Isakson-Roe Education Oversight Expansion Act
Floor Speech
BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT
Mr. BOST. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3981) to amend title 38, United States Code, to improve the methods by which the Secretary of Veterans Affairs conducts oversight of certain educational institutions, and for other purposes, as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows: H.R. 3981
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 ``Isakson-Roe Education Oversight Expansion Act''. SEC. 2. EXPANSION OF DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS OVERSIGHT OF CERTAIN EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS.
(a) Additional Requirement for Approval.--Section 3675(b) of title 38, United States Code, is 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 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 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:
``(14) The institution agrees to, not later than 30 days after any date on which such 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 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 appropriate.''.
(2) Conforming amendments.--Such title is further amended--
(A) in section 3672(b)(2)(C), by striking ``paragraph (14) or (15)'' and inserting ``paragraph (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 ``described in paragraph (14) or (15)'' and inserting ``described in paragraph (15) or (16)''; and
(D) in section 3680A(a)(4)(C)(iii), by striking ``section 3676(c)(14) and (15)'' and inserting ``section 3676(c)(15) and (16)''.
(c) Additional Grounds for Suspension of Approval.--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 Database.--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.
BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT
Mr. BOST. 3981, as amended.
BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT
Mr. BOST. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 3981, as amended. This bill makes improvements to protect veterans while they are using their GI Bill.
Specifically, this bill would require schools to self-report adverse actions to their State approving agency in addition to the VA within 30 days.
State approving agencies are required to approve and review schools and training programs for the GI Bill. This bill would also require VA to create a risk-based survey database within 180 days.
Congress has been waiting for the VA to implement this database for a long time. This proposal would make it clear to the VA that Congress still intends for this database to be implemented.
I appreciate the bipartisan work that has been done at the committee level to ensure that this bill supports veterans while also not increasing government spending.
I thank Mr. McGarvey for his work in introducing this proposal, and I urge all my colleagues to support H.R. 3981, as amended.
BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT
Mr. BOST. Madam Speaker, I encourage the Members on our side the aisle and all of our colleagues to support this good piece of legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.
Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 3981, the Isakson-Roe Education Oversight Expansion Act of 2023.
Members of the armed forces are important to our nation, and we show them our appreciation by taking care of them after they have completed their service by legislation such as H.R. 3981.
Many of our nation's veterans have earned federal support to help pay for college, graduate school, and training programs through their GI Bill education benefits.
They can even transfer unused benefits to family members and do so in many cases.
Unfortunately, some predatory programs have exploited veterans by aggressively attracting them and their GI beneits to fraudulent, falsified, or substandard programs.
The comprehensive Isakson-Roe Education Oversight Expansion Act would seek to rein in these abuses by increasing the Department of Veterans Affairs oversight capacity.
Additionally, it would look to restore benefits to defrauded veterans, and improve oversight, faster accountability, and most of all, help our veterans access the quality education they have earned.
Similarly, H.R. 3981 would require educational institutions that offer certain courses to people who are eligible for educational bene6ts administered by the VA.
Reportable events would include punitive actions by state or federal agencies, heightened monitoring of federal student aid, and the potential loss of accreditation.
Institutions that fail to report those events would become ineligible to receive benefit payments from the VA.
Unfortunately, our nation's recognition of those who served in subsequent conflicts has been less than adequate.
We have, in recent decades, too often failed to overcome our political differences to recognize the truly remarkable achievements of our courageous veterans.
We must be united in seeing that every soldier, sailor, airman, and marine in welcoming them back with all the care and compassion this grateful nation can bestow.
Our nation has a proud legacy of appreciation and commitment to the men and women who have worn the uniform in defense of this country.
Veterans continue to have many unanswered needs, and I will continue to fight for the rights of our most patriotic Americans.
BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT
Mr. BOST. Madam Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
The yeas and nays were ordered.
BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT
Source