I 

112TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. R. 4052 

To amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of Veterans 

Affairs to establish an honorary Excellence in Veterans Education Award. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

FEBRUARY 16, 2012 

Mr. STUTZMAN introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 

Committee on Veterans’ Affairs 

A BILL 

To amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish an honorary Excellence in Veterans Education Award. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Recognizing Excellence 

5 in Veterans Education Act of 2012’’. 

6 SEC. 2. EXCELLENCE IN VETERANS EDUCATION AWARD. 

7 (a) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 36 of title 38, United 

8 States Code, is amended by adding at the end the fol9 lowing new section: 


smartinez on DSK6TPTVN1PROD with BILLS
2 

•HR 4052 IH

1 ‘‘§ 3698. Excellence in Veterans Education Award 

2 ‘‘(a) EXCELLENCE IN VETERANS EDUCATION

3 AWARD.—(1) The Secretary shall establish an honorary 

4 award, to be known as the ‘Excellence in Veterans Edu5 cation Award’, to recognize institutions of higher learning 

6 (as defined in section 3452(f) of this title) that provide 

7 superior services to veterans. 

8 ‘‘(2) An Excellence in Veterans Education Award 

9 awarded under paragraph (1) to an institution of higher 

10 learning shall be valid for a period of three years, except 

11 that the Secretary may withdraw such award at any time 

12 under criteria the Secretary considers appropriate. 

13 ‘‘(b) DISPLAY OF HONORARY AWARD.—During each 

14 period in which an institution of higher learning is award15 ed an Excellence in Veterans Education Award under sub16 section (a)(1), the Secretary shall indicate that such insti17 tution has received such award on the list of institutions 

18 approved for veteran education benefits that is maintained 

19 on the Internet website of the Department. 

20 ‘‘(c) CRITERIA.—The Secretary may only award the 

21 Excellence in Veterans Education Award under subsection 

22 (a)(1) to an institution of higher learning that meets the 

23 following criteria: 

24 ‘‘(1) The head of the institution— 

25 ‘‘(A) has a student veteran advisory board 

26 or a student veteran advisor; and 


smartinez on DSK6TPTVN1PROD with BILLS
3 

•HR 4052 IH

1 ‘‘(B) seeks advice from such board or advi2 sor. 

3 ‘‘(2) The institution— 

4 ‘‘(A) participates in the Yellow Ribbon G.I. 

5 Education Enhancement Program under section 

6 3317 of this title; and 

7 ‘‘(B) while so participating— 

8 ‘‘(i) contributes the maximum amount 

9 under section 3317(d)(1); and 

10 ‘‘(ii) ensures that amounts contrib11 uted under such section are made available 

12 to all veterans enrolled at the institution 

13 who qualify for the program. 

14 ‘‘(3) The institution has a veterans support pro15 gram that provides services that— 

16 ‘‘(A) the Secretary considers appropriate; 

17 and 

18 ‘‘(B) may be carried out through the insti19 tution or an appropriate entity that enters into 

20 an agreement with the institution. 

21 ‘‘(4) The institution is a member of the 

22 Servicemembers Opportunity College. 

23 ‘‘(5) The average graduation rate for all of the 

24 enrolled students of the institution is equal to or 

25 greater than the average national graduation rate 


smartinez on DSK6TPTVN1PROD with BILLS
4 

•HR 4052 IH

1 for all students enrolled in the same type of institu2 tion, as determined by the Secretary of Education. 

3 ‘‘(6) Any other criteria that the Secretary con4 siders appropriate.’’. 

5 (b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sections 

6 at the beginning of such chapter is amended by adding 

7 after the item relating to section 3697A the following new 

8 item: 

‘‘3698. Excellence in Veterans Education Award.’’. 

Æ 


smartinez on DSK6TPTVN1PROD with BILLS