
From the U.S. Code Online via GPO Access
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[Laws in effect as of January 23, 2000]
[Document affected by Public Law 107-135 Section 101(a)(2)]
[Document affected by Public Law 107-135 Section 102(a)(2)]
[CITE: 38USC7601]

 
                      TITLE 38--VETERANS' BENEFITS
 
              PART V--BOARDS, ADMINISTRATIONS, AND SERVICES
 
     CHAPTER 76--HEALTH PROFESSIONALS EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
 
                          SUBCHAPTER I--GENERAL
 
Sec. 7601. Establishment of program; purpose

    (a) There is hereby established a program to be known as the 
Department of Veterans Affairs Health Professionals Educational 
Assistance Program (hereinafter in this chapter referred to as the 
``Educational Assistance Program''). The program consists of--
        (1) the scholarship program provided for in subchapter II of 
    this chapter;
        (2) the tuition reimbursement program provided for in subchapter 
    III of this chapter;
        (3) the Selected Reserve member stipend program provided for 
    under subchapter V of this chapter;
        (4) the employee incentive scholarship program provided for in 
    subchapter VI of this chapter; and
        (5) the education debt reduction program provided for in 
    subchapter VII of this chapter.

    (b) The purpose of the Educational Assistance Program is to assist 
in providing an adequate supply of trained health-care personnel for the 
Department and the Nation.

(Added Pub. L. 100-322, title II, Sec. 216(b), May 20, 1988, 102 Stat. 
518, Sec. 4301; amended Pub. L. 101-366, title II, Sec. 205(c)(1), Aug. 
15, 1990, 104 Stat. 441; renumbered Sec. 7601, Pub. L. 102-40, title IV, 
Sec. 402(b)(1), May 7, 1991, 105 Stat. 238; Pub. L. 102-83, 
Sec. 4(a)(2)(B)(vi), (3), (4), Aug. 6, 1991, 105 Stat. 403, 404; Pub. L. 
103-446, title XII, Sec. 1201(e)(25), Nov. 2, 1994, 108 Stat. 4686; Pub. 
L. 105-368, title VIII, Sec. 805(1), Nov. 11, 1998, 112 Stat. 3358.)


                               Amendments

    1998--Subsec. (a)(4), (5). Pub. L. 105-368 added pars. (4) and (5).
    1994--Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 103-446 substituted semicolon for 
comma at end.
    1991--Pub. L. 102-40 renumbered section 4301 of this title as this 
section.
    Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 102-83, Sec. 4(a)(2)(B)(vi), substituted 
``Department of Veterans Affairs'' for ``Veterans' Administration'' in 
introductory provisions.
    Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 102-83, Sec. 4(a)(3), (4), substituted 
``Department'' for ``Veterans' Administration''.
    1990--Subsec. (a)(3). Pub. L. 101-366 added par. (3).


    Payments to Health-Care Professional Employees for Tuition Loans

    Pub. L. 102-585, title V, Sec. 523(b), Nov. 4, 1992, 106 Stat. 4959, 
provided that Secretary of Veterans Affairs could not provide payments 
to health-care professional employees of Department of Veterans Affairs 
for payment of tuition loans, prior to repeal by Pub. L. 105-368, title 
VIII, Sec. 804, Nov. 11, 1998, 112 Stat. 3358.


                      Tuition Loan Payment Program

    Pub. L. 102-389, title I, Oct. 6, 1992, 106 Stat. 1574, provided in 
part for an appropriation: ``For payment of outstanding tuition loans to 
Department of Veterans Affairs health care professional employees 
(excluding physicians and dentists) who agree to remain in service for 
one year or more, $5,000,000, to remain available until September 30, 
1994: Provided, That the Secretary, in order to recruit and retain such 
employees, may make such payments, not to exceed $3,000 during any 
calendar year, or $12,000 in total, to any such employee who has an 
outstanding tuition loan from an educational institution approved by the 
Secretary that has led to a degree in the health care occupation in 
which such individual is employed: Provided further, That no payment 
shall be made in advance: Provided further, That regulations shall be 
promulgated by the Secretary to implement this program.''
