[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2523 Enrolled Bill (ENR)]

        H.R.2523

                    One Hundred Seventeenth Congress

                                 of the

                        United States of America


                          AT THE FIRST SESSION

           Begun and held at the City of Washington on Sunday,
          the third day of January, two thousand and twenty-one


                                 An Act


 
 To amend the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 to improve the COVID-19 
 Veteran Rapid Retraining Assistance program, to make certain technical 
corrections to the Johnny Isakson and David P. Roe, M.D. Veterans Health 
   Care and Benefits Improvement Act of 2020, 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 ``Training in High-demand Roles to 
Improve Veteran Employment Act'' or the ``THRIVE Act''.
SEC. 2. IMPROVEMENTS TO COVID-19 VETERAN RAPID RETRAINING ASSISTANCE 
PROGRAM.
    (a) In General.--Section 8006 of the American Rescue Plan Act of 
2021 (Public Law 117-2) is amended--
        (1) by striking paragraph (3) of subsection (c) and inserting 
    the following new paragraph (3):
        ``(3) Determination of high-demand occupations.--
            ``(A) Initial implementation.--In carrying out this 
        section, the Secretary shall use the list of high-demand 
        occupations prepared in conjunction with the Secretary of 
        Labor.
            ``(B) Modifications.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs may 
        add and remove occupations from the list under subparagraph (A) 
        as the Secretary determines appropriate.'';
        (2) in subsection (d)(3)--
            (A) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by inserting 
        ``(other than such a program pursued solely through distance 
        learning on a half-time basis or less)'' after ``a covered 
        program of education under the retraining assistance program 
        under this section''; and
            (B) in subparagraph (C), by striking ``less than a half-
        time basis'' and inserting ``a half-time basis or less'';
        (3) by redesignating subsections (f), (g), and (h) as 
    subsections (k), (l), and (m), respectively;
        (4) by inserting after subsection (e) the following new 
    subsections:
    ``(f) Employee Assistance.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs, in 
consultation with the Secretary of Labor, shall contact each veteran 
who pursues a covered program of education under this section--
        ``(1) not later than 30 days after the date on which the 
    veteran begins the program of education to notify the veteran of 
    the availability of employment placement services upon completion 
    of the program; and
        ``(2) not later than 14 days after the date on which the 
    veteran completes, or terminates participation in, such program to 
    facilitate the provision of employment placement services to such 
    veteran.
    ``(g) Nonprofit Organization.--
        ``(1) In general.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall seek 
    to enter into a memorandum of understanding with one or more 
    qualified nonprofit organizations for the purpose of facilitating 
    the employment of veterans who participate in the retraining 
    assistance program under this section.
        ``(2) Qualified nonprofit organization.--For purposes of this 
    subsection, a qualified nonprofit organization is a nonprofit 
    organization that--
            ``(A) is an association of businesses; and
            ``(B) has at least two years of experience providing job 
        placement services for veterans.
    ``(h) Follow up Outreach.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs, in 
coordination with the Secretary of Labor, shall contact each veteran 
who completes a covered program of education under the retraining 
assistance program under this section 30, 60, 90, and 180 days after 
the veteran completes such program of education to ask the veteran 
about the experience of the veteran in the retraining assistance 
program and the veteran's employment status.
    ``(i) Quarterly Reports.--Not later than the date that is one year 
after the date of the enactment of this Act, and quarterly thereafter, 
the Secretary of Labor shall submit to the Committees on Veterans' 
Affairs of the Senate and House of Representatives a report containing 
the following information about veterans who participate in the 
retraining assistance program under this section:
        ``(1) The percentage of such veterans who found employment 
    before the end of the second calendar quarter after exiting the 
    program.
        ``(2) The percentage of such veterans who found employment 
    before the end of the fourth calendar quarter after exiting the 
    program.
        ``(3) The median earnings of all such veterans for the second 
    quarter after exiting the program.
        ``(4) The percentage of such veterans who attain a recognized 
    postsecondary credential during the 12-month period after exiting 
    the program.
    ``(j) Comptroller General Report.--Not later than 180 days after 
the termination of the retraining assistance program under subsection 
(l), the Comptroller General shall submit to the Committees on 
Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and House of Representatives a report 
on the outcomes and effectiveness of the program.'';
        (5) in subsection (l), as so redesignated, by striking ``No 
    retraining assistance may be paid under this section after the date 
    that is 21 months after the date of the enactment of this Act'' and 
    inserting ``No retraining assistance may be paid under this section 
    for a covered program of education that begins on or after December 
    11, 2022'';
        (6) in subsection (m), as so redesignated, by striking the 
    period at the end and inserting the following: ``, which shall be 
    carried out as if such section were authorized for the payment of 
    readjustment and rehabilitation benefits to or on behalf of 
    veterans under chapters 30, 31, and 41 of title 38, United States 
    Code. Not more than $386,000,000 may be obligated or expended to 
    carry out this section.''; and
        (7) by adding at the end the following new subsection:
    ``(n) Definitions.--In this section:
        ``(1) The term `covered public health emergency' means the 
    declaration--
            ``(A) of a public health emergency, based on an outbreak of 
        COVID-19 by the Secretary of Health and Human Services under 
        section 319 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 247d); 
        or
            ``(B) of a domestic emergency, based on an outbreak of 
        COVID-19 by the President, the Secretary of Homeland Security, 
        or State, or local authority.
        ``(2) The term `veteran' means--
            ``(A) a person who served in the active military, naval, or 
        air service, and who was discharged or released therefrom under 
        conditions other than dishonorable; or
            ``(B) a member of a reserve component of the Armed Forces 
        who performs active service for a period of 30 days or longer 
        by reason of the covered public health emergency.
        ``(3) The term `active service' has the meaning given such term 
    in section 101 of title 10, United States Code.''.
    (b) Effective Date.--The amendments made by subsection (a) shall 
apply as if included in the enactment of the American Rescue Plan Act 
of 2021 (Public Law 117-2).
SEC. 3. INFORMATION PROVIDED BY DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS ABOUT 
POSTSECONDARY EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS.
    (a) Additional Information To Be Provided.--Subsection (c) of 
section 3698 of title 38, United States Code, is amended--
        (1) in paragraph (1)(C)--
            (A) in clause (xi), by striking ``and'' at the end;
            (B) in clause (xii), by striking the period and inserting a 
        semicolon; and
            (C) by adding at the end the following new clauses:
            ``(xiii) whether the institution is listed on the College 
        Navigator website as affiliated with a religion and, if so, 
        which religious denomination;
            ``(xiv) whether the Secretary of Education or other head of 
        a department or agency of the Federal Government has determined 
        that the institution is a minority serving institution and, if 
        so, which one or more types of minority serving institutions; 
        and
            ``(xv) whether the institution is gender specific.''; and
        (2) in paragraph (2), by adding at the end the following new 
    sentence: ``To the extent practicable, the Secretary shall ensure 
    that such information is provided in a searchable format.''.
    (b) Definition.--Subsection (f) of such section is amended by 
adding at the end the following new paragraphs:
        ``(3) The term `College Navigator website' has the meaning 
    given that term in section 132 of the Higher Education Act (20 
    U.S.C. 1015a).
        ``(4) The term `minority serving institution' means any of the 
    following:
            ``(A) A part B institution, as such term is defined in 
        section 322(2) of the Higher Education Act (20 U.S.C. 1061(2)).
            ``(B) A Hispanic-serving institution, as such term is 
        defined in section 502(a)(5) of such Act (20 U.S.C. 1101a(5)).
            ``(C) A Tribal College or University, as such term is 
        defined in section 316(b)(3) of such Act (20 U.S.C. 
        1059c(b)(3)).
            ``(D) A predominantly Black institution, as such term is 
        defined in section 318(b)(6) of such Act (20 U.S.C. 
        1059e(b)(6)).
            ``(E) A Native American-serving, nontribal institution, as 
        such term is defined in section 319(b)(2) of such Act (20 
        U.S.C. 1059f(b)(6)).
            ``(F) An Alaska Native-serving institution or Native 
        Hawaiian-serving institution, as such terms are defined in 
        section 317(b) of such Act (20 U.S.C. 1059d(b)).
            ``(G) An Asian American and Native American Pacific 
        Islander-serving institution, as such term is defined in 
        section 320(b) of such Act (20 U.S.C. 1059g(b)).''.
    (c) Application.--The amendments made by this section shall apply 
with respect to the information provided under section 3698 of title 
38, United States Code, beginning on the date that is two years after 
the date of the enactment of this Act.
SEC. 4. DELAY OF EFFECTIVE DATE FOR LIMITATION ON COLOCATION AND 
ADMINISTRATION OF STATE APPROVING AGENCIES.
    Section 1024 of the Johnny Isakson and David P. Roe, M.D. Veterans 
Health Care and Benefits Improvement Act of 2020 (Public Law 116-315) 
is amended to read as follows:
``SEC. 1024. LIMITATION ON COLOCATION AND ADMINISTRATION OF STATE 
APPROVING AGENCIES.
    ``(a) In General.--Section 3671 of title 38, United States Code, is 
amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:
    ```(c) The Secretary may not recognize a State department or agency 
as the State approving agency for a State for purposes of this chapter 
if such department or agency is administered at, or colocated with, a 
university or university system that offers courses or programs of 
education that are subject to approval under this chapter by the State 
approving agency for that State.'.
    ``(b) Effective Date.--The amendment made by subsection (a) shall 
take effect on the date that is one year after the date of the 
enactment of this Act.''.
SEC. 5. CLARIFICATION OF APPLICABILITY OF TREATMENT OF CERTAIN FOR-
PROFIT EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS.
    (a) Clarification.--Section 1022(c) of the Johnny Isakson and David 
P. Roe, M.D. Veterans Health Care and Benefits Improvement Act of 2020 
(Public Law 116-315) is amended by inserting ``, or the conversion of a 
for-profit educational institution to a public educational 
institution,'' after ``nonprofit educational institution''.
    (b) Effective Date.--The amendment made by subsection (a) shall 
apply as if included in the enactment of the Johnny Isakson and David 
P. Roe, M.D. Veterans Health Care and Benefits Improvement Act of 2020 
(Public Law 116-315).
SEC. 6. CLARIFICATIONS REGARDING REQUIREMENTS FOR EDUCATIONAL 
INSTITUTIONS PARTICIPATING IN THE EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS OF 
THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.
    Subsection (f) of section 3679 of title 38, United States Code, as 
added by section 1018 of the Johnny Isakson and David P. Roe, M.D. 
Veterans Health Care and Benefits Improvement Act of 2020 (Public Law 
116-315), is amended--
        (1) in paragraph (1)(E), by inserting ``, to the maximum extent 
    practicable,'' after ``including'';
        (2) in paragraph (2)--
            (A) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by inserting 
        ``, or any person with whom the institution has an agreement to 
        provide educational programs, marketing, advertising, 
        recruiting or admissions services,'' after ``educational 
        institution'';
            (B) in paragraph (A)(ii), by striking ``1-month'' and 
        inserting ``one-month''; and
            (C) by striking subparagraph (B) and inserting the 
        following new subparagraph (B):
        ``(B) Provides a commission, bonus, or other incentive payment 
    based directly or indirectly on success in securing enrollments or 
    financial aid to any persons or entities engaged in any student 
    recruiting or admission activities or in making decisions regarding 
    the award of student financial assistance.'';
        (3) in paragraph (4)(A), by striking clause (ii) and inserting 
    the following new clauses:
        ``(ii) Suspending the approval of the courses and programs of 
    education offered by the educational institution by disapproving 
    new enrollments of eligible veterans and eligible persons in each 
    course or program of education offered by that educational 
    institution.
        ``(iii) Revoking the approval of the courses and programs of 
    education offered by the educational institution by disapproving 
    all enrollments of eligible veterans and eligible persons in each 
    course or program of education offered by that educational 
    institution''; and
        (4) in paragraph (5)(A), by striking ``1-academic-year period'' 
    and inserting ``one-academic-year period''.
SEC. 7. TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS.
    (a) Title 38.--Title 38, United States Code, is amended as follows:
        (1) The second section 1164, as added by section 5501 the 
    Johnny Isakson and David P. Roe, M.D. Veterans Health Care and 
    Benefits Improvement Act of 2020 (Public Law 116-315), is 
    redesignated as section 1166 and transferred so as to appear after 
    section 1165 (and the table of sections at the beginning of chapter 
    11 of such title is conformed accordingly).
        (2) Subsection (l) of section 3313, as added by section 1010 of 
    such Act (as effective on August 1, 2021), is amended to read as 
    follows:
    ``(l) Verification of Enrollment.--
        ``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall require--
            ``(A) each educational institution to submit to the 
        Secretary verification of each individual who is enrolled in a 
        course or program of education at the educational institution 
        and is receiving educational assistance under this chapter--
                ``(i) not later than such time as the Secretary 
            determines reasonable after the date on which the 
            individual is enrolled; and
                ``(ii) not later than such time as the Secretary 
            determines reasonable after the last date on which a 
            student is able to withdraw from the course or program of 
            education without penalty; and
            ``(B) each individual who is enrolled in a course or 
        program of education and is receiving educational assistance 
        under this chapter to submit to the Secretary verification of 
        such enrollment for each month during which the individual is 
        so enrolled and receiving such educational assistance.
        ``(2) Form of verification.--Verification under this subsection 
    shall be in an electronic form prescribed by the Secretary.
        ``(3) Failure to submit verification.--If an individual fails 
    to submit the verification required under paragraph (1)(B) for two 
    consecutive months, the Secretary may not make a monthly housing 
    stipend payment to the individual under this section until the 
    individual submits such verification.''.
        (3) Section 3673A, as added by section 1013 of such Act, is 
    amended--
            (A) in subsection (a), by striking ``searchable''; and
            (B) in subsection (c), by inserting ``searchable'' before 
        ``database''.
        (4) The subsection (f) of section 3679, as added by section 
    1017 of such Act, is redesignated as paragraph (3) of subsection 
    (a) of such section 3679 and is transferred so as to appear after 
    paragraph (2) of such subsection.
        (5) Section 3696(g)(4)(A)(iii)(III), as amended by section 1020 
    of such Act, is amended by striking ``paragraph (3)(B) of this 
    subsection'' and inserting ``paragraph (3)''.
    (b) Johnny Isakson and David P. Roe, M.D. Veterans Health Care and 
Benefits Improvement Act of 2020.--The Johnny Isakson and David P. Roe, 
M.D. Veterans Health Care and Benefits Improvement Act of 2020 (Public 
Law 116-315) is amended as follows:
        (1) In section 1013(a)(1), by inserting ``of title 38'' after 
    ``of chapter 36''.
        (2) In section 2205(c)--
            (A) in the heading, by striking ``Effective Date'' and 
        inserting ``Applicability''; and
            (B) by striking ``the date that is two years after the date 
        of the enactment of this Act'' and inserting ``the date of the 
        enactment of this Act and shall apply with respect to grants 
        applications submitted on or after the date that is two years 
        after the date of the enactment of this Act.''.
        (3) In section 4101(b), by striking ``subchapter'' and 
    inserting ``chapter''.
        (4) In section 5501--
            (A) in subsection (a)(1), by striking ``of such title'' and 
        inserting ``of title 38, United States Code''; and
            (B) in subsection (b), by striking ``section 1164'' each 
        place it appears and inserting ``section 1166''.
SEC. 8. DETERMINATION OF BUDGETARY EFFECTS.
    The budgetary effects of this Act, for the purpose of complying 
with the Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Act of 2010, shall be determined by 
reference to the latest statement titled ``Budgetary Effects of PAYGO 
Legislation'' for this Act, submitted for printing in the Congressional 
Record by the Chairman of the House Budget Committee, provided that 
such statement has been submitted prior to the vote on passage.

                               Speaker of the House of Representatives.

                            Vice President of the United States and    
                                               President of the Senate.