,i #aaeth ,,congress #ast ,session ,h4 ,r4 #cbgb ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of ,,representatives ,july #ag1 #bjag,ms4 ,frankel of ,florida 7for herself1 ,mr4 ,takano1 ,mr4 ,bilirakis1 and ,mr4 ,rutherford7 introduced the following bill2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,veterans' ,affairs ,a ,,bill ,to direct the ,secretary of ,veterans ,affairs to carry out a grant program to provide ,veteran ,student ,centers at institutions of higher education to assist veterans in the pursuit of higher education1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,veteran ,education ,empowerment ,act4 #b4 ,findings ,congress makes the following findings3 7#a7 ,more than #a1jjj1jjj veterans attended institutions of higher education in #bjad4 7#b7 ,veterans face unique challenges in transitioning from the battlefield to the classroom and eventually to the workforce1 often including age differences1 family obligations1 significant time away from academic life1 and service-connected disabilities4 7#c7 ,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#d7 ,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#e7 ,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#f7 ,veteran ,student ,centers are recognized as an institutional best practice by ,student ,veterans of ,america4 7#g7 ,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 the efforts of many institutions of higher education to serve veteran students4 7#h7 ,the ,department of ,education included as one of its #h ,keys to ,veterans' ,success that colleges and universities should coordinate and centralize campus efforts for all veterans1 together with the creation of a designated space for them4 7#i7 ,budget constraints often make it difficult or impossible for institutions of higher education to dedicate space for offices1 lounges1 or student centers for veteran students4 7#aj7 ,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 ,department of ,veterans ,affairs grant program for ,veteran ,student ,centers at institutions of higher education 7a7 ,grants authorized ,subject to the availability of appropriations for such purpose1 the ,secretary of ,veterans ,affairs shall make grants to institutions of higher education or consortia of institutions of higher education for the establishment1 maintenance1 improvement1 and operation of ,veteran ,student ,centers4 7b7 ,eligibility ,to be eligible to receive a grant under this section1 an institution of higher education or consortium of such institutions shall-- 7#a7 enroll in undergraduate or graduate courses-- 7,a7 a significant number of veteran students1 members of the ,armed ,forces serving on active duty1 and members of a reserve component of the ,armed ,forces2 or 7,b7 a significant percentage of veteran students2 7#b7 present to the ,secretary a sustainability plan to demonstrate that its ,veteran ,student ,center will be maintained and will continue to operate after the institution or consortium no longer receives grant funds2 and 7#c7 submit to the ,secretary an application at such time1 in such manner1 and containing such information as the ,secretary may require4 7c7 ,additional criteria ,in awarding grants under subsection 7a71 the ,secretary-- 7#a7 shall take into consideration representing a broad spectrum of sectors and sizes1 including institutions or consortia from urban1 suburban1 and rural regions of the ,united ,states2 and 7#b7 may provide a preference for institutions or consortia that-- 7,a7 are located in a region or community that has a significant population of veterans2 7,b7 carry out programs or activities that assist veterans in the local community and the spouses of veteran students2 7,c7 with respect to veteran-specific programming partner with nonprofit veteran service organizations1 local workforce development organizations1 or institutions of higher education2 7,d7 commit to hiring a staff at the ,veteran ,student ,center that includes veterans 7including veteran student volunteers and veteran students participating in a work-study program of the ,department of ,veteran ,affairs or another ,federal agency or a ,state work-study program72 7,e7 commit to using a portion of the grant received under this section to develop an early-warning veteran student retention program carried out by the ,veteran ,student ,center2 and 7,f7 commit to providing mental health counseling to its veteran students and their spouses4 7d7 ,significant percentage of veteran students ,for purposes of this section1 in calculating whether a course has a significant percentage of veteran students1 the ,secretary shall compare the overall enrollment of the institution or consortium to the number1 for the most recent academic year for which data are available1 of veteran students1 members of the ,armed ,forces serving on active duty1 and members of a reserve component of the ,armed ,forces who are enrolled in undergraduate or graduate courses at the institution or consortium4 7e7 ,use of funds ,an institution or consortium that is awarded a grant under subsection 7a7-- 7#a7 shall use such grant to establish1 maintain1 improve1 or operate a ,veteran ,student ,center2 and 7#b7 may use a portion of such funds to carry out supportive instruction services for student veterans1 including-- 7,a7 assistance with special admissions and transfer of credit from previous postsecondary education or experience2 and 7,b7 any other support services the institution or consortium determines to be necessary to ensure the success of veterans on campus in achieving education and career goals4 7f7 ,amounts awarded 7#a7 ,duration ,each grant awarded under subsection 7a7 shall be for a four-year period4 7#b7 ,total amount of grant and schedule ,each grant awarded under subsection 7a7 may not exceed a total of #ejj1jjj4 ,the ,secretary shall disburse to an institution or consortium the amounts awarded under the grant in such amounts and at such times during the grant period as the ,secretary determines appropriate4 7g7 ,report ,not later than #c years after the date on which the first grant is awarded under subsection 7a71 the ,secretary shall submit to the ,committees on ,veterans' ,affairs of the ,senate and ,house of ,representatives a report on the grant program established under subsection 7a74 ,such report shall include-- 7#a7 the number of grants awarded2 7#b7 the institutions of higher education and consortia that have received grants2 7#c7 with respect to each such institution of higher education and consortium-- 7,a7 the amounts awarded2 7,b7 how such institution or consortium used such amounts2 7,c7 a description of the students to whom services were offered as a result of the award2 and 7,d7 data enumerating whether the use of the amounts awarded helped veteran students at the institution or consortium toward completion of a degree1 certificate1 or credential2 7#d7 best practices for veteran student success1 identified by reviewing data provided by institutions and consortia that received a grant under this section2 and 7#e7 a determination by the ,secretary with respect to whether the grant program under this section should be extended or expanded4 7h7 ,termination ,the authority of the ,secretary to carry out the grant program established under subsection 7a7 shall terminate on the date that is four years after the date on which the first grant is awarded under subsection 7a74 7i7 ,authorization of appropriations ,there is authorized to be appropriated for fiscal year #bjah and each of the four subsequent fiscal years such sums as may be necessary to carry out this ,act4 7j7 ,department of ,veterans ,affairs best practices website ,not later than #c years after the date on which the first grant is awarded under subsection 7a71 the ,secretary shall develop and implement a website for veteran student services at institutions of higher education that includes details on best practices for serving veteran students at institutions of higher education4 7k7 ,definitions ,in this section3 7#a7 ,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 ,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 veteran students1 their spouses or partners1 and veterans in the community4 7,b7 ,a centralized office for veteran services that-- 7i7 is a single point of contact to coordinate comprehensive support services for veteran students2 7ii7 is staffed by trained employees and volunteers1 which includes veterans and at least one full-time employee or volunteer who is trained as a veterans' benefits counselor2 7iii7 provides veteran students with assistance relating to-- 7,i7 transitioning from the ,armed ,forces to student life2 7,,ii7 transitioning from the ,armed ,forces to the civilian workforce2 7,,iii7 networking with other veteran students and veterans in the community2 7,,iv7 understanding and obtaining benefits provided by the institution of higher education1 ,federal ,government1 and ,state for which such students may be eligible2 7,v7 understanding how to succeed in the institution of higher education1 including by understanding academic policies1 the course selection process1 and institutional policies and practices related to the transfer of academic credits2 and 7,,vi7 understanding their disability-related rights and protections under the ,americans with ,disabilities ,act of #aiij 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #abaja et seq47 and section #ejd of the ,rehabilitation ,act of #aigc 7#bi ,u4,s4,c4 #gid72 and 7iv7 provides comprehensive academic and tutoring services for veteran students1 including peer-to-peer tutoring and academic mentorship4