[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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