[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 213 (Thursday, December 9, 2021)]
[Senate]
[Pages S9096-S9097]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          STATEMENTS ON INTRODUCED BILLS AND JOINT RESOLUTIONS

      By Mr. REED (for himself and Mr. Casey):
  S. 3360. A bill to reauthorize title II of the Higher Education Act 
of 1965, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Health, Education, 
Labor, and Pensions.
  Mr. REED. Mr. President, it is time for a national investment in 
building a strong and resilient educator pipeline to ensure that all 
schools have the diverse, profession-ready teachers, principals, 
librarians, counselors, and other specialized instructional support 
personnel they need to support student development and academic 
achievement. Today, along with Senator Bob Casey and Representative 
Alma Adams, I am introducing the Educators for America Act to provide 
the blueprint for building this pipeline.
  For years, we have seen declines in enrollment in educator 
preparation programs. Now in the wake of the pandemic, schools are 
facing pervasive staffing shortages. An Education Week survey found 40 
percent of district leaders and principals describe the shortages as 
``severe'' or ``very severe.'' The National Association of Secondary 
School Principals reported that nearly 4 out of 10 principals are 
expecting to leave the profession in the next 3 years.
  Moreover, the gap between the demographic makeup of the student body 
and the education profession is widening. Even though over 50 percent 
of students are people of color and that multiple studies have shown 
that racial diversity can provide significant benefits to students, a 
2016 Department of Education report showed that 82 percent of public 
school teachers identified as White, a figure that had barely changed 
since 2000.
  Simply put, we can no longer afford to neglect the educator pipeline.
  The Educators for America Act calls for a $1 billion annual 
investment in the educator pipeline, divided evenly between State 
capacity building and direct support for educator preparation programs 
and partnerships with high need school districts. It addresses the full 
pipeline from early outreach and career exploration to financial 
assistance and wraparound supports for those pursuing education careers 
to clinical preparation for teachers, principals, and other educators 
to faculty development, all with a focus on ensuring equity and 
diversity.
  Just as importantly, the Educators for America Act will reduce 
financial barriers to pursuing careers in education. The legislation 
will double the value of the TEACH grant to $8,000 per year and provide 
greater flexibility for meeting the service requirements. It 
establishes a new monthly credit for teachers, principals, and other 
educators towards repayment on their student loans so they earn loan 
forgiveness as they serve rather than watching their loan balances 
stagnate or grow for 5 to 10 years before receiving any benefit.
  The Educators for America Act reflects the input from stakeholders 
across the education field about what is needed to recruit, prepare, 
and support educators. To date, 45 organizations have endorsed it.
  The Nation's outlook for the future is tied to the strength of the 
education profession. Our economic prosperity, the health of our 
democracy and civic society, and our ability to meet the challenges of 
climate change and the information age depend on our students having 
access to well-prepared and supported educators who reflect the 
diversity of the students they serve.
  Today, the profession is in crisis. It is time to act. I urge my 
colleagues to cosponsor the Educators for America Act and work with me 
to get it passed into law.
                                 ______
                                 
      By Mr. CORNYN:
  S. 3368. A bill to require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to 
submit to Congress a report on the Veterans Integration to Academic 
Leadership program of the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other 
purposes; to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
  Mr. CORNYN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent to have my bill 
printed in the Congressional Record. The bill requires the Secretary of 
Veterans Affairs to submit to Congress a report on the Veterans 
Integration to Academic Leadership Program of the Department of 
Veterans Affairs.
  There being no objection, the text of the bill was ordered to be 
printed in the Record, as follows:

                                S. 3368

       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 ``VITAL Assessment Act of 
     2021''.

     SEC. 2. VETERANS INTEGRATION TO ACADEMIC LEADERSHIP PROGRAM 
                   OF THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.

       (a) Report.--

[[Page S9097]]

       (1) In general.--Not later than one year after the date of 
     the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs 
     shall submit to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the of 
     the Senate and the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the 
     House of Representatives a report on the Veterans Integration 
     to Academic Leadership program of the Department of Veterans 
     Affairs.
       (2) Contents.--The report required by paragraph (1) shall 
     include the following:
       (A) The number of medical centers of the Department, 
     institutions of higher learning, noncollege degree programs, 
     and student veterans supported by the program, and relevant 
     trends since the program began.
       (B) The staff and resources allocated to the program, and 
     relevant trends since the program began.
       (C) An assessment of the outcomes and effectiveness of the 
     program in--
       (i) supporting student veterans;
       (ii) connecting student veterans to needed services of the 
     Department or services provided by non-Department entities;
       (iii) addressing the mental health needs of student 
     veterans;
       (iv) lowering the suicide risk of student veterans; and
       (v) helping student veterans achieve educational goals.
       (D) An assessment of barriers to expanding the program and 
     how the Secretary intends to address such barriers.
       (E) An assessment of whether the program should be expanded 
     outside of the Office of Mental Health and Suicide Prevention 
     to support students veterans with needs unrelated to mental 
     health or suicide.
       (b) Uniform Best Practices, Goals, and Measures.--The 
     Secretary shall establish best practices, goals, and measures 
     for the Veterans Integration to Academic Leadership program 
     of the Department that are uniform among the medical centers 
     of the Department.
       (c) Outreach.--The Secretary shall conduct outreach among 
     the Armed Forces, veterans service organizations, 
     institutions of higher learning, and non-college degree 
     programs with respect to the Veterans Integration to Academic 
     Leadership program of the Department.
       (d) Assessment.--The Secretary shall assess the feasibility 
     and advisability of including the suicide rate for student 
     veterans in the National Veteran Suicide Prevention Annual 
     Report of the Office of Mental Health and Suicide Prevention 
     of the Department.
       (e) Definitions.--In this section:
       (1) Institution of higher learning.--The term ``institution 
     of higher learning'' has the meaning given that term in 
     section 3452 of title 38, United States Code.
       (2) Student veteran.--The term ``student veteran'' means 
     the following:
       (A) A veteran or member of the Armed Forces using 
     educational assistance under any of the following provisions 
     of law:
       (i) Chapter 30, 31, 32, or 33 of title 38, United States 
     Code, or chapter 1606 or 1607 of title 10, United States 
     Code.
       (ii) Section 116 of the Harry W. Colmery Veterans 
     Educational Assistance Act of 2017 (Public Law 115-48; 38 
     U.S.C. 3001 note).
       (iii) Section 8006 of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 
     (Public Law 117-2; 38 U.S.C. 3001 note prec.).
       (B) A veteran who is enrolled in an institution of higher 
     learning or other training program, without regard to whether 
     the veteran is using educational assistance specified in 
     subparagraph (A).

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