151 
Community Care Program under section 1703 of such 
title. 
SEC. 148. LIMITATION ON DETAIL OF DIRECTORS OF MED-
ICAL CENTERS OF DEPARTMENT OF VET-
ERANS AFFAIRS TO DIFFERENT POSITIONS. 
(a) NOTIFICATION.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 90 days after 
detailing a director of a medical center of the De-
partment of Veterans Affairs to a different position 
within the Department, the Secretary of Veterans 
Affairs shall notify the Committee on Veterans’ Af-
fairs of the Senate and the Committee on Veterans’ 
Affairs of the House of Representatives of such de-
tail. 
(2) MATTERS TO BE INCLUDED.—The notifica-
tion required by paragraph (1) shall include, with re-
spect to a director of a medical center who is de-
tailed to a different position within the Department, 
the following information: 
(A) The location at which the director is 
detailed. 
(B) The position title of the detail. 
(C) The estimated time the director is ex-
pected to be absent from their duties at the 
medical center. 
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(D) Such other information as the Sec-
retary may determine appropriate. 
(b) APPOINTMENT OF ACTING DIRECTOR.—Not later 
than 120 days after detailing a director of a medical cen-
ter of the Department to a different position within the 
Department, the Secretary shall appoint an individual as 
acting director of such medical center with all of the au-
thority and responsibilities of the detailed director. 
(c) UPDATE ON DETAIL.—Not later than 120 days 
after detailing a director of a medical center of the De-
partment to a different position within the Department, 
and not less frequently than every 30 days thereafter while 
the detail is in effect or while the director position at the 
medical center is vacant, the Secretary shall submit to the 
Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and the 
Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Rep-
resentatives an update regarding the status of the detail. 
(d) RETURN TO POSITION OR REASSIGNMENT.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in para-
graph (2), not later than 180 days after detailing a 
director of a medical center of the Department to a 
different position within the Department, for a rea-
son other than an ongoing investigation or adminis-
trative action with respect to the director, the Sec-
retary shall— 
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(A) return the individual to the position as 
director of the medical center; or 
(B) reassign the individual from the posi-
tion as director of the medical center and begin 
the process of hiring a new director for such po-
sition. 
(2) WAIVER.— 
(A) IN
GENERAL.—The Secretary may 
waive the requirement under paragraph (1) 
with respect to an individual for successive 90- 
day increments for a total period of not more 
than 540 days from the original date the indi-
vidual was detailed away from their position as 
director of a medical center. 
(B) NOTIFICATION.—Not later than 30 
days after exercising a waiver under subpara-
graph (A), the Secretary shall notify Congress 
of the waiver and provide to Congress informa-
tion as to why the waiver is necessary. 
SEC. 149. NATIONAL VETERAN SUICIDE PREVENTION AN-
NUAL REPORT. 
(a) NATIONAL VETERAN SUICIDE PREVENTION AN-
NUAL REPORT.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 18 months 
after the date of the enactment of this Act, and not 
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later than September 30 of each year thereafter, the 
Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit to the ap-
propriate congressional committees and publish on a 
publicly available website of the Department of Vet-
erans Affairs a report to be known as the ‘‘National 
Veteran Suicide Prevention Annual Report’’. 
(2) EXTENSION.— 
(A) IN
GENERAL.—If the Secretary re-
quires an extension of the deadline for a report 
under subsection (a), the Secretary shall submit 
to the appropriate congressional committees a 
written request for such an extension. 
(B) ELEMENTS.—Each written request 
under paragraph (1) for an extension for a re-
port shall include the following: 
(i) The rationale for the delay in the 
submission of the report. 
(ii) An explanation of the need for an 
extension. 
(iii) A proposed amended date for the 
submission and publication of the report. 
(3) BRIEFING.—With respect to each report re-
quired under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall, be-
fore the date on which the Secretary submits such 
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report, provide to the appropriate congressional com-
mittees a briefing on such report. 
(4) ELEMENTS.— 
(A) IN
GENERAL.—Each report required 
under paragraph (1) shall include— 
(i) the findings of the national anal-
ysis of veteran suicide rates for the latest 
year for which data is available; 
(ii) an identification of trends, if any, 
demonstrated by such data; and 
(iii) a comparison of such data to data 
on veteran suicide rates during preceding 
years. 
(B) ADDITIONAL ELEMENTS.—Each report 
under paragraph (1) shall include, for the year 
covered by the report, the following: 
(i) 
Suicide 
rates 
of 
veterans 
disaggregated by age, gender, and race or 
ethnicity. 
(ii) Trends in suicide rates of veterans 
compared to engagement of those veterans 
with health care from the Veterans Health 
Administration, including an examination 
of trends in suicide rates or deaths 
among— 
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(I) veterans who have recently re-
ceived health care from the Veterans 
Health Administration as compared to 
veterans who have never received 
health care from the Veterans Health 
Administration; 
(II) veterans who are enrolled in 
the patient enrollment system of the 
Department of Veterans Affairs under 
section 1705(a) of title 38, United 
States Code, as compared to veterans 
who have never enrolled in such sys-
tem; 
(III) veterans who have recently 
used services from a Vet Center as 
compared to veterans who have never 
used such services; 
(IV) to the extent practicable, 
veterans who have a diagnosis of sub-
stance use disorder; and 
(V) other groups of veterans re-
lating to engagement with health care 
from the Veterans Health Administra-
tion, as the Secretary considers prac-
ticable. 
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(iii) To the extent practicable, trends 
in suicide rates of veterans compared to 
engagement of those veterans with benefits 
from the Veterans Benefits Administra-
tion, including an examination of trends in 
suicide rates or deaths among— 
(I) veterans who are currently 
using, have previously used, or have 
never 
used 
educational 
assistance 
under the laws administered by the 
Secretary; 
(II) veterans who are currently 
receiving, have previously received, or 
have never received services or assist-
ance under chapter 31 of title 38, 
United States Code; 
(III) with respect to compensa-
tion under chapter 11 of such title— 
(aa) veterans who were re-
cipients of such compensation as 
compared to veterans who never 
applied for such compensation 
prior to death; 
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(bb) veterans who had a 
claim denied for such compensa-
tion prior to death; 
(cc) veterans who had a 
pending claim for such com-
pensation at time of death; and 
(dd) veterans who had an 
entitlement for such compensa-
tion reduced prior to death; 
(IV) veterans who are currently 
receiving or have never received pen-
sion under chapter 15 of title 38, 
United States Code; 
(V) veterans who are currently 
using, have recently used, or have 
never used programs or services pro-
vided by the Homeless Programs Of-
fice of the Department, including an 
examination of trends in suicide rates 
or deaths among veterans who made 
contact with such office but were de-
nied or deemed ineligible for any such 
program or service; 
(VI) with respect to housing 
loans guaranteed by the Secretary 
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under chapter 37 of title 38, United 
States Code, veterans who are current 
recipients of, were recent recipients of, 
or have never received such a loan; 
(VII) veterans owing debts to the 
Department; 
(VIII) veterans who were in-
volved in a veterans treatment court 
program, whether they graduated suc-
cessfully or not; and 
(IX) veterans who were success-
fully contacted, unsuccessfully con-
tacted, or never contacted by the De-
partment through the Solid Start pro-
gram under section 6320 of title 38, 
United States Code. 
(C) STRATEGY AND RECOMMENDATIONS.— 
(i) INITIAL REPORT.—The initial re-
port under paragraph (1) shall include a 
strategy and recommendations developed 
by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, in 
collaboration with the Director of the Cen-
ters for Disease Control and Prevention 
and the Secretary of Defense, for— 
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(I) improving data collection at 
the State and local levels to accurately 
capture suicide deaths of veterans; 
(II) improving the timeliness, ef-
ficacy, and standardization of data re-
porting on suicide deaths of veterans 
at the Federal level, including by the 
Centers for Disease Control and Pre-
vention, the Department of Defense, 
and the Department of Veterans Af-
fairs; 
(III) improving the timeliness of 
identification and analysis of suicide 
deaths of veterans by Federal agen-
cies, including the Centers for Disease 
Control and Prevention, the Depart-
ment of Defense, and the Department 
of Veterans Affairs; and 
(IV) any other necessary process 
improvements for improving the time-
liness, efficacy, and standardization of 
reporting of data relating to suicide 
deaths of veterans, particularly with 
respect to the annual report under 
this section. 
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(ii) SUBSEQUENT
REPORTS.—Each 
report after the initial report under para-
graph (1) shall include updates on actions 
taken to meet the strategy and rec-
ommendations developed under subpara-
graph (A). 
(5) DEFINITIONS.—In this subsection: 
(A) The term ‘‘appropriate congressional 
committees’’ means the Committees on Vet-
erans’ Affairs of the Senate and the House of 
Representatives. 
(B) The term ‘‘Vet Center’’ means a cen-
ter for readjustment counseling and related 
mental health services for veterans under sec-
tion 1712A of title 38, United States Code. 
(b) INDEPENDENT ASSESSMENT OF NATIONAL VET-
ERAN SUICIDE PREVENTION ANNUAL REPORT.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 90 days after 
the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary 
of Veterans Affairs shall enter into one or more con-
tracts with a private sector entity described in para-
graph (5) to conduct an independent assessment of 
the National Veteran Suicide Prevention Annual Re-
port required under subsection (a). 
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(2) FREQUENCY.—The private sector entity or 
entities carrying out the assessment required under 
paragraph (1) shall complete such assessment not 
later than 240 days after entering into the contract 
described in such subsection and not less frequently 
than every five years thereafter. 
(3) ELEMENTS.—Each assessment required 
under paragraph (1) shall analyze the following: 
(A) The methodology used by the Depart-
ment to track, analyze, categorize, and report 
suicide deaths and suicide rates among vet-
erans. 
(B) Whether data sources used by the De-
partment to compile data on suicide deaths and 
suicide rates among veterans are accurately re-
flecting such data. 
(C) Vulnerabilities in the methodology used 
by the Department that could lead to inac-
curate counting of suicide deaths and suicide 
rates among veterans. 
(D) The ability of the Department to 
cross-reference suicide deaths and suicide rates 
among veterans with trends in usage of pro-
grams of the Veterans Health Administration 
or the Veterans Benefits Administration or 
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other programs that could serve as widespread 
protective factors against suicide. 
(E) Improvements that could be made to 
ensure the National Veteran Suicide Prevention 
Annual Report required under subsection (a) is 
accurate and comprehensive and provides in-
sights for making improvements to the suicide 
prevention efforts of the Department. 
(4) REPORT ON ASSESSMENT.— 
(A) REPORT
ON
FINDINGS
AND
REC-
OMMENDATIONS.—Not later than 60 days after 
completing an assessment required by para-
graph (1), the private sector entity or entities 
carrying out the assessment shall submit to the 
Secretary of Veterans Affairs and the Commit-
tees on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and the 
House of Representatives a report on the find-
ings and recommendations of the private sector 
entity or entities with respect to such assess-
ment. 
(B) REPORT
ON
PLANNED
IMPROVE-
MENTS.—Not later than 60 days after receiving 
a report under paragraph (1) with respect to an 
assessment required by paragraph (1), the Sec-
retary shall submit to the Committees on Vet-
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erans’ Affairs of the Senate and the House of 
Representatives a report on how the Depart-
ment plans to improve the National Veteran 
Suicide Prevention Annual Report required 
under subsection (a) based on such assessment. 
(5) PRIVATE SECTOR ENTITY DESCRIBED.—A 
private sector entity described in this paragraph is 
a private entity that— 
(A) specializes in analyzing large-scale or-
ganizational data collection and analysis efforts, 
especially with respect to the health care sector; 
and 
(B) has experience and proven outcomes in 
optimizing the accuracy and comprehensiveness 
of data collection and analysis related to sui-
cide. 
(c) REPORT ON ADDITIONAL BENEFITS AND SERV-
ICES FROM DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS TO 
PREVENT VETERAN SUICIDE.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than three years 
after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Sec-
retary of Veterans Affairs shall submit to the Com-
mittees on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and the 
House of Representatives and publish on a publicly 
available website of the Department of Veterans Af-
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fairs a report that analyzes which benefits and serv-
ices under the laws administered by such Secretary, 
including such benefits and services furnished by the 
Veterans Benefits Administration, have the greatest 
impact on the prevention of suicide among veterans, 
including recommendations for potential expansion 
of services and benefits to reduce the number of vet-
eran suicides. 
(2) ASSESSMENT OF SOLID START PROGRAM.— 
The report required by paragraph (1) shall include 
an analysis of the effectiveness of the Solid Start 
program under section 6320 of title 38, United 
States Code, on prevention of suicide among vet-
erans. 
(d) TOOLKIT FOR STATE AND LOCAL CORONERS AND 
MEDICAL EXAMINERS ON BEST PRACTICES FOR IDENTI-
FYING AND REPORTING ON SUICIDE DEATHS OF VET-
ERANS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Veterans 
Affairs, in collaboration with the Director of the 
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, shall 
develop a toolkit for State and local coroners and 
medical examiners that contains best practices for— 
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(A) accurately identifying and reporting 
suicide deaths of veterans, including how to 
identify veteran status; and 
(B) reporting such deaths to the Centers 
for Disease Control and Prevention and other 
applicable entities. 
(2) AVAILABILITY.—Not later than two years 
after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Sec-
retary shall make the toolkit developed under para-
graph (1) available on a publicly available website of 
the Department of Veterans Affairs. 
(3) OUTREACH.—The Secretary, in collabora-
tion with the Director of the Centers for Disease 
Control and Prevention, shall conduct outreach to 
appropriate State and local agencies to promote the 
availability and use of the toolkit developed under 
paragraph (1). 
SEC. 150. REPORT ON PHYSICAL INFRASTRUCTURE RE-
QUIRED BY MEDICAL FACILITIES OF DEPART-
MENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS TO PROVIDE 
DENTAL CARE SERVICES. 
Not later than one year after the date of the enact-
ment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall 
submit to the Committees on Veterans’ Affairs of the Sen-
ate and the House of Representatives a report, for each 
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medical center or other relevant health care facility of the 
Department of Veterans Affairs, that includes— 
(1) an identification of the physical infrastruc-
ture, including new facilities, renovations, remodels, 
leases, or other infrastructure, such medical center 
or health care facility requires to provide dental care 
services to veterans eligible for such services under 
the laws administered by the Secretary; and 
(2) an analysis of the physical infrastructure 
such medical center or health care facility would re-
quire if a greater number of veterans became eligible 
for such dental care services pursuant to a modifica-
tion of the laws administered by the Secretary. 
SEC. 151. COMPTROLLER GENERAL REPORT ON CERTAIN 
ORAL 
HEALTH 
CARE 
PROGRAMS 
UNDER 
LAWS ADMINISTERED BY SECRETARY OF 
VETERANS AFFAIRS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than one year after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General 
of the United States shall submit to the Committees on 
Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and the House of Rep-
resentatives a report on the status of the oral health care 
programs of the Department of Veterans Affairs, that in-
cludes an assessment of— 
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(1) any issues with information technology pro-
grams, including Dental Record Manager Plus, that 
affect dental care staff of the Department; 
(2) the implementation of the dental insurance 
plan of the Department under section 1712C of title 
38, United States Code; 
(3) the implementation and expansion of the 
VETSmile program of the Department; 
(4) barriers preventing the Department from 
expanding dental care eligibility to all veterans with 
ischemic heart disease, including such barriers relat-
ing to physical infrastructure, workforce, and cost of 
such dental care; 
(5) barriers preventing dental clinics of the De-
partment, if any, from adopting teledentistry; 
(6) the demographic makeup of veterans eligible 
for dental care paid for by the Department as of the 
commencement of the pilot program under section 
145 of this Act, including information on— 
(A) age; 
(B) gender; 
(C) race or ethnicity, disaggregated by— 
(i) membership in an Indian Tribe; 
and 
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(ii) the major race groups used in the 
decennial census; 
(D) employment status; and 
(E) location of residence, disaggregated by 
rural, highly rural, and urban locations; and 
(7) changes to such demographic makeup if 
any, that would result from an expansion of eligi-
bility for dental care under the laws administered by 
the Secretary to all veterans with ischemic heart dis-
ease including changes to demographics specified in 
paragraph (6). 
(b) THIRD PARTY ADMINISTRATOR DEFINED.—In 
this section, the term ‘‘Third Party Administrator’’ means 
an entity that manages a provider network and performs 
administrative services related to such network under sec-
tion 1703 of title 38, United States Code. 
SEC. 152. REVIEW OF WORKFLOWS ASSOCIATED WITH 
PROCESSING REFERRALS BETWEEN FACILI-
TIES OF THE VETERANS HEALTH ADMINIS-
TRATION. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Veterans Affairs 
shall conduct a review of the workflows directly associated 
with processing referrals of patients between facilities of 
the Veterans Health Administration of the Department of 
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Veterans Affairs to identify specific delays or bottlenecks 
in such referrals. 
(b) ELEMENTS OF REVIEW.—The review required 
under subsection (a) shall include a review of— 
(1) the interfacility consult management guid-
ance of the Veterans Health Administration that as-
sists facilities described in subsection (a) in con-
structing a workflow for consults between such fa-
cilities; and 
(2) the roles and responsibilities of the individ-
uals involved in the consult management process in 
managing such consults, including the role of the re-
ferral coordination team. 
(c) REPORT.—Not later than 180 days after the date 
of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit 
to Congress a report on the results of the review required 
under subsection (a). 
SEC. 153. PLAN FOR TIMELY SCHEDULING OF APPOINT-
MENTS AT MEDICAL FACILITIES OF DEPART-
MENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS. 
(a) PLAN REQUIRED.—To improve responsiveness in 
the provision of hospital care and medical services at med-
ical facilities of the Department of Veterans Affairs, the 
Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall develop a plan to— 
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(1) ensure that whenever a covered veteran con-
tacts the Department by telephone to request the 
scheduling of an appointment for care or services for 
the covered veteran at such a facility, the scheduling 
for the appointment occurs during that telephone 
call (regardless of the prospective date of the ap-
pointment being scheduled); and 
(2) provide timely and, where applicable, same- 
day scheduling for an appointment described in 
paragraph (1). 
(b) REPORT.—Not later than one year 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 on the plan under 
subsection (a). 
(c) COVERED VETERAN DEFINED.—In this section, 
the term ‘‘covered veteran’’ means a veteran who is en-
rolled in the system of patient enrollment of the Depart-
ment under section 1705(a) of title 38, United States 
Code. 
SEC. 154. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS TO SUP-
PORT INITIATIVES FOR MOBILE MAMMOG-
RAPHY SERVICES FOR VETERANS. 
There is authorized to be appropriated to the Sec-
retary of Veterans Affairs $5,000,000 for fiscal year 2025 
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for the Office of Women’s Health of the Department of 
Veterans Affairs under section 7310 of title 38, United 
States Code, to be used by the Secretary to expand access 
of women veterans to— 
(1) mobile mammography initiatives; 
(2) advanced mammography equipment; and 
(3) outreach activities to publicize those initia-
tives and equipment. 
TITLE II—ECONOMIC 
OPPORTUNITY MATTERS 
Subtitle A—Educational Assistance 
SEC. 201. TEMPORARY EXPANSION OF ELIGIBILITY FOR MA-
RINE GUNNERY SERGEANT JOHN DAVID FRY 
SCHOLARSHIP. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Veterans Affairs 
shall treat an individual described in subsection (b) as a 
covered individual described in section 3311(b) of title 38, 
United States Code. 
(b) COVERED INDIVIDUAL DESCRIBED.—An indi-
vidual described in this subsection is an individual who 
is the child or spouse of a person— 
(1) who dies from a service-connected disability 
during the 120-day period immediately following the 
day on which the person was discharged or released 
from duty as a member of the Armed Forces (with-
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out regard to whether such duty was active duty); 
and 
(2)(A) who received an honorable discharge; or 
(B) whose service in the Armed Forces is char-
acterized by the Secretary concerned as honorable 
service. 
(c) APPLICABILITY.—This section shall apply with re-
spect to— 
(1) deaths that occur before, on, or after the 
date of the enactment of this Act; and 
(2) a quarter, semester, or term, as applicable, 
commencing— 
(A) on or after August 1, 2024; and 
(B) before October 1, 2026. 
SEC. 202. REMOVAL OF EXPIRATION ON ENTITLEMENT TO 
MARINE GUNNERY SERGEANT JOHN DAVID 
FRY SCHOLARSHIP FOR SURVIVING SPOUSES. 
Section 3311(f) of title 38, United States Code, is 
amended— 
(1) by striking paragraph (2); 
(2) by redesignating paragraphs (3) through 
(5) as paragraphs (2) through (4), respectively; 
(3) in paragraph (2), as redesignated by para-
graph (2) of this section, by striking ‘‘in paragraph 
(4)’’ and inserting ‘‘in paragraph (3)’’; and 
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(4) in paragraph (3)(A), as redesignated by 
paragraph (2) of this section, by striking ‘‘under 
paragraph (3)’’ and inserting ‘‘under paragraph 
(2)’’. 
SEC. 
203. 
SOLE 
LIABILITY 
FOR 
TRANSFERRED 
EDU-
CATIONAL ASSISTANCE BY AN INDIVIDUAL 
WHO FAILS TO COMPLETE A SERVICE AGREE-
MENT. 
Subsection (i) of section 3319 of title 38, United 
States Code, is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (1)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘In the event’’ and insert-
ing ‘‘Subject to paragraph (2), in the event’’; 
and 
(B) by inserting ‘‘of this title’’ after ‘‘sec-
tion 3685’’; 
(2) in subparagraph (A) of paragraph (2)— 
(A) in the heading, by striking ‘‘IN GEN-
ERAL’’ and inserting ‘‘SOLE LIABILITY’’; and 
(B) by striking ‘‘under paragraph (1)’’ and 
inserting ‘‘for which the individual shall be sole-
ly liable to the United States for the amount of 
the overpayment for purposes of section 3685 
of this title’’; and 
(3) in subparagraph (B) of paragraph (2)— 
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(A) in the matter preceding clause (i), by 
striking ‘‘Subparagraph (A) shall not apply’’ 
and inserting ‘‘Neither the individual nor the 
dependent shall be liable to the United States 
for the amount of the overpayment for purposes 
of section 3685 of this title’’; and 
(B) in clause (ii), by inserting ‘‘of this 
title’’ after ‘‘section 3311(c)(4)’’. 
SEC. 204. NOTICE TO EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS OF 
RISK-BASED SURVEYS. 
Section 3673A(d) of title 38, United States Code, is 
amended by striking ‘‘one business day’’ and inserting 
‘‘two business days’’. 
SEC. 205. RELATIONSHIP OF PARTICIPATION BY AN EDU-
CATIONAL INSTITUTION IN CERTAIN FED-
ERAL STUDENT FINANCIAL AID PROGRAMS 
TO APPROVAL OF SUCH INSTITUTION FOR 
PURPOSES OF DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS 
AFFAIRS EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE PRO-
GRAMS. 
Paragraph (4) of section 3675(b) of title 38, United 
States Code, is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘(4) The educational institution— 
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‘‘(A) is approved and participates in a pro-
gram under title IV of the Higher Education 
Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1070 et seq.); or 
‘‘(B) does not participate in such a pro-
gram and the Secretary has waived the require-
ment under this paragraph with respect to the 
educational institution, and submits to the 
Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate 
and the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the 
House of Representatives notice of such waiver, 
because the Secretary determines that the edu-
cational institution— 
‘‘(i) elects not to participate in such a 
program; 
‘‘(ii) cannot participate in such a pro-
gram; or 
‘‘(iii) is in the process of making a 
good-faith effort to submit an initial appli-
cation for approval to participate in such a 
program, except that a waiver under this 
clause may not be provided for a period of 
longer than 36 months.’’. 
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SEC. 206. EXPANSION OF DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AF-
FAIRS 
OVERSIGHT 
OF 
CERTAIN 
EDU-
CATIONAL INSTITUTIONS. 
(a) ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENT FOR APPROVAL.— 
Section 3675(b) of title 38, United States Code, as amend-
ed by section 205, is further amended by adding at the 
end the following new paragraph: 
‘‘(5) The educational institution agrees to, not 
later than 30 days after any date on which such 
educational institution becomes subject to an action 
or event described in section 3673(e)(3) of this title, 
submit to the State approving agency, or the Sec-
retary when acting in the role of a State approving 
agency, a notification of such action or event in such 
form and containing such information as the Sec-
retary determines appropriate.’’. 
(b) ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENT FOR APPROVAL OF 
NONACCREDITED COURSES.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Section 3676(c) of such title 
is amended— 
(A) by redesignating paragraphs (14) 
through (16) as paragraphs (15) through (17), 
respectively; and 
(B) by inserting after paragraph (13) the 
following new paragraph: 
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‘‘(14) The institution agrees to, not later than 
30 days after any date on which such institution be-
comes subject to an action or event described in sec-
tion 3673(e)(3) of this title, submit to the State ap-
proving agency, or the Secretary when acting in the 
role of a State approving agency, a notification of 
such action or event in such form and containing 
such information as the Secretary determines appro-
priate.’’. 
(2) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.—Such title is 
further amended— 
(A) in section 3672(b)(2)(C), by striking 
‘‘paragraph (14) or (15)’’ and inserting ‘‘para-
graph (15) or (16)’’; 
(B) in section 3675(b)(3), by striking 
‘‘(14), (15), and (16)’’ and inserting ‘‘(15), 
(16), and (17)’’; 
(C) in section 3679(d), by striking ‘‘de-
scribed in paragraph (14) or (15)’’ and insert-
ing ‘‘described in paragraph (15) or (16)’’; and 
(D) in section 3680A(a)(4)(C)(iii), by 
striking ‘‘section 3676(c)(14) and (15)’’ and in-
serting ‘‘section 3676(c)(15) and (16)’’. 
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179 
(c) ADDITIONAL GROUNDS FOR SUSPENSION OF AP-
PROVAL.—Section 3679(f)(1) of such title is amended by 
adding at the end the following new subparagraph: 
‘‘(I) Comply with the notification requirements 
under sections 3675(b)(5) and 3676(c)(14) of this 
title, when applicable.’’. 
(d) DEADLINE FOR RISK-BASED SURVEYS DATA-
BASE.—The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall establish 
the database required under section 3673A(c) of title 38, 
United States Code, by not later than 180 days after the 
date of the enactment of this Act. 
SEC. 207. REQUIREMENT THAT EDUCATIONAL INSTITU-
TIONS APPROVED FOR PURPOSES OF DE-
PARTMENT 
OF 
VETERANS 
AFFAIRS 
EDU-
CATIONAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS PROVIDE 
DIGITAL OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPTS. 
(a) REQUIREMENT.—Section 3675(b) of title 38, 
United States Code, as amended by sections 205 and 206, 
is further amended by adding at the end the following new 
paragraph: 
‘‘(6) The educational institution makes avail-
able to each eligible person or veteran a copy of the 
person or veteran’s official transcript in a digital 
format.’’. 
(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.— 
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(1) 
APPROVAL
OF
COURSES.—Section 
3672(b)(2)(A) of such title is amended by striking 
‘‘(b)(1) and (b)(2)’’ and inserting ‘‘paragraphs (1), 
(2), and (6) of section 3675(b)’’. 
(2) APPROVAL OF NONACCREDITED COURSES.— 
Section 3676(c) of such title is amended— 
(A) by redesignating paragraph (17) as 
paragraph (18); and 
(B) by inserting after paragraph (16) the 
following new paragraph (17): 
‘‘(17) In the case of a course that leads to a 
standard college degree, the educational institution 
satisfies the requirements of section 3675(b)(6) of 
this title.’’. 
(3) 
CONFORMING
AMENDMENTS.—Section 
3675(b)(3) of such title is amended by striking 
‘‘(15), (16), and (17)’’ and inserting ‘‘(15), (16), 
and (18)’’. 
(c) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by 
this section shall take effect on August 1, 2025, and apply 
with respect to a quarter, semester, or term, as applicable, 
commencing on or after such date. 
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181 
SEC. 208. PAYMENT OF FULL MONTHLY HOUSING STIPEND 
FOR VETERANS ENROLLED IN FINAL SEMES-
TER 
USING 
EDUCATIONAL 
ASSISTANCE 
UNDER POST-9/11 EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE 
PROGRAM. 
(a) HOUSING ALLOWANCE.—Section 3680(a)(3) of 
title 38, United States Code, is amended— 
(1) by redesignating subparagraphs (A) and 
(B) as clauses (i) and (ii), respectively (and by re-
designating each subordinate provision and the mar-
gins thereof accordingly); 
(2) by striking ‘‘Notwithstanding paragraph 
(1)’’ and inserting ‘‘(A) Notwithstanding paragraph 
(1)’’; 
(3) by striking ‘‘, including a monthly housing 
stipend described in section 3313(c) of this title,’’; 
and 
(4) by adding at the end the following new sub-
paragraph (B): 
‘‘(B) For purposes of providing a monthly housing 
stipend described in section 3313(c) to an eligible veteran 
or eligible person for whom the Secretary is providing edu-
cational assistance under chapter 33 of this title during 
a period that is the last semester, term, or academic period 
pursuant to subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall treat 
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182 
the veteran or person as pursuing a program of education 
on a full-time basis.’’. 
(b) APPLICATION.—The amendments made by sub-
section (a) shall take effect on the date of the enactment 
of this Act and apply with respect to a quarter, semester, 
or term, as applicable, commencing on or after August 1, 
2024. 
SEC. 209. MODIFICATION OF RULES FOR APPROVAL OF 
COMMERCIAL 
DRIVER 
EDUCATION 
PRO-
GRAMS FOR PURPOSES OF EDUCATIONAL AS-
SISTANCE PROGRAMS OF THE DEPARTMENT 
OF VETERANS AFFAIRS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 3680A(e) of title 38, 
United States Code, is amended— 
(1) by redesignating paragraphs (1) through 
(3) as subparagraphs (A) though (C), respectively; 
(2) in the matter before subparagraph (A), as 
redesignated by paragraph (1), by inserting ‘‘(1)’’ 
before ‘‘The Secretary’’; 
(3) in paragraph (1)(B), as redesignated by 
paragraph (1), by inserting ‘‘except as provided in 
paragraph (2),’’ before ‘‘the course’’; and 
(4) by adding at the end the following new 
paragraph (2): 
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‘‘(2)(A) Subject to this paragraph, a commercial driv-
er education program is exempt from paragraph (1)(B) 
for a branch of an educational institution if the commer-
cial driver education program offered at the branch by the 
educational institution— 
‘‘(i) is appropriately licensed; and 
‘‘(ii)(I) the branch is located in a State in 
which the same commercial driver education pro-
gram is offered by the same educational institution 
at another branch of that educational institution in 
the same State that is approved for purposes of this 
chapter by a State approving agency or the Sec-
retary when acting in the role of a State approving 
agency; or 
‘‘(II)(aa) the branch is located in a State in 
which the same commercial driver education pro-
gram is not offered at another branch of the same 
educational institution in the same State; and 
‘‘(bb) the branch has been operating for a pe-
riod of at least one year using the same curriculum 
as a commercial driver education program offered by 
the educational institution at another location that is 
approved for purposes of this chapter by a State ap-
proving agency or the Secretary when acting in the 
role of a State approving agency. 
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184 
‘‘(B)(i) In order for a commercial driver education 
program of an educational institution offered at a branch 
described in paragraph (1)(B) to be exempt under sub-
paragraph (A) of this paragraph, the educational institu-
tion shall submit to the Secretary each year that para-
graph (1)(B) would otherwise apply a report that dem-
onstrates that the curriculum at the new branch is the 
same as the curriculum at the primary location. 
‘‘(ii) Reporting under clause (i) shall be submitted 
in accordance with such requirements as the Secretary 
shall establish in consultation with the State approving 
agencies. 
‘‘(C)(i) The Secretary may withhold an exemption 
under subparagraph (A) for any educational institution or 
branch of an educational institution as the Secretary con-
siders appropriate. 
‘‘(ii) In making any determination under clause (i), 
the Secretary may consult with the Secretary of Transpor-
tation on the performance of a provider of a commercial 
driver program, including the status of the provider within 
the Training Provider Registry of the Federal Motor Car-
rier Safety Administration when appropriate. 
‘‘(D) The Secretary shall submit to the Committees 
on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and the House of Rep-
resentatives a notification not later than 30 days after the 
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185 
Secretary grants an exemption under this paragraph. 
Such notification shall identify the educational institution 
and branch of such educational institution granted such 
exemption.’’. 
(b) IMPLEMENTATION.— 
(1) ESTABLISHMENT OF REQUIREMENTS.—Not 
later than 180 days after the date of the enactment 
of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall 
establish 
requirements 
under 
section 
3680A(e)(2)(B)(ii) of such title, as added by sub-
section (a). 
(2) RULEMAKING.—In promulgating any rules 
to carry out paragraph (2) of section 3680A(e) of 
title 38, United States Code, as added by subsection 
(a), the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall consult 
with State approving agencies. 
(3) APPLICABILITY.—The amendments made 
by subsection (a) shall apply to commercial driver 
education programs on and after the day that is 365 
days after the date on which the Secretary estab-
lishes the requirements under paragraph (1) of this 
subsection. 
(c) COMPTROLLER
GENERAL
OF
THE
UNITED 
STATES STUDY.—Not later than 365 days after the date 
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186 
of the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of 
the United States shall— 
(1) conduct a study to— 
(A) ascertain the effects of the amend-
ments made by subsection (a); and 
(B) the feasibility and advisability of simi-
larly amending the rules for approval of pro-
grams of education for other vocational pro-
grams of education; and 
(2) submit to the Committees on Veterans’ Af-
fairs of the Senate and the House of Representatives 
a report on the findings of the Comptroller General 
with respect to such study. 
SEC. 210. PROVISION OF CERTIFICATES OF ELIGIBILITY 
AND AWARD LETTERS USING ELECTRONIC 
MEANS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 36 of title 38, United 
States Code, is amended by inserting after section 3698 
the following new section (and conforming the table of sec-
tions at the beginning of such chapter accordingly): 
‘‘§ 3698A. Provision of certificates of eligibility and 
award letters using electronic means 
‘‘(a) REQUIREMENT.—Except as provided by sub-
section (b), the Secretary shall provide to an individual 
the following documents using electronic means: 
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‘‘(1) A certificate of eligibility for the entitle-
ment of the individual to covered educational assist-
ance. 
‘‘(2) An award letter regarding the authoriza-
tion of the individual to receive covered educational 
assistance. 
‘‘(b) ELECTION TO OPT OUT.—An individual may 
elect to receive the documents specified in subsection (a) 
by mail rather than through electronic means under sub-
section (a). An individual may revoke such an election at 
any time, by means prescribed by the Secretary. 
‘‘(c) COVERED EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE.—In this 
section, the term ‘covered educational assistance’ means 
educational assistance under chapter 30, 33, or 35 of this 
title, or section 3699C of this title.’’. 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sections 
at the beginning of such chapter is amended by inserting 
after the item relating to section 3698 the following new 
item: 
‘‘3698A. Provision of certificates of eligibility and award letters using electronic 
means.’’. 
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188 
SEC. 211. RETROACTIVE EFFECTIVE DATE OF LAW RE-
GARDING CHARGE TO ENTITLEMENT TO EDU-
CATIONAL ASSISTANCE FOR INDIVIDUALS 
WHO DO NOT TRANSFER CREDITS FROM CER-
TAIN CLOSED OR DISAPPROVED PROGRAMS 
OF EDUCATION. 
Section 3699(c)(2) of title 38, United States Code, 
is amended by striking subparagraph (C) and inserting 
the following new subparagraph (C): 
‘‘(C) This paragraph, including clauses (ii) and (iii) 
of subparagraph (A), shall apply with respect to the clo-
sure or discontinuation of a course or program of edu-
cation, as described in subsection (b)(1), that occurs dur-
ing the period beginning on August 1, 2021, and ending 
on September 30, 2025.’’. 
SEC. 212. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS HIGH 
TECHNOLOGY PROGRAM. 
(a) HIGH TECHNOLOGY PROGRAM.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—Chapter 36 of title 38, 
United States Code, as amended by section 210, is 
amended by adding at the end the following new sec-
tion: 
‘‘§ 3699C. High technology program 
‘‘(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—(1) The Secretary shall 
carry out a program under which the Secretary provides 
covered individuals with the opportunity to enroll in high 
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189 
technology programs of education that the Secretary de-
termines provide training or skills sought by employers in 
a relevant field or industry. 
‘‘(2) Not more than 4,000 covered individuals may 
participate in the program under this section in any fiscal 
year. 
‘‘(b) AMOUNT OF ASSISTANCE.—(1) The Secretary 
shall provide, to each covered individual who pursues a 
high technology program of education under this section, 
educational assistance in amounts equal to the amounts 
provided under section 3313(c)(1) of this title, including, 
except as provided in paragraph (3), with respect to the 
housing stipend described in that section and in accord-
ance with the treatment of programs that are distance 
learning and programs that are less than half-time. 
‘‘(2) Under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall pro-
vide such amounts of educational assistance to a covered 
individual for each of the following: 
‘‘(A) A high technology program of education. 
‘‘(B) A second such program if— 
‘‘(i) the second such program begins at 
least 18 months after the covered individual 
graduates from the first such program; and 
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‘‘(ii) the covered individual uses edu-
cational assistance under chapter 33 of this 
title to pursue the second such program. 
‘‘(3) No covered individual may receive a housing sti-
pend under this subsection for any month if such indi-
vidual is in receipt of a housing stipend under chapter 33 
of this title for that month. 
‘‘(c) CONTRACTS.—(1) For purposes of carrying out 
subsection (a), the Secretary shall seek to enter into con-
tracts with any number of qualified providers of high tech-
nology programs of education for the provision of such 
programs to covered individuals. Each such contract shall 
provide for the conditions under which the Secretary may 
terminate the contract with the provider and the proce-
dures for providing for the graduation of students who 
were enrolled in a program provided by such provider in 
the case of such a termination. 
‘‘(2) A contract under this subsection shall provide 
that the Secretary shall pay to a provider— 
‘‘(A) upon the enrollment of a covered indi-
vidual in the program, 25 percent of the cost of the 
tuition and other fees for the program of education 
for the individual; 
‘‘(B) upon graduation of the individual from 
the program, 25 percent of such cost; and 
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‘‘(C) 50 percent of such cost upon— 
‘‘(i) the successful employment of the cov-
ered individual for a period— 
‘‘(I) of 180 days in the field of study 
of the program; and 
‘‘(II) that begins not later than 180 
days following graduation of the covered 
individual from the program; 
‘‘(ii) the employment of the individual by 
the provider for a period of one year; or 
‘‘(iii) the enrollment of the individual in a 
program of education to continue education in 
such field of study. 
‘‘(3) For purposes of this section, a provider of a high 
technology program of education is qualified if— 
‘‘(A) the provider employs instructors whom the 
Secretary determines are experts in their respective 
fields in accordance with paragraph (5); 
‘‘(B) the provider has successfully provided the 
high technology program for at least one year; 
‘‘(C) the provider does not charge tuition and 
fees to a covered individual who receives assistance 
under this section to pursue such program that are 
higher than the tuition and fees charged by such 
provider to another individual; and 
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‘‘(D) the provider meets the approval criteria 
developed by the Secretary under paragraph (4). 
‘‘(4)(A) The Secretary shall prescribe criteria for ap-
proving providers of a high technology program of edu-
cation under this section. 
‘‘(B) In developing such criteria, the Secretary may 
consult with State approving agencies. 
‘‘(C) Such criteria are not required to meet the re-
quirements of section 3672 of this title. 
‘‘(D) Such criteria shall include the job placement 
rate, in the field of study of a program of education, of 
covered individuals who complete such program of edu-
cation. 
‘‘(5) The Secretary shall determine whether instruc-
tors are experts under paragraph (3)(A) based on evidence 
furnished to the Secretary by the provider regarding the 
ability of the instructors to— 
‘‘(A) identify professions in need of new em-
ployees to hire, tailor the programs to meet market 
needs, and identify the employers likely to hire grad-
uates; 
‘‘(B) effectively teach the skills offered to cov-
ered individuals; 
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205 
‘‘(I) provides training aligned 
with the requirements of employers in 
the State or local area where the pro-
gram is located, which may include in- 
demand industry sectors or occupa-
tions; 
‘‘(II) provides a student, upon 
graduation from the program, with a 
recognized postsecondary credential 
that is recognized by employers in the 
relevant industry, which may include 
a credential recognized by industry or 
sector partnerships in the State or 
local area where the industry is lo-
cated; and 
‘‘(III) meets such content and in-
structional standards as may be re-
quired to comply with the criteria 
under section 3676(c)(14) and (15) of 
this title; or 
‘‘(B) an online high technology program of 
education (as defined in subsection (h)(2) of 
section 3699C of this title)— 
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302 
ing ‘‘Not later than 30 days’’ and inserting the 
following: 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 30 days’’; 
and 
(C) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(2) 
ADDITIONAL
MATTERS
TO
BE
IN-
CLUDED.—The Secretary shall include with any up-
date submitted under paragraph (1) on or after the 
date of enactment of the the Senator Elizabeth Dole 
21st Century Veterans Healthcare and Benefits Im-
provement Act with respect to the quarter covered 
by the report, the following: 
‘‘(A) Data on user adoption and employee 
satisfaction with the electronic health record 
system implemented pursuant to the Electronic 
Health Record Modernization program or suc-
cessor system implemented pursuant to section 
511(a)(1) of the the Senator Elizabeth Dole 
21st Century Veterans Healthcare and Benefits 
Improvement Act, including training on such 
system, using surveys of the Department and 
surveys conducted for the Department. 
‘‘(B) Data on employee retention and turn-
over at medical facilities where such electronic 
health record system is in use. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
18:49 May 29, 2024
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