38 U.S.C. § 7682: Eligibility

is an employee in the Veterans Health Administration serving in a position (as determined by the Secretary) providing direct-patient care services or services incident to direct-patient care services for which recruitment or retention of qualified health-care personnel (as so determined) is difficult; and owes any amount of principal or interest under a loan, the proceeds of which were used by or on behalf of that individual to pay costs relating to a course of education or training which led to a degree that qualified the individual for the position referred to in paragraph (1). tuition expenses; all other reasonable educational expenses, including expenses for fees, books, and laboratory expenses; and reasonable living expenses. The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall ensure that clinical staff working at Vet Centers are eligible to participate in the Education Debt Reduction Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs under subchapter VII of chapter 76 of title 38, United States Code. Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act [ June 6, 2018 ], the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Representatives a report on the number of participants in the Education Debt Reduction Program of the Department under such subchapter who work at Vet Centers. In this section, the term ‘Vet Center’ has the meaning given that term in section 1712A(h) of title 38 , United States Code.”