[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2878 Referred in Senate (RFS)]
<DOC>
117th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 2878
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
May 19, 2021
Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs
_______________________________________________________________________
AN ACT
To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out a Native
VetSuccess at Tribal Colleges and Universities Pilot Program, and for
other purposes.
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 ``Native VetSuccess at Tribal Colleges
and Universities Pilot Program Act''.
SEC. 2. NATIVE VETSUCCESS AT TRIBAL COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES PILOT
PROGRAM.
(a) In General.--Not later than 18 months after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall carry
out a five-year pilot program, to be known as the ``Native VetSuccess
at Tribal Colleges and Universities Pilot Program''. Under such pilot
program the Secretary shall--
(1) identify three regional Native VetSuccess service areas
consisting of at least two participating Tribal colleges or
universities;
(2) assign to each regional Native VetSuccess service area
a VetSuccess on Campus counselor and a full-time Vet Center
outreach coordinator, both of whom shall be based on one or
more of the participating Tribal colleges or universities in
the service area; and
(3) provide for eligible students at such participating
colleges and universities with all services for which such
students would be eligible under the VetSuccess on Campus
program of the Department of Veterans Affairs.
(b) Eligible Students.--For purposes of the pilot program, an
eligible student is a student who is a veteran, member of the Armed
Forces, or dependent of a veteran or member of the Armed Forces who is
eligible for any service or benefit under the VetSuccess on Campus
program of the Department.
(c) Consultation Requirement.--In developing the pilot program
under this section, the Secretary, acting through the Veteran Readiness
and Employment Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs and in
coordination with the Office of Tribal Government Relations of the
Department, shall consult with Indian tribes, Tribal organizations, and
veterans service organizations regarding each of the following:
(1) The design of the pilot program.
(2) The selection of the three regional Native VetSuccess
service areas and participating Tribal colleges and
universities, taking into consideration--
(A) the number of eligible students enrolled in the
college or university and in the regional service area;
(B) the capacity of the colleges and universities
in the regional service area to accommodate a full-time
VetSuccess on Campus counselor and a full-time Vet
Center outreach coordinator;
(C) the lack of information available at the
colleges and universities in the regional service area
about and lack of access to benefits and services under
the laws administered by the Secretary; and
(D) any other factor that the Secretary or the
Indian tribes, Tribal organizations, and veterans
service organizations identify as relevant.
(3) The most effective way to provide culturally competent
outreach and services to eligible students at Tribal colleges
and universities.
(d) Outreach to Colleges and Universities.--The Secretary shall
provide notice of the pilot program to all Tribal colleges and
universities and encourage all Tribal colleges and universities to
coordinate with each other to create regional service areas to
participate in the pilot program.
(e) Briefings and Reports.--
(1) Implementation briefing.--Not later than one year after
the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall
provide for the Committee on Veterans' Affairs and the
Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives
and the Committee on Veterans' Affairs and the Committee on
Indian Affairs of the Senate a briefing on--
(A) the design, structure, and objectives of the
pilot program; and
(B) the three regional Native Vet Success service
areas and the Tribal colleges and universities selected
for participation in the pilot program and the reason
for the selection of such service areas and such
colleges and universities.
(2) Report.--Not later than four years after the date on
which the Secretary establishes the pilot program, the
Secretary shall submit to such Committees a report on the pilot
program. Such report shall include each of the following:
(A) The number of eligible students provided
services through the pilot program.
(B) The types of services that eligible students
received through the pilot program.
(C) The graduation rate of eligible students who
received services through the pilot program.
(D) The rate of employment within one year of
graduation for eligible students who received services
through the pilot program.
(E) Feedback from each Tribal college or university
that participated in the pilot program, including on
the regional nature of the program.
(F) Analysis of the feasibility of expanding a
regionally based Native VetSuccess at Tribal Colleges
and Universities Program, including an explanation of
the challenges of such a model due to issues with
distance, communication, and coordination, and to the
level of unmet services.
(G) A detailed legislative proposal regarding a
long-term extension of the pilot program, including a
budget, if the Secretary determines that such an
extension is appropriate.
(f) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) The term ``Tribal college or university'' has the
meaning given such term under section 316 of the Higher
Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1059c).
(2) The term ``tribal organization'' has the meaning given
that term in section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and
Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 450b).
(3) The term ``culturally competent'' means considerate of
the unique values, customs, traditions, cultures, and languages
of Native American veterans.
SEC. 3. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS FOR HIGH TECHNOLOGY PILOT
PROGRAM.
Subsection (g) of section 116 of the Harry W. Colmery Veterans
Educational Assistance Act of 2017 (Public Law 115-48; 38 U.S.C. 3001
note), as amended by section 4302 of the Johnny Isakson and David P.
Roe, M.D. Veterans Health Care and Benefits Improvement Act of 2020
(Public Law 116-315), is amended to read as follows:
``(g) Authorization of Appropriations.--Funds shall be made
available for carrying out the pilot program under this section from
funds appropriated to, or otherwise made available to, the Department
for the payment of readjustment benefits, in the following amounts for
a fiscal year in which the Secretary carries out the pilot program:
``(1) For fiscal year 2019, $62,000,000.
``(2) For fiscal year 2020, $63,000,000.
``(3) For fiscal year 2021, $90,000,000.
``(4) For fiscal year 2022, $90,000,000.
``(5) For fiscal year 2023, $60,000,000.
``(6) For fiscal year 2024, $0.''.
SEC. 4. PROVISION OF EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE TO STUDENTS WHO ARE
``ROUNDING OUT'' UNDER EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS OF
DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.
(a) In General.--Section 3680(a) of title 38, United States Code,
is amended--
(1) in paragraph (1), by striking ``paragraph (2)'' and
inserting ``paragraphs (2) and (3)''; and
(2) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
``(3) Notwithstanding paragraph (1), in the case of an eligible
veteran or eligible person who is pursuing a program of education on
less than a half-time basis during a period that is the last semester,
term, or academic period the veteran or person will be enrolled in the
program of education because the veteran or person will complete the
program of education at the end of that semester, term or academic
period, the Secretary may, pursuant to such regulations as the
Secretary shall prescribe, provide to the veteran or person educational
assistance under chapter 30, 32, 33, 34, or 35 of this title or under
chapter 1606 of title 10, including a monthly housing stipend described
in section 3313(c) of this title, on the basis of the total number of
credits or courses in which the veteran or person is enrolled, if--
``(A) the number of credits the veteran or person needs to
complete the program of education is less than the number of
credits that would constitute enrollment on a more than half-
time basis for that last semester, term, or academic period;
and
``(B) the veteran or person--
``(i) is enrolled in, or has completed, every
course offered by the program of education during the
last semester, term, or academic period in which the
veteran or person is enrolled in the program of
education; and
``(ii) enrolls in an additional course that is not
required for the completion of such program of
education and the enrollment in the non-required course
in addition to the required course or courses in which
the veteran or person is enrolled constitutes
enrollment on more than a half-time basis.''.
(b) Effective Date.--The amendments made by subsection (a) shall
take effect on August 1, 2021, and apply with respect to any semester,
term, or academic period that begins on or after that date.
SEC. 5. EXTENSION OF CERTAIN HOUSING LOAN FEES.
Section 3729(b)(2) of title 38, United States Code, is amended by
striking ``October 1, 2030'' each place it appears and inserting
``December 9, 2030''.
SEC. 6. EXPANSION AND EXTENSION OF DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS
ASSISTANCE FOR HOMELESS VETERANS.
(a) Expansion.--Subsection (a) of section 2041 of title 38, United
States Code, is amended--
(1) in paragraph (1)--
(A) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by
inserting ``or permanent housing'' after ``shelter'';
(B) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``named in, or
approved by the Secretary under, section 5902 of this
title'' and inserting ``that is the recipient of a
grant under section 2011, 2013, 2044, or 2061 of this
title''; and
(C) in subparagraph (B), by inserting ``, tribal
entity,'' after ``State''; and
(2) in paragraph (3)(B)--
(A) in clause (i), by inserting ``or to sell or
rent the property directly to homeless veterans or
veterans at-risk of homelessness'' after ``families'';
and
(B) in each of clauses (i), (ii), and (iii), by
striking the comma and inserting a semicolon.
(b) Extension.--Subsection (c) of such section is amended by
striking ``September 30, 2017'' and inserting ``September 30, 2025''.
SEC. 7. DETERMINATION OF BUDGETARY EFFECTS.
The budgetary effects of this Act, for the purpose of complying
with the Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Act of 2010, shall be determined by
reference to the latest statement titled ``Budgetary Effects of PAYGO
Legislation'' for this Act, submitted for printing in the Congressional
Record by the Chairman of the House Budget Committee, provided that
such statement has been submitted prior to the vote on passage.
Passed the House of Representatives May 18, 2021.
Attest:
CHERYL L. JOHNSON,
Clerk.