Bill Overview
Title: VA Work-Study Improvement Act
Description: This bill updates the Department of Veterans Affairs work-study program, including by increasing the number of hours an individual may work, modifying the minimum wage requirements, and implementing an electronic timesheet.
Sponsors: Rep. Cartwright, Matt [D-PA-8]
Target Audience
Population: Individuals participating in the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) work-study program
Estimated Size: 700000
- The VA Work-Study Improvement Act specifically targets individuals in the Department of Veterans Affairs work-study program.
- Participants in this program are typically veterans, service members, or eligible dependents/spouses who are using VA benefits for education.
- The bill will impact their work-study conditions by potentially increasing their work hours and changing their compensation.
Reasoning
- The target group for the VA Work-Study Improvement Act includes veterans, active service members, and their dependents who are using educational benefits. It is assumed that a portion of these individuals are already participating in the work-study program and others might join if conditions improve.
- The policy aims to improve financial stability through increased work hours and higher wages, leading to potential increases in self-reported well-being scores.
- The budget constraints suggest careful prioritization and management of resources, potentially introducing a phased rollout if participation exceeds expectations.
- Interviews cover a variety of individuals to represent different impacts and commonness within the affected population.
Simulated Interviews
Full-time Student (San Diego, CA)
Age: 28 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The increased work hours and better wages would help me manage my school expenses better.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 5 |
Part-time Administrative Assistant (Phoenix, AZ)
Age: 45 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Being able to work more hours means I can support my family's needs while pursuing my degree.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 5 |
Graduate Student (Houston, TX)
Age: 34 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Electronic timesheets are convenient, and the pay increase aligns with living costs.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
Retired (Columbus, OH)
Age: 56 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy doesn't affect me directly, but it could help my younger peers.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 8 |
Undergraduate Student (Charleston, SC)
Age: 23 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 4.0 years
Commonness: 14/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The changes will help me manage my rent and other expenses.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 4 |
Full-time Student (Seattle, WA)
Age: 30 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 6.0 years
Commonness: 13/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I appreciate being able to work more since Seattle is expensive.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Teaching Assistant (New York, NY)
Age: 37 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Higher wages are crucial for affording city life.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 4 |
Part-time Researcher (Boston, MA)
Age: 52 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 11/20
Statement of Opinion:
- More electronic tracking is helpful, less paperwork is always a good thing.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
Retired with part-time volunteering (Denver, CO)
Age: 62 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Improvements are nice but won't change my situation.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 7 |
Part-time Driver (Miami, FL)
Age: 29 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 13/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I was worried about balancing studies and expenses, this will definitely help.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 5 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $200000000 (Low: $150000000, High: $250000000)
Year 2: $210000000 (Low: $160000000, High: $260000000)
Year 3: $220000000 (Low: $170000000, High: $270000000)
Year 5: $230000000 (Low: $180000000, High: $280000000)
Year 10: $250000000 (Low: $200000000, High: $300000000)
Year 100: $300000000 (Low: $250000000, High: $350000000)
Key Considerations
- Ensuring that the increased hours and wage modifications comply with federal labor laws.
- The ability of the VA to develop and maintain an effective electronic timesheet system to prevent fraud and misuse.
- Balancing participant intentions to work more against academic commitments and performance.