S.Amdt. 3129

1. Adds SEC. 1084. OUTREACH ON AVAILABILITY OF EDUCATIONAL AND VOCATIONAL COUNSELING at the end of subtitle H of title X

   Adds a section

   In S. 3254 · Placed on Calendar Senate

   (2) to strongly urge the Department of Defense to investigate innovative mechanisms (subject to all appropriate security requirements) to access to the pool of talent of non- United States citizens with advanced scientific and technical degrees from United States institutions of higher education, especially in those scientific and technical areas that are most vital to the national defense (such as those identified by the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering and the Armed Forces).

   Inserted: SEC. 1084. OUTREACH ON AVAILABILITY OF EDUCATIONAL AND VOCATIONAL COUNSELING.

   Inserted: (a) Outreach.--

   Inserted: (1) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall develop and implement an outreach plan to better inform veterans about the availability of counseling services under section 3697A of title 38, United States Code, in order to achieve higher rates of utilization of such counseling services.

   Inserted: (2) Elements.--The plan required by paragraph (1) shall include the following:

   Inserted: (A) A more prominent notice on the Internet website of the Department of Veterans Affairs of the availability of such counseling services.

   Inserted: (B) Use of social media and veterans service organizations.

   Inserted: (C) Inclusion of information regarding such counseling services in appropriate mailings from the Department.

   Inserted: (b) Report.--

   Inserted: (1) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the House of Representatives a detailed report on the counseling services provided under section 3697A of title 38, United States Code.

   Inserted: (2) Elements.--The report required by paragraph (1) shall include the following:

   Inserted: (A) The number of veterans who requested counseling services under such section in fiscal years 2010, 2011, and 2012.

   Inserted: (B) Specifics regarding the information that is provided to veterans as part of such counseling services, including any data provided on educational institutions.

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   Inserted: (C) Results of satisfaction surveys submitted by individuals who have utilized such counseling services at any time during the three-year period ending on the date of the enactment of this Act for each individual contractor who provided such counseling services on behalf of the Secretary and a description of any action taken by the Secretary with regard to specific contractors as a result of such satisfaction surveys.

   Inserted: (D) A description of the actions the Secretary intends to undertake to increase the usage, availability, and quality of such counseling services carried out through contractors.

   Inserted: (E) Recommendations for such legislative and administration action as the Secretary considers necessary to increase the usage and availability of such counseling services.

   Inserted: SEC. 1085. VETERANS' EDUCATION CONSUMER COMPLAINT TRACKING SYSTEM.

   Inserted: (a) In General.--Chapter 36 of title 38, United States Code, is amended by inserting after section 3693 the following new section:

   Inserted: "Sec. 3693A. Complaint tracking system

   Inserted: "(a) Establishment.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this section, the Secretary shall establish a system to collect, process, and track complaints submitted to the Secretary by individuals who are enrolled in programs of education at educational institutions to report instances of fraud, waste, and abuse by such institutions with respect to the benefits and services provided by such institutions to such individuals.

   Inserted: "(b) Requirements.--This system established under subsection (a) shall meet the following requirements:

   Inserted: "(1) The system shall create an individual case number for each complaint processed and tracked in the system.

   Inserted: "(2) The system shall allow for the reporting of complaints, disaggregated by educational institution.

   Inserted: "(3) The system shall allow for the reporting of complaints, disaggregated by topic or subject matter.

   Inserted: "(4) The system shall allow for the submittal of complaints by--

   Inserted: "(A) Internet website; and

   Inserted: "(B) telephone via a toll-free number that is available every day at all hours.

   Inserted: "(5) The system shall allow for the sharing of complaints with and between the following:

   Inserted: "(A) The educational institutions that are the subjects of the complaints.

   Inserted: "(B) The Secretary of Education.

   Inserted: "(C) The Secretary of Defense.

   Inserted: "(D) State approving agencies.

   Inserted: "(E) Nationally or regionally recognized accrediting agencies and associations.

   Inserted: "(F) Such other Federal agencies as the Secretary of Veterans Affairs considers appropriate.

   Inserted: "(c) Outreach.--(1) The Secretary shall conduct such outreach as may be necessary to inform individuals described in subsection (a) of the system and process established under such subsection.

   Inserted: "(2) In conducting outreach under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall advise individuals of the kinds of complaints that are appropriate for submittal for inclusion in the system established under subsection (a).

   Inserted: "(d) Consideration.--Whenever the Secretary considers whether to approve a course of education of an educational institution under this chapter, the Secretary shall review and take into consideration the complaints processed and tracked by the system established under subsection (a) regarding the educational institution.

   Inserted: "(e) Privacy.--(1) Whenever a complaint is shared under subsection (b)(5), the complaint shall be anonymized, unless the complainant gives permission to the Secretary to share the complainant's identity.

   Inserted: "(2) The Secretary may not share a complaint under subsection (b)(5) with an educational institution if the complainant requests that such complaint not be shared with an educational institution.".

   Inserted: (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the beginning of chapter 36 of such title is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 3693 the following new item:

   Inserted: "3693A. Complaint tracking system.".

   Original wording

   At the end of subtitle H of title X, add the following:

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As printed