,,ii  #aad? ,,congress  #a/ ,session    
,s4 #fjd  ,,9 ,,! ,,s5ate ,,( ,,!       
,,unit$ ,,/ates  ,febru>y #bf1 #bjae,mr4
 ,te/] 7= himself & ,mr4 ,nelson7       
introduc$ ! foll[+ bill2 :i* 0 read     
twice & ref]r$ to ! ,committee on       
,vet]ans' ,affairs  ,a ,,bill  ,to      
reau?orize & improve a grant program to 
assi/ in/itutions ( high] education 9   
e/abli%+1 ma9ta9+1 improv+1 & op]at+    
,vet]an ,/ud5t ,c5t]s4  #a4 ,%ort title 
,?is ,act may be cit$ z ! ,vet]an       
,education ,emp[]m5t ,act4  #b4 ,f9d+s  
,congress f9ds ! foll[+3  7#a7 ,m ?an   
#a1jjj1jjj vet]ans att5d$ in/itutions ( 
high] education 9 #bjad4  7#b7 ,vet]ans 
face unique *all5ges 9 transition+ f !  
battlefield to ! classroom & ev5tually  
to ! work=ce1 (t5 includ+3 age          
diff]5ces1 family obligations1          
significant "t away f academic life1 &  
s]vice-relat$ disabilities4  7#c7 ,!    
,national ,end[m5t = ! ,humanities'     
,w>rior-,s*ol> ,project f\nd t vet]ans  
transition+ to college likely h n us$   

academic skills s9ce high s*ool & h     
difficulty adju/+ to a fundam5tally     
diff]5t social & cultural environm5t1   
lead+ to vet]ans dropp+ out ( college   
be=e e>n+ _! degree4  7#d7 ,! ,national 
,education ,association f\nd t vet]an   
/ud5ts c feel lonely & vuln]able on     
campus & t connect+ /ud5t vet]ans c     
effectively ease ?is isolation by br++  
toge!r new vet]an /ud5ts ) ^? :o h      
already successfully navigat$ ! fir/ few
 seme/]s ( college4  7#e7 ,! unemploym5t
 rate = po/-#i_/aa vet]ans f> outpaces  
bo? ! ov]all non-vet]an unemploym5t rate
 & ! unemploym5t rate = non-vet]ans     
ent]+ ! work=ce = ! fir/ "t4  7#f7      
,accord+ to ,mission ,unit$--a ,unit$   
,way program t helps vet]ans            
re-acclimate to civilian life--x is (t5 
ess5tial = vet]an /ud5ts to be m5tor$ by
 ano!r vet]an :o und]/&s _! m9dset &    
exp]i5ce4  7#g7 ,vet]an ,/ud5t ,c5t]s   
are recogniz$ z an in/itutional be/     
practice by ,/ud5t ,vet]ans ( ,am]ica4  
7#h7 ,! ,am]ican ,c\ncil on ,education1 

:i* repres5ts m ?an #a1gjj in/itutions (
 high] education across ! c\ntry1 has   
call$ hav+ a d$icat$ space = vet]ans on 
campus a promis+ way = colleges &       
univ]sities to bett] s]ve vet]ans on    
campus & a critical compon5t ( _m       
colleges' ef=ts to s]ve _! vet]an       
/ud5ts4  7#i7 ,! ,dep>tm5t ( ,education 
includ$ z "o ( its #h ,keys to ,vet]ans'
 ,success t colleges & univ]sities %\ld 
coord9ate & c5tralize campus ef=ts = all
 vet]ans1 toge!r ) ! creation ( a       
designat$ space = !m4  7#aj7 ,budget    
con/ra9ts (t5 make x difficult or       
impossible = in/itutions ( high]        
education to d$icate space to vet]an    
(fices1 l\nges1 or /ud5t c5t]s4  7#aa7  
,! #aaj? ,congress au?oriz$ ! fund+ (   
,vet]an ,/ud5t ,c5t]s ?r\gh ! ,c5t]s (  
,excell5ce = ,vet]an ,/ud5t ,success "u 
"p ,t ( title ,,viii ( ! ,high]         
,education ,act ( #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4  
#aafat74 ,congress also *ose to         
appropriate fund+ = ?is program = fiscal
 ye> #bjae "u ! ,consolidat$ & ,fur!r   

,cont9u+ ,appropriations ,act1 #bjae    
7,public ,law #aac-bce74  7#ab7 ,accord+
 to ! ,dep>tm5t ( ,education1 f$]ally   
fund$ ,vet]an ,/ud5t ,c5t]s & /aff h    
g5]at$ improv$ recruitm5t1 ret5tion1 &  
graduation rates1 h help$ vet]an /ud5ts 
feel bett] connect$ across campus1 & h  
directly contribut$ to /ud5t vet]ans'   
successful academic outcomes4  #c4      
,grant program to e/abli%1 ma9ta91 &    
improve vet]an /ud5t c5t]s ,"p ,t (     
title ,,viii ( ! ,high] ,education ,act 
( #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #aafat7 is am5d$ 
to read z foll[s3  ,t ,grants = ,vet]an 
,/ud5t ,c5t]s  #hgc4 ,grants = ,vet]an  
,/ud5t ,c5t]s  7a7 ,grants au?oriz$     
,subject to ! availability (            
appropriations "u subsection 7i71 !     
,secret>y %all aw>d grants to           
in/itutions ( high] education or        
consortia ( in/itutions ( high]         
education to assi/ 9 ! e/abli%m5t1      
ma9t5ance1 improvem5t1 & op]ation (     
,vet]an ,/ud5t ,c5t]s4 ,! ,secret>y %all
 aw>d n m ?an #cj grants "u ?is         

subsection4  7b7 ,eligibility  7#a7     
,application ,an in/itution or          
consortium seek+ a grant "u subsection  
7a7 %all submit to ! ,secret>y an       
application at su* "t1 9 su* mann]1 &   
conta9+ su* in=mation z ! ,secret>y may 
require4  7#b7 ,crit]ia ,! ,secret>y may
 aw>d a grant "u subsection 7a7 to an   
in/itution or a consortium if !         
in/itution or consortium meets ea* ( !  
foll[+ crit]ia3  7,a7 ,! in/itution or  
consortium enrolls 9 und]graduate or    
graduate c\rses-- 7i7 a significant     
numb] ( vet]an /ud5ts1 memb]s ( ! ,arm$ 
,=ces s]v+ on active duty1 & memb]s ( a 
res]ve compon5t ( ! ,arm$ ,=ces2 or     
7ii7 a significant p]c5tage ( vet]an    
/ud5ts1 z measur$ by comp>+ ! ov]all    
enrollm5t ( ! in/itution or consortium  
to ! numb]1 = ! mo/ rec5t academic ye> =
 :i* data are available1 ( vet]an       
/ud5ts1 memb]s ( ! ,arm$ ,=ces s]v+ on  
active duty1 & memb]s ( a res]ve        
compon5t ( ! ,arm$ ,=ces :o are enroll$ 
9 und]graduate or graduate c\rses at !  

in/itution or consortium4  7,b7 ,!      
in/itution or consortium pres5ts a      
su/a9ability plan to demon/rate t its   
,vet]an ,/ud5t ,c5t] w be ma9ta9$ & w   
cont9ue to op]ate aft] ! grant p]iod ( !
 grant receiv$ "u subsection 7a7 has    
end$4  7#c7 ,additional crit]ia ,9 aw>d+
 grants "u subsection 7a71 ! ,secret>y--
 7,a7 %all consid] in/itutions or       
consortia repres5t+ a broad spectrum (  
sectors & sizes1 includ+ in/itutions or 
consortia f urban1 suburban1 & rural    
regions ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates2 &  7,b7 may  
provide consid]ation to in/itutions or  
consortia t meet #a or m ( ! foll[+     
crit]ia3  7i7 ,! in/itution or          
consortium is locat$ 9 a region or      
community t has a significant population
 ( vet]ans4  7ii7 ,! in/itution or      
consortium c>ries out programs or       
activities t assi/ vet]ans 9 ! local    
community & ! sp\ses ( vet]an /ud5ts4   
7iii7 ,! in/itution or consortium p>tn]s
 9 its vet]an-specific programm+ )      
nonpr(it vet]an s]vice organizations1   

local work=ce developm5t organizations1 
or in/itutions ( high] education4  7iv7 
,! in/itution or consortium commits to  
hir+ a /aff at ! ,vet]an ,/ud5t ,c5t] t 
includes vet]ans 7includ+ vet]an /ud5t  
volunte]s & vet]an /ud5ts p>ticipat+ 9 a
 ,f$]al "w-/udy program "u "p ,c ( title
 ,,iv1 a "w-/udy program adm9i/]$ by !  
,secret>y ( ,vet]an ,affairs1 or a ,/ate
 "w-/udy program74  7v7 ,! in/itution or
 consortium is will+ to consid] provid+ 
vet]an /ud5ts ) academic cr$it =        
comp>able subject-area tra9+ receiv$    
:ile s]v+ 9 ! ,arm$ ,=ces & commits to  
d$icat+ res\rces to help+ its /ud5t     
vet]ans navigate _! way ?r\gh ! transf] 
cr$it process4  7vi7 ,! in/itution or   
consortium commits to us+ a portion ( ! 
grant receiv$ "u ?is section to develop 
an e>ly w>n+ vet]an /ud5t ret5tion      
program c>ri$ out by ! ,vet]an ,/ud5t   
,c5t]4  7vii7 ,! in/itution or          
consortium commits to provid+ m5tal     
heal? c\nsel+ to its vet]an /ud5ts & _! 
sp\ses4  7c7 ,use ( funds  7#a7 ,9 g5]al

 ,an in/itution or consortium t is aw>d$
 a grant "u subsection 7a7 %all use su* 
grant to e/abli%1 ma9ta91 improve1 or   
op]ate a ,vet]an ,/ud5t ,c5t]4  7#b7    
,o!r all[able uses ,an in/itution or    
consortium receiv+ a grant "u subsection
 7a7 may use a portion ( su* funds to   
c>ry out supportive in/ruction s]vices =
 /ud5t vet]ans1 includ+--  7,a7         
assi/ance ) special admissions & transf]
 ( cr$it f previ\s po/second>y education
 or exp]i5ce2 &  7,b7 any o!r support   
s]vices ! in/itution or consortium      
det]m9es to be necess>y to ensure !     
success ( vet]ans on campus 9 a*iev+    
education & c>e] goals4  7d7 ,am\nts    
aw>d$  7#a7 ,duration ,ea* grant aw>d$  
"u subsection 7a7 %all be = a #d-ye>    
p]iod4  7#b7 ,total am\nt ( grant &     
s*$ule ,ea* grant aw>d$ "u subsection   
7a7 may n exce$ a total ( #ejj1jjj4 ,!  
,secret>y %all disburse to an in/itution
 or consortium ! am\nts aw>d$ "u ! grant
 9 su* am\nts & at su* times dur+ !     
grant p]iod z ! ,secret>y det]m9es      

appropriate4  7e7 ,report ,f ! am\nts   
appropriat$ to c>ry out ?is section1 & n
 lat] ?an #c ye>s aft] ! date on :i* !  
fir/ grant is aw>d$ "u subsection 7a71 !
 ,secret>y %all submit to ,congress a   
report on ! grant program e/abli%$ "u   
subsection 7a71 includ+--  7#a7 ! numb] 
( grants aw>d$2  7#b7 ! in/itutions (   
high] education & consortia t h receiv$ 
grants2  7#c7 ) respect to ea* su*      
in/itution ( high] education &          
consortium-- 7,a7 ! am\nts aw>d$2  7,b7 
h[ su* in/itution or consortium us$ su* 
am\nts2  7,c7 a description ( ! /ud5ts  
to :om s]vices 7 (f]$ z a result ( !    
aw>d2 &  7,d7 data enum]at+ :e!r ! use (
 ! am\nts aw>d$ help$ vet]an /ud5ts at !
 in/itution or consortium t[>d          
completion ( a degree1 c]tificate1 or   
cr$5tial2  7#d7 be/ practices = vet]an  
/ud5t success1 id5tifi$ by review+ data 
provid$ by in/itutions & consortia t    
receiv$ a grant "u ?is section2 &  7#e7 
a det]m9ation by ! ,secret>y ) respect  
to :e!r ! grant program "u ?is section  

%\ld be ext5d$ or exp&$4  7f7 ,t]m9ation
 ,! au?ority ( ! ,secret>y to c>ry out !
 grant program e/abli%$ "u subsection   
7a7 %all t]m9ate on ! date t is #d ye>s 
aft] ! date on :i* ! fir/ grant is aw>d$
 "u subsection 7a74  7g7 ,dep>tm5t (    
education be/ practices website ,subject
 to ! availability ( appropriations "u  
subsection 7i7 & n lat] ?an #c ye>s aft]
 ! date on :i* ! fir/ grant is aw>d$ "u 
subsection 7a71 ! ,secret>y %all develop
 & implem5t a website = vet]an /ud5t    
s]vices at in/itutions ( high]          
education1 :i* details be/ practices =  
s]v+ vet]an /ud5ts at in/itutions (     
high] education4  7h7 ,def9itions ,9 ?is
 section3 7#a7 ,in/itution ( high]      
education ,! t]m in/itution ( high]     
education has ! mean+ giv5 ! t]m 9      
section #aja4  7#b7 ,vet]an ,/ud5t ,c5t]
 ,! t]m ,vet]an ,/ud5t ,c5t] means a    
d$icat$ space on a campus ( an          
in/itution ( high] education t provides 
/ud5ts :o are vet]ans or memb]s ( !     
,arm$ ,=ces ) ! foll[+3  7,a7 ,a l\nge  

or meet+ space = su* vet]an /ud5ts1 _!  
sp\ses or p>tn]s1 & vet]ans 9 !         
community4  7,b7 ,a c5traliz$ (fice =   
vet]an s]vices t-- 7i7 is a s+le po9t ( 
contact to coord9ate compreh5sive       
support s]vices = vet]an /ud5ts2  7ii7  
is /aff$ by tra9$ employees & volunte]s1
 :i* includes vet]ans & at lea/ #a      
full-"t employee or volunte] :o is tra9$
 z a vet]ans' b5efits c\nselor2  7iii7  
provides vet]an /ud5ts ) assi/ance      
relat+ to-- 7,i7 transition+ f ! milit>y
 to /ud5t life2  7,,ii7 transition+ f ! 
milit>y to ! civilian work=ce2  7,,iii7 
network+ ) o!r vet]an /ud5ts & vet]ans 9
 ! community2  7,,iv7 und]/&+ & obta9+  
b5efits provid$ by ! in/itution ( high] 
education1 ,f$]al ,gov]nm5t1 & ,/ate =  
:i* su* /ud5ts may be eligible2  7,v7   
und]/&+ h[ to succe$ 9 ! in/itution (   
high] education1 includ+ by und]/&+     
academic policies1 ! c\rse selection    
process1 & in/itutional policies &      
practices relat$ to ! transf] ( academic
 cr$its2 &  7,,vi7 und]/&+ _!           

disability-relat$ rights & protections  
"u ! ,am]icans ) ,disabilities ,act (   
#aiij 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #abaja et seq47 &  
section #ejd ( ! ,rehabilitation ,act ( 
#aigc 7#bi ,u4,s4,c4 #gid72 &  7iv7     
provides compreh5sive academic & tutor+ 
s]vices = vet]an /ud5ts1 includ+        
pe]-to-pe] tutor+ & academic m5tor%ip4  
7i7 ,au?orization ( appropriations ,!re 
are au?oriz$ to be appropriat$ to c>ry  
out ?is "p su* sums z may be necess>y = 
fiscal ye> #bjaf & ea* ( ! #c succe$+   
fiscal ye>s4  4  #d4 ,cont9uation (     
aw>ds ,an in/itution ( high] education t
 receiv$ a grant "u section #hgc ( !    
,high] ,education ,act ( #aife 7#bj     
,u4,s4,c4 #aafat7 be=e ! date ( enactm5t
 ( ?is ,act1 z su* section #hgc 7#bj    
,u4,s4,c4 #aafat7 0 9 effect on ! day   
be=e ! date ( enactm5t ( ?is ,act1 %all 
cont9ue to receive funds 9 accordance ) 
! t]ms & conditions ( su* grant4