Section 1 Short title
This Act may be cited as the “Improving Emerging Tech Opportunities for Veterans Act of 2026”.
Improving Emerging Tech Opportunities for Veterans Act of 2026
A BILL
To amend title 38, United States Code, to provide greater opportunities for veterans to pursue education programs involving emerging technologies, and for other purposes.
Sec. 2 Inclusion of emerging technologies in high technology program
in the section heading by striking “High technology” and inserting “High technology and emerging technology”;
by striking “high technology” and inserting “high technology or emerging technology” each place such term appears; and
in subsection (c)(4) by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:
“(E) Such criteria shall also identify which technologies of critical importance, such as artificial intelligence and semiconductor manufacturing, shall be treated as emerging technologies for purposes of this section.”
Clerical amendment— The table of sections at the beginning of chapter 36 of such title is amended by striking the item relating to section 3699D and inserting the following new item:
Conforming amendments— Section 3680A of title 38, United States Code, is amended in each of subsections (a)(4)(B) and (d)(8) by striking “high technology” and inserting “high technology or emerging technology”.
Sec. 3 Critical stakeholder partnerships for emerging technologies
Partnerships required— The Secretary of Veterans Affairs, in partnership with critical stakeholders, shall—
identify specific types of industries and occupations that, as a result of emerging technologies, are likely to have high employment and growth potential for individuals with appropriate education, training, or skills; and
identify courses of education that help veterans acquire the appropriate education, training, or skills to become employed in such industries and occupations.
Prominent dissemination—
Secretary of Veterans Affairs— The Secretary shall ensure that such emerging technologies, and such courses of education, industries, and occupations, are—
prominently displayed on the website of the Department of Veterans Affairs; and
promoted in transition services administered by the Secretary.
Secretary of Defense— The Secretary of Defense shall ensure that such emerging technologies, and such courses of education, industries, and occupations, are—
prominently displayed on the website of the Department of Defense; and
promoted in transition services administered by the Secretary of Defense.
Secretary of Labor— The Secretary of Labor shall ensure that such emerging technologies, and such courses of education, industries, and occupations, are promoted in transition services administered by the Secretary of Labor.
Determination of emerging technologies— The Secretary shall, in consultation with the Secretary of Labor—
determine which technologies of critical importance, such as artificial intelligence and semiconductor manufacturing, shall be treated as emerging technologies for purposes of this section; and
on a quarterly basis—
update the list of industries and occupations identified in subsection (a)(1) as market conditions and demand evolve; and
use the updated list in carrying out subsection (b).
Sunset— This section shall terminate on September 30, 2027.
Critical stakeholders defined— In this section, the term critical stakeholders means persons in the private sector who have an interest in supporting veterans to pursue veteran education programs involving emerging technologies, such as employers in relevant industries, educational institutions offering relevant programs (whether or not leading to a standard college degree), and nonprofit organizations.