H. R. 2523 

One Hundred Seventeenth Congress 

of the 

United States of America 

AT THE FIRST SESSION 

Begun and held at the City of Washington on Sunday, 

the third day of January, two thousand and twenty-one 

An Act 

To amend the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 to improve the COVID–19 Veteran 

Rapid Retraining Assistance program, to make certain technical corrections to 

the Johnny Isakson and David P. Roe, M.D. Veterans Health Care and Benefits 

Improvement Act of 2020, and for other purposes. 

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 ‘‘Training in High-demand Roles 

to Improve Veteran Employment Act’’ or the ‘‘THRIVE Act’’. 

SEC. 2. IMPROVEMENTS TO COVID–19 VETERAN RAPID RETRAINING 

ASSISTANCE PROGRAM. 

(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 8006 of the American Rescue Plan 

Act of 2021 (Public Law 117–2) is amended— 

(1) by striking paragraph (3) of subsection (c) and inserting 

the following new paragraph (3): 

‘‘(3) DETERMINATION OF HIGH-DEMAND OCCUPATIONS.— 

‘‘(A) INITIAL IMPLEMENTATION.—In carrying out this 

section, the Secretary shall use the list of high-demand 

occupations prepared in conjunction with the Secretary 

of Labor. 

‘‘(B) MODIFICATIONS.—The Secretary of Veterans 

Affairs may add and remove occupations from the list under 

subparagraph (A) as the Secretary determines appropriate.’’; 

(2) in subsection (d)(3)— 

(A) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by 

inserting ‘‘(other than such a program pursued solely 

through distance learning on a half-time basis or less)’’ 

after ‘‘a covered program of education under the retraining 

assistance program under this section’’; and 

(B) in subparagraph (C), by striking ‘‘less than a halftime basis’’ and inserting ‘‘a half-time basis or less’’; 

(3) by redesignating subsections (f), (g), and (h) as subsections (k), (l), and (m), respectively; 

(4) by inserting after subsection (e) the following new subsections: 

‘‘(f) EMPLOYEE ASSISTANCE.—The Secretary of Veterans Affairs, 

in consultation with the Secretary of Labor, shall contact each 

veteran who pursues a covered program of education under this 

section— 

‘‘(1) not later than 30 days after the date on which the 

veteran begins the program of education to notify the veteran 
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of the availability of employment placement services upon 

completion of the program; and 

‘‘(2) not later than 14 days after the date on which the 

veteran completes, or terminates participation in, such program 

to facilitate the provision of employment placement services 

to such veteran. 

‘‘(g) NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION.— 

‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall 

seek to enter into a memorandum of understanding with one 

or more qualified nonprofit organizations for the purpose of 

facilitating the employment of veterans who participate in the 

retraining assistance program under this section. 

‘‘(2) QUALIFIED NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION.—For purposes 

of this subsection, a qualified nonprofit organization is a nonprofit organization that— 

‘‘(A) is an association of businesses; and 

‘‘(B) has at least two years of experience providing 

job placement services for veterans. 

‘‘(h) FOLLOW UP OUTREACH.—The Secretary of Veterans Affairs, 

in coordination with the Secretary of Labor, shall contact each 

veteran who completes a covered program of education under the 

retraining assistance program under this section 30, 60, 90, and 

180 days after the veteran completes such program of education 

to ask the veteran about the experience of the veteran in the 

retraining assistance program and the veteran’s employment status. 

‘‘(i) QUARTERLY REPORTS.—Not later than the date that is one 

year after the date of the enactment of this Act, and quarterly 

thereafter, the Secretary of Labor shall submit to the Committees 

on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and House of Representatives 

a report containing the following information about veterans who 

participate in the retraining assistance program under this section: 

‘‘(1) The percentage of such veterans who found employment before the end of the second calendar quarter after exiting 

the program. 

‘‘(2) The percentage of such veterans who found employment before the end of the fourth calendar quarter after exiting 

the program. 

‘‘(3) The median earnings of all such veterans for the second 

quarter after exiting the program. 

‘‘(4) The percentage of such veterans who attain a recognized postsecondary credential during the 12-month period after 

exiting the program. 

‘‘(j) COMPTROLLER GENERAL REPORT.—Not later than 180 days 

after the termination of the retraining assistance program under 

subsection (l), the Comptroller General shall submit to the Committees on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and House of Representatives 

a report on the outcomes and effectiveness of the program.’’; 

(5) in subsection (l), as so redesignated, by striking ‘‘No 

retraining assistance may be paid under this section after the 

date that is 21 months after the date of the enactment of 

this Act’’ and inserting ‘‘No retraining assistance may be paid 

under this section for a covered program of education that 

begins on or after December 11, 2022’’; 

(6) in subsection (m), as so redesignated, by striking the 

period at the end and inserting the following: ‘‘, which shall 

be carried out as if such section were authorized for the payment of readjustment and rehabilitation benefits to or on behalf 
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of veterans under chapters 30, 31, and 41 of title 38, United 

States Code. Not more than $386,000,000 may be obligated 

or expended to carry out this section.’’; and 

(7) by adding at the end the following new subsection: 

‘‘(n) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 

‘‘(1) The term ‘covered public health emergency’ means 

the declaration— 

‘‘(A) of a public health emergency, based on an outbreak 

of COVID–19 by the Secretary of Health and Human Services under section 319 of the Public Health Service Act 

(42 U.S.C. 247d); or 

‘‘(B) of a domestic emergency, based on an outbreak 

of COVID–19 by the President, the Secretary of Homeland 

Security, or State, or local authority. 

‘‘(2) The term ‘veteran’ means— 

‘‘(A) a person who served in the active military, naval, 

or air service, and who was discharged or released therefrom under conditions other than dishonorable; or 

‘‘(B) a member of a reserve component of the Armed 

Forces who performs active service for a period of 30 days 

or longer by reason of the covered public health emergency. 

‘‘(3) The term ‘active service’ has the meaning given such 

term in section 101 of title 10, United States Code.’’. 

(b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by subsection 

(a) shall apply as if included in the enactment of the American 

Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (Public Law 117–2). 

SEC. 3. INFORMATION PROVIDED BY DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS 

AFFAIRS ABOUT POSTSECONDARY EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS. 

(a) ADDITIONAL INFORMATION TO BE PROVIDED.—Subsection (c) 

of section 3698 of title 38, United States Code, is amended— 

(1) in paragraph (1)(C)— 

(A) in clause (xi), by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end; 

(B) in clause (xii), by striking the period and inserting 

a semicolon; and 

(C) by adding at the end the following new clauses: 

‘‘(xiii) whether the institution is listed on the College 

Navigator website as affiliated with a religion and, if so, 

which religious denomination; 

‘‘(xiv) whether the Secretary of Education or other 

head of a department or agency of the Federal Government 

has determined that the institution is a minority serving 

institution and, if so, which one or more types of minority 

serving institutions; and 

‘‘(xv) whether the institution is gender specific.’’; and 

(2) in paragraph (2), by adding at the end the following 

new sentence: ‘‘To the extent practicable, the Secretary shall 

ensure that such information is provided in a searchable format.’’. 

(b) DEFINITION.—Subsection (f) of such section is amended by 

adding at the end the following new paragraphs: 

‘‘(3) The term ‘College Navigator website’ has the meaning 

given that term in section 132 of the Higher Education Act 

(20 U.S.C. 1015a). 

‘‘(4) The term ‘minority serving institution’ means any of 

the following: 
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‘‘(A) A part B institution, as such term is defined 

in section 322(2) of the Higher Education Act (20 U.S.C. 

1061(2)). 

‘‘(B) A Hispanic-serving institution, as such term is 

defined in section 502(a)(5) of such Act (20 U.S.C. 1101a(5)). 

‘‘(C) A Tribal College or University, as such term is 

defined in section 316(b)(3) of such Act (20 U.S.C. 

1059c(b)(3)). 

‘‘(D) A predominantly Black institution, as such term 

is defined in section 318(b)(6) of such Act (20 U.S.C. 

1059e(b)(6)). 

‘‘(E) A Native American-serving, nontribal institution, 

as such term is defined in section 319(b)(2) of such Act 

(20 U.S.C. 1059f(b)(6)). 

‘‘(F) An Alaska Native-serving institution or Native 

Hawaiian-serving institution, as such terms are defined 

in section 317(b) of such Act (20 U.S.C. 1059d(b)). 

‘‘(G) An Asian American and Native American Pacific 

Islander-serving institution, as such term is defined in 

section 320(b) of such Act (20 U.S.C. 1059g(b)).’’. 

(c) APPLICATION.—The amendments made by this section shall 

apply with respect to the information provided under section 3698 

of title 38, United States Code, beginning on the date that is 

two years after the date of the enactment of this Act. 

SEC. 4. DELAY OF EFFECTIVE DATE FOR LIMITATION ON COLOCATION 

AND ADMINISTRATION OF STATE APPROVING AGENCIES. 

Section 1024 of the Johnny Isakson and David P. Roe, M.D. 

Veterans Health Care and Benefits Improvement Act of 2020 (Public 

Law 116–315) is amended to read as follows: 

‘‘SEC. 1024. LIMITATION ON COLOCATION AND ADMINISTRATION OF 

STATE APPROVING AGENCIES. 

‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 3671 of title 38, United States Code, 

is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection: 

‘‘ ‘(c) The Secretary may not recognize a State department or 

agency as the State approving agency for a State for purposes 

of this chapter if such department or agency is administered at, 

or colocated with, a university or university system that offers 

courses or programs of education that are subject to approval under 

this chapter by the State approving agency for that State.’. 

‘‘(b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendment made by subsection 

(a) shall take effect on the date that is one year after the date 

of the enactment of this Act.’’. 

SEC. 5. CLARIFICATION OF APPLICABILITY OF TREATMENT OF CERTAIN FOR-PROFIT EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS. 

(a) CLARIFICATION.—Section 1022(c) of the Johnny Isakson and 

David P. Roe, M.D. Veterans Health Care and Benefits Improvement Act of 2020 (Public Law 116–315) is amended by inserting 

‘‘, or the conversion of a for-profit educational institution to a 

public educational institution,’’ after ‘‘nonprofit educational institution’’. 

(b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendment made by subsection (a) 

shall apply as if included in the enactment of the Johnny Isakson 

and David P. Roe, M.D. Veterans Health Care and Benefits 

Improvement Act of 2020 (Public Law 116–315). 
H. R. 2523—5 

SEC. 6. CLARIFICATIONS REGARDING REQUIREMENTS FOR EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS PARTICIPATING IN THE EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS OF THE DEPARTMENT 

OF VETERANS AFFAIRS. 

Subsection (f) of section 3679 of title 38, United States Code, 

as added by section 1018 of the Johnny Isakson and David P. 

Roe, M.D. Veterans Health Care and Benefits Improvement Act 

of 2020 (Public Law 116–315), is amended— 

(1) in paragraph (1)(E), by inserting ‘‘, to the maximum 

extent practicable,’’ after ‘‘including’’; 

(2) in paragraph (2)— 

(A) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by 

inserting ‘‘, or any person with whom the institution has 

an agreement to provide educational programs, marketing, 

advertising, recruiting or admissions services,’’ after ‘‘educational institution’’; 

(B) in paragraph (A)(ii), by striking ‘‘1-month’’ and 

inserting ‘‘one-month’’; and 

(C) by striking subparagraph (B) and inserting the 

following new subparagraph (B): 

‘‘(B) Provides a commission, bonus, or other incentive payment based directly or indirectly on success in securing enrollments or financial aid to any persons or entities engaged in 

any student recruiting or admission activities or in making 

decisions regarding the award of student financial assistance.’’; 

(3) in paragraph (4)(A), by striking clause (ii) and inserting 

the following new clauses: 

‘‘(ii) Suspending the approval of the courses and programs 

of education offered by the educational institution by disapproving new enrollments of eligible veterans and eligible 

persons in each course or program of education offered by 

that educational institution. 

‘‘(iii) Revoking the approval of the courses and programs 

of education offered by the educational institution by disapproving all enrollments of eligible veterans and eligible persons in each course or program of education offered by that 

educational institution’’; and 

(4) in paragraph (5)(A), by striking ‘‘1-academic-year 

period’’ and inserting ‘‘one-academic-year period’’. 

SEC. 7. TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS. 

(a) TITLE 38.—Title 38, United States Code, is amended as 

follows: 

(1) The second section 1164, as added by section 5501 

the Johnny Isakson and David P. Roe, M.D. Veterans Health 

Care and Benefits Improvement Act of 2020 (Public Law 116– 

315), is redesignated as section 1166 and transferred so as 

to appear after section 1165 (and the table of sections at the 

beginning of chapter 11 of such title is conformed accordingly). 

(2) Subsection (l) of section 3313, as added by section 

1010 of such Act (as effective on August 1, 2021), is amended 

to read as follows: 

‘‘(l) VERIFICATION OF ENROLLMENT.— 

‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall require— 

‘‘(A) each educational institution to submit to the Secretary verification of each individual who is enrolled in 
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a course or program of education at the educational institution and is receiving educational assistance under this 

chapter— 

‘‘(i) not later than such time as the Secretary determines reasonable after the date on which the individual 

is enrolled; and 

‘‘(ii) not later than such time as the Secretary 

determines reasonable after the last date on which 

a student is able to withdraw from the course or program of education without penalty; and 

‘‘(B) each individual who is enrolled in a course or 

program of education and is receiving educational assistance under this chapter to submit to the Secretary 

verification of such enrollment for each month during which 

the individual is so enrolled and receiving such educational 

assistance. 

‘‘(2) FORM OF VERIFICATION.—Verification under this subsection shall be in an electronic form prescribed by the Secretary. 

‘‘(3) FAILURE TO SUBMIT VERIFICATION.—If an individual 

fails to submit the verification required under paragraph (1)(B) 

for two consecutive months, the Secretary may not make a 

monthly housing stipend payment to the individual under this 

section until the individual submits such verification.’’. 

(3) Section 3673A, as added by section 1013 of such Act, 

is amended— 

(A) in subsection (a), by striking ‘‘searchable’’; and 

(B) in subsection (c), by inserting ‘‘searchable’’ before 

‘‘database’’. 

(4) The subsection (f) of section 3679, as added by section 

1017 of such Act, is redesignated as paragraph (3) of subsection 

(a) of such section 3679 and is transferred so as to appear 

after paragraph (2) of such subsection. 

(5) Section 3696(g)(4)(A)(iii)(III), as amended by section 

1020 of such Act, is amended by striking ‘‘paragraph (3)(B) 

of this subsection’’ and inserting ‘‘paragraph (3)’’. 

(b) JOHNNY ISAKSON AND DAVID P. ROE, M.D. VETERANS

HEALTH CARE AND BENEFITS IMPROVEMENT ACT OF 2020.—The 

Johnny Isakson and David P. Roe, M.D. Veterans Health Care 

and Benefits Improvement Act of 2020 (Public Law 116–315) is 

amended as follows: 

(1) In section 1013(a)(1), by inserting ‘‘of title 38’’ after 

‘‘of chapter 36’’. 

(2) In section 2205(c)— 

(A) in the heading, by striking ‘‘EFFECTIVE DATE’’ and 

inserting ‘‘APPLICABILITY’’; and 

(B) by striking ‘‘the date that is two years after the 

date of the enactment of this Act’’ and inserting ‘‘the date 

of the enactment of this Act and shall apply with respect 

to grants applications submitted on or after the date that 

is two years after the date of the enactment of this Act.’’. 

(3) In section 4101(b), by striking ‘‘subchapter’’ and 

inserting ‘‘chapter’’. 

(4) In section 5501— 

(A) in subsection (a)(1), by striking ‘‘of such title’’ and 

inserting ‘‘of title 38, United States Code’’; and 
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(B) in subsection (b), by striking ‘‘section 1164’’ each 

place it appears and inserting ‘‘section 1166’’. 

SEC. 8. DETERMINATION OF BUDGETARY EFFECTS. 

The budgetary effects of this Act, for the purpose of complying 

with the Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Act of 2010, shall be determined 

by reference to the latest statement titled ‘‘Budgetary Effects of 

PAYGO Legislation’’ for this Act, submitted for printing in the 

Congressional Record by the Chairman of the House Budget Committee, provided that such statement has been submitted prior 

to the vote on passage. 

Speaker of the House of Representatives. 

Vice President of the United States and

President of the Senate.