Veterans Rapid Retraining Assistance Program Restoration and Recovery Act of 2022
Floor Speech
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Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (S. 4089) to restore entitlement to educational assistance under Veterans Rapid Retraining Program in cases of a closure of an educational institution or a disapproval of a program of education, and for other purposes.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows: S. 4089
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Veterans Rapid Retraining Assistance Program Restoration and Recovery Act of 2022''. SEC. 2. RESTORATION OF ENTITLEMENT UNDER VETERANS RAPID RETRAINING ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.
(a) In General.--Section 8006 of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (Public Law 117-2), as amended by the Training in High-demand Roles to Improve Veteran Employment Act (Public Law 117-16), is further amended--
(1) by redesignating subsection (n) as subsection (o); and
(2) by inserting after subsection (m), the following new subsection (n):
``(n) Effects of Closure of an Educational Institution or Disapproval of a Program of Education.--
``(1) In general.--Any payment of retraining assistance under subsection (d)(1) shall not be charged against any entitlement to retraining assistance described in subsection (a) if the Secretary determines that an individual was unable to complete a course or program of education as a result of --
``(A) the closure of an educational institution; or
``(B) the disapproval of a program of education by the State approving agency or the Secretary when acting in the role of the State approving agency.
``(2) Period not charged.--The period for which, by reason of this subsection, retraining assistance is not charged shall be equal to the full amount of retraining assistance provided for enrollment in the program of education.
``(3) Halt of payments to certain educational institutions.--In the event of a closure or disapproval, as described in paragraph (1), the educational institution shall not receive any further payments under subsection (d).
``(4) Recovery of funds.--In the event of a closure or disapproval, as described in paragraph (1), any payment already made under subsection (d) to the educational institution shall be considered an overpayment and constitute a liability of such institution to the United States.''.
(b) Conforming Amendment.--In subsection (b)(3) of such section, strike the period and insert ``, except for an individual described in subsection (n).''.
(c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall apply as if included in the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (Public Law 117-2).
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Mr. TAKANO. 4089.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of S. 4089, the Veterans Rapid Retraining Assistance Program Restoration and Recovery Act.
This legislation was introduced by Senator Durbin and passed by unanimous consent in the Senate. I also thank the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Danny K. Davis) for introducing this legislation in the House.
Mr. Speaker, during the most difficult period of the COVID-19 pandemic, Congress and President Biden worked together to pass the American Rescue Plan into law, one of the most significant investments in American workers and the American economy since the New Deal.
The Veteran Rapid Retraining Assistance Program, which was included in the American Rescue Plan, created a new program to retrain and employ unemployed veterans.
Since passage, over 5,000 veterans have used this program, many to great success. However, not every veteran has had the same experience. Some have been subject to school closures, which risk robbing them of this one-time benefit. For example, in Illinois, more than 300 veterans were scammed by a for-profit school that took their money and abruptly closed its doors.
This legislation restores these education benefits to veterans defrauded by schools and gives these veterans a second chance to gain new skills in a booming labor market.
I thank the Senate for getting this bill to us so quickly and Senator Durbin and Congressman Danny K. Davis for their leadership.
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Mr. TAKANO. Davis), my good friend who serves as a subcommittee chair on the Ways and Means Committee and is a member of the Oversight and Reform Committee.
Mr. DANNY K. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of the Veterans Rapid Retraining Assistance Program Restoration and Recovery Act. I introduced this bill with Senator Durbin and Representative Underwood to ensure veterans receive the rapid retraining benefits they earned.
I thank Veterans' Affairs Committee Chairman Takano and Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity Chairman Levin for their leadership in advancing this bill quickly to meet the urgent need of affected veterans.
I also thank the multiple veterans' advocates for their support for swift passage to assist affected students.
Veterans serving our country with honor have earned their rapid retraining assistance education benefits. The American Rescue Plan established these benefits, known as VRRAP, to help veterans gain new skills to meet the changing workforce demands during the pandemic.
Unfortunately, the Veterans Administration lacks the authority to restore benefits to veterans who attended institutions that closed or experienced a disapproval of educational programming.
This legislation emerged from casework in Illinois, where more than 300 Illinois veterans were scammed out of their benefits by an unaccredited for-profit institute.
I am indeed proud to work with Senator Durbin and Representative Underwood to restore these benefits to these Illinois veterans and protect any other veteran in similar circumstances.
Mr. Speaker, I strongly support this legislation. I urge my colleagues to support it, and I thank the Committee on Veterans' Affairs for bringing it to us so quickly.
Mr. Speaker, I urge all my colleagues to join me in passing this important legislation. I remind my colleagues that it was sent to us by the Senate by unanimous consent, and we can express that same sense of unanimity by allowing this bill to pass on suspension by voice vote. The Senate has indicated unanimity. As my colleagues well know, to even get to the floor requires a 60-vote super majority.
Mr. Speaker, I would say to my friend from Montana, the Big Sky State, have a big heart as well as be from the Big Sky State. To my colleague, the ranking member, I take to heart your consternation over a $6 million non-offsetted cost, but I will remind you of a $2 trillion tax cut which was not offset.
So we will wring our hands over $6 million for our veterans but yet, look the other way when $2.9 trillion is blithely moved through this Chamber with nary a hearing. I plead to a big heart in this institution that we may get through these votes quickly.
Mr. Speaker, I urge all my colleagues to support S. 4089, and I yield back the balance of my time.
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