H.R. 6358 — Veteran Education Empowerment Act

This section states congressional findings that (1) nearly 1 million veterans attend institutions of higher education annually; (2) veterans face unique transition challenges including age differences, family obligations, time away from academics, and service-related disabilities; (3) studies show student veterans benefit from peer connections to reduce isolation; (4) Student Veteran Centers are a best practice recognized by Student Veterans of America; (5) the Department of Education recommends centralizing veteran services and providing designated space; (6) budget constraints limit institutions' ability to dedicate such space; and (7) the 110th Congress authorized Centers of Excellence for Veteran Student Success (20 U.S.C. 1161t), with subsequent appropriations.

This section revises the grant program for veteran student success (20 U.S.C. 1161t) to authorize the Secretary of Education to award grants to institutions of higher education or consortia thereof, subject to appropriations, to establish, maintain, improve, and operate Student Veteran Centers. The revision (1) expands eligibility to consortia and requires applicants to enroll a significant number or percentage of student veterans, active duty members, or reserve component members (relative to comparable institutions) and to submit a sustainability plan; (2) directs priority consideration for applicants in high-veteran areas, those promoting equitable distribution across institution sizes and locations, and those committing to community veteran assistance, nonprofit partnerships, veteran staffing, separate orientations, retention programs, and mental health counseling; (3) limits grants to a 4-year period (from 3 years) not exceeding $500,000 total; (4) permits use of funds primarily for Student Veteran Centers and a portion for supportive instructional services (e.g., admissions/credit transfer assistance); and (5) requires a report to Congress not later than 3 years after the first grant is awarded, detailing grants awarded, recipients, amounts, uses, and outcomes. (As background, the program coordinates academic, financial, physical, and social support services—such as single-point Centers of Excellence, cross-office teams, and persistence monitoring—to promote postsecondary success among approximately 1 million veteran students.)