of such agency to reemploy the person under such section was otherwise wrongful.
(b) Any person referred to in subsection (a) may submit a claim relating to an allegation referred to in that subsection to the inspector general of the agency which is the subject of the allegation. The inspector general shall investigate and resolve the allegation pursuant to procedures prescribed by the head of the agency.
(c) In prescribing procedures for the investigation and resolution of allegations under subsection (b), the head of an agency shall ensure, to the maximum extent practicable, that the procedures are similar to the procedures for investigating and resolving complaints utilized by the Secretary under section 4322 (d).
(d) This section may not be construed
(1) as prohibiting an employee of an agency referred to in subsection (a) from seeking information from the Secretary regarding assistance in seeking reemployment from the agency under this chapter or information relating to the rights and obligations of employees and Federal agencies under this chapter; or
(2) as prohibiting such an agency from voluntarily cooperating with or seeking assistance in or of clarification from the Secretary or the Director of the Office of Personnel Management of any matter arising under this chapter.

38 USC 4326 - Conduct of investigation; subpoenas

(a) In carrying out any investigation under this chapter, the Secretarys duly authorized representatives shall, at all reasonable times, have reasonable access to and the right to interview persons with information relevant to the investigation and shall have reasonable access to, for purposes of examination, and the right to copy and receive, any documents of any person or employer that the Secretary considers relevant to the investigation.
(b) In carrying out any investigation under this chapter, the Secretary may require by subpoena the attendance and testimony of witnesses and the production of documents relating to any matter under investigation. In case of disobedience of the subpoena or contumacy and on request of the Secretary, the Attorney General may apply to any district court of the United States in whose jurisdiction such disobedience or contumacy occurs for an order enforcing the subpoena.
(c) Upon application, the district courts of the United States shall have jurisdiction to issue writs commanding any person or employer to comply with the subpoena of the Secretary or to comply with any order of the Secretary made pursuant to a lawful investigation under this chapter and the district courts shall have jurisdiction to punish failure to obey a subpoena or other lawful order of the Secretary as a contempt of court.
(d) Subsections (b) and (c) shall not apply to the legislative branch or the judicial branch of the United States.

TITLE 38 - US CODE - SUBCHAPTER IV - MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

38 USC 4331 - Regulations

(a) The Secretary (in consultation with the Secretary of Defense) may prescribe regulations implementing the provisions of this chapter with regard to the application of this chapter to States, local governments, and private employers.
(b) 
(1) The Director of the Office of Personnel Management (in consultation with the Secretary and the Secretary of Defense) may prescribe regulations implementing the provisions of this chapter with regard to the application of this chapter to Federal executive agencies (other than the agencies referred to in paragraph (2)) as employers. Such regulations shall be consistent with the regulations pertaining to the States as employers and private employers, except that employees of the Federal Government may be given greater or additional rights.
(2) The following entities may prescribe regulations to carry out the activities of such entities under this chapter:
(A) The Merit Systems Protection Board.
(B) The Office of Special Counsel.
(C) The agencies referred to in section 2302 (a)(2)(C)(ii) of title 5.

38 USC 4332 - Reports

The Secretary shall, after consultation with the Attorney General and the Special Counsel referred to in section 4324 (a)(1) and no later than February 1, 2005, and annually thereafter, transmit to the Congress, a report containing the following matters for the fiscal year ending before such February 1:
(1) The number of cases reviewed by the Department of Labor under this chapter during the fiscal year for which the report is made.
(2) The number of cases referred to the Attorney General or the Special Counsel pursuant to section 4323 or 4324, respectively, during such fiscal year.
(3) The number of complaints filed by the Attorney General pursuant to section 4323 during such fiscal year.
(4) The nature and status of each case reported on pursuant to paragraph (1), (2), or (3).
(5) An indication of whether there are any apparent patterns of violation of the provisions of this chapter, together with an explanation thereof.
(6) Recommendations for administrative or legislative action that the Secretary, the Attorney General, or the Special Counsel considers necessary for the effective implementation of this chapter, including any action that could be taken to encourage mediation, before claims are filed under this chapter, between employers and persons seeking employment or reemployment.

38 USC 4333 - Outreach

The Secretary, the Secretary of Defense, and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall take such actions as such Secretaries determine are appropriate to inform persons entitled to rights and benefits under this chapter and employers of the rights, benefits, and obligations of such persons and such employers under this chapter.

38 USC 4334 - Notice of rights and duties

(a) Requirement To Provide Notice.— 
Each employer shall provide to persons entitled to rights and benefits under this chapter a notice of the rights, benefits, and obligations of such persons and such employers under this chapter. The requirement for the provision of notice under this section may be met by the posting of the notice where employers customarily place notices for employees.
(b) Content of Notice.— 
The Secretary shall provide to employers the text of the notice to be provided under this section.