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Digital communications: Solid Start program; educational assistance

Title II: Education and Economic Opportunity

Plain-language summaryAI

The Department of Veterans Affairs will expand its Solid Start program to use various communication methods like mail, text, and virtual chat to reach veterans. Veterans and eligible persons can choose to receive and send educational assistance correspondence through these electronic communication options instead of traditional mail. The department must also notify those enrolled in education or training programs about this option.

AI-generated from this section’s text — a quick orientation, not a substitute for the full text below. Not legal advice.

Section Text · Sec. 205.
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(a) Improvement to certain outreach under Solid Start program of Department of Veterans Affairs

Section 6320(b) of title 38, United States Code, is amended—

(1)

in paragraph (1)(B)—

(A)

by striking calling and inserting communicating with ; and

(B)

by inserting through the use of tailored lines of communication, including mailings, text messaging, virtual chatting, and other electronic forms of messaging after Armed Forces ; and

(2)

in paragraph (2), by striking tailored mailings and inserting tailored lines of communication, including mailings, text messaging, virtual chatting, and other electronic forms of messaging, .

(b) Department of Veterans Affairs use of tailored lines of communication for correspondence relating to educational assistance benefits

Section 3680 of title 38, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:

(i)
(1)

The Secretary shall provide a mechanism by which an eligible veteran or eligible person may use tailored lines of communication to send and receive correspondence with the Department of Veterans related to entitlement to and use of educational assistance benefits under the laws administered by the Secretary. The Secretary shall ensure that an eligible veteran or eligible person is provided with an opportunity to opt into sending and receiving such correspondence using such lines of communication rather than by mail.

(2)

The Secretary shall provide to eligible veterans and eligible persons who are enrolled in a course or program of education or training notice of the opportunity to opt in to sending and receiving correspondence using tailored lines of communication pursuant to paragraph (1).

(3)

In this subsection, the term tailored lines of communication includes mailings, text messaging, virtual chatting, and other electronic forms of messaging.