This bill directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to work with "critical stakeholders" to identify emerging technologies and the industries and jobs that will grow because of them. The Secretary must also identify education and training courses that help veterans gain the skills for those jobs. The bill requires the VA to highlight those technologies and courses in the Transition Assistance Program (TAP) and on the VA website. Within 90 days of enactment, the VA must set up an expedited process to approve courses for use with VA education benefits under chapters 34, 35, and 36 of title 38. The VA must consult the Secretary of Labor to decide which technologies count as "emerging technologies," with examples such as artificial intelligence and semiconductor manufacturing. The bill defines "critical stakeholders" as private-sector employers, educational institutions (including non-degree programs), and non-profits. This section ends on September 30, 2027. The bill also amends section 3699C of title 38 to rename the program to "High technology and emerging technology program," to add emerging technology to other statutory references, and to require criteria that identify which technologies are treated as emerging. Additional clerical and conforming edits are made to related sections.
If you are a veteran, the bill would require more prominent information about training and jobs in areas like AI and semiconductors in TAP and on the VA website. It would also require a faster VA approval process for courses tied to those technologies so veterans can use VA education benefits for those programs more quickly.
No publicly available information.
The sponsor and supporters introduced the bill to provide greater opportunities for veterans to pursue education programs involving emerging technologies and to speed approval of relevant courses so veterans can access training and job pathways in growing industries.
No publicly available information.