1. (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. (1) the scholarship program provided for in subchapter II of this chapter;
   2. (2) the tuition reimbursement program provided for in subchapter III of this chapter;
   3. (3) the Selected Reserve member stipend program provided for under subchapter V of this chapter;
   4. (4) the employee incentive scholarship program provided for in subchapter VI of this chapter; and
   5. (5) the education debt reduction program provided for in subchapter VII of this chapter.
2. (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, § 216(b), May 20, 1988, 102 Stat. 518, § 4301; amended Pub. L. 101–366, title II, § 205(c)(1), Aug. 15, 1990, 104 Stat. 441; renumbered § 7601, Pub. L. 102–40, title IV, § 402(b)(1), May 7, 1991, 105 Stat. 238; Pub. L. 102–83, § 4(a)(2)(B)(vi), (3), (4), Aug. 6, 1991, 105 Stat. 403, 404; Pub. L. 103–446, title XII, § 1201(e)(25), Nov. 2, 1994, 108 Stat. 4686; Pub. L. 105–368, title VIII, § 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, § 4(a)(2)(B)(vi), substituted “Department of Veterans Affairs” for “Veterans’ Administration” in introductory provisions.

Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 102–83, § 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, § 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, § 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.”