The Veteran Education Empowerment Act reauthorizes and significantly improves a grant program designed to help institutions of higher education establish, maintain, and operate Student Veteran Centers . These centers are crucial for supporting the nearly one million veterans attending college each year, who often face unique challenges transitioning from military to academic and civilian life. The bill recognizes that dedicated spaces and comprehensive services can effectively combat isolation and aid in their success. Under this legislation, the Secretary of Education is authorized to award grants, up to $500,000 over a four-year period , to eligible institutions or consortia. To qualify, institutions must enroll a significant number or percentage of student veterans and present a sustainability plan for their center. Priority consideration is given to applicants that serve large veteran populations, are located in veteran-dense regions, partner with veteran organizations, or commit to hiring veterans as staff. Furthermore, institutions receiving grants are encouraged to provide a separate orientation for student veterans, develop retention programs, and offer mental health counseling for student veterans and their families. Funds can be used for establishing or improving the centers, as well as for supportive instruction services like admissions assistance and transfer of credit. A "Student Veteran Center" is specifically defined as a dedicated campus space offering a lounge, a centralized office for comprehensive support, and academic/tutoring services, staffed by trained personnel including veterans' benefits counselors. The bill also mandates the Secretary to submit a report to Congress within three years on the program's effectiveness, including best practices and recommendations for future expansion. Additionally, the Department of Education will develop a website detailing best practices for serving student veterans, with appropriations authorized for fiscal year 2026 and the subsequent seven fiscal years to ensure the program's continuity.