[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 8216 Introduced in House (IH)]

<DOC>






116th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 8216

   To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out a Native 
     VetSuccess at Tribal Colleges and Universities Pilot Program.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           September 11, 2020

    Mr. Gallego (for himself, Mr. Cole, Ms. Haaland, and Mr. Cook) 
 introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on 
                           Veterans' Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
   To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out a Native 
     VetSuccess at Tribal Colleges and Universities Pilot Program.

    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 ``Native VetSuccess at Tribal Colleges 
and Universities Pilot Program Act''.

SEC. 2. NATIVE VETSUCCESS AT TRIBAL COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES PILOT 
              PROGRAM.

    (a) In General.--Not later than 18 months after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall carry 
out a five-year pilot program, to be known as the ``Native VetSuccess 
at Tribal Colleges and Universities Pilot Program''. Under such pilot 
program the Secretary shall--
            (1) identify three regional Native VetSuccess service areas 
        consisting of at least two participating Tribal colleges or 
        universities;
            (2) assign to each regional Native VetSuccess service area 
        a VetSuccess on Campus counselor and a full-time Vet Center 
        outreach coordinator, both of which shall be based on one or 
        more of the participating Tribal colleges or universities in 
        the service area; and
            (3) provide for eligible students at such participating 
        colleges and universities with all services for which such 
        students would be eligible under the VetSuccess on Campus 
        program of the Department of Veterans Affairs.
    (b) Eligible Students.--For purposes of the pilot program, an 
eligible student is a student who is a veteran, member of the Armed 
Forces, or dependent of a veteran or member of the Armed Forces who is 
eligible for any service or benefit under the VetSuccess on Campus 
program of the Department.
    (c) Consultation Requirement.--In developing the pilot program 
under this section, the Secretary, acting through the Vocational 
Rehabilitation and Employment Program of the Department of Veterans 
Affairs and in coordination with the Office of Tribal Government 
Relations of the Department, shall consult with Indian tribes, Tribal 
organizations, and veterans service organizations regarding each of the 
following:
            (1) The design of the pilot program.
            (2) The selection of the three regional Native VetSuccess 
        service areas and participating Tribal colleges and 
        universities, taking into consideration--
                    (A) the number of eligible students enrolled in the 
                college or university and in the regional service area;
                    (B) the capacity of the colleges and universities 
                in the regional service area to accommodate a full-time 
                VetSuccess on Campus counselor and a full-time Vet 
                Center outreach coordinator;
                    (C) the lack of information available at the 
                colleges and universities in the regional service area 
                about and lack of access to benefits and services under 
                the laws administered by the Secretary; and
                    (D) any other factor that the Secretary or the 
                Indian tribes, Tribal organizations, and veterans 
                service organizations identify as relevant.
            (3) The most effective way to provide culturally competent 
        outreach and services to eligible students at Tribal colleges 
        and universities.
    (d) Outreach to Colleges and Universities.--The Secretary shall 
provide notice of the pilot program to all Tribal colleges and 
universities and encourage all Tribal colleges and universities to 
coordinate with each other to create regional service areas to 
participate in the pilot program.
    (e) Briefings and Reports.--
            (1) Implementation briefing.--Not later than one year after 
        the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall 
        provide for the Committee on Veterans' Affairs and the 
        Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives 
        and the Committee on Veterans' Affairs and the Committee on 
        Indian Affairs of the Senate a briefing on--
                    (A) the design, structure, and objectives of the 
                pilot program; and
                    (B) the three regional Native Vet Success service 
                areas and the Tribal colleges and universities selected 
                for participation in the pilot program and the reason 
                for the selection of such service areas and such 
                colleges and universities.
            (2) Report.--Not later than four years after the date on 
        which the Secretary establishes the pilot program, the 
        Secretary shall submit to such Committees a report on the pilot 
        program. Such report shall include each of the following:
                    (A) The number of eligible students provided 
                services through the pilot program.
                    (B) The types of services that eligible students 
                received through the pilot program.
                    (C) The graduation rate of eligible students who 
                received services through the pilot program.
                    (D) The rate of employment within one year of 
                graduation for eligible students who received services 
                through the pilot program.
                    (E) Feedback from each Tribal college or university 
                that participated in the pilot program, including on 
                the regional nature of the program.
                    (F) Analysis of the feasibility of expanding a 
                regionally based Native VetSuccess at Tribal Colleges 
                and Universities Program, including any challenges of 
                such a model due to distance, communication, 
                coordination, and level of unmet services.
                    (G) A detailed legislative proposal regarding a 
                long-term extension of the pilot program, including a 
                budget, if the Secretary determines that such an 
                extension is appropriate.
    (f) Definitions.--In this section:
            (1) The term ``Tribal college or university'' has the 
        meaning given such term under section 316 of the Higher 
        Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1059c).
            (2) The term ``tribal organization'' has the meaning given 
        that term in section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and 
        Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 450b).
            (3) The term ``culturally competent'' means considerate of 
        the unique values, customs, traditions, cultures, and languages 
        of Native American veterans.
                                 <all>