§ 7683. Education debt reduction

Legislative history

Reconstructed from this section’s Code source credit and amendment notes, resolved against the local Statutes at Large. Editorial notes are evidence, not the law that made the change.

1. 1998

   Pub. L. 105–368 title VIII § 803(a) · 112 Stat. 3315

   Enacted · 38 U.S.C. § 7683

   Added Pub. L. 105–368, title VIII, § 803(a), Nov. 11, 1998, 112 Stat. 3357

   Source evidence

   Code source credit
   Added Pub. L. 105–368, title VIII, § 803(a), Nov. 11, 1998, 112 Stat. 3357

   Enacted provision · exact public law section
   (a) Program Authority.— Chapter 76 (as amended by section 802(a)), is further amended by adding after subchapter VI the following new subchapter: “SUBCHAPTER VII— EDUCATION DEBT REDUCTION PROGRAM “§ 7681. Authority for program “(a) In General.— (1) As part of the Educational Assistance Program, the Secretary may carry out an education debt reduction program under this subchapter. The program shall be known as the Department of Veterans Affairs Education Debt Reduction Program (hereafter in this subchapter referred to as the ‘Education Debt Reduction Program’). “(2) The purpose of the Education Debt Reduction Program is to assist in the recruitment of qualified health care professionals for positions in the Veterans Health Administration for which recruitment or retention of an adequate supply of qualified personnel is difficult. “(b) Relationship to Educational Assistance Program.— Education debt reduction payments under the Education Debt Reduction Program may be in addition to other assistance available to individuals under the Educational Assistance Program. “§ 7682. Eligibility “(a) Eligibility.— An individual is eligible to participate in the Education Debt Reduction Program if the individual— “(1) is a recently appointed employee in the Veterans Health Administration serving under an appointment under section 7402(b) of this title in a position for which recruitment or retention of qualified health-care personnel (as determined by the Secretary) is difficult; and “(2) owes any amount of principal or interest under a loan, the proceeds of which were used by or on behalf of that individual to pay costs relating to a course of education or training which led to a degree that qualified the individual for the position referred to in paragraph (1). “(b) Covered Costs.— For purposes of subsection (a)(2), costs relating to a course of education or training include— “(1) tuition expenses; “(2) all other reasonable educational expenses, including expenses for fees, books, and laboratory expenses; and “(3) reasonable living expenses. “(c) Recently Appointed Individuals.— For purposes of subsection (a), an individual shall be considered to be recently appointed to a position if the individual has held that position for less than 6 months. “§ 7683. Education debt reduction “(a) In General.— Education debt reduction payments under the Education Debt Reduction Program shall consist of payments to individuals selected to participate in the program of amounts to reimburse such individuals for payments by such individuals of principal and interest on loans described in section 7682(a)(2) of this title. “(b) Frequency of Payment.— (1) The Secretary may make education debt reduction payments to any given participant in the Education Debt Reduction Program on a monthly or annual basis, as determined by the Secretary. “(2) The Secretary shall make such payments at the end of the period determined by the Secretary under paragraph (1). “(c) Performance Requirement.— The Secretary may make education debt reduction payments to a participant in the Education Debt Reduction Program for a period only if the Secretary determines that the individual maintained an acceptable level of performance in the position or positions served by the participant during the period. “(d) Maximum Annual Amount.— (1) Subject to paragraph (2), the amount of education debt reduction payments made to a participant for a year under the Education Debt Reduction Program may not exceed— “(A) $6,000 for the first year of the participant’s participation in the Program; “(B) $8,000 for the second year of the participant’s participation in the Program; and “(C) $10,000 for the third year of the participant’s participation in the Program. “(2) The total amount payable to a participant in such Program for any year may not exceed the amount of the principal and interest on loans referred to in subsection (a) that is paid by the individual during such year. “§ 7684. Expiration of program “The Secretary may not make education debt reduction payments to individuals who have not commenced participation in the Education Debt Reduction Program before December 31, 2001.”.

2. 2002

   Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Programs Enhancement Act of 2001

   Pub. L. 107–135 title I § 102(c) · 115 Stat. 2446

   1. Struck · 38 U.S.C. § 7683(d)(1)

      Pub. L. 107–135 struck out “for a year” after “a participant”

   2. Substituted · 38 U.S.C. § 7683(d)(1)

      Pub. L. 107–135 substituted “exceed $44,000 over a total of five years of participation in the Program, of which not more than $10,000 of such payments may be made in each of the fourth and fifth years of participation in the Program” for “exceed—

   Source evidence

   Code amendment note
   Subsec. (d)(1). Pub. L. 107–135 struck out “for a year” after “a participant” and substituted “exceed $44,000 over a total of five years of participation in the Program, of which not more than $10,000 of such payments may be made in each of the fourth and fifth years of participation in the Program” for “exceed—

   “(A) $6,000 for the first year of the participant’s participation in the Program; “(B) $8,000 for the second year of the participant’s participation in the Program; and “(C) $10,000 for the third year of the participant’s participation in the Program”.

   Enacted provision · exact public law section
   (c) Maximum Debt Reduction Amount.— Section 7683(d)(1) is amended— (1) by striking “for a year”; and (2) by striking “exceed—” and all that follows through the end of the paragraph and inserting “exceed $44,000 over a total of five years of participation in the Program, of which not more than $10,000 of such payments may be made in each of the fourth and fifth years of participation in the Program.”.

3. 2010

   Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act of 2010

   Pub. L. 111–163 § 301(c) · 124 Stat. 1130

   1. Substituted · 38 U.S.C. § 7683(d)(1)

      Pub. L. 111–163, § 301(c), substituted “$60,000” for “$44,000”

   2. Substituted · 38 U.S.C. § 7683(d)(1)

      Pub. L. 111–163, § 301(c), substituted “$12,000” for “$10,000”

   Source evidence

   Code amendment note
   Subsec. (d)(1). Pub. L. 111–163, § 301(c), substituted “$60,000” for “$44,000” and “$12,000” for “$10,000”.

   Enacted provision · exact public law section
   (c) Increase in Maximum Annual Amount of Payments.— Paragraph (1) of subsection (d) of section 7683 is amended— (1) by striking “$44,000” and inserting “$60,000”; and (2) by striking “$10,000” and inserting “$12,000”.

4. 2010

   Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act of 2010

   Pub. L. 111–163 § 301(d) · 124 Stat. 1130

   Added · 38 U.S.C. § 7683(d)(3)

   Pub. L. 111–163, § 301(d), added par. (3)

   Source evidence

   Code amendment note
   Subsec. (d)(3). Pub. L. 111–163, § 301(d), added par. (3).

   Enacted provision · exact public law section
   (d) Exception to Limitation on Amount for Certain Participants.— Such subsection is further amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph: “(3) (A) Waiver authority. The Secretary may waive the limitations under paragraphs (1) and (2) in the case of a participant described in subparagraph (B). In the case of such a waiver, the total amount of education debt repayments payable to that participant is the total amount of the principal and the interest on the participant’s loans referred to in subsection (a). “(B) Determination. A participant described in this subparagraph is a participant in the Program who the Secretary determines serves in a position for which there is a shortage of qualified employees by reason of either the location or the requirements of the position.” .

5. 2014

   Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act of 2014

   Pub. L. 113–146 § 302(b)(1) · 128 Stat. 1754

   1. Substituted · 38 U.S.C. § 7683(d)(1)

      Pub. L. 113–146, § 302(b)(1), (2)(B), substituted “The amount” for “Subject to paragraph (2), the amount”

   2. Substituted · 38 U.S.C. § 7683(d)(1)

      Pub. L. 113–146, § 302(b)(1), (2)(B), substituted “$120,000” for “$60,000”

   3. Substituted · 38 U.S.C. § 7683(d)(1)

      Pub. L. 113–146, § 302(b)(1), (2)(B), substituted “$24,000 of such payments may be made in each year of participation in the Program” for “$12,000 of such payments may be made in each of the fourth and fifth years of participation in the Program”

   Target inherited from the preceding amendment note.

   Source evidence

   Code amendment note
   Pub. L. 113–146, § 302(b)(1), (2)(B), substituted “The amount” for “Subject to paragraph (2), the amount”, “$120,000” for “$60,000”, and “$24,000 of such payments may be made in each year of participation in the Program” for “$12,000 of such payments may be made in each of the fourth and fifth years of participation in the Program”.

   Enacted provision · exact public law section
   (1) Modification of amount and duration of eligibility.— Paragraph (1) of section 7683(d) of such title is amended— (A) by striking “$60,000” and inserting “$120,000”; and (B) by striking “$12,000 of such payments” and all that follows through the period at the end and inserting “$24,000 of such payments may be made in each year of participation in the Program”.

6. 2014

   Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act of 2014

   Pub. L. 113–146 § 302(b)(2)(A)(i) · 128 Stat. 1754

   1. Redesignated · 38 U.S.C. § 7683(d)(2)

      Pub. L. 113–146, § 302(b)(2)(A)(i), (ii), redesignated par. (3) as (2)

   2. Struck · 38 U.S.C. § 7683(d)(2)

      Pub. L. 113–146, § 302(b)(2)(A)(i), (ii), struck out former par. (2) which read as follows: “The total amount payable to a participant in such Program for any year may not exceed the amount of the principal and interest on loans referred to in subsection (a) that is paid by the individual during such year.”

   Source evidence

   Code amendment note
   Subsec. (d)(2). Pub. L. 113–146, § 302(b)(2)(A)(i), (ii), redesignated par. (3) as (2) and struck out former par. (2) which read as follows: “The total amount payable to a participant in such Program for any year may not exceed the amount of the principal and interest on loans referred to in subsection (a) that is paid by the individual during such year.”

   Enacted provision · exact public law section
   (i) by striking paragraph (2);

7. 2014

   Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act of 2014

   Pub. L. 113–146 § 302(b)(2)(A)(iii) · 128 Stat. 1754

   Substituted · 38 U.S.C. § 7683(d)(2)(A)

   Pub. L. 113–146, § 302(b)(2)(A)(iii), substituted “paragraph (1)” for “paragraphs (1) and (2)”

   Target inherited from the preceding amendment note.

   Source evidence

   Code amendment note
   Pub. L. 113–146, § 302(b)(2)(A)(iii), substituted “paragraph (1)” for “paragraphs (1) and (2)”.

   Enacted provision · exact public law section
   (iii) in paragraph (2), as redesignated by clause (ii), by striking “paragraphs (1) and (2)” and inserting “paragraph (1)”.

8. 2014

   Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act of 2014

   Pub. L. 113–146 § 302(b)(2)(A)(ii) · 128 Stat. 1754

   Redesignated · 38 U.S.C. § 7683(d)(3)

   Pub. L. 113–146, § 302(b)(2)(A)(ii), redesignated par. (3) as (2)

   Source evidence

   Code amendment note
   Subsec. (d)(3). Pub. L. 113–146, § 302(b)(2)(A)(ii), redesignated par. (3) as (2).

   Enacted provision · exact public law section
   (ii) by redesignating paragraph (3) as paragraph (2); and

9. 2014

   Department of Veterans Affairs Expiring Authorities Act of 2014

   Pub. L. 113–175 § 408(1) · 128 Stat. 1901

   1. Added · 38 U.S.C. § 7683(a)

      Pub. L. 113–175, § 408(1), added subsec. (a)

   2. Struck · 38 U.S.C. § 7683(a)

      Pub. L. 113–175, § 408(1), struck out former subsec. (a). Prior to amendment, text read as follows: “Education debt reduction payments under the Education Debt Reduction Program shall consist of payments to individuals selected to participate in the program of amounts to reimburse such individuals for payments by such individuals of principal and interest on loans described in section 7682(a)(2) of this title.”

   Source evidence

   Code amendment note
   Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 113–175, § 408(1), added subsec. (a) and struck out former subsec. (a). Prior to amendment, text read as follows: “Education debt reduction payments under the Education Debt Reduction Program shall consist of payments to individuals selected to participate in the program of amounts to reimburse such individuals for payments by such individuals of principal and interest on loans described in section 7682(a)(2) of this title.”

   Enacted provision · exact public law section
   (1) by striking subsection (a) and inserting the following new subsection: “(a) In General.— Education debt reduction payments under the Education Debt Reduction Program shall consist of— “(1) payments to individuals selected to participate in the program of principal and interest on loans described in section 7682(a)(2) of this title; or “(2) payments for the principal and interest on such loans of such individuals to the holders of such loans.” ;

10. 2014

    Department of Veterans Affairs Expiring Authorities Act of 2014

    Pub. L. 113–175 § 408(2) · 128 Stat. 1901

    Substituted · 38 U.S.C. § 7683(b)(1); 38 U.S.C. § 7683(b)(c)

    Pub. L. 113–175, § 408(2), substituted “payments to or for” for “payments to”

    Source evidence

    Code amendment note
    Subsecs. (b)(1), (c). Pub. L. 113–175, § 408(2), substituted “payments to or for” for “payments to”.

    Enacted provision · exact public law section
    (2) in subsections (b) and (c), by striking “payments to” both places it appears and inserting “payments to or for”; and

11. 2014

    Department of Veterans Affairs Expiring Authorities Act of 2014

    Pub. L. 113–175 § 408(3)(A) · 128 Stat. 1901

    Substituted · 38 U.S.C. § 7683(d)(1)

    Pub. L. 113–175, § 408(3)(A), substituted “made to or for” for “made to”

    Source evidence

    Code amendment note
    Subsec. (d)(1). Pub. L. 113–175, § 408(3)(A), substituted “made to or for” for “made to”.

    Enacted provision · exact public law section
    (A) in paragraph (1), by striking “made to” and inserting “made to or for”; and

12. 2014

    Department of Veterans Affairs Expiring Authorities Act of 2014

    Pub. L. 113–175 § 408(3)(B) · 128 Stat. 1901

    Substituted · 38 U.S.C. § 7683(d)(2)(A)

    Pub. L. 113–175, § 408(3)(B), substituted “payable to or for that” for “payable to that”

    Source evidence

    Code amendment note
    Subsec. (d)(2)(A). Pub. L. 113–175, § 408(3)(B), substituted “payable to or for that” for “payable to that”.

    Enacted provision · exact public law section
    (B) in paragraph (2)(A), by striking “payable to that” and inserting “payable to or for that”.

13. 2015

    Department of Veterans Affairs Expiring Authorities Act of 2015

    Pub. L. 114–58 title VI § 601(24) · 129 Stat. 530

    Inserted · 38 U.S.C. § 7683(d)

    Pub. L. 114–58 inserted period at end

    Source evidence

    Code amendment note
    Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 114–58 inserted period at end.

    Enacted provision · exact public law section
    (24) in section 7683(d), by inserting a period at the end; and

14. 2018

    John S. McCain III, Daniel K. Akaka, and Samuel R. Johnson VA Maintaining Internal Systems and Strengthening Integrated Outside Networks Act of 2018

    Pub. L. 115–182 title III § 302(a) · 132 Stat. 1393

    1. Substituted · 38 U.S.C. § 7683(d)(1)

       Pub. L. 115–182 substituted “$200,000” for “$120,000”

    2. Substituted · 38 U.S.C. § 7683(d)(1)

       Pub. L. 115–182 substituted “40,000” for “$24,000”

    Source evidence

    Code amendment note
    Subsec. (d)(1). Pub. L. 115–182 substituted “$200,000” for “$120,000” and “40,000” for “$24,000”.

    Enacted provision · exact public law section
    (a) Increase in Amount.— Section 7683(d)(1) is amended— (1) by striking “$120,000” and inserting “$200,000”; and (2) by striking “$24,000” and inserting “$40,000”.

21 of 21 references resolved to an enrolled provision