[Congressional Bills 119th Congress] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office] [S. 1308 Introduced in Senate (IS)] <DOC> 119th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 1308 To amend title 38, United States Code, to modify the criteria for approval of certain independent study programs for purposes of the educational assistance programs of the Department of Veterans Affairs. _______________________________________________________________________ IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES April 4, 2025 Mr. Tillis (for himself, Mr. Budd, Mr. Cornyn, Mr. Cruz, Mr. Gallego, Mr. Moreno, Mr. Peters, and Mr. Scott of Florida) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs _______________________________________________________________________ A BILL To amend title 38, United States Code, to modify the criteria for approval of certain independent study programs for purposes of the educational assistance programs of the Department of Veterans Affairs. 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 Education and Technical Skills Opportunity Act of 2025'' or the ``VETS Opportunity Act of 2025''. SEC. 2. TREATMENT OF CERTAIN INDEPENDENT STUDY PROGRAMS UNDER EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS OF DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS. (a) In General.--Section 3680A(a)(4)(A)(ii)(III) of title 38, United States Code, is amended-- (1) in the matter before item (aa), by inserting ``that requires regular and substantive interaction between students and instructors'' after ``study''; and (2) by amending item (bb) to read as follows: ``(bb) an institution of higher education (as defined in section 102 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1002)) that is participating in a student financial assistance program authorized by title IV of that Act; and''. (b) Applicability.--The amendment made by subsection (a) shall apply with respect to any quarter, semester, or term, as applicable, that begins on or after August 1, 2025. <all>