H.R. 5545 · 117th Congress

REMOTE Act

Introduced on Oct 8, 2021 by David J. Trone (D-MD-6). 18 cosponsors, 3 of them from another party. Became Public Law 117-76.

Stage
Became law
Public Law 117-76
Introduced
Oct 8, 2021
Cosponsors
18
3 from the other party
Policy area
Armed Forces and National Security
Open in the Congress explorerCongress.govAlert me

Progress

The furthest stage the measure reached. Simple and concurrent resolutions do not go to the President.

  1. Introduced
  2. Reported by committee
  3. Passed one chamber
  4. Passed both chambers
  5. Sent to the President
  6. Became law

Official title

To extend certain expiring provisions of law relating to benefits provided under Department of Veterans Affairs educational assistance programs during COVID–19 pandemic, and for other purposes.

Subjects

  • Cardiovascular and respiratory health
  • Educational technology and distance education
  • Emergency medical services and trauma care
  • Government information and archives
  • Higher education
  • Infectious and parasitic diseases
  • Student aid and college costs
  • Student records
  • Veterans' education, employment, rehabilitation

Summary

By the Congressional Research Service (Public Law, Dec 21, 2021). Public domain.

Responsible Education Mitigating Options and Technical Extensions Act or the REMOTE Act

This act addresses the administration of certain Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) educational assistance benefits.

First, the act extends through June 1, 2022, certain adjustments for veterans' education benefits that were put in place due to COVID-19.

The act allows the VA to waive the requirement that an educational institution verify the enrollment of a student utilizing VA educational assistance if the VA determines the institution uses a flat rate tuition and fee structure that would make the use of a second verification unnecessary. The act provides an exception from the imposition of specified disciplinary actions (e.g., suspending course and program approval) in situations where an educational institution provides a commission, bonus, or other incentive payment to entities engaged in student recruiting or admission activities related to recruiting foreign students who reside in foreign countries and are ineligible for federal student assistance.

Additionally, the act generally exempts from certain requirements and restrictions imposed by the VA or a state approving agency educational institutions (1) located in foreign countries, or (2) that provide information regarding the costs of a program of education using a form or template developed by the Department of Education.

The act also exempts educational institutions located in foreign countries from (1) having records and accounts that pertain to an individual who is not receiving VA educational assistance examined by government representatives, and (2) furnishing certain information related to tests that require payment.

The act authorizes the VA, in certain circumstances, to provide educational assistance (including a housing stipend) to veterans or eligible persons who are in their last academic period (e.g., semester) of a program of education and are pursuing the program on less than a half-time basis. Specifically, such assistance may be provided if the number of credits the person needs to complete the program of education is less than the number of credits that would constitute enrollment on more than a half-time basis for that last academic period and the person (1) is enrolled in or has completed every course offered by the program of education during that academic period, and (2) enrolls in an additional course that is not required for the program of education to reach enrollment on a more than a half-time basis.

The act extends certain loan fee rates through January 14, 2031, under the VA's home loan program.

Finally, the act removes the cap on the number of full-time VA employees who provide equal employment opportunity counseling.

Sponsor and cosponsors

Cosponsors by party as of the day they signed on. Original cosponsors signed on the day of introduction.

David J. TroneD-MD-6Sponsor

Democrats · 15

Republicans · 3

Roll calls

Recorded votes on the measure. Most measures move by voice vote or unanimous consent, which record no individual positions.

No recorded roll call on this measure: it moved by voice vote or unanimous consent, or has not reached the floor.

History

Every action as published, oldest first. Roll calls link to how each member voted.

  1. Oct 8, 2021Introduced in House
  2. Oct 8, 2021Introduced in House
  3. Oct 8, 2021 · HouseReferred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on the Budget, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
  4. Oct 8, 2021 · HouseReferred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on the Budget, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
  5. Oct 25, 2021 · HouseReferred to the Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity.
  6. Dec 8, 2021 · HouseMr. Takano moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
  7. Dec 8, 2021 · HouseConsidered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H7468-7470)
  8. Dec 8, 2021 · HouseDEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 5545.
  9. Dec 8, 2021Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.(text: CR H7468-7469)
  10. Dec 8, 2021 · HouseOn motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H7468-7469)
  11. Dec 8, 2021 · HouseMotion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
  12. Dec 8, 2021 · HouseThe title of the measure was amended. Agreed to without objection.
  13. Dec 9, 2021 · SenateReceived in the Senate, read twice.
  14. Dec 15, 2021Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate without amendment by Voice Vote.(consideration: CR S9216-9217)
  15. Dec 15, 2021 · SenatePassed Senate without amendment by Voice Vote. (consideration: CR S9216-9217)
  16. Dec 16, 2021 · SenateMessage on Senate action sent to the House.
  17. Dec 20, 2021Presented to President.
  18. Dec 20, 2021 · HousePresented to President.
  19. Dec 21, 2021Signed by President.
  20. Dec 21, 2021Signed by President.
  21. Dec 21, 2021Became Public Law No: 117-76.
  22. Dec 21, 2021Became Public Law No: 117-76.

Committees

Committees and subcommittees the measure was referred to.

Agencies in its committees' jurisdiction

Analisa's mapping of committee jurisdiction to federal agencies; the bill may touch others, or none of these.

Sources and method

Every figure on this page traces to these records.

  • Bill status: bills and resolutions, sponsors, actions, subjects and CRS summaries (U.S. Government Publishing Office (GovInfo), from Congress.gov (Library of Congress))GovInfo Bill Status bulk data (Congress.gov; summaries by the Congressional Research Service) · data current to Oct 3, 2026 · loaded Oct 3, 2026 · license: Public domain (U.S. Government work, 17 U.S.C. § 105)
  • Members of Congress, their terms, committees and identifiers (The @unitedstates project (from the Biographical Directory of the U.S. Congress, the House and the Senate))unitedstates/congress-legislators: legislators, committees and current committee membership · data current to Oct 3, 2026 · loaded Oct 3, 2026 · license: CC0 1.0 (public domain dedication)
  • House roll-call votes (Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives)Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives, roll-call vote records · data current to Oct 3, 2026 · loaded Oct 3, 2026 · license: Public domain (U.S. Government work, 17 U.S.C. § 105)
  • Senate roll-call votes and DW-NOMINATE scores (Voteview (UCLA Department of Political Science))Lewis, Jeffrey B., Keith Poole, Howard Rosenthal, Adam Boche, Aaron Rudkin, and Luke Sonnet (2026). Voteview: Congressional Roll-Call Votes Database. https://voteview.com/ · data current to Oct 3, 2026 · loaded Oct 3, 2026 · license: Free to use with the required citation
  • Lobbying disclosures (LD-1 registrations, LD-2 quarterly reports, LD-203 contribution reports) (Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives)Clerk of the House, Lobbying Disclosure Act filings (organizations only; lobbyists' names are not loaded) · data current to Oct 5, 2026 · loaded Oct 5, 2026 · license: Public domain (U.S. Government work, 17 U.S.C. § 105)
  • Positions are shown only where a roll call recorded them; voice votes and unanimous consent record none.