38 U.S.C. § 3605 — Payment of educational assistance in cases of withdrawal

(a) In General .— In the case of any individual who withdraws from a program of education or training, other than a program by correspondence, in an educational institution under chapter 31, 34, or 35 of this title for a covered reason during the period of an emergency situation^*, the Secretary^* must find mitigating circumstances for section 3680(a)(1)(C)(ii) of this title . (b) Covered Reason .— In this section, the term “covered reason” means any reason related to an emergency situation, including— (1) illness, quarantine, or social distancing requirements; (2) issues associated with accessibility; (3) access or availability of childcare; (4) providing care for a family member or cohabitants; (5) change of location or residence due to the emergency situation or associated school closures; (6) employment changes or financial hardship; and (7) issues associated with changes in format or medium of instruction.