,i #aacth ,,congress #b;d ,session ,h4 ,r4 #eehi ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of ,,representatives ,september #ah1 #bjad ,ms4 ,frankel of ,florida 7for herself1 ,mr4 ,bilirakis1 and ,mr4 ,takano7 introduced the following bill2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,education and the ,workforce ,a ,,bill ,to direct the ,secretary of ,education to establish a grant program to assist institutions of higher education in establishing1 maintaining1 and improving veteran student centers4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,veteran ,education ,empowerment ,act4 #b4 ,findings ,congress finds the following3 7#a7 ,over #a1jjj1jjj veterans attended institutions of higher education in #bjab4 7#b7 ,veterans face unique hardships in transitioning from the battlefield to the classroom and eventually to the workforce4 7#c7 ,the ,national ,endowment for the ,humanities' ,warrior-,scholar ,project found that veterans transitioning to college likely have not used academic skills since high school and have difficulty adjusting to a fundamentally different social and cultural environment1 leading to veterans dropping out of college before earning their degree4 7#d7 ,the ,national ,education ,association found that veteran students can feel lonely and vulnerable on campus and that connecting student veterans can effectively ease this isolation by bringing together new veteran students with those who have already successfully navigated the first few semesters of college4 7#e7 ,the unemployment rate for post--#i_/aa veterans far outpaces both the overall non-veteran unemployment rate and the unemployment rate for non-veterans entering the workforce for the first time4 7#f7 ,according to ,mission ,united--a ,united ,way program that helps veterans re-acclimate to civilian life--it is often essential for veteran students to be mentored by another veteran who understands their mindset and experience4 7#g7 ,veteran student centers are recognized as an institutional best practice by the ,student ,veterans of ,america4 7#h7 ,the ,american ,council on ,education1 which represents more than #a1gjj institutions of higher education across the country1 has called having a dedicated space for veterans on campus a promising way for colleges and universities to better serve veterans on campus and a critical component of many colleges' efforts to serve their veteran students4 7#i7 ,budget constraints often make it difficult or impossible for institutions of higher education to dedicate space to veteran offices1 lounges1 or student centers4 7#aj7 ,the #aajth ,congress authorized the funding of veteran student centers through the ,centers of ,excellence for ,veteran ,student ,success under part ,t of title ,,viii of the ,higher ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #aafat74 7#aa7 ,according to the ,department of ,education1 federally funded veteran student centers and staff have generated improved recruitment1 retention1 and graduation rates1 have helped veteran students feel better connected across campus1 and have directly contributed to student veterans' successful academic outcomes4 #c4 ,grant program to establish1 maintain1 and improve veteran student centers 7a7 ,establishment ,from the amounts appropriated to carry out this ,act1 the ,secretary of ,education shall establish a program to award grants to institutions of higher education to assist in the establishment1 maintenance1 and improvement of veteran student centers4 7b7 ,eligibility 7#a7 ,application ,an institution of higher education seeking a grant under subsection 7a7 shall submit to the ,secretary an application at such time1 in such manner1 and containing such information as the ,secretary may require4 7#b7 ,criteria ,the ,secretary may award a grant under subsection 7a7 to an institution of higher education if the ,secretary determines that the institution of higher education meets the following criteria3 7,a7 ,the institution has a population of not less than #ae1jjj students1 of which not less than one percent are veterans or members of the ,armed ,forces4 7,b7 ,the institution is located in a region or community that has a significant population of veterans4 7,c7 ,the institution carries out programs or activities that assist veterans in the local community4 7,d7 ,the institution presents a sustainability plan to demonstrate that its veteran student center will be maintained and will continue to operate after the term of the grant has ended4 7c7 ,use of funds ,an institution of higher education that is awarded a grant under subsection 7a7 shall use such grant to establish1 maintain1 or improve a veteran student center4 7d7 ,amounts awarded 7#a7 ,duration ,each grant awarded under subsection 7a7 shall be for a #d-year period4 7#b7 ,total amount of grant and schedule ,each grant awarded under subsection 7a7 may not exceed a total of #ejj1jjj4 ,subject to subsection 7e71 the ,secretary shall disburse to the institution of higher education the amounts awarded under the grant in such amounts and at such times during the grant period as the ,secretary determines appropriate4 7e7 ,evaluation ,the ,secretary shall annually evaluate each institution of higher education that is awarded a grant under subsection 7a7 to determine whether the institution uses the grant in accordance with this section4 ,if the ,secretary determines that the institution of higher education is not using the grant in accordance with this section1 the ,secretary may delay future disbursements of amounts described in subsection 7d77#b7 until the ,secretary determines that the institution of higher education has corrected any deficiencies and will use such amounts in accordance with this section4 7f7 ,report ,not later than #c years after the date of the enactment of this ,act1 the ,secretary shall submit to ,congress a report on the grant program established under subsection 7a71 including-- 7#a7 the number of grants awarded2 7#b7 the institutions of higher education that have received grants2 7#c7 with respect to each such institution of higher education-- 7,a7 the amounts awarded2 and 7,b7 how such institution used such amounts2 and 7#d7 a determination by the ,secretary with respect to whether the grant program should be extended or expanded4 7g7 ,termination ,the authority of the ,secretary to carry out the grant program established under subsection 7a7 shall terminate on the date that is #d years after the date on which the grant program is established4 7h7 ,definitions ,in this section3 7#a7 ,institution of higher education ,the term institution of higher education has the meaning given the term in section #aja of the ,higher ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ajja74 7#b7 ,veteran student center ,the term veteran student center means a dedicated space on a campus of an institution of higher education that provides students who are veterans or members of the ,armed ,forces with the following3 7,a7 ,a lounge or meeting space for such students and veterans in the community4 7,b7 ,a centralized office for veteran services that-- 7i7 is staffed by trained employees and volunteers2 and 7ii7 provides such students with assistance relating to-- 7,i7 transitioning from the military to student life2 7,,ii7 transitioning from the military to the civilian workforce2 7,,iii7 networking with other such students2 7,,iv7 understanding and obtaining benefits provided by the ,federal ,government or a ,state for which such students may be eligible2 and 7,v7 understanding how to succeed in the institution of higher education1 including by understanding how to transfer educational credits4