[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 73 (Monday, April 29, 2024)]
[House]
[Pages H2693-H2695]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
VETERANS EDUCATION TRANSPARENCY AND TRAINING ACT
Mr. BOST. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill
(H.R. 5914) to amend title 38, United States Code, to improve the
processes to approve programs of education for purposes of the
educational assistance programs of the Department of Veterans Affairs,
and for other purposes, as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 5914
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 ``Veterans Education
Transparency and Training Act'' or the ``VETT Act''.
SEC. 2. PROCESSES TO APPROVE PROGRAMS OF EDUCATION FOR
PURPOSES OF THE EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS
OF THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.
(a) Limitation of Disapproval of Programs of Education for
Failure To Provide Certain Forms.--Section 3679(f)(5) of
title 38, United States Code, is amended--
(1) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``this paragraph'' and
inserting ``this subparagraph'';
(2) in subparagraph (B), by striking ``this paragraph'' and
inserting ``subparagraph (A)''; and
(3) by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:
``(C) If an educational institution cannot provide to an
individual a form under paragraph (1) that contains all of
the information required under subparagraph (A) of such
paragraph, the educational institution shall provide to such
individual, with the form under such paragraph, a notice--
``(i) that specifies what such information may be
inaccurate or incomplete; and
``(ii) that includes, in place of the information that may
be inaccurate or incomplete, the best estimate available on
the date of such notice.''.
(b) Publication of Information About Training for School
Certifying Officials.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs
shall establish a website to serve as a central location for
the publication of information about the training that the
Department of Veterans Affairs provides for school certifying
officials and shall update such information on a regular
basis.
SEC. 3. MODIFICATION OF RULES FOR APPROVAL OF COMMERCIAL
DRIVER EDUCATION PROGRAMS FOR PURPOSES OF
EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS OF THE
DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.
(a) In General.--Section 3680A(e) of title 38, United
States Code, is amended--
(1) by redesignating paragraphs (1) through (3) as
subparagraphs (A) though (C), respectively;
(2) in the matter before subparagraph (A), as redesignated
by paragraph (1), by inserting ``(1)'' before ``The
Secretary'';
(3) in paragraph (1)(B), as redesignated by paragraph (1),
by inserting ``except as provided in paragraph (2),'' before
``the course''; and
(4) by adding at the end the following new paragraph (2):
``(2)(A) Subject to this paragraph, a commercial driver
education program is exempt from paragraph (1)(B) for a
branch of an educational institution if the commercial driver
education program offered at the branch by the educational
institution--
``(i) is appropriately licensed; and
``(ii)(I) the branch is located in a State in which the
same commercial driver education program is offered by the
same educational institution at another branch of that
educational institution in the same State that is approved
for purposes of this chapter by a State approving agency or
the Secretary when acting in the role of a State approving
agency; or
``(II)(aa) the branch is located in a State in which the
same commercial driver education program is not offered at
another branch of the same educational institution in the
same State; and
``(bb) the branch has been operating for a period of at
least one year using the same curriculum as a commercial
driver education program offered by the educational
institution at another location that is approved for purposes
of this chapter by a State approving agency or the Secretary
when acting in the role of a State approving agency.
``(B)(i) In order for a commercial driver education program
of an educational institution offered at a branch described
in paragraph (1)(B) to be exempt under subparagraph (A) of
this paragraph, the educational institution shall submit to
the Secretary each year that paragraph (1)(B) would otherwise
apply a report that demonstrates that the curriculum at the
new branch is the same as the curriculum at the primary
location.
``(ii) Reporting under clause (i) shall be submitted in
accordance with such requirements as the Secretary shall
establish in consultation with the State approving agencies.
``(C)(i) The Secretary may withhold an exemption under
subparagraph (A) for any educational institution or branch of
an educational institution as the Secretary considers
appropriate.
``(ii) In making any determination under clause (i), the
Secretary may consult with the Secretary of Transportation on
the performance of a provider of a commercial driver program,
including the status of the provider within the Training
Provider Registry of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety
Administration when appropriate.
``(D) The Secretary shall submit to the Committees on
Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and House of Representatives
a notification not later than 30 days after the Secretary
grants an exemption under this paragraph. Such notification
shall identify the educational institution and branch of such
educational institution granted such exemption.''.
(b) Implementation.--
(1) Establishment of requirements.--Not later than 180 days
after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of
Veterans Affairs shall establish requirements under section
3680A(e)(2)(B)(ii) of such title, as added by subsection (a).
(2) Rulemaking.--In promulgating any rules to carry out
paragraph (2) of section 3680A(e) of title 38, United States
Code, as added by subsection (a), the Secretary of Veterans
Affairs shall consult with State approving agencies.
(3) Applicability.--The amendments made by subsection (a)
shall apply to commercial driver education programs on and
after the day that is 180 days after the date on which the
Secretary establishes the requirements under paragraph (1) of
this subsection.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Illinois (Mr. Bost) and the gentleman from California (Mr. Takano) each
will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Illinois.
General Leave
Mr. BOST. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may
[[Page H2694]]
have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks on
H.R. 5914, as amended.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Illinois?
There was no objection.
Mr. BOST. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 5914, as amended,
offered by the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Van Orden), my friend and
colleague.
This bill, as amended, would improve the information schools are
required to give individuals regarding their GI Bill benefits.
Right now, schools are required to give an estimated cost of
education to anyone using the GI Bill. However, there are cases where
the school cannot accurately estimate the tuition and expenses for that
year.
This could cause veterans to pick a school based off incorrect
information that might harm them financially in the future.
Now, I support getting veterans all the information they need to make
the right decision about their education. I do not support schools
being forced to give a favorable financial estimate before the student
enrolls.
This bill would also ensure that schools have a central place to find
information to train their staff in charge of helping student veterans
use their benefits.
Finally, this bill, as amended, would improve opportunities for
veterans wanting to get commercial driver's licenses.
I thank my colleague from North Carolina (Mr. Edwards), as well for
his work on key provisions of this bill.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 5914, as amended,
and I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise to express my support for H.R. 5914, as amended,
the Veterans Education Transparency and Training Act, or VETT Act.
This bill makes changes to student veteran rules and regulations,
intending to make it easier for veterans to participate in commercial
driver certification programs.
The bill also makes improvements to the shopping sheet that is
offered to student veterans when they are applying to institutions of
higher learning.
While I support the legislation, I do wish to raise a concern, which
is that this legislation chooses one industry, commercial truck
driving, over others for approval streamlining.
I understand that this industry is in need of workers. However, truck
driving is not the ideal career choice for all, and putting one
industry ahead of others doesn't necessarily benefit veterans.
Should this bill become law, we should ensure we do strong oversight
of enrollments, quality of education, and earnings.
As I mentioned, the legislation also improves student shopping sheets
for enrollments at colleges and universities.
This is a welcome improvement that ensures we won't waste time on
paperwork that doesn't benefit students, student veterans in
particular.
I thank Representative Van Orden for his work on this issue.
Mr. Speaker, I support H.R. 5914, as amended, and urge my colleagues
to do the same. I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. BOST. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from
Wisconsin (Mr. Van Orden), the sponsor of this legislation. I
appreciate the fine job he has done coming forward with this.
Mr. VAN ORDEN. Mr. Speaker, I am honored today to speak on behalf of
my legislation, H.R. 5914, the VETT Act.
This legislation addresses unnecessary barriers that veterans face
while trying to access educational benefits that they earned during
their time of service and ensures a more effective transition to
civilian life.
One important provision in the VETT Act addresses a burdensome
administrative requirement by revising the current mandate for
individualized shopping sheets. With the Department of Education's
disastrous FAFSA rollout this year, many institutions cannot provide
up-to-date, accurate financial aid information to many of our student
veterans. Letting this failure result in a delayed delivery of
education benefits for our veterans is entirely unacceptable.
My legislation resolves this burden by ensuring that the State
approving agencies can only disapprove programs when schools fail to
provide necessary information to the maximum extent possible.
This change offers the needed flexibility for institutions like
police academies and truck driving schools, ensuring they can operate
effectively while safeguarding veterans and their families.
These are two beleaguered industries that should be supported
wholeheartedly by Congress and the American people at large.
I am also very thankful to see the inclusion of the provision from my
colleague from North Carolina (Mr. Edwards) that will aid our veterans
seeking opportunities in the transportation and trucking industry.
By eliminating unnecessary 2-year waits for GI benefits for
commercial driving licenses, this provision opens up great-paying jobs
to our veterans and aids in fulfilling necessary roles in the private
sector.
We need to get our servicemen transitioned from productive members of
the military to productive members of civilian live.
This legislation dovetails perfectly with Mr. Nunn's H.R. 3722
because the 24-month window following separating from Active-Duty
service is when our men and women commit suicide, and we will do
anything as a body to prevent that.
I thank Ranking Member Takano and the chairman for your support in
this, and I urge all of my colleagues to vote for it.
Mr. BOST. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from North
Carolina (Mr. Edwards) who has a portion of this bill as well.
Mr. EDWARDS. Mr. Speaker, I thank Mr. Van Orden of Wisconsin for his
leadership on H.R. 5914, the Veterans Education Transparency and
Training Act.
This bill makes much-needed improvements to veteran educational
assistance programs, and it will expand job opportunities for the brave
men and women who serve our great Nation.
I am similarly grateful to Mr. Van Orden for his collaboration and
including my bill, the Veteran Improvement Commercial Driver License
Act of 2023, into the VETT Act.
The VICDL Act will increase veteran access to timely, quality
commercial driver license training, increase the truck driver workforce
pool, and reduce the strain on our Nation's supply chain that is
currently worsened by the severe truck driver shortage.
Across the United States, the trucking industry is facing more than a
78,000-driver shortage, which some estimate could reach 160,000 by
2030.
The shortage is exacerbated, in part, by burdensome red tape
restricting veteran access to commercial driver license training using
their GI Bill benefits.
Currently, roughly 8,400 commercial driving programs are approved for
use by eligible veterans under the GI Bill, but a statutory 2-year rule
prevents these training facilities from accepting GI benefits at
secondary locations for 2 years.
This burdensome red tape has excluded many veterans from attending
closer secondary branch training facilities, and it has been forcing
veterans to travel hundreds of miles further for training or to wait 2
years to pursue their CDL.
My bill fixes that issue by exempting new branches of preapproved
training facilities located in the same State as each other from the
statutory 2-year wait to accept veterans' benefits.
Before I close, I thank the gentleman from New Hampshire (Mr. Pappas)
for being my bipartisan co-lead on the bill and Senators Fischer and
Padilla for leading this effort in the Senate.
Ultimately, this is a commonsense reform with wide organizational
support that will reduce unnecessary roadblocks to veteran training and
workforce opportunities.
I am grateful for its inclusion in the VETT Act, and I urge my
colleagues to support H.R. 5914.
Mr. TAKANO. Madam Speaker, I ask all my colleagues to join me in
passing H.R. 5914, as amended, the VETT Act, and I yield back the
balance of my time.
[[Page H2695]]
Mr. BOST. Madam Speaker, once again, I encourage Members to support
this legislation and to help our veterans get the most out of their GI
Bill benefits.
Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Ms. De La Cruz). The question is on the
motion offered by the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Bost) that the House
suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 5914, as amended.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the
rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
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