S. 5582 — Veteran Education Empowerment Act

This section provides findings on the challenges faced by nearly 1,000,000 student veterans each year in higher education, including age differences, family obligations, time away from academics, service-related disabilities, and isolation on campus. It recognizes Student Veteran Centers as an institutional best practice and notes the prior authorization of the Centers of Excellence for Veteran Student Success program.

This section establishes a grant program authorizing the Secretary of Education to award grants to institutions of higher education or consortia to establish, maintain, improve, and operate Student Veteran Centers. Grants last 4 years, may not exceed $500,000 total, and require a sustainability plan; the Secretary must prioritize applicants that enroll significant numbers or percentages of student veterans, serve high-veteran communities, partner with veteran service organizations, hire veterans, provide separate orientations, run retention programs, and offer mental health counseling, while ensuring equitable geographic and institutional distribution.