House advances Johnson, Cole bill to expand veteran services at tribal colleges, universities

The U.S. House Veterans’ Affairs Committee on May 4 marked up, amended and passed a bipartisan bill introduced by U.S. Reps. Dusty Johnson (R-SD) and Tom Cole (R-OK) that would expand the VetSuccess on Campus (VSOC) program to tribal colleges and universities.

“Yesterday the Veterans’ Affairs Committee signed off on our bill,” Rep. Johnson said on May 5, “getting us one step closer to ensuring our native veterans are able to take full advantage of the services they’ve earned.”

Reps. Johnson and Cole on April 28 signed on as original cosponsors of the Native VetSuccess at Tribal Colleges and Universities Pilot Program Act, H.R. 2878, with bill sponsor U.S. Rep. Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), to carry out the VSOC at tribal colleges and universities.

If enacted, H.R. 2878 aims to connect native veterans and their families to U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) services and vocational support. The program places VA counselors on campus to help United States military veterans, service members and their qualified dependents complete their education and prepare for future employment, according to a bill summary provided by Rep. Johnson’s staff.

“Educational and career counseling programs are critical to the long-term success of our native veterans,” said Rep. Johnson. “There’s no reason the VetSuccess on Campus program shouldn’t include tribal colleges as well.”

Rep. Cole, co-chair of the congressional Native American Caucus, pointed out that by establishing a VSOC pilot program at tribal colleges and universities, Native American veterans would be connected to programs such as educational and career counseling, vocational testing and expedited veteran readiness and employment services. 

“Native Americans lead all racial and ethnic groups in terms of enlisting for military service and we must continue to provide them with access to the quality education they truly deserve,” said Rep. Cole.

The American Indian Higher Education Consortium and the National Congress of American Indians endorsed H.R. 2878, which now advances to the full chamber for consideration.