I 
114TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 5175 
To amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of Veterans 
Affairs to disapprove, for purposes of the educational assistance programs 
of the Department of Veterans Affairs, programs of education determined 
to have utilized deceptive or misleading practices in violation of section 
3696 of such title, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MAY 10, 2016 
Mr. TAKANO 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 Sec-
retary of Veterans Affairs to disapprove, for purposes 
of the educational assistance programs of the Depart-
ment of Veterans Affairs, programs of education deter-
mined to have utilized deceptive or misleading practices 
in violation of section 3696 of such title, and for other 
purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘GI Bill Oversight Act 
of 2016’’. 
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SEC. 2. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS INSPECTOR 
GENERAL HEIGHTENED SCRUTINY OF PRO-
GRAMS OF EDUCATION. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Subchapter II of chapter 36 of 
title 38, United States Code, is amended by adding at the 
end the following new section: 
‘‘§ 3699. Inspector General heightened scrutiny of 
programs of education 
‘‘(a) HEIGHTENED SCRUTINY REQUIRED.—The In-
spector General of the Department shall apply heightened 
scrutiny to any program of education if any Federal or 
State agency has made a final determination or settlement 
that the program of education used deceptive or mis-
leading practices that are potentially in violation of section 
3696 of this title. 
‘‘(b) NOTICE TO STUDENTS.—(1) Upon commence-
ment of heightened scrutiny with respect to a program of 
education under this section, the Secretary shall provide 
notice of the heightened scrutiny and the reasons for such 
heightened scrutiny to any individual who— 
‘‘(A) is enrolled in a course of education ap-
proved under this chapter provided by the program 
of education; and 
‘‘(B) is entitled to educational assistance under 
the laws administered by the Secretary. 
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‘‘(2) The Secretary shall provide to any individual 
who receives notice under this subsection advice that the 
individual— 
‘‘(A) request a copy of the individual’s tran-
script; and 
‘‘(B) seek counseling from an appropriate advi-
sor about transferring any credits earned at the pro-
gram of education. 
‘‘(c) MONITORING OF ALLEGATIONS.—The Secretary 
shall monitor allegations of deceptive and misleading prac-
tices made against programs of education offering courses 
of education approved for purposes of this chapter, includ-
ing Federal and State investigations. The Secretary shall 
include information about any such allegation on the GI 
Bill Comparison Tool, or any similar Internet website of 
the Department.’’. 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sections 
at the beginning of such chapter is amended by adding 
at the end of the items relating to subchapter II the fol-
lowing new item: 
‘‘3699. Inspector General heightened scrutiny of programs of education.’’. 
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SEC. 
3. 
DEPARTMENT 
OF 
VETERANS 
AFFAIRS 
DIS-
APPROVAL OF COURSES OF EDUCATION OF-
FERED BY INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER LEARN-
ING ACCUSED OF CERTAIN DECEPTIVE OR 
MISLEADING PRACTICES. 
Section 3679 of title 38, United States Code, is 
amended by adding at the end the following new sub-
section: 
‘‘(d)(1) The Secretary shall disapprove a course of 
education provided by an institution of higher learning if 
the Secretary determines pursuant to heightened scrutiny 
applied by the Inspector General under section 3699 of 
this title that the institution of higher learning has en-
gaged in practices that are in violation of section 3696 
of this title. 
‘‘(2) The Secretary shall provide counseling services 
to individuals enrolled in a course of education dis-
approved under paragraph (1) to assist such individuals 
in transferring to another institution of higher learning.’’. 
SEC. 4. INTERAGENCY WORKING GROUP ON PROGRAMS OF 
EDUCATION EMPLOYING DECEPTIVE OR MIS-
LEADING PRACTICES. 
The Secretary of Veterans Affairs, in collaboration 
with the Secretary of Education, the Secretary of Defense, 
the Commissioner of the Federal Trade Commission, the 
Commissioner of the Securities and Exchange Commis-
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sion, and the Director of the Bureau of Consumer Finan-
cial Protection, shall establish an interagency working 
group to— 
(1) share information regarding programs of 
education that employ deceptive or misleading prac-
tices; and 
(2) enter into memorandum of understanding 
under which the Inspector Generals of each relevant 
department or agency agree to share information to 
determine if funds from other Federal programs are 
affected when one department or agency takes ac-
tion to investigate a program of education for decep-
tive or misleading practices. 
Æ 
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