The Student Veterans of America (SVA) has created a webpage on the issue surrounding potential problems associated with education programs moving on-line and the move’s implications on GI Bill payments to veterans. The SVA webpage is available here.
News and updates
ED OCR Releases Info on How to Ensure Accessibility of On-Line Programs
The Department of Education Office of Civil Rights (OCR) released today information, including a webinar, on how institutions moving to on-line delivery as a result of Covid-19 can ensure that their students with disabilities can still be served.
The release from OCR is available here.
Senate Passes Bill to Address Problems in GI Bill and On-line Programs
The Senate adopted yesterday a bill that would address an unforeseen problem in the way in which GI Bill benefits would be calculated as a result of academic programs transitioning to on-line programs due to COVID-19. Because many of the academic programs which have transitioned to on-line delivery did so without preapproval by the state approving agency, beneficiaries would have lost out on their benefits, including their housing benefits. The legislation would address these deficiencies in the program and allow the GI Bill participants to continue to receive their benefits.
The text of the Senate-passed legislation is is available here.
The House is also working on a companion bill that addresses this problem.
Higher Ed Associations Seek Clarifications from State Dept. and DHS
Yesterday, a number of higher education associations wrote to both the State Department and Department of Homeland Security asking for clarity on a number of new situations faced by international students and scholars caused by COVID-19. The letter address situations that pertain to, for example, the expiration of F-1 status, possible extension of OPT, and the ability of consulates to adjudicate applications.
The letter is available here.
Texas Congressman Holds Up COVID-19 Funding Bill
Rep. Louie Gohmert, (R–TX), is holding up the House-passed coronavirus relief bill, HR 6201– the Families First Coronavirus Response Act, and preventing it from being delivered to the Senate for a vote.
The House was expected to make technical corrections today to the bipartisan measure, which passed by the House early Saturday. However, Rep. Gohmert is insisting on having the changes read out loud, keeping the measure from being passed by Unanimous Consent. If one Member of Congress stands in opposition, the House cannot use the Unanimous Consent process to send the bill to the Senate and the House would have to have a vote by the full house — and many Members went home to their districts from Washington this weekend.
On Saturday, the House early this morning passed H.R. 6201, the Families First Coronavirus Response Act, by a vote of 363-40. An overview of the measure is here.
Highlights of the bill include:
- Clarifies that the funds provided under section 105 of Division G can be used for COVID-19 diagnostic tests and related administration or service costs (as defined under section 101). Claims reimbursed under this section would be limited to those for uninsured individuals not eligible for other COVID-19 testing and services assistance included in the bill.
- Clarifies that Medicaid payment for the new eligibility category for the uninsured under section 104 of Division G is limited to COVID-19 testing and testing-related services. Makes a technical amendment to clarify that the increase to the federal medical assistance percentage (FMAP) specified in section 104 of Division G is applicable notwithstanding the first sentence of the subsection.
- Clarifies that SSA should use dedicated phone lines for emergency paid leave applications, separate from those used for the regular Social Security program.
- Clarifies that that the emergency waiver of federal rules applies to four specific kinds of rules: work search, waiting periods, “good cause” to leave employment, and employer experience rating.
- Removes findings from the Health Care Worker Protection Act of 2020.
- Clarifies definition of a “qualifying need related to a public health emergency.”