SenateS. 5582119th Congress
Veteran Education Empowerment Act
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[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 5582 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
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119th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 5582
To reauthorize and improve a grant program to assist institutions of
higher education in establishing, maintaining, improving, and operating
Student Veteran Centers.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
September 29, 2026
Ms. Rosen (for herself and Mrs. Blackburn) introduced the following
bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans'
Affairs
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To reauthorize and improve a grant program to assist institutions of
higher education in establishing, maintaining, improving, and operating
Student Veteran Centers.
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 ``Veteran Education Empowerment Act''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress finds the following:
(1) Almost 1,000,000 veterans attend institutions of higher
education each year.
(2) Veterans face unique challenges in transitioning from
the battlefield to the classroom and eventually to the
workforce, including age differences, family obligations,
significant time away from academic life, and service-related
disabilities.
(3) Studies have found that student veterans can feel
lonely and vulnerable on campus and that connecting student
veterans can effectively ease this isolation by bringing
together new student veterans with those who have already
successfully navigated the first few semesters of college.
(4) Student Veteran Centers are recognized as an
institutional best practice by Student Veterans of America.
(5) The Department of Education included as one of its 8
Keys to Veterans' Success that colleges and universities should
``coordinate and centralize campus efforts for all veterans,
together with the creation of a designated space for them''.
(6) Budget constraints often make it difficult or
impossible for institutions of higher education to dedicate
space to veteran offices, lounges, or student centers.
(7) The 110th Congress authorized the funding of Student
Veteran Centers through the Centers of Excellence for Veteran
Student Success under part T of title VIII of the Higher
Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1161t). Congress has
appropriated funding for this program in subsequent years.
SEC. 3. GRANT PROGRAM TO ESTABLISH, MAINTAIN, AND IMPROVE STUDENT
VETERAN CENTERS.
Part T of title VIII of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C.
1161t) is amended to read as follows:
``PART T--GRANTS FOR STUDENT VETERAN CENTERS
``SEC. 873. GRANTS FOR STUDENT VETERAN CENTERS.
``(a) Grants Authorized.--Subject to the availability of
appropriations under subsection (h), the Secretary shall award grants
to institutions of higher education or consortia of institutions of
higher education to assist in the establishment, maintenance,
improvement, and operation of Student Veteran Centers.
``(b) Eligibility.--
``(1) Application.--An institution or consortium seeking a
grant under subsection (a) shall submit to the Secretary an
application at such time, in such manner, and containing such
information as the Secretary may require.
``(2) Criteria.--
``(A) In general.--The Secretary may award a grant
under subsection (a) to an institution or a consortium
if the institution or consortium meets each of the
following criteria:
``(i) The institution or consortium enrolls
in undergraduate or graduate courses--
``(I) a significant number of
student veterans, members of the Armed
Forces serving on active duty, or
members of a reserve component of the
Armed Forces; or
``(II) a significant percentage of
student veterans, members of the Armed
Forces serving on active duty, or
members of a reserve component of the
Armed Forces.
``(ii) The institution or consortium
presents a sustainability plan to demonstrate
that the Student Veteran Center will be
maintained and will continue to operate after
the grant period has ended.
``(B) Measuring significant numbers or
percentages.--The numbers and percentages described in
subparagraph (A)(i) shall be measured by comparing, for
the most recent academic year for which data are
available, the number or percentage of student
veterans, members of the Armed Forces serving on active
duty, and members of a reserve component of the Armed
Forces who are enrolled in undergraduate or graduate
courses at the institution or consortium, with the
average number or percentage of student veterans,
members of the Armed Forces serving on active duty, and
members of a reserve component of the Armed Forces who
were enrolled in undergraduate or graduate courses at
comparable institutions or consortia of institutions.
``(3) Selection criteria.--
``(A) Priority.--In awarding grants under
subsection (a), the Secretary shall give priority
consideration to institutions or consortia that meet
one or more of the following criteria:
``(i) The institution or consortium is
located in a region or community that has a
significant population of veterans.
``(ii) The institution or consortium
carries out programs or activities that assist
veterans in the local community, and the
spouses or partners and children of student
veterans.
``(iii) The institution or consortium
partners in its veteran-specific programming
with nonprofit veteran service organizations,
local workforce development organizations, or
other institutions of higher education.
``(iv) The institution or consortium
commits to hiring a staff at the Student
Veteran Center that includes veterans
(including student veteran volunteers and
student veterans participating in a Federal
work-study program under part C of title IV, a
work-study program administered by the
Secretary of Veteran Affairs, or a State work-
study program).
``(v) The institution or consortium commits
to providing an orientation for student
veterans that--
``(I) is separate from the new
student orientation provided by the
institution or consortium; and
``(II) provides student veterans
with information on the benefits and
resources available to such students at
or through the institution or
consortium.
``(vi) The institution or consortium
commits to using a portion of the grant
received under this section to develop or
maintain a student veteran retention program
carried out by the Student Veteran Center.
``(vii) The institution or consortium
commits to providing mental health counseling
to its student veterans (and the spouses or
partners and children of such students).
``(B) Equitable distribution.--In awarding grants
under subsection (a) the Secretary shall ensure an
equitable distribution of such grants to institutions
or consortia of various sizes, geographic locations,
and in urban and rural areas.
``(c) Use of Funds.--
``(1) In general.--An institution or consortium that is
awarded a grant under subsection (a) shall use such grant to
establish, maintain, improve, or operate a Student Veteran
Center.
``(2) Other allowable uses.--An institution or consortium
receiving a grant under subsection (a) may use a portion of
such grant to carry out supportive instruction services for
student veterans, including--
``(A) assistance with special admissions and
transfer of credit from previous postsecondary
education or experience; and
``(B) any other support services the institution or
consortium determines to be necessary to ensure the
success of student veterans in achieving education and
career goals.
``(d) Amounts Awarded.--
``(1) Duration.--Each grant awarded under subsection (a)
shall be for a 4-year period.
``(2) Total amount of grant and schedule.--Each grant
awarded under subsection (a) may not exceed a total of
$500,000. The Secretary shall disburse to an institution or
consortium the amount awarded under the grant in such amounts
and at such times during the grant period as the Secretary
determines appropriate.
``(e) Report.--From the amounts appropriated to carry out this
section, and not later than 3 years after the date on which the first
grant is awarded under subsection (a), the Secretary shall submit to
Congress a report on the grant program established under subsection
(a), including--
``(1) the number of grants awarded;
``(2) the institutions of higher education and consortia
that have received grants;
``(3) with respect to each such institution of higher
education and consortium--
``(A) the amounts awarded;
``(B) how such institution or consortium used such
amounts;
``(C) a description of the demographics of student
veterans (and spouses or partners and children of such
students) to whom services were offered as a result of
the award, including students who are women and belong
to minority groups;
``(D) the number of student veterans (and spouses
or partners and children of such students) to whom
services were offered as a result of the award, and a
description of the services that were offered and
provided; and
``(E) data enumerating whether the use of the
amounts awarded helped student veterans at the
institution or consortium toward completion of a
degree, certificate, or credential;
``(4) best practices for student veteran success,
identified by reviewing data provided by institutions and
consortia that received a grant under this section; and
``(5) a determination by the Secretary with respect to
whether the grant program under this section should be extended
or expanded.
``(f) Department of Education Best Practices Website.--Subject to
the availability of appropriations under subsection (h) and not later
than 3 years after the date on which the first grant is awarded under
subsection (a), the Secretary shall develop and implement a website for
Student Veteran Centers at institutions of higher education, which
details best practices for serving student veterans at institutions of
higher education.
``(g) Definitions.--In this section:
``(1) Institution of higher education.--The term
`institution of higher education' has the meaning given the
term in section 101.
``(2) Student veteran center.--The term `Student Veteran
Center' means a dedicated space on a campus of an institution
of higher education that provides students who are veterans,
members of the Armed Forces serving on active duty, or members
of a reserve component of the Armed Forces with the following:
``(A) A lounge or meeting space for such student
veterans (and the spouses or partners and children of
such students), and veterans in the community.
``(B) A centralized office for student veteran
services that--
``(i) is a single point of contact to
coordinate comprehensive support services for
student veterans;
``(ii) is staffed by trained employees and
volunteers, which includes veterans and at
least one full-time employee or volunteer who
is trained as a veterans' benefits counselor;
``(iii) provides student veterans with
assistance relating to--
``(I) transitioning from the
military to student life;
``(II) transitioning from the
military to the civilian workforce;
``(III) networking with other
student veterans and veterans in the
community;
``(IV) understanding and obtaining
benefits provided by the institution of
higher education, Federal Government,
and State for which such students may
be eligible;
``(V) understanding how to succeed
in the institution of higher education,
including by understanding academic
policies, the course selection process,
and institutional policies and
practices related to the transfer of
academic credits; and
``(VI) understanding disability-
related rights and protections under
the Americans with Disabilities Act of
1990 (42 U.S.C. 12101 et seq.) and
section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act
of 1973 (29 U.S.C. 794); and
``(iv) provides comprehensive academic and
tutoring services for student veterans,
including peer-to-peer tutoring and academic
mentorship.
``(h) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be
appropriated to carry out this part such sums as may be necessary for
fiscal year 2027 and each of the 7 succeeding fiscal years.''.
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