VITAL Assessment Act of 2021
Bill: S.3368 | Sponsor: Sen. Cornyn, John (R-TX)
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security

Summary:
VITAL Assessment Act of 2021
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 require 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 of 2021''.

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

    (a) Report.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than one year after the date of 
        the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs 
        shall submit to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the 
        Senate and the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the House of 
        Representatives a report on the Veterans Integration to 
        Academic Leadership program of the Department of Veterans 
        Affairs.
            (2) Contents.--The report required by paragraph (1) shall 
        include the following:
                    (A) The number of medical centers of the 
                Department, institutions of higher learning, noncollege 
                degree programs, and student veterans supported by the 
                program, and relevant trends since the program began.
                    (B) The staff and resources allocated to the 
                program, and relevant trends since the program began.
                    (C) An assessment of the outcomes and effectiveness 
                of the program in--
                            (i) supporting student veterans;
                            (ii) connecting student veterans to needed 
                        services of the Department or services provided 
                        by non-Department entities;
                            (iii) addressing the mental health needs of 
                        student veterans;
                            (iv) lowering the suicide risk of student 
                        veterans; and
                            (v) helping student veterans achieve 
                        educational goals.
                    (D) An assessment of barriers to expanding the 
                program and how the Secretary intends to address such 
                barriers.
                    (E) An assessment of whether the program should be 
                expanded outside of the Office of Mental Health and 
                Suicide Prevention to support student 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) Institution of higher learning.--The term ``institution 
        of higher learning'' has the meaning given that term in section 
        3452 of title 38, United States Code.
            (2) Student veteran.--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).
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