I 
112TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 4057 
To amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of Veterans 
Affairs to develop a comprehensive policy to improve outreach and trans-
parency to veterans and members of the Armed Forces through the 
provision of information on institutions of higher learning, and for other 
purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
FEBRUARY 16, 2012 
Mr. BILIRAKIS 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 develop a comprehensive 
policy to improve outreach and transparency to veterans 
and members of the Armed Forces through the provision 
of information on institutions of higher learning, 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 ‘‘Improving Trans-
parency of Education Opportunities for Veterans Act of 
2012’’. 
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SEC. 2. COMPREHENSIVE POLICY ON PROVIDING EDU-
CATION INFORMATION TO VETERANS. 
(a) COMPREHENSIVE POLICY REQUIRED.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—Chapter 36 of title 38, 
United States Code, is amended by adding at the 
end the following new section: 
‘‘§ 3698. Comprehensive policy on providing edu-
cation information to veterans 
‘‘(a) COMPREHENSIVE POLICY REQUIRED.—The Sec-
retary shall develop a comprehensive policy to improve out-
reach and transparency to veterans and members of the 
Armed Forces through the provision of information on in-
stitutions of higher learning. 
‘‘(b) SCOPE.—In developing the policy required by 
subsection (a), the Secretary shall include each of the fol-
lowing elements: 
‘‘(1) The most effective way to inform individ-
uals of the educational and vocational counseling 
provided under section 3697A of this title. 
‘‘(2) A centralized way to track and publish 
feedback from students and State approving agen-
cies regarding the quality of instruction and accredi-
tation, recruiting practices, and post-graduation em-
ployment placement of institutions of higher learn-
ing. 
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‘‘(3) The merit of and the manner in which a 
State approving agency shares with an accrediting 
agency recognized by the Department of Education 
information regarding the State approving agency’s 
evaluation of an institution of higher learning. 
‘‘(4) The manner in which information regard-
ing institutions of higher learning is provided to in-
dividuals participating in the Transition Assistance 
Program under section 1144 of title 10. 
‘‘(5) The most effective way to provide veterans 
and members of the Armed Forces with information 
regarding postsecondary education and training op-
portunities available to the veteran or member. 
‘‘(c) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
‘‘(1) The term ‘institution of higher learning’ 
has the meaning given that term in section 3452(f) 
of this title. 
‘‘(2) The term ‘postsecondary education and 
training opportunities’ means any postsecondary 
program of education, including apprenticeships and 
on-job training, for which the Secretary of Veterans 
Affairs provides assistance to a veteran or member 
of the Armed Forces.’’. 
(2) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sec-
tions at the beginning of such chapter is amended 
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by adding after the item relating to section 3697A 
the following new item: 
‘‘3698. Comprehensive policy on providing education information to veterans.’’. 
(b) SURVEY.—In developing the policy required by 
section 3698(a) of title 38, United States Code, as added 
by subsection (a), the Secretary shall conduct a market 
survey to determine the availability of the following: 
(1) A commercially available off-the-shelf online 
tool that allows a veteran or member of the Armed 
Forces to assess whether the veteran or member is 
academically ready to engage in postsecondary edu-
cation and training opportunities and whether the 
veteran or member would need any remedial prepa-
ration before beginning such opportunities. 
(2) A commercially available off-the-shelf online 
tool that provides a veteran or member of the Armed 
Forces with a list of providers of postsecondary edu-
cation and training opportunities based on criteria 
selected by the veteran or member. 
(c) REPORT.—Not later than 90 days after the date 
of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit 
to the Committees on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of 
Representatives and the Senate a report that includes— 
(1) a description of the policy developed by the 
Secretary under section 3698(a) of title 38, United 
States Code, as added by subsection (a); 
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