H.R. 9410: VA Education Oversight Improvement Act

This bill would make several changes to how the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) oversees education programs that receive VA benefits.

What the bill would do

• Expand oversight to outside contractors. It would make clear that the VA’s oversight authority includes third-party contractors used by educational institutions, not just the schools themselves.

• Broaden the types of school activities the VA can review. The bill would change the law so oversight can cover a school’s advertising, marketing, recruiting, and enrollment practices rather than only advertising and recruiting.

• Include all locations where approved programs are offered. The VA’s oversight scope would extend to any location where an approved course or program is offered, including locations in foreign countries.

• Require annual reporting through 2028. Each year through October 1, 2028, the VA Secretary would have to assess activities related to approving courses or programs provided by third-party contractors of educational institutions and submit a report to the House and Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committees. The report would also need to include any recommendations for legislative or regulatory changes the Secretary believes are appropriate.

• Extend State Approving Agency authority through 2028. State Approving Agencies help review and approve education programs for VA benefits. The bill would authorize the VA Secretary’s recognition of these agencies until October 1, 2028. After that date, any law that refers to a State Approving Agency in a state would instead be treated as referring to the VA Secretary for that state.

Practical effect

In plain terms, the bill would give the VA and State Approving Agencies clearer and broader authority to check how schools and their contractors operate when they participate in VA education benefit programs. It would also create a temporary reporting requirement so Congress receives yearly updates on how these approvals are being handled.

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