THRIVE Act
Jun 8, 2021
Statute: 135 Stat. 280
Became law: Jun 8, 2021
Jun 8, 2021
Statute: 135 Stat. 280
Became law: Jun 8, 2021
Summary
Helps veterans get job training for high-demand jobs and fixes rules for other veteran education programs to make them work better.
What problem does this solve?
The COVID-19 veteran retraining program needed improvements to be more effective, and other veteran benefit laws had errors that could cause confusion. This act updates the retraining program with better job placement help and reporting, and it corrects technical mistakes in other veteran benefit laws.
What does this law do?
Adds employment assistance and follow-up for veterans
Requires the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to contact veterans in the retraining program to offer job placement services and to follow up multiple times after they finish to check on their employment status.
Allows VA to modify the list of high-demand jobs
Gives the Secretary of Veterans Affairs the authority to add or remove occupations from the list of high-demand jobs eligible for the retraining program.
Requires new reporting on veteran employment outcomes
Mandates quarterly reports on the percentage of veterans who find employment after completing the retraining program, their median earnings, and credentials they attain.
Sets a funding cap and end date for the retraining program
Limits total spending on the retraining program to $386,000,000 and states that no assistance will be paid for programs that begin on or after December 11, 2022.
Adds more information about schools for veterans
Requires the VA to provide information on whether a school is affiliated with a religion, is a minority-serving institution, or is gender-specific.
Partners with nonprofits for job placement
Directs the VA to try to partner with qualified nonprofit organizations to help find jobs for veterans who participate in the retraining program.
Delays rule on location of state approving agencies
Postpones for one year a rule that stops the VA from recognizing a state approving agency if it is located at a university whose programs it is responsible for approving.
Strengthens rules against incentive-based student recruitment
Clarifies that schools and their partners cannot pay commissions, bonuses, or other incentive payments based on success in enrolling students or securing financial aid.
Who does this affect?
- Veterans
- Educational Institutions
- Nonprofit organizations serving veterans
What is the real world impact?
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Improves veteran employment support
Strengthens an existing program to help veterans who lost their jobs due to the pandemic get retrained for new careers in high-demand fields. It adds direct employment assistance and follow-up to ensure veterans find work.
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Increases transparency for student veterans
Requires the Department of Veterans Affairs to provide more detailed information about schools, such as religious affiliation or minority-serving status. This helps veterans make more informed choices about their education.
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Ensures program accountability
Adds new reporting requirements for the retraining program. This forces the government to track how many veterans get jobs and what they earn, making sure taxpayer money is used effectively.
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Gives the VA Secretary more control
Allows the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to personally add or remove jobs from the 'high-demand' list for the retraining program. This power could be used to quickly adapt to the job market, but it could also be influenced by outside pressures.
When does this start?
This law has several different start dates for its various parts.
Retraining assistance cutoff
No new retraining assistance can be paid for education programs that start on or after December 11, 2022.
Retraining program changes
The changes to the COVID-19 Veteran Rapid Retraining Assistance program are effective as if they were part of the original American Rescue Plan Act of 2021.
State approving agency location rule
The rule limiting where state approving agencies can be located will take effect one year after this act becomes law.