Bill Overview
Title: Veterans Rapid Retraining Assistance Program Restoration and Recovery Act of 2022
Description: This bill prohibits the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) from charging any entitlement to retraining assistance under the Veteran Rapid Retraining Assistance Program in situations where an individual was unable to complete a course or program as a result of the closure of an educational institution or the disapproval of a program by the state approving agency or the VA. The period for which retraining assistance is not charged must be equal to the full amount of retraining assistance provided for enrollment in the program of education. In the event of a closure or disapproval, the educational institution must not receive any further payments under the program, and any payment already made must be considered an overpayment and constitute a liability of the institution to the United States.
Sponsors: Sen. Durbin, Richard J. [D-IL]
Target Audience
Population: People who are former military personnel receiving assistance from the Veterans Rapid Retraining Assistance Program
Estimated Size: 20000
- The bill affects individuals who were receiving or planning to receive retraining assistance through the Veterans Rapid Retraining Assistance Program.
- Those affected are primarily former military personnel who were unable to complete their courses due to institutional closures or curricular disapproval.
- The bill indirectly impacts the educational institutions participating in the Veteran Rapid Retraining Assistance Program by imposing financial liabilities in case of course closure or disapproval.
Reasoning
- The population distribution considers that only individuals who were active in receiving retraining assistance and were directly affected by educational institution closure or program disapproval would experience high impact.
- Most veterans participating in the program are expected to have moderate to minimal interruptions in training.
- Some veterans' wellbeing might not be directly affected by this policy if they did not face disruptions, thus showing overall minor changes in wellbeing scores.
- The policy aims to financially protect veterans from disruptions, allowing them to resume education without financial penalty, which may increase their trust and satisfaction towards veteran support programs.
- The population size and budget considerations suggest the policy should have a noticeable impact on the targeted group without overshooting the budget constraints.
Simulated Interviews
Unemployed, student (Texas)
Age: 45 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I was left in a lurch when my program was disapproved so suddenly.
- This bill would mean I don't lose my entitlement and can retry or choose another program.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 3 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 3 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 2 |
Retail associate (California)
Age: 32 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Closure of the institution put my plans on hold, added stress.
- With this policy, I won't be financially penalized and can continue elsewhere.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 3 |
Part-time worker (Florida)
Age: 52 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I haven't faced any program closures. This policy doesn't affect me, but it's a safety cushion.
- It's good to know there are protections if something goes wrong in the future.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 5 |
Intern (Ohio)
Age: 29 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 1.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- While the policy doesn't directly apply because my course was reinstated, it's reassuring for future security.
- This would have been helpful during the uncertain phase.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 5 |
Warehouse worker (New York)
Age: 35 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Frequent program changes add an extra layer of stress.
- Though not directly affected by closures, having a fallback is critical.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 4 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 4 | 4 |
Student (Illinois)
Age: 40 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 4.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I had to stop due to disapproval. This policy would mean I could continue without financial loss.
- It provides hope for those in my situation.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 3 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 3 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 3 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 2 |
| Year 20 | 4 | 2 |
Freelancer (Georgia)
Age: 48 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 1.5 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Encounters with disapprovals make one anxious.
- It's reassuring to know there's no financial blow even if disapprovals happen.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 4 |
Construction worker (Arizona)
Age: 36 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Even though my program was paused, I decided not to continue.
- The policy is more relevant to those who want to switch or pick up courses again.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 5 |
Barista (Virginia)
Age: 30 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- My institution has never faced any closures, so it doesn't affect me directly.
- It's nice to see veterans are being safeguarded for such situations.
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 | 6 | 6 |
IT support (Washington)
Age: 38 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 1.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Disapproval was stressful but short-lived.
- Such a policy means I could reattempt without losing my benefits.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 5 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $120000000 (Low: $80000000, High: $160000000)
Year 2: $123600000 (Low: $82400000, High: $164800000)
Year 3: $127308000 (Low: $84872000, High: $169744000)
Year 5: $134275440 (Low: $89562000, High: $178473600)
Year 10: $150625172 (Low: $100167600, High: $200834720)
Year 100: $325374841 (Low: $216583404, High: $434166434)
Key Considerations
- The bill introduces liabilities for educational institutions receiving VA payments, potentially deterring participation.
- The impact on individual veterans could be substantial, supporting their transition into civilian employment.
- The program's administrative complexity might result in delays or inaccuracies in execution affecting stakeholders.