Veteran Education Empowerment Act

The Veteran Education Empowerment Act (S 498) creates a federal grant program to help colleges and universities establish or improve dedicated Student Veteran Centers. It authorizes up to $500,000 per institution over four years for centers that provide veterans, active-duty service members, and reservists with a physical space, centralized support services, benefits counseling, and mental health resources. Eligible schools must demonstrate significant veteran enrollment and include veteran staff, peer mentoring, and programs addressing transition challenges like academic credit transfer and workforce readiness. The bill requires grantees to report on outcomes like retention rates and center usage, with the Department of Education later publishing best practices online.