[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.

                                  
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