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House Approves Several SVA Policy Priorities

05/24/2021

The House of Representatives passed a dozen pieces of legislation covering all aspects of the benefits and services used by veterans, survivors, and their families at the Department of Veterans Affairs.  

Included within the dozen bills are several SVA policy priorities, such as the continuation of VA’s Round-Out Rule, the creation of a Veterans Economic Opportunity and Transition Administration within VA, additional funding for VET TEC, and continued COVID-19 protections. SVA appreciates work by the House Veterans Affairs Committee to see these bills through and looks forward to working with the Senate to ensure full passage.  

GI Bill National Emergency Extended Deadline Act  

Allows VA to pause GI Bill delimiting dates during a national emergency when a school closes or when a student cannot continue their program of study.  The bill also addresses several outstanding priorities related to the GI Bill, such as Digital GI Bill oversight and in-state tuition for DEA beneficiaries. 

Veterans Economic Opportunity and Transition Administration 

Amends title 38, United States Code, to establish in the Department the a Fourth Administration with VA, which would be focused on the economic opportunity services and benefits, such as GI Bill, VR&E, home loan and related programs, TAP, and a database on small business concerns owned by veterans. 

Native VetSuccess at Tribal Colleges and Universities Pilot Program Act 

  • Requires VA to begin five-year pilot program to establish Vet Success on Campus (VSOC) at Tribal Colleges and Universities around the country.  
  • Increases funding for the VET TEC pilot program to help meet demand.   
  • Authorizes VA to continue the “Round-Out Rule” practice for student veterans using the GI Bill, a practice that allows students to take non-required courses to maintain full-time student status in their final semester. 

VA Transparency & Trust Act of 2021  

Requires VA to submit a plan detailing how the agency plans to spend COVID-relief funding received. It also requires an audit report of the submitted plan.  

Protecting Moms Who Served Act 

Requires VA to implement the maternity care coordination program and provide community maternity care providers outside VA with training and support for the unique needs of veterans, specifically the behavior and health conditions unique to service.  

PAWS for Veterans Therapy Act  

  • Creates a five-year pilot program to provide canine training to veterans diagnosed with PTSD, which would provide the dog and veterinary care.
  • To be eligible, veterans must have PTSD diagnosis or a visual, hearing, or substantial mobility impairment, as well as other requirements the VA may require. 

Improving VA Accountability to Prevent Sexual Harassment and Discrimination Act of 2021   

Expands the Equal Employment Opportunity responsibilities at VA and requires a 180-day deadline for Harassment Prevention Program to be established and an accompanying handbook be disseminated by VA. 

Equal Employment Counseling Modernization Act

Eliminates the cap on the number of full-time employees at VA who provide equal employment opportunity counseling. 

Homeless Veterans with Children Reintegration Act 

Directs Department of Labor to give homeless veterans with dependents service priority under reintegration programs for veterans experiencing homelessness. 

West LA VA Campus Improvement Act of 2021 

Requires VA to use any revenues associated at VA’s West Los Angeles Campus to be used exclusively for specific purposes on campus, such as: renovation and maintenance, construction, maintenance, and services related to temporary and permanent housing for homeless and at-risk veterans, minor construction projects, and community operations on campus that support emergency shelters or supportive housing for homeless or at-risk veterans and families. 

Cameras in VA Medical Centers

Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to submit to Congress on its policies and procedures relating to usage and maintenance of video cameras for patient safety and law enforcement at VA medical facilities. 

Sgt. Ketchum Rural Veterans Mental Health Act  

  • Requires VA to establish three new centers of the Rural Access Network for Growth Enhancement (RANGE) program in areas with interest from personnel and a need for additional mental health care for rural veterans.
  • Also requires GAO study and report on VA’s resources for rural veterans needing mental healthcare. 

SVA Celebrates Major End-of-Year Policy Victories

Advocacy

VA Delays New Enrollment Manager System to Reduce Impact on Student Veterans

SVA Quarterly Newsletter (Fall 2022)

Federal Government Announces New Actions on Student Loan Debt

PACT Act Status Update

Advocacy

SVA presents testimony on pending legislation before the HVAC EO

Raytheon Missiles & Defense and Student Veterans of America announce 2022 Patriot Scholarship Recipients

Advocacy

ED to Accept DD-214s in Certifying Military Service for Public Student Loan Forgiveness

Student Veterans of America Receives $8 Million Grant from MacKenzie Scott

Student Veterans of America Names Three Board Members, Including Current Student and Recent Graduate

Events

Watch the 2022 State of SVA

Events

NatCon 2022 SVA Honors Award Recipients

Events

Student Veterans of America Awards Inaugural Senator Bob Dole Continued Service Award to Global War on Terrorism Memorial Foundation

Events

Media Advisory: Student Veterans of America (SVA) 2022 National Conference

Advocacy

COVID-19 Protections Extended and Rounding Out Restored

Events

SVA Honors: Meet our Finalists

COVID-19 Benefit Protections and Rounding Out: Updates for Student Veterans

NatCon 2022: Registration is Open!

What the New PSLF Changes Mean for Service Members and Veterans 

SVA Joins MTV Entertainment’s Mental Health Youth Action Forum

Rutgers CMSI and Student Veterans of America Partner to Support Student Veterans at MSIs

SVA Alumni Participates in Foreign Affairs Information Technology (FAIT) Fellowship

Student Veterans of America Joins Welcome.US

Comcast NBCUniversal and SVA Announce 2021 Scholarship Recipients

Applications Open for 2022 VFW, SVA Legislative Fellowship

Current Events in Afghanistan: What can Chapter Leaders do to Help?  

A Message to Our Community in Response to Current Events in Afghanistan

VHA Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DE&I) Listening Sessions for Veterans

Appropriations Brief: Department of Veterans Affairs and Department of Education  

The Bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act

SVA Announces 2021 Google Scholarship Recipients

Meet the SVA Programs & Services Team

Court: Veterans with Multiple Periods of Service Entitled to Additional GI Bill Benefits

Events

Stay Engaged this Summer with Chapter Events

Refresh of Higher Education Regulations Announced

Student Veterans of America Names Two Board Members

What Revitalizing America’s Infrastructure Could Mean for Student Veterans 

Raytheon Missiles & Defense and SVA Announce 2021 SPY-6 Scholarship Recipients

House Approves Several SVA Policy Priorities

Partners

Veteran Wellness Alliance Offers Trusted Care Through Check-In

SVA Joins First National Mental Health Action Day

SVA Joins Vietnam War Commemorative Partners

Top Ten Takeaways: The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021

Events

Watch the 2021 State of SVA

Events

2021 SVA Honors Award Recipients

Events

The 2021 SVA Honors Gala: Meet our Finalists

COVID-19 FAQs

What the CARES Act Means for Student Veterans, Service Members, and their Families

Events

Join SVA for the National Day of Service

Advocacy, COVID-19

Final Bills of the 116th Congress

Advocacy, COVID-19

Major Veteran Legislation Clears Congress

SVA Statement on VA Office of Inspector General Report

Events

NatCon Returns: February 19-20

Events

GVSU Announces Veteran Promise

Events

SVA Debuts Public Service Announcement

Events

Jared Lyon Delivers Veterans Day Remarks

Events

How to Stream Veterans Day Events

#VOTE Like a Veteran

Events

Raytheon Missiles & Defense and Student Veterans of America announce 2020 Patriot Scholarship Recipients

Events

Jared Lyon Named 2020 NYC Veterans Day Grand Marshal

Advocacy

Volunteer to Power The Polls

Advocacy, COVID-19

Pandemic Assistance for Student Veterans Act Introduced

Events

Veterans Day on Your Campus: Virtual Event Ideas

Events

Leadership Institute Applications Open

Advocacy

Moving Beyond Patchwork Systems: The Future of Education Services IT

Events

Regional Summit Starts on September 26th

Advocacy

Legislative Updates: Fall 2020

Research

Survey Finds 96% of Student Veterans Will Vote

Partners

Apply for the Raytheon Patriot Scholarship

Partners

Resources for Student Veterans During COVID-19

Events

Watch Home with the Brave: A Graduation Salute

SVA

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