VITAL Assessment Act
Bill: H.R.5516 | Sponsor: Rep. Ellzey, Jake (R-TX)
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security

Summary:
VITAL Assessment Act
This bill implements changes related to the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Veterans Integration to Academic Leadership (VITAL) program, which focuses on enhancing student veterans' academic success and retention by assisting with things like mental and physical health.
The VA must report on the program and establish best practices, goals, and measures for the program that are uniform among the VA's medical centers.
The bill also requires the VA to conduct outreach among the Armed Forces, veterans service organizations, institutions of higher learning, and noncollege degree programs regarding the VITAL program.
Additionally, the VA must assess the feasibility and advisability of including the suicide rate for student veterans in the National Veteran Suicide Prevention Annual Report.

To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to submit to Congress a 
 report on the Veterans Integration to Academic Leadership program of 
      the Department of Veterans Affairs, 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 ``VITAL Assessment Act''.

SEC. 2. VETERANS INTEGRATION TO ACADEMIC LEADERSHIP PROGRAM OF THE 
              DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.

    (a) Report.--Not later than one year after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit 
to the Committees on Veterans' Affairs of the House of Representatives 
and the Senate a report on the Veterans Integration to Academic 
Leadership program of the Department of Veterans Affairs. The report 
shall include the following:
            (1) The number of medical centers of the Department, 
        institutions of higher learning, non-college degree programs, 
        and student veterans supported by the program, and relevant 
        trends since the program began.
            (2) The staff and resources allocated to the program, and 
        relevant trends since the program began.
            (3) An assessment of the outcomes and effectiveness of the 
        program in--
                    (A) supporting student veterans;
                    (B) connecting student veterans to needed services 
                of the Department or services provided by non-
                Department entities;
                    (C) addressing the mental health needs of student 
                veterans;
                    (D) lowering the suicide risk of student veterans; 
                and
                    (E) helping student veterans achieve educational 
                goals.
            (4) An assessment of barriers to expanding the program and 
        how the Secretary intends to address such barriers.
            (5) An assessment of whether the program should be expanded 
        outside of the Office of Mental Health and Suicide Prevention 
        to support students veterans with needs unrelated to mental 
        health or suicide.
    (b) Uniform Best Practices, Goals, and Measures.--The Secretary 
shall establish best practices, goals, and measures for the Veterans 
Integration to Academic Leadership program of the Department that are 
uniform among the medical centers of the Department.
    (c) Outreach.--The Secretary shall conduct outreach among the Armed 
Forces, veterans service organizations, institutions of higher 
learning, and non-college degree programs with respect to the Veterans 
Integration to Academic Leadership program of the Department.
    (d) Assessment.--The Secretary shall assess the feasibility and 
advisability of including the suicide rate for student veterans in the 
National Veteran Suicide Prevention Annual Report of the Office of 
Mental Health and Suicide Prevention of the Department.
    (e) Definitions.--In this section:
            (1) The term ``institution of higher learning'' has the 
        meaning given that term in section 3452 of title 38, United 
        States Code.
            (2) The term ``student veteran'' means the following:
                    (A) A veteran or member of the Armed Forces using 
                educational assistance under any of the following 
                provisions of law:
                            (i) Chapter 30, 31, 32, or 33 of title 38, 
                        United States Code, or chapter 1606 or 1607 of 
                        title 10, United States Code.
                            (ii) Section 116 of the Harry W. Colmery 
                        Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2017 
                        (Public Law 115-48; 38 U.S.C. 3001 note).
                            (iii) Section 8006 of the American Rescue 
                        Plan Act of 2021 (Public Law 117-2; 38 U.S.C. 
                        3001 note prec.).
                    (B) A veteran who is enrolled in an institution of 
                higher learning or other training program, without 
                regard to whether the veteran is using educational 
                assistance specified in subparagraph (A).

            Passed the House of Representatives November 16, 2021.

            Attest:

                                             CHERYL L. JOHNSON,

                                                                 Clerk.