[House Report 111-164]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
111th Congress Report
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
1st Session 111-164
======================================================================
TO DIRECT THE SECRETARY OF VETERANS AFFAIRS TO INCLUDE ON THE INTERNET
WEBSITE OF THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS A LIST OF ORGANIZATIONS
THAT PROVIDE SCHOLARSHIPS TO VETERANS AND THEIR SURVIVORS
_______
June 18, 2009.--Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the
State of the Union and ordered to be printed
_______
Mr. Filner, from the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, submitted the
following
R E P O R T
[To accompany H.R. 1172]
[Including cost estimate of the Congressional Budget Office]
The Committee on Veterans' Affairs, to whom was referred
the bill (H.R. 1172) to direct the Secretary of Veterans
Affairs to include on the Internet website of the Department of
Veterans Affairs a list of organizations that provide
scholarships to veterans and their survivors, having considered
the same, report favorably thereon with an amendment and
recommend that the bill as amended do pass.
CONTENTS
Page
Amendment........................................................ 2
Purpose and Summary.............................................. 2
Background and Need for Legislation.............................. 2
Hearings......................................................... 3
Subcommittee Consideration....................................... 3
Committee Consideration.......................................... 3
Committee Votes.................................................. 3
Committee Oversight Findings..................................... 3
Statement of General Performance Goals and Objectives............ 4
New Budget Authority, Entitlement Authority, and Tax Expenditures 4
Earmarks and Tax and Tariff Benefits............................. 4
Committee Cost Estimate.......................................... 4
Congressional Budget Office Estimate............................. 4
Federal Mandates Statement....................................... 5
Advisory Committee Statement..................................... 5
Constitutional Authority Statement............................... 5
Applicability to Legislative Branch.............................. 5
Section-by-Section Analysis of the Legislation................... 5
AMENDMENT
The amendment is as follows:
Strike all after the enacting clause and insert the
following:
SECTION 1. PAT TILLMAN VETERANS' SCHOLARSHIP INITIATIVE.
(a) Availability of Scholarship Information.--By not later than
June 1, 2010, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall include on the
Internet website of the Department of Veterans Affairs--
(1) a list of organizations that provide scholarships to
veterans and their survivors and, for each such organization, a
link to the Internet website of the organization;
(2) a statement that the information described in paragraph
(1) is not an all-inclusive list of scholarships available to
veterans and their survivors; and
(3) a statement that the Secretary has not verified the
information available on the Internet websites of the
organizations referred to paragraph (1) and that the Secretary
does not endorse any offer made by any sponsor of any such the
website.
(b) Maintenance of Scholarship Information.--The Secretary of
Veterans Affairs shall make reasonable efforts to notify schools and
other appropriate entities of the opportunity to be included on the
Internet website of the Department of Veterans Affairs pursuant to
subsection (a).
PURPOSE AND SUMMARY
H.R. 1172 was introduced on February 25, 2009, by
Representative John Boozman of Arkansas, Ranking Member of the
Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity of the Committee on
Veterans' Affairs. H.R. 1172, as amended, would require the
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to include on the VA's
Web site a list of organizations that provide scholarships to
veterans and their survivors.
BACKGROUND AND NEED FOR LEGISLATION
Beginning with the World War II G.I. Bill, the VA has
administered education programs designed to provide a wide
range of education and training opportunities to veterans. Over
the years, that mission expanded to include veterans'
dependents and survivors.
The number of degree-granting institutions and non-degree
training schools has significantly increased since World War
II. According to the U.S. Department of Education, there are
about 4,314 degree-granting institutions and about 2,222 non-
degree training entities that qualify for education assistance
programs. Each of these programs may also offer non-Federal
financial aid directly or indirectly through their association
with foundations. The continued expansion of these education
funding sources makes it imperative that the VA assist veterans
in accessing all relevant scholarship information.
With the proliferation of schools, the increasing cost of
education and training, and the myriad of resources of
financial assistance, there is a need for a comprehensive
location to provide scholarship information to veterans and
their survivors. An Internet search for ``veterans
scholarships'' yields over 8,500 links of information. A
centralized location would facilitate a veteran's search for
college funds.
The Committee believes that the VA should also include
relevant sources of financial assistance for dependents and
survivors if the providers of such financial aid notify VA
about the availability of such assistance.
HEARINGS
On May 21, 2009, the Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity
conducted a legislative hearing on various bills introduced
during the 111th Congress, including H.R. 1172. The following
witnesses testified: The Honorable Mike Coffman of Colorado;
Richard Daley, Associate Legislation Director, Paralyzed
Veterans of America; John L. Wilson, Associate National
Legislative Director, Disabled American Veterans; Mark Seavey,
Assistant Director, National Legislative Commission, The
American Legion; Raymond C. Kelley, National Legislative
Director, AMVETS; Cpl. Wade J. Spann, USMC, Wounded Warrior
Project; Keith M. Wilson, Director, Education Service, Veterans
Benefits Administration, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs,
accompanied by John Brizzi, Deputy Assistant General Counsel,
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; and, John C. McWilliam,
Deputy Assistant Secretary, Veterans' Employment and Training
Service, U.S. Department of Labor. Submitting a statement for
the record included: The Honorable Bob Filner of California.
SUBCOMMITTEE CONSIDERATION
On June 4, 2009, the Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity
met in an open markup session and ordered H.R. 1172, as
amended, favorably forwarded to the full Committee by voice
vote. During consideration of the bill the following amendment
in the nature of a substitute was considered:
An amendment in the nature of a substitute by Mr. Boozman
of Arkansas to require the VA to provide a statement indicating
that the list of scholarships provided on the VA's Web site is
not all-inclusive and the information provided is not verified
or endorsed by the VA and require the VA to reasonably maintain
such a Web site was agreed to by voice vote.
COMMITTEE CONSIDERATION
On June 10, 2009, the full Committee met in an open markup
session, a quorum being present, and ordered H.R. 1172, as
amended, reported favorably to the House of Representatives by
voice vote.
COMMITTEE VOTES
Clause 3(b) of rule XIII of the Rules of the House of
Representatives requires the Committee to list the record votes
on the motion to report the legislation and amendments thereto.
There were no record votes taken on amendments or in connection
with ordering H.R. 1172 reported to the House. A motion by Mr.
Stearns of Florida to order H.R. 1172, as amended, reported
favorably to the House of Representatives was agreed to by
voice vote.
COMMITTEE OVERSIGHT FINDINGS
In compliance with clause 3(c)(1) of rule XIII and clause
(2)(b)(1) of rule X of the Rules of the House of
Representatives, the Committee's oversight findings and
recommendations are reflected in the descriptive portions of
this report.
STATEMENT OF GENERAL PERFORMANCE GOALS AND OBJECTIVES
In accordance with clause 3(c)(4) of rule XIII of the Rules
of the House of Representatives, the Committee's performance
goals and objectives are reflected in the descriptive portions
of this report.
NEW BUDGET AUTHORITY, ENTITLEMENT AUTHORITY, AND TAX EXPENDITURES
In compliance with clause 3(c)(2) of rule XIII of the Rules
of the House of Representatives, the Committee adopts as its
own the estimate of new budget authority, entitlement
authority, or tax expenditures or revenues contained in the
cost estimate prepared by the Director of the Congressional
Budget Office pursuant to section 402 of the Congressional
Budget Act of 1974.
EARMARKS AND TAX AND TARIFF BENEFITS
H.R. 1172 does not contain any congressional earmarks,
limited tax benefits, or limited tariff benefits as defined in
clause 9(d), 9(e), or 9(f) of rule XXI of the Rules of the
House of Representatives.
COMMITTEE COST ESTIMATE
The Committee adopts as its own the cost estimate on H.R.
1172 prepared by the Director of the Congressional Budget
Office pursuant to section 402 of the Congressional Budget Act
of 1974.
CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET OFFICE COST ESTIMATE
Pursuant to clause 3(c)(3) of rule XIII of the Rules of the
House of Representatives, the following is the cost estimate
for H.R. 1172 provided by the Congressional Budget Office
pursuant to section 402 of the Congressional Budget Act of
1974:
U.S. Congress,
Congressional Budget Office,
Washington, DC, June 17, 2009.
Hon. Bob Filner,
Chairman, Committee on Veterans' Affairs,
House of Representatives, Washington, DC.
Dear Mr. Chairman: The Congressional Budget Office has
prepared the enclosed cost estimate for H.R. 1172, a bill to
direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to include on the
Internet Web site of the Department of Veterans Affairs a list
of organizations that provide scholarships to veterans and
their survivors.
If you wish further details on this estimate, we will be
pleased to provide them. The CBO staff contact is Camille
Woodland.
Sincerely,
Robert A. Sunshine,
(For Douglas W. Elmendorf, Director).
Enclosure.
H.R. 1172--A bill to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to
include on the Internet Web site of the Department of Veterans
Affairs a list of organizations that provide scholarships to
veterans and their survivors
H.R. 1172 would require the Department of Veterans Affairs
(VA) to provide and maintain on its Web site information
regarding scholarships that are available to veterans and
family members of deceased veterans. Information to be provided
on the Web site would include a list of organizations offering
scholarships and a link to their Web sites. VA would also be
required to notify schools and other organizations of the
opportunity to be listed on the Web site. CBO estimates that
implementing the bill would have no significant impact on the
federal budget.
H.R. 1172 contains no intergovernmental or private-sector
mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act and
would impose no costs on state, local, or trial governments.
The CBO staff contact for this estimate is Camille
Woodland. The estimate was approved by Theresa Gullo, Deputy
Assistant Director for Budget Analysis.
FEDERAL MANDATES STATEMENT
The Committee adopts as its own the estimate of Federal
mandates regarding H.R. 1172 prepared by the Director of the
Congressional Budget Office pursuant to section 423 of the
Unfunded Mandates Reform Act.
ADVISORY COMMITTEE STATEMENT
No advisory committees within the meaning of section 5(b)
of the Federal Advisory Committee Act would be created by H.R.
1172.
CONSTITUTIONAL AUTHORITY STATEMENT
Pursuant to clause 3(d)(1) of rule XIII of the Rules of the
House of Representatives, the Committee finds that the
Constitutional authority for H.R. 1172 is provided by Article
I, section 8 of the Constitution of the United States.
APPLICABILITY TO LEGISLATIVE BRANCH
The Committee finds that the legislation does not relate to
the terms and conditions of employment or access to public
services or accommodations within the meaning of section
102(b)(3) of the Congressional Accountability Act.
SECTION-BY-SECTION ANALYSIS OF THE LEGISLATION
Section 1. Pat Tillman Veterans Scholarship Initiative
This section requires the VA to list sources of
scholarships for veterans not later than June 1, 2010, and
requires the VA Web site to include a statement that the list
of organizations offering scholarships to veterans and their
dependents is not comprehensive.
This section requires the VA Web site to include a
statement that the Department has not verified or validated the
information on any linked site and does not endorse any offers
made by the sponsors of the Web site.
This section requires the VA to make reasonable efforts to
publicize the opportunity to have sources of scholarships
listed on the VA's Web site.