Veteran Education Empowerment Act

Bill Number

H.R. 6358

Origin Chamber

House

Congress

119th Congress, Session 1

Policy Area

Education

Status

Introduced

Latest Action

2025-12-02: Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.

Last Updated

2026-04-28T08:05:47Z

AI-Generated Summary

Purpose

The Veteran Education Empowerment Act (H.R. 6358) aims to reauthorize and enhance a federal grant program that supports institutions of higher education in creating and running dedicated spaces—called Student Veteran Centers—to help military veterans, active-duty service members, and reservists succeed in college. It addresses challenges like isolation, transitioning from military to civilian life, and accessing benefits, ultimately promoting veterans' educational and career goals.

Key Provisions

• Grant Authorization: The U.S. Department of Education can award grants to individual colleges/universities or groups of them to establish, maintain, improve, or operate Student Veteran Centers, subject to available funding.
• Eligibility Requirements:
• Institutions must enroll a significant number or percentage of student veterans, active-duty members, or reservists compared to similar schools.
• They must submit a plan showing how the center will continue operating after the grant ends.
• Selection Priorities:
• Preference for schools in areas with high veteran populations, those promoting equitable grant distribution across sizes, locations (urban/rural), and types of institutions.
• Additional priorities include community outreach to veterans' families, partnerships with nonprofit veteran groups or workforce organizations, hiring veteran staff (including through work-study programs), providing veteran-specific orientations, developing retention programs, and offering mental health counseling.
• Use of Funds:
• Primarily for creating and running centers that serve as lounges, meeting spaces, and centralized offices for support services like transition assistance, benefits navigation, academic tutoring, networking, and understanding disability rights under laws like the Americans with Disabilities Act (which protects people with disabilities from discrimination) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act (which ensures equal access for disabled students in federally funded programs).
• Up to a portion can fund related services, such as help with admissions, credit transfers, or other success supports.
• Grant Details: Awards last 4 years, with a maximum of $500,000 per grant, disbursed as needed.
• Reporting and Oversight:
• Within 3 years of the first grant, the Department must report to Congress on grants awarded, fund usage, demographics of served students (including women and minorities), services provided, success in degree completion, best practices, and recommendations for program extension.
• The Department must create a website sharing best practices for supporting student veterans.
• Funding: Authorizes necessary funds starting in fiscal year 2026 for 8 years total.
• Definitions: Clarifies terms like "institution of higher education" (accredited colleges offering degrees) and "Student Veteran Center" (a campus space providing tailored support).

Significant Changes to Existing Law

This bill amends Part T of Title VIII of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (originally the Centers of Excellence for Veteran Student Success program, authorized in 2008). Key updates include:

• Renaming and refocusing the program specifically on Student Veteran Centers, expanding beyond just "centers of excellence."
• Introducing new eligibility criteria (e.g., sustainability plans) and detailed selection priorities (e.g., mental health services, family support, equitable distribution).
• Increasing grant flexibility for supportive services and capping awards at $500,000 over 4 years (previously less structured).
• Adding requirements for congressional reporting, a best-practices website, and explicit inclusion of reservists and active-duty members alongside veterans.
• Extending authorization through fiscal year 2033, building on prior appropriations.

Potential Impacts

• On Government Agencies: The Department of Education gains administrative responsibilities for grant awards, reporting, and website development, potentially increasing workload but also promoting efficient veteran support. No direct impact on international relations.
• On Citizens: Student veterans (nearly 1 million annually) and their families benefit from reduced isolation, better access to resources, and higher completion rates for degrees or credentials, easing transitions to civilian life and jobs. Institutions face incentives to prioritize veteran services but may need to match funds for sustainability.
• Broader Effects: Could lower dropout rates among veterans, boost workforce readiness, and address budget barriers for underfunded schools, especially in rural or high-veteran areas.

Main Stakeholders Affected

• Student Veterans and Military Personnel: Primary beneficiaries, including active-duty, reservists, and their spouses/partners/children, gaining dedicated support spaces and services.
• Institutions of Higher Education: Eligible applicants (especially those with high veteran enrollment) receive funding but must meet criteria and sustain centers post-grant.
• U.S. Department of Education: Administers the program, evaluates outcomes, and shares best practices.
• Veteran Service Organizations and Nonprofits: Potential partners for programming, outreach, and staffing.
• Congress: Receives reports to assess program effectiveness and decide on future funding.
• Local Communities: Especially in veteran-heavy regions, through expanded networking and mental health resources.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

• Legal: Reinforces existing protections under the Americans with Disabilities Act and Rehabilitation Act by mandating education on these rights in centers. Ensures compliance with federal education laws by tying grants to equitable access and sustainability, without creating new mandates on non-applicants.
• Constitutional: Aligns with Congress's spending power to support education and veterans (via Article I, Section 8), promoting equal protection for a specific group without broader discrimination concerns.
• Political: Demonstrates bipartisan support (introduced by a Democrat with Republican cosponsors), reflecting ongoing commitment to veteran affairs amid post-9/11 enrollment trends. Could influence future higher education funding debates by highlighting best practices for underserved students, but raises questions on long-term costs if expanded. No major controversies anticipated, as it builds on established programs.

This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.

Sponsor

Rep. Frankel, Lois [D-FL-22]

Cosponsors (42)

Rep. Bilirakis, Gus M. [R-FL-12], Rep. Bacon, Don [R-NE-2], Rep. Bell, Wesley [D-MO-1], Rep. Bishop, Sanford D. [D-GA-2], Rep. Budzinski, Nikki [D-IL-13], Rep. Carbajal, Salud O. [D-CA-24], Rep. Castor, Kathy [D-FL-14], Rep. Chu, Judy [D-CA-28], Rep. Dean, Madeleine [D-PA-4], Rep. Dingell, Debbie [D-MI-6], Rep. Evans, Dwight [D-PA-3], Rep. Fields, Cleo [D-LA-6], Rep. Fitzpatrick, Brian K. [R-PA-1], Rep. Garcia, Sylvia R. [D-TX-29], Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large], Rep. Kelly, Robin L. [D-IL-2], Rep. Krishnamoorthi, Raja [D-IL-8], Rep. Levin, Mike [D-CA-49], Rep. Lieu, Ted [D-CA-36], Rep. Lynch, Stephen F. [D-MA-8], Rep. McBride, Sarah [D-DE-At Large], Rep. Meng, Grace [D-NY-6], Rep. Moore, Gwen [D-WI-4], Rep. Moulton, Seth [D-MA-6], Rep. Nunn, Zachary [R-IA-3], Rep. Peters, Scott H. [D-CA-50], Rep. Pingree, Chellie [D-ME-1], Rep. Salinas, Andrea [D-OR-6], Rep. Sewell, Terri A. [D-AL-7], Rep. Tlaib, Rashida [D-MI-12], Rep. Vargas, Juan [D-CA-52], Rep. Whitesides, George [D-CA-27], Rep. Wilson, Frederica S. [D-FL-24], Rep. Rivas, Luz M. [D-CA-29], Rep. Leger Fernandez, Teresa [D-NM-3], Rep. Carson, André [D-IN-7], Rep. Titus, Dina [D-NV-1], Rep. Craig, Angie [D-MN-2], Rep. Tokuda, Jill N. [D-HI-2], Rep. Case, Ed [D-HI-1], Rep. Frost, Maxwell [D-FL-10], Rep. Gray, Adam [D-CA-13]

Recent Actions

• 2025-12-02: Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
• 2025-12-02: Introduced in House
• 2025-12-02: Introduced in House

Bill Versions

• Veteran Education Empowerment Act — issued 2025-12-02 — PDF (13 pages)