[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 62 (Monday, April 7, 2025)]
[House]
[Pages H1430-H1432]
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
[[Page H1431]]
(H.R. 981) 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.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 981
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.
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 have
5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks on H.R.
981.
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. 981 offered by the
gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Van Orden), my friend and colleague.
The bill would improve the information schools are required to give
individuals regarding GI Bill benefits.
Currently, schools are required to give an estimated cost of
education to anyone who potentially will use the GI Bill. However,
there are cases where a school cannot accurately estimate the tuition
and expenses for the year. This means that the schools are providing
misleading information that serves the interests of the institution
over the veterans due to bureaucratic obstacles.
I support a veteran getting accurate estimates of what their expenses
would look like. I do not support veterans having to choose a school
based off of incorrect financial information.
Without this fix, veterans are having to make a choice that could
harm them financially in the future.
This change is a commonsense addition to the Trump administration's
mission to make VA work for veterans.
Finally, this bill would also ensure that schools have a central
place to find information to train their staff in charge of helping to
make sure students and veterans understand.
In a time when government is filled with bureaucratic red tape, I am
happy that we, as a Republican majority, are making it easier for
veterans to get an education.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 981, 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. 981, the Veterans
Education Transparency and Training Act, or VETT Act, introduced by
Representative Van Orden.
The bill makes improvements to the Shopping Sheet that is offered to
student veterans when they are applying to institutions of higher
learning.
These Shopping Sheets give student veterans more information about
the schools they are considering before they take the major step of
enrollment.
This legislation improves student Shopping Sheets for enrollments at
colleges and universities. The Johnny Isakson and David P. Roe, M.D.
Veterans Health Care and Benefits Improvement Act, authored by
Representative Mike Levin, created these Shopping Sheets, benefiting
student veterans around the country who now know more about what a
school offers and charges.
This legislation further refines the sheets so that they can be
better tailored for specific school programs and student needs. This is
a welcome improvement that ensures we won't waste time on paperwork
that doesn't benefit student veterans.
Mr. Speaker, Democrats in the House have continued to advocate for
increased transparency and quality of education for student veterans.
Transparency and accountability in education are under assault with the
dismantling of the Department of Education, which leaves student
veterans and their hard-earned benefits at risk of exploitation and
fraud.
We must do everything possible to ensure that student veterans are
able to access their educational benefits and that they can get the
quality education they deserve so that they can have a better chance of
success after they transition from military service.
Mr. Speaker, I support H.R. 981 and urge my colleagues to do the
same.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
{time} 1615
Mr. BOST. Mr. Speaker, at this time, I yield such time as he may
consume to the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Van Orden), who is the
chief sponsor of the bill.
Mr. VAN ORDEN. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman for yielding me
time.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of my legislation, the Veterans
Education Transparency and Training Act, or the VETT Act.
This bill addresses critical barriers that veterans currently face
with accessing educational benefits that they have earned through their
dedicated service to our Nation. It helps ensure a smoother, more
effective transition back into civilian life.
Specifically, my legislation requires educational institutions to
clearly provide estimated tuition costs to potential GI Bill students.
If an institution cannot accurately estimate the tuition, they must
explain exactly why, and this transparency ensures veterans aren't
misled by inaccurate information, preventing unnecessary debt that they
would accrue.
The bill directs the VA to establish an online resource center, a
centralized hub regularly updated to include all available training for
school certifying officials, and this simple change provides essential
flexibility for institutions, such as police academies and truck
driving schools, ensuring that they can effectively support veterans
and their families.
At a time when this bureaucratic red tape has been strangling our
veterans, when it has become a barrier rather than a bridge, I am proud
to champion a bill that directly helps veterans reduce unnecessary
government hurdles.
Mr. Speaker, this legislation aligns perfectly with President Trump's
mission to make the VA truly work for our veterans. I urge all Members
to support H.R. 981.
Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to join me in
passing H.R. 981, the VETT Act, and I yield back the balance of my
time.
Mr. BOST. Mr. Speaker, at this time, I encourage all of our Members
to support this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. 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. 981.
The question was taken.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
[[Page H1432]]
Mr. BOST. Mr. Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground that a
quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum is not
present.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, further
proceedings on this question will be postponed.
The point of no quorum is considered withdrawn.
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