“(a) Short Title.—
This section [enacting this note] may be cited as the ‘Native VetSuccess at Tribal Colleges and Universities Pilot Program Act’.
“(b) Pilot Program.—
“(1) In general.—
Not later than 18 months after the date of the enactment of this Act [Dec. 29, 2022], the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall commence carrying out a pilot program to assess the feasibility and advisability of expanding the VetSuccess on Campus program to additional Tribal colleges and universities.
“(2) Designation.—
The pilot program carried out under paragraph (1) shall be known as the ‘Native VetSuccess at Tribal Colleges and Universities Pilot Program’.
“(c) Duration.—
The Secretary shall carry out the pilot program required by subsection (b)(1) during the five-year period beginning on the date of the commencement of the pilot program.
“(d) Parameters.—Under the pilot program required by subsection (b)(1) the Secretary shall—
“(1)
identify three regional Native VetSuccess service areas consisting of at least two participating Tribal colleges or universities that do not already have a VetSuccess program, counselor, or outreach coordinator; and
“(2) assign to each regional Native VetSuccess service area a VetSuccess on Campus counselor and a full-time Vet Center outreach coordinator, both of whom shall—
“(A)
be based on one or more of the participating Tribal colleges or universities in the service area; and
“(B)
provide for eligible students at such participating colleges and universities with all services for which such students would be eligible under the VetSuccess on Campus program of the Department of Veterans Affairs.
“(e) Eligible Students.—
For purposes of the pilot program, an eligible student is a student who is a veteran, member of the Armed Forces, or dependent of a veteran or member of the Armed Forces who is eligible for any service or benefit under the VetSuccess on Campus program of the Department.
“(f) Consultation Requirement.—In developing the pilot program required by subsection (b)(1), the Secretary shall, acting through the Veteran Readiness and Employment Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs and in coordination with the Office of Tribal Government Relations of the Department, consult with Indian Tribes, and Tribal organizations, and seek comment from the Advisory Committee on Tribal and Indian Affairs of the Department, and veterans service organizations regarding each of the following:
“(1)
The design of the pilot program.
“(2) The process for selection of the three regional Native VetSuccess service areas and participating Tribal colleges and universities, taking into consideration—
“(A)
the number of eligible students enrolled in the college or university and in the regional service area;
“(B)
the capacity of the colleges and universities in the regional service area to accommodate a full-time VetSuccess on Campus counselor and a full-time Vet Center outreach coordinator;
“(C)
barriers in specific regional service areas that prevent native veterans’ access to benefits and services under the laws administered by the Secretary; and
“(D)
any other factor that the Secretary, in consultation with Indian Tribes and Tribal organizations, and after considering input from veterans service organizations and the Advisory Committee on Tribal and Indian Affairs identifies as relevant.
“(3)
The most effective way to provide culturally competent outreach and services to eligible students at Tribal colleges and universities.
“(g) Outreach to Colleges and Universities.—
The Secretary shall provide notice of the pilot program to all Tribal colleges and universities and encourage all Tribal colleges and universities to coordinate with each other to create regional service areas to participate in the pilot program.
“(h) Briefings and Reports.—
“(1) Implementation briefing.—Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act [Dec. 29, 2022], the Secretary shall provide the appropriate committees of Congress a briefing on—
“(A)
the design, structure, and objectives of the pilot program required by subsection (b)(1); and
“(B)
the three regional Native Vet Success service areas and the Tribal colleges and universities selected for participation in the pilot program and the reason for the selection of such service areas and such colleges and universities.
“(2) Report.—
“(A) In general.—
Not later than four years after the date on which the Secretary commences the pilot program under subsection (b)(1), the Secretary shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report on the pilot program.
“(B) Contents.—The report submitted under subparagraph (A) shall include each of the following:
“(i)
The number of eligible students provided services through the pilot program.
“(ii)
The types of services that eligible students received through the pilot program.
“(iii)
The graduation rate of eligible students who received services through the pilot program and graduation rate of eligible students who did not receive services through the pilot program.
“(iv)
The rate of employment within one year of graduation for eligible students who received services through the pilot program.
“(v)
Feedback from each Tribal college or university that participated in the pilot program, including on the regional nature of the program.
“(vi)
Analysis of the feasibility of expanding a regionally based Native VetSuccess at Tribal Colleges and Universities Program, including an explanation of the challenges of such a model due to issues with distance, communication, and coordination, and to the level of unmet services.
“(vii)
A detailed proposal regarding a long-term extension of the pilot program, including a budget, unless the Secretary determines that such an extension is not appropriate.
“(i) Definitions.—In this section:
“(1) Appropriate committee of congress.—The term ‘appropriate committees of Congress’ means—
“(A)
the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs and the Committee on Indian Affairs of the Senate; and
“(B)
the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs and the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives.
“(2) Culturally competent.—
The term ‘culturally competent’ means considerate of the unique values, customs, traditions, cultures, and languages of Native American veterans.
