IB 
Union Calendar No. 464 
112TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 4057 
[Report No. 112–646] 
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 
SEPTEMBER 10, 2012 
Additional sponsors: Ms. HANABUSA, Ms. MCCOLLUM, Mr. MICHAUD, Mr. 
OWENS, Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas, Ms. PINGREE of Maine, Mr. HIG-
GINS, Mr. CASSIDY, Mr. LIPINSKI, Mr. CULBERSON, Mr. JACKSON of Illi-
nois, Mr. CARTER, Mr. SHERMAN, Mr. FILNER, Mrs. MCCARTHY of New 
York, Ms. BORDALLO, Mr. RYAN of Ohio, Mr. RUSH, Mr. CALVERT, Mr. 
MCKINLEY, Mr. HOLT, Mr. HANNA, Ms. HIRONO, Mr. CICILLINE, and 
Mr. RANGEL 
SEPTEMBER 10, 2012 
Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole 
House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed 
[Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic] 
[For text of introduced bill, see copy of bill as introduced on February 16, 2012] 
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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. 
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Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. 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 fol-
lowing new section: 
‘‘§ 3698. Comprehensive policy on providing education 
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 pro-
vided under section 3697A of this title. 
‘‘(2) A centralized way to track and publish feed-
back from students and State approving agencies re-
garding the quality of instruction and accreditation, 
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recruiting practices, and post-graduation employment 
placement of institutions of higher learning. 
‘‘(3) The merit of and the manner in which a 
State approving agency shares with an accrediting 
agency or association recognized by the Secretary of 
Education under subpart 2 of part H of title IV of 
the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1099b 
et seq.) information regarding the State approving 
agency’s evaluation of an institution of higher learn-
ing. 
‘‘(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) POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION INFORMATION.—(1) 
The Secretary shall ensure that the information provided 
pursuant to subsection (b)(5) includes— 
‘‘(A) an explanation of the different types of ac-
creditation available to educational institutions and 
programs of education; 
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‘‘(B) a description of Federal student aid pro-
grams; and 
‘‘(C) for each institution of higher learning, for 
the most recent academic year for which information 
is available— 
‘‘(i) whether the institution is public, pri-
vate nonprofit, or proprietary for-profit; 
‘‘(ii) the name of the national or regional 
accrediting agency that accredits the institution, 
including the contact information used by the 
agency to receive complaints from students; 
‘‘(iii) information on the State approving 
agency, including the contact information used 
by the agency to receive complaints from stu-
dents; 
‘‘(iv) whether the institution participates in 
programs under title IV of the Higher Education 
Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1070 et seq.); 
‘‘(v) the tuition and fees; 
‘‘(vi) the median amount of debt from Fed-
eral student loans under title IV of the Higher 
Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1070 et seq.) 
held by students at institution; 
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‘‘(vii) the cohort default rate, as defined in 
section 435(m) of the Higher Education Act of 
1965 (20 U.S.C. 1085(m)), of the institution; 
‘‘(viii) the enrollment rates, graduation 
rates, and retention rates; 
‘‘(ix) for each program of education offered 
by the institution that is designed to prepare a 
student for an occupation that requires a licen-
sure or certification test offered by a Federal, 
State, or local government or has other pre-
conditions or requirements, the degree to which 
the program prepares the student for the par-
ticular occupation; 
‘‘(x) whether the institution provides stu-
dents with technical support, academic support, 
and other support services, including career 
counseling and job placement; and 
‘‘(xi) whether the institution accepts aca-
demic credit by students who are transferring to 
the institution, including credits awarded by a 
proprietary for-profit institution. 
‘‘(2) To the extent possible, the Secretary shall provide 
the information described in paragraph (1) by including 
hyperlinks on the Internet website of the Department to 
other websites that contain such information in a form that 
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is comprehensive and easily understood by veterans, mem-
bers, and other individuals. 
‘‘(d) 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 pro-
gram of education, including apprenticeships and on- 
job training, for which the Secretary of Veterans Af-
fairs 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 by 
adding after the item relating to section 3697A the 
following new item: 
‘‘3698. Comprehensive policy on providing education information to veterans.’’. 
(b) PROHIBITION ON INDUCEMENTS.—Section 3696 of 
title 38, United States Code, is amended by adding at the 
end the following new subsection: 
‘‘(e) The Secretary shall not approve an educational 
institution if the educational institution provides any com-
mission, 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 re-
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cruiting or admission activities or in making decisions re-
garding the award of student financial assistance.’’. 
(c) SURVEY.—In developing the policy required by sec-
tion 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 aca-
demically ready to engage in postsecondary education 
and training opportunities and whether the veteran 
or member would need any remedial preparation be-
fore 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. 
(d) 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 Rep-
resentatives and the Senate, the Committee on Education 
and the Workforce of the House of Representatives, and the 
Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of 
the Senate a report that includes— 
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(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); 
(2) a plan of the Secretary to implement such 
policy; and 
(3) the results of the survey conducted under sub-
section (b), including whether the Secretary plans to 
implement the tools described in such subsection. 
(e) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) The term ‘‘commercially available off-the- 
shelf’’ has the meaning given that term in section 104 
of title 41, United States Code. 
(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. 
SEC. 2. STATE CONSIDERATION OF MILITARY TRAINING IN 
GRANTING CERTAIN STATE CERTIFICATIONS 
AND LICENSES AS A CONDITION ON THE RE-
CEIPT OF FUNDS FOR VETERANS EMPLOY-
MENT AND TRAINING. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 4102A(c) of title 38, United 
States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following: 
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‘‘(9)(A) As a condition of a grant or contract under 
which funds are made available to a State in order to carry 
out section 4103A or 4104 of this title for any program 
year, the Secretary shall require the State to disclose to the 
Secretary in writing the following: 
‘‘(i) Criteria applicants must satisfy to receive a 
certification or license described in subparagraph (B) 
by the State. 
‘‘(ii) A description of the standard practices of 
the State for evaluating training received by veterans 
while serving on active duty in the Armed Forces and 
evaluating the documented work experience of such 
veterans during such service for purposes of approv-
ing or denying a certification or license described in 
subparagraph (B). 
‘‘(iii) Identification of areas in which training 
and experience described in clause (ii) fails to meet 
criteria described in clause (i). 
‘‘(B) A certification or license described in this sub-
paragraph is any of the following: 
‘‘(i) A license to be a nonemergency medical pro-
fessional. 
‘‘(ii) A license to be an emergency medical pro-
fessional. 
‘‘(iii) Any commercial driver’s license. 
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‘‘(C) The Secretary shall share the information the 
Secretary receives under subparagraph (A)(ii) with the Sec-
retary of Defense to help the Secretary of Defense improve 
training for military occupational specialties so that indi-
viduals who receive such training are able to receive a cer-
tification or license described in subparagraph (B) from a 
State. 
‘‘(D) The Secretary shall publish on the Internet 
website of the Department— 
‘‘(i) any guidance the Secretary gives the Sec-
retary of Defense with respect to carrying out this sec-
tion; and 
‘‘(ii) any information the Secretary receives 
from a State pursuant to subparagraph (A).’’. 
(b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendment made by sub-
section (a) shall apply with respect to a program year be-
ginning on or after October 1, 2013. 
SEC. 3. CONDITIONS ON THE AWARD OF PER DIEM PAY-
MENTS BY THE SECRETARY OF VETERANS AF-
FAIRS FOR THE PROVISION OF HOUSING OR 
SERVICES TO HOMELESS VETERANS. 
(a) CONDITION.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—Paragraph (1) of section 
2012(c) of title 38, United States Code, is amended to 
read as follows: 
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‘‘(1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), a per diem 
payment may not be provided under this section to a grant 
recipient or eligible entity unless the entity submits to the 
Secretary a certification that the building where the entity 
provides such housing or services is in compliance with 
codes relevant to the operations and level of care provided, 
including the most current Life Safety Code or Inter-
national Fire Code and all applicable State and local hous-
ing codes, licensing requirements, fire and safety require-
ments, and any other requirements in the jurisdiction in 
which the project is located regarding the condition of the 
structure and the operation of the supportive housing or 
service center.’’. 
(2) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendment made by 
paragraph (1) shall apply with respect to an applica-
tion for a per diem payment under section 2012 of 
title 38, United States Code, submitted on or after the 
date of the enactment of this Act. 
(b) ANNUAL REPORT.—Section 2065(b) of title 38, 
United States Code, is amended— 
(1) by redesignating paragraph (6) as para-
graph (7); and 
(2) by inserting after paragraph (5) the fol-
lowing new paragraph (6): 
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‘‘(6) The Secretary’s evaluation of the safety and 
accessibility of facilities used to provide programs es-
tablished by grant recipients or eligible entities under 
section 2011 and 2012 of this title, including the 
number of such grant recipients or eligible entities 
who have submitted a certification under section 
2012(c)(1).’’. 
(c) TREATMENT OF CURRENT RECIPIENTS.—In the 
case of the recipient of a per diem payment under section 
2012 of title 38, United States Code, that receives such a 
payment during the year in which this Act is enacted, the 
Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall require the recipient to 
submit the certification required under section 2012(c)(1) 
of such title, as amended by subsection (a)(1), by not later 
than two years after the date of the enactment of this Act. 
If the recipient fails to submit such certification by such 
date, the Secretary may not make any additional per diem 
payments to the recipient under such section 2012 until the 
recipient submits such certification. 
SEC. 4. ESTABLISHMENT OF OPEN BURN PIT REGISTRY. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT OF REGISTRY.—Not later than 
180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the 
Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall— 
(1) establish and maintain an open burn pit reg-
istry for eligible individuals who may have been ex-
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posed to toxic chemicals and fumes caused by open 
burn pits; 
(2) include any information in such registry 
that the Secretary of Veterans Affairs determines nec-
essary to ascertain and monitor the health effects of 
the exposure of members of the Armed Forces to toxic 
chemicals and fumes caused by open burn pits; 
(3) develop a public information campaign to 
inform eligible individuals about the open burn pit 
registry, including how to register and the benefits of 
registering; and 
(4) periodically notify eligible individuals of sig-
nificant developments in the study and treatment of 
conditions associated with exposure to toxic chemicals 
and fumes caused by open burn pits. 
(b) REPORT TO CONGRESS.— 
(1) REPORT BY INDEPENDENT SCIENTIFIC ORGA-
NIZATION.—The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall 
enter into an agreement with an independent sci-
entific organization to develop a report containing the 
following: 
(A) An assessment of the effectiveness of ac-
tions taken by the Secretaries to collect and 
maintain information on the health effects of ex-
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posure to toxic chemicals and fumes caused by 
open burn pits. 
(B) Recommendations to improve the collec-
tion and maintenance of such information. 
(C) Using established and previously pub-
lished epidemiological studies, recommendations 
regarding the most effective and prudent means 
of addressing the medical needs of eligible indi-
viduals with respect to conditions that are likely 
to result from exposure to open burn pits. 
(2) SUBMITTAL TO CONGRESS.—Not later than 
18 months after the date on which the registry under 
subsection (a) is established, the Secretary of Veterans 
Affairs shall submit to Congress the report developed 
under paragraph (1). 
(c) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) The term ‘‘open burn pit’’ means an area of 
land located in Afghanistan or Iraq that— 
(A) is designated by the Secretary of De-
fense to be used for disposing solid waste by 
burning in the outdoor air; and 
(B) does not contain a commercially manu-
factured incinerator or other equipment specifi-
cally designed and manufactured for the burning 
of solid waste. 
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(2) The term ‘‘eligible individual’’ means any 
individual who, on or after September 11, 2001— 
(A) was deployed in support of a contin-
gency operation while serving in the Armed 
Forces; and 
(B) during such deployment, was based or 
stationed at a location where an open burn pit 
was used. 
SEC. 5. PERFORMANCE AWARDS IN THE SENIOR EXECUTIVE 
SERVICE. 
For each of fiscal years 2013 through 2017, the Sec-
retary of Veterans Affairs may not pay more than 
$1,000,000 in performance awards under section 5384 of 
title 5, United States Code. 
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Union Calendar No. 464 
112TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 4057 
[Report No. 112–646] 
A BILL 
To amend title 38, United States Code, to direct 
the Secretary 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 informa-
tion on institutions of higher learning, and for 
other purposes. 
SEPTEMBER 10, 2012 
Reported with an amendment, committed to the Com-
mittee of the Whole House on the State of the Union, 
and ordered to be printed 
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