Congressional Record, Senate (Dec. 9, 2021): Introductory statement on S. 3368 (Sen. John Cornyn)

Summary

An introductory statement by Mr. Cornyn on S. 3368, printed in the Congressional Record, Volume 167, Number 213, for Thursday, December 9, 2021, at Pages S9096 to S9097, with the text of the bill. S. 3368, cited as the VITAL Assessment Act of 2021, would require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to submit to Congress a report on the Veterans Integration to Academic Leadership program of the Department of Veterans Affairs, and was referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Cornyn asked unanimous consent to have the bill printed in the Record. Under section 2, the report is due to the Senate and House Veterans' Affairs committees not later than one year after enactment and concerns veterans enrolled in an institution of higher learning or other training program, whether or not they use the educational assistance specified in the bill.

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Full text

[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 213 (Thursday, December 9, 2021)]
[Senate]
[Pages S9096-S9097]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. CORNYN:
  S. 3368. A bill to require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to
submit to Congress a report on the Veterans Integration to Academic
Leadership program of the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other
purposes; to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
  Mr. CORNYN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent to have my bill
printed in the Congressional Record. The bill requires the Secretary of
Veterans Affairs to submit to Congress a report on the Veterans
Integration to Academic Leadership Program of the Department of
Veterans Affairs.
  There being no objection, the text of the bill was ordered to be
printed in the Record, as follows:

                                S. 3368

       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 ``VITAL Assessment Act of
     2021''.

     SEC. 2. VETERANS INTEGRATION TO ACADEMIC LEADERSHIP PROGRAM
                   OF THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.

       (a) Report.--

[[Page S9097]]

       (1) In general.--Not later than one year after the date of
     the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs
     shall submit to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the of
     the Senate and the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the
     House of Representatives a report on the Veterans Integration
     to Academic Leadership program of the Department of Veterans
     Affairs.
       (2) Contents.--The report required by paragraph (1) shall
     include the following:
       (A) The number of medical centers of the Department,
     institutions of higher learning, noncollege degree programs,
     and student veterans supported by the program, and relevant
     trends since the program began.
       (B) The staff and resources allocated to the program, and
     relevant trends since the program began.
       (C) An assessment of the outcomes and effectiveness of the
     program in--
       (i) supporting student veterans;
       (ii) connecting student veterans to needed services of the
     Department or services provided by non-Department entities;
       (iii) addressing the mental health needs of student
     veterans;
       (iv) lowering the suicide risk of student veterans; and
       (v) helping student veterans achieve educational goals.
       (D) An assessment of barriers to expanding the program and
     how the Secretary intends to address such barriers.
       (E) An assessment of whether the program should be expanded
     outside of the Office of Mental Health and Suicide Prevention
     to support students veterans with needs unrelated to mental
     health or suicide.
       (b) Uniform Best Practices, Goals, and Measures.--The
     Secretary shall establish best practices, goals, and measures
     for the Veterans Integration to Academic Leadership program
     of the Department that are uniform among the medical centers
     of the Department.
       (c) Outreach.--The Secretary shall conduct outreach among
     the Armed Forces, veterans service organizations,
     institutions of higher learning, and non-college degree
     programs with respect to the Veterans Integration to Academic
     Leadership program of the Department.
       (d) Assessment.--The Secretary shall assess the feasibility
     and advisability of including the suicide rate for student
     veterans in the National Veteran Suicide Prevention Annual
     Report of the Office of Mental Health and Suicide Prevention
     of the Department.
       (e) Definitions.--In this section:
       (1) Institution of higher learning.--The term ``institution
     of higher learning'' has the meaning given that term in
     section 3452 of title 38, United States Code.
       (2) Student veteran.--The term ``student veteran'' means
     the following:
       (A) A veteran or member of the Armed Forces using
     educational assistance under any of the following provisions
     of law:
       (i) Chapter 30, 31, 32, or 33 of title 38, United States
     Code, or chapter 1606 or 1607 of title 10, United States
     Code.
       (ii) Section 116 of the Harry W. Colmery Veterans
     Educational Assistance Act of 2017 (Public Law 115-48; 38
     U.S.C. 3001 note).
       (iii) Section 8006 of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021
     (Public Law 117-2; 38 U.S.C. 3001 note prec.).
       (B) A veteran who is enrolled in an institution of higher
     learning or other training program, without regard to whether
     the veteran is using educational assistance specified in
     subparagraph (A).

                          ____________________

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