[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 7074 Introduced in House (IH)]
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117th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 7074
To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to develop and implement a
uniform application for use by any educational institution or training
establishment seeking the approval of a course of education under the
laws administered by the Secretary, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
March 15, 2022
Mr. Moore of Alabama (for himself, Mr. Cawthorn, and Mr. Mann)
introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on
Veterans' Affairs
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to develop and implement a
uniform application for use by any educational institution or training
establishment seeking the approval of a course of education under the
laws administered by the Secretary, 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 ``Quality Education for Veterans Act
of 2022''.
SEC. 2. UNIFORM APPLICATION FOR DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS APPROVAL
OF COURSES OF EDUCATION.
(a) In General.--Subchapter I of chapter 36 of title 38, United
States Code, is amended by inserting after section 3672 the following
new section:
``Sec. 3672A. Uniform application
``(a) In General.--(1) The Secretary, in partnership with State
approving agencies, educational institutions, and training
establishments, shall require the use of a uniform application by any
educational institution or training establishment seeking the approval
of a new course of education under this chapter.
``(2) The Secretary shall maintain one uniform application for
institutions of higher learning and one such application for other
educational institutions and training establishments.
``(3) In the case of any State that uses approval criteria not
covered by a uniform application under this section, the State
approving agency for that State shall require the use of the uniform
application and may require the submittal of additional information.
``(b) Requirements.--The uniform application required under
subsection (a) shall meet the following requirements:
``(1) A requirement that the appropriate executive of the
educational institution or training establishment seeking the
approval of a course of education attests on behalf of the
educational institution or training establishment that the
educational institution or training establishment--
``(A) is in compliance with all applicable laws and
regulations relating to the approval of courses of
education under this chapter; and
``(B) during the five-year period preceding the
date of the application--
``(i) has not been subject to, or been
party to a contract with any individual or
entity that has been subject to, any adverse
administrative or judicial action that--
``(I) related to the instruction or
training, including with respect to the
quality of education, provided by the
institution or establishment; and
``(II) resulted in a fine or
penalty in an amount equal to or more
than five percent of the amount of
funding provided to the institution or
establishment under title IV of the
Higher Education Act of 1965 for the
fiscal year preceding the year in which
the application is submitted; or
``(ii) has not employed an individual, or
been party to a contract with any individual or
entity, that has been convicted of a Federal
fraud charge related to the instruction or
training provided by the institution or
establishment.
``(2) In the case of any educational institution or
training establishment that is not participating in title IV of
the Higher Education Act of 1965, a requirement for the
inclusion of--
``(A) a copy of--
``(i) the articles of incorporation filed
on behalf of the institution or establishment
or proof of licensing to operate as an
educational institution or training
establishment in the State where the
institution or establishment is located; and
``(ii) the financial position of the
institution or establishment, as prepared by an
appropriate third-party entity; or
``(B) other adequate evidence, as determined by the
Secretary, that the institution or establishment is
authorized to provide post-secondary education or
training in the State where the institution or
establishment is located.
``(3) In the case of any course of education that is
offered by an educational institution or training establishment
that has never offered a course of education that was approved
under this chapter, a requirement for the inclusion of
information about the course of education covered by the
application, including--
``(A) the number of students who have entered and
graduated from the course during the preceding two-year
period; and
``(B) if available, the cohort default rate for
funds provided to the institution or establishment
under title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965.
``(4) In the case of any educational institution or
training establishment that is not an institution of higher
learning, a requirement for the inclusion of--
``(A) a list of individuals who will serve as fully
qualified instructors for the course of education, as
of the date of the application, and an attestation that
such individuals--
``(i) have a degree or other training, as
appropriate, in the field of the course;
``(ii) effectively teach the skills offered
under the course; and
``(iii) have demonstrated relevant industry
experience in the field of the course; and
``(B) a list of individuals who will serve as
career services employees for students enrolled in the
course and an attestation that such individuals are
skilled at identifying professions in the relevant
industry that are in need of new employees to hire,
tailoring the course of education to meet market needs,
and identifying the employers likely to hire graduates.
``(c) Requirements for State Approving Agencies.--During the
approval process with respect to a uniform application submitted by an
educational institution or training establishment, a State approving
agency, or the Secretary when acting in the role of a State approving
agency, shall contact the Secretary of Education to determine whether
the course of education subject to such approval process has withdrawn,
or been denied or suspended, from receiving for benefits under title IV
of the Higher Education Act of 1965.
``(d) Appropriate Executive.--In this section, the appropriate
executive of an educational institution or training establishment is a
senior executive official, senior administrator, owner, or operator
designated by the institution or establishment.''.
(b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the beginning of
such chapter is amended by inserting after the item relating to section
3672 the following new item:
``3672A. Uniform application.''.
(c) Applicability.--The application required by section 3672A of
title 38, United States Code, as added by subsection (a) shall--
(1) be developed by not later than October 1, 2023; and
(2) be required for the approval of any new course of
education proposed on or after that day.
SEC. 3. NOTICE REQUIREMENTS FOR DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS
EDUCATION SURVEYS.
(a) Risk-Based Survey.--Section 3673A of title 38, United States
Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:
``(d) Notice.--To the maximum amount feasible, the Secretary, or a
State approving agency, as applicable, shall provide not more than one
business day of notice to an educational institution before conducting
a targeted risk-based survey of the institution under this section.''.
(b) Compliance Surveys.--Section 3693 of title 38, United States
Code, is amended--
(1) by redesignating subsection (c) as subsection (d); and
(2) by inserting after subsection (b) the following new
subsection (c):
``(c) To the maximum extent feasible, the Secretary, or a State
approving agency, as applicable, shall provide not more than ten
business days of notice to an educational institution or training
establishment before conducting a compliance survey of the institution
or establishment under this section.''.
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