A Democratic bill with 1 Republican cosponsor · See the cosponsor
Last activity — Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
In committee
Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.
The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
This bill, known as the Veteran Education Empowerment Act, creates and improves a grant program to help colleges and universities set up, keep, and run Student Veteran Centers. It gives money to schools that enroll significant numbers of student veterans, active-duty members, or reservists, with grants lasting up to four years and capped at $500,000 per school. The program prioritizes schools that offer things like mental health counseling, veteran staffing, and dedicated student veteran orientations. It also requires the Department of Education to report back to Congress on how well the grants work and to create a website detailing best practices. Finally, the bill authorizes the funding of these grants for fiscal year 2027 and the seven succeeding fiscal years.
Yes· 3 of 20
- Scored +8
Would veterans be better off under this, taking everything together?
The legislation directly establishes and funds Student Veteran Centers to aid veterans in transitioning to college and the workforce.
- Scored +7
Does this increase the pay, pensions or support veterans receive?
The legislation provides grants to establish, maintain, and improve Student Veteran Centers offering comprehensive support, counseling, and transitional assistance.
- Scored +6
Would students be better off under this?
Student veterans receive dedicated campus lounges, peer tutoring, academic mentorship, and transition assistance.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Support with College and Career Transitions: Under Section 3 (adding Section 873(g) of the Higher Education Act of 1965), Student Veteran Centers will provide a centralized office that helps veterans transition from the military to student life and the civilian workforce, which directly benefits veterans trying to build new lives.
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Mental Health Services: Section 3 (adding Section 873(b)(3)(A)(vii)) gives priority for grants to schools that commit to providing mental health counseling to student veterans, as well as their spouses, partners, and children, helping families deal with stress and wellness.
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Financial Relief for Schools: Section 3 (adding Section 873(d)(2)) awards grants up to $500,000 over a four-year period, which helps institutions overcome budget constraints that usually make it hard or impossible to dedicate space to veteran offices and lounges.
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- Based on the provided text, there are no explicit negative impacts or burdens identified for individuals or groups of people in the United States.
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would veterans be better off under this, taking everything together? — The legislation directly establishes and funds Student Veteran Centers to aid veterans in transitioning to college and the workforce. Would students be better off under this? — Student veterans receive dedicated campus lounges, peer tutoring, academic mentorship, and transition assistance. Would people in their twenties and thirties be better off under this? — Many student veterans fall into the young adult demographic and will benefit directly from campus support centers and transitional services. Would households on low incomes be better off under this? — Support services and financial guidance provided at Student Veteran Centers help low-income veteran students navigate benefits and achieve career goals. Would people in middle age be better off under this? — Older student veterans and their families will benefit from dedicated campus spaces, counseling, and transitional resources. Would middle-income households be better off under this? — Middle-income veteran households benefit from targeted academic, career, and mental health resources on campus. Would people in rural areas be better off under this? — The bill mandates equitable distribution of grants to institutions in rural areas, expanding access to veteran resources outside major cities. Would women be better off under this? — The bill's reporting requirements specifically track demographics including women student veterans, ensuring targeted support services. Would people in cities be better off under this? — The bill ensures equitable distribution of grants to institutions in urban areas.
- Education And Technology
- Does this put more money into public schools? — The bill authorizes appropriations for grants up to $500,000 per institution to establish and operate Student Veteran Centers at higher education institutions. Does this make college cost less? — Grant funds help institutions cover the costs of veteran support services, reducing financial strain on schools and supporting student success. Does this get reliable internet to more people? — The bill requires the Department of Education to develop and implement a website detailing best practices for serving student veterans. Does this reduce what student borrowers owe or repay? — By enhancing student veteran support and academic persistence, the bill helps students progress toward degree completion, indirectly protecting their investment.
- Healthcare
- Does this make mental health care easier to get? — The bill prioritizes grant awards to institutions that commit to providing mental health counseling to student veterans and their families. Does this help veterans get medical care? — The grant program supports student veteran centers that offer health and wellness resources, including mental health counseling. Does this make health care easier to get in general? — By funding student veteran centers with mental health and support services, the bill improves healthcare access for student veterans and their families.
- National Security And Foreign Policy
- Does this increase the pay, pensions or support veterans receive? — The legislation provides grants to establish, maintain, and improve Student Veteran Centers offering comprehensive support, counseling, and transitional assistance.
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Does this invest in rural communities? — The bill ensures equitable distribution of grants to institutions in rural areas, supporting rural community development.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see? — The bill requires reports to Congress detailing the grant program's usage, demographics served, and best practices.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Is this likely to lift people out of poverty? — Supporting veterans in completing their education and transitioning to the workforce aids in long-term economic stability and poverty reduction.
- 9/29/2026
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- Introduced in Senate
5 bills Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
Marsha BlackburnRepublican · Tennessee