# Veteran Education Empowerment Act: Plain Language Summary

This bill creates a federal grant program to help colleges and universities set up and run dedicated Student Veteran Centers on their campuses. Over one million veterans attend college each year, and many struggle with the transition from military life to the classroom. The bill recognizes that veterans often feel isolated on campus and benefit from having a dedicated space where they can connect with other veterans who understand their unique experiences. The government has found that these centers help veterans succeed academically, stay in school, and graduate at higher rates.

The bill allows the Department of Education to award grants of up to $500,000 to colleges and universities over a four-year period to establish or improve these centers. To qualify, a school must enroll a significant number or percentage of veterans compared to similar institutions. Schools that receive grants must show they have a plan to keep the center running after the grant money runs out. The centers themselves would provide a physical space where veterans can meet and relax, plus a staffed office that helps veterans navigate benefits, understand academic policies, get tutoring, and connect with job opportunities. At least one staff member must be trained specifically in veterans' benefits.

The bill gives priority to schools that serve large veteran populations, are located in areas with many veterans, serve veterans' families, partner with veteran organizations, hire veterans as staff, and offer mental health counseling. The government will also create a website sharing best practices so other schools can learn what works best. Within three years, the Department of Education must report to Congress on how many grants were awarded, which schools received them, how many veterans were helped, and whether the program should continue or expand.

Veteran Education Empowerment Act

Frankel, Lois

Veteran Education Empowerment Act This bill reauthorizes through FY2029 and otherwise revises a Department of Education (ED) grant program for student veteran centers. Specifically, ED must make grants to institutions of higher education (IHEs) or consortia of IHEs to establish, maintain, improve, or operate a student veteran center. A student veteran center is a dedicated space on a campus that provides students who are veterans or members of the Armed Forces with (1) a lounge or meeting space for themselves, their spouses or partners, their children, and veterans in the community; and (2) a centralized office for student veteran services that serves as a single point of contact to coordinate comprehensive support services for student veterans.