[Congressional Bills 112th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4057 Introduced in House (IH)]
112th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 4057
To amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of
Veterans Affairs to develop a comprehensive policy to improve outreach
and transparency to veterans and members of the Armed Forces through
the provision of information on institutions of higher learning, and
for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
February 16, 2012
Mr. Bilirakis introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Veterans' Affairs
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of
Veterans Affairs to develop a comprehensive policy to improve outreach
and transparency to veterans and members of the Armed Forces through
the provision of information on institutions of higher learning, and
for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Improving Transparency of Education
Opportunities for Veterans Act of 2012''.
SEC. 2. COMPREHENSIVE POLICY ON PROVIDING EDUCATION INFORMATION TO
VETERANS.
(a) Comprehensive Policy Required.--
(1) In general.--Chapter 36 of title 38, United States
Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new
section:
``Sec. 3698. Comprehensive policy on providing education information to
veterans
``(a) Comprehensive Policy Required.--The Secretary shall develop a
comprehensive policy to improve outreach and transparency to veterans
and members of the Armed Forces through the provision of information on
institutions of higher learning.
``(b) Scope.--In developing the policy required by subsection (a),
the Secretary shall include each of the following elements:
``(1) The most effective way to inform individuals of the
educational and vocational counseling provided under section
3697A of this title.
``(2) A centralized way to track and publish feedback from
students and State approving agencies regarding the quality of
instruction and accreditation, recruiting practices, and post-
graduation employment placement of institutions of higher
learning.
``(3) The merit of and the manner in which a State
approving agency shares with an accrediting agency recognized
by the Department of Education information regarding the State
approving agency's evaluation of an institution of higher
learning.
``(4) The manner in which information regarding
institutions of higher learning is provided to individuals
participating in the Transition Assistance Program under
section 1144 of title 10.
``(5) The most effective way to provide veterans and
members of the Armed Forces with information regarding
postsecondary education and training opportunities available to
the veteran or member.
``(c) Definitions.--In this section:
``(1) The term `institution of higher learning' has the
meaning given that term in section 3452(f) of this title.
``(2) The term `postsecondary education and training
opportunities' means any postsecondary program of education,
including apprenticeships and on-job training, for which the
Secretary of Veterans Affairs provides assistance to a veteran
or member of the Armed Forces.''.
(2) Clerical amendment.--The table of sections at the
beginning of such chapter is amended by adding after the item
relating to section 3697A the following new item:
``3698. Comprehensive policy on providing education information to
veterans.''.
(b) Survey.--In developing the policy required by section 3698(a)
of title 38, United States Code, as added by subsection (a), the
Secretary shall conduct a market survey to determine the availability
of the following:
(1) A commercially available off-the-shelf online tool that
allows a veteran or member of the Armed Forces to assess
whether the veteran or member is academically ready to engage
in postsecondary education and training opportunities and
whether the veteran or member would need any remedial
preparation before beginning such opportunities.
(2) A commercially available off-the-shelf online tool that
provides a veteran or member of the Armed Forces with a list of
providers of postsecondary education and training opportunities
based on criteria selected by the veteran or member.
(c) Report.--Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment
of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the Committees on Veterans'
Affairs of the House of Representatives and the Senate a report that
includes--
(1) a description of the policy developed by the Secretary
under section 3698(a) of title 38, United States Code, as added
by subsection (a);
(2) a plan of the Secretary to implement such policy; and
(3) the results of the survey conducted under subsection
(b), including whether the Secretary plans to implement the
tools described in such subsection.
(d) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) The term ``commercially available off-the-shelf'' has
the meaning given that term in section 104 of title 41, United
States Code.
(2) The term ``postsecondary education and training
opportunities'' means any postsecondary program of education,
including apprenticeships and on-job training, for which the
Secretary of Veterans Affairs provides assistance to a veteran
or member of the Armed Forces.
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