[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 115 (Thursday, July 11, 2024)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4938-S4939]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

  SA 2601. Ms. ROSEN submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by 
her to the bill S. 4638, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 
2025 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military 
construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy, 
to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for 
other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

       At the end of title X, add the following:

             Subtitle __--Veteran Education Empowerment Act

     SEC. __. SHORT TITLE.

       This subtitle may be cited as the ``Veteran Education 
     Empowerment Act''.

     SEC. __. FINDINGS.

       Congress finds the following:
       (1) More than 1,000,000 veterans attend institutions of 
     higher education each year.
       (2) Veterans face unique challenges in transitioning from 
     the battlefield to the classroom and eventually to the 
     workforce, including: age differences, family obligations, 
     significant time away from academic life, and service-related 
     disabilities.
       (3) The National Education Association found that student 
     veterans can feel lonely and vulnerable on campus and that 
     ``connecting student veterans can effectively ease this 
     isolation'' by bringing together new student veterans with 
     those who have already successfully navigated the first few 
     semesters of college.
       (4) According to Mission United--a United Way program that 
     helps veterans re-acclimate to civilian life--it is often 
     ``essential'' for student veterans to be mentored by 
     ``another veteran who understands their mindset and 
     experience''.
       (5) Student Veteran Centers are recognized as an 
     institutional best practice by Student Veterans of America.
       (6) The American Council on Education, which represents 
     more than 1,700 institutions of higher education across the 
     United States, has called having a dedicated space for 
     veterans on campus ``a promising way for colleges and 
     universities to better serve veterans on campus'' and a 
     ``critical'' component of many colleges' efforts to serve 
     their student veterans.
       (7) The Department of Education included as one of its 8 
     Keys to Veterans' Success that colleges and universities 
     should ``coordinate and centralize campus efforts for all 
     veterans, together with the creation of a designated space 
     for them''.
       (8) Budget constraints often make it difficult or 
     impossible for institutions of higher education to dedicate 
     space to veteran offices, lounges, or student centers.
       (9) The 110th Congress authorized the funding of Student 
     Veteran Centers through the Centers of Excellence for Veteran 
     Student Success under part T of title VIII of the Higher 
     Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1161t). Congress also chose 
     to appropriate funding for this program for fiscal year 2015 
     under the Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations 
     Act, 2015 (Public Law 113-235).
       (10) According to the Department of Education, federally 
     funded Student Veteran Centers and staff have generated 
     improved recruitment, retention, and graduation rates, have 
     helped student veterans feel better connected across campus, 
     and have directly contributed to the successful academic 
     outcomes of student veterans.

     SEC. __. GRANT PROGRAM TO ESTABLISH, MAINTAIN, AND IMPROVE 
                   STUDENT VETERAN CENTERS.

       Part T of title VIII of the Higher Education Act of 1965 
     (20 U.S.C. 1161t) is amended to read as follows:

              ``PART T--GRANTS FOR STUDENT VETERAN CENTERS

     ``SEC. 873. GRANTS FOR STUDENT VETERAN CENTERS.

       ``(a) Grants Authorized.--Subject to the availability of 
     appropriations under subsection (h), the Secretary shall 
     award grants to institutions of higher education or consortia 
     of institutions of higher education to assist in the 
     establishment, maintenance, improvement, and operation of 
     Student Veteran Centers.
       ``(b) Eligibility.--
       ``(1) Application.--An institution or consortium seeking a 
     grant under subsection (a) shall submit to the Secretary an 
     application at such time, in such manner, and containing such 
     information as the Secretary may require.
       ``(2) Criteria.--The Secretary may award a grant under 
     subsection (a) to an institution or a consortium if the 
     institution or consortium meets each of the following 
     criteria:
       ``(A) The institution or consortium enrolls in 
     undergraduate or graduate courses--
       ``(i) a significant number of student veterans, members of 
     the Armed Forces serving on active duty, or members of a 
     reserve component of the Armed Forces; or

[[Page S4939]]

       ``(ii) a significant percentage of student veterans, 
     members of the Armed Forces serving on active duty, or 
     members of a reserve component of the Armed Forces,
     as measured by comparing, for the most recent academic year 
     for which data are available, the number or percentage of 
     student veterans, members of the Armed Forces serving on 
     active duty, and members of a reserve component of the Armed 
     Forces who are enrolled in undergraduate or graduate courses 
     at the institution or consortium, with the average number or 
     percentage of student veterans, members of the Armed Forces 
     serving on active duty, and members of a reserve component of 
     the Armed Forces who were enrolled in undergraduate or 
     graduate courses at comparable institutions or consortia of 
     institutions.
       ``(B) The institution or consortium presents a 
     sustainability plan to demonstrate that the Student Veteran 
     Center will be maintained and will continue to operate after 
     the grant period has ended.
       ``(3) Selection criteria.--In awarding grants under 
     subsection (a), the Secretary shall provide the following:
       ``(A) Priority consideration to institutions or consortia 
     that meet one or more of the following criteria:
       ``(i) The institution or consortium is located in a region 
     or community that has a significant population of veterans.
       ``(ii) The institution or consortium considers the need to 
     serve student veterans at a wide range of institutions of 
     higher education, including the need to provide equitable 
     distribution of grants to institutions of various sizes, 
     geographic locations, and institutions in urban and rural 
     areas.
       ``(iii) The institution or consortium carries out programs 
     or activities that assist veterans in the local community, 
     and the spouses or partners and children of student veterans.
       ``(iv) The institution or consortium partners in its 
     veteran-specific programming with nonprofit veteran service 
     organizations, local workforce development organizations, or 
     other institutions of higher education.
       ``(v) The institution or consortium commits to hiring a 
     staff at the Student Veteran Center that includes veterans 
     (including student veteran volunteers and student veterans 
     participating in a Federal work-study program under part C of 
     title IV, a work-study program administered by the Secretary 
     of Veteran Affairs, or a State work-study program).
       ``(vi) The institution or consortium commits to providing 
     an orientation for student veterans that--

       ``(I) is separate from the new student orientation provided 
     by the institution or consortium; and
       ``(II) provides student veterans with information on the 
     benefits and resources available to such students at or 
     through the institution or consortium.

       ``(vii) The institution or consortium commits to using a 
     portion of the grant received under this section to develop 
     or maintain a student veteran retention program carried out 
     by the Student Veteran Center.
       ``(viii) The institution or consortium commits to providing 
     mental health counseling to its student veterans (and the 
     spouses or partners and children of such students).
       ``(B) Equitable distribution of such grants to institutions 
     or consortia of various sizes, geographic locations, and in 
     urban and rural areas.
       ``(c) Use of Funds.--
       ``(1) In general.--An institution or consortium that is 
     awarded a grant under subsection (a) shall use such grant to 
     establish, maintain, improve, or operate a Student Veteran 
     Center.
       ``(2) Other allowable uses.--An institution or consortium 
     receiving a grant under subsection (a) may use a portion of 
     such grant to carry out supportive instruction services for 
     student veterans, including--
       ``(A) assistance with special admissions and transfer of 
     credit from previous postsecondary education or experience; 
     and
       ``(B) any other support services the institution or 
     consortium determines to be necessary to ensure the success 
     of student veterans in achieving education and career goals.
       ``(d) Amounts Awarded.--
       ``(1) Duration.--Each grant awarded under subsection (a) 
     shall be for a 4-year period.
       ``(2) Total amount of grant and schedule.--Each grant 
     awarded under subsection (a) may not exceed a total of 
     $500,000. The Secretary shall disburse to an institution or 
     consortium the amount awarded under the grant in such amounts 
     and at such times during the grant period as the Secretary 
     determines appropriate.
       ``(e) Report.--From the amounts appropriated to carry out 
     this section, and not later than 3 years after the date on 
     which the first grant is awarded under subsection (a), the 
     Secretary shall submit to Congress a report on the grant 
     program established under subsection (a), including--
       ``(1) the number of grants awarded;
       ``(2) the institutions of higher education and consortia 
     that have received grants;
       ``(3) with respect to each such institution of higher 
     education and consortium--
       ``(A) the amounts awarded;
       ``(B) how such institution or consortium used such amounts;
       ``(C) a description of the demographics of student veterans 
     (and spouses or partners and children of such students) to 
     whom services were offered as a result of the award, 
     including students who are women and belong to minority 
     groups;
       ``(D) the number of student veterans (and spouses or 
     partners and children of such students) to whom services were 
     offered as a result of the award, and a description of the 
     services that were offered and provided; and
       ``(E) data enumerating whether the use of the amounts 
     awarded helped student veterans at the institution or 
     consortium toward completion of a degree, certificate, or 
     credential;
       ``(4) best practices for student veteran success, 
     identified by reviewing data provided by institutions and 
     consortia that received a grant under this section; and
       ``(5) a determination by the Secretary with respect to 
     whether the grant program under this section should be 
     extended or expanded.
       ``(f) Department of Education Best Practices Website.--
     Subject to the availability of appropriations under 
     subsection (h) and not later than 3 years after the date on 
     which the first grant is awarded under subsection (a), the 
     Secretary shall develop and implement a website for Student 
     Veteran Centers at institutions of higher education, which 
     details best practices for serving student veterans at 
     institutions of higher education.
       ``(g) Definitions.--In this section:
       ``(1) Institution of higher education.--The term 
     `institution of higher education' has the meaning given the 
     term in section 101.
       ``(2) Student veteran center.--The term `Student Veteran 
     Center' means a dedicated space on a campus of an institution 
     of higher education that provides students who are veterans, 
     members of the Armed Forces serving on active duty, or 
     members of a reserve component of the Armed Forces with the 
     following:
       ``(A) A lounge or meeting space for such student veterans 
     (and the spouses or partners and children of such students), 
     and veterans in the community.
       ``(B) A centralized office for student veteran services 
     that--
       ``(i) is a single point of contact to coordinate 
     comprehensive support services for student veterans;
       ``(ii) is staffed by trained employees and volunteers, 
     which includes veterans and at least one full-time employee 
     or volunteer who is trained as a veterans' benefits 
     counselor;
       ``(iii) provides student veterans with assistance relating 
     to--

       ``(I) transitioning from the military to student life;
       ``(II) transitioning from the military to the civilian 
     workforce;
       ``(III) networking with other student veterans and veterans 
     in the community;
       ``(IV) understanding and obtaining benefits provided by the 
     institution of higher education, Federal Government, and 
     State for which such students may be eligible;
       ``(V) understanding how to succeed in the institution of 
     higher education, including by understanding academic 
     policies, the course selection process, and institutional 
     policies and practices related to the transfer of academic 
     credits; and
       ``(VI) understanding disability-related rights and 
     protections under the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 
     (42 U.S.C. 12101 et seq.) and section 504 of the 
     Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. 794); and

       ``(iv) provides comprehensive academic and tutoring 
     services for student veterans, including peer-to-peer 
     tutoring and academic mentorship.
       ``(h) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are 
     authorized to be appropriated to carry out this part such 
     sums as may be necessary for fiscal year 2025 and each of the 
     7 succeeding fiscal years.''.
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