Veterans Economic Opportunity Administration Act of 2013 - Establishes in the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) a Veterans Economic Opportunity Administration (VEOA), headed by the Under Secretary for Veterans Economic Opportunity, to administer VA programs of economic opportunity assistance to veterans and their dependents and survivors. Requires VEOA to administer the following VA programs: (1) vocational rehabilitation and employment programs; (2) educational assistance programs; (3) veterans' housing loan and related programs; and (4) veterans' small business programs, including the program to increase participation in VA contracts by small business concerns owned and controlled by veterans who have service-connected disabilities and by veterans who do not have such disabilities.
Limits the aggregate number of full-time equivalent employees authorized for the Veterans Benefit Administration and VEOA for FY2014.
[Congressional Bills 113th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2327 Introduced in House (IH)]
113th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 2327
To amend title 38, United States Code, to establish in the Department
of Veterans Affairs a Veterans Economic Opportunity Administration, and
for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
June 12, 2013
Mr. Miller of Florida introduced the following bill; which was referred
to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend title 38, United States Code, to establish in the Department
of Veterans Affairs a Veterans Economic Opportunity Administration, and
for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Veterans Economic Opportunity
Administration Act of 2013''.
SEC. 2. ESTABLISHMENT OF VETERANS ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY ADMINISTRATION
OF DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.
(a) Economic Opportunity Administration.--Part V of title 38,
United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new
chapter:
``CHAPTER 80--VETERANS ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY ADMINISTRATION
``8001. Organization of Administration.
``8002. Functions of Administration.
``Sec. 8001. Organization of Administration
``(a) Veterans Economic Opportunity Administration.--There is in
the Department of Veterans Affairs a Veterans Economic Opportunity
Administration. The primary function of the Veterans Economic
Opportunity Administration is the administration of the programs of the
Department which provide assistance related to economic opportunity to
veterans and their dependents and survivors.
``(b) Under Secretary for Economic Opportunity.--The Veterans
Economic Opportunity Administration is under the Under Secretary for
Veterans Economic Opportunity, who is directly responsible to the
Secretary for the operations of the Administration.
``Sec. 8002. Functions of Administration
``The Veterans Economic Opportunity Administration is responsible
for the administration of the following programs of the Department:
``(1) Vocational rehabilitation and employment programs.
``(2) Educational assistance programs.
``(3) Veterans' housing loan and related programs.
``(4) Veterans small business programs, including the
program under section 8127 of this title.''.
(b) Clerical Amendments.--The tables of chapters at the beginning
of title 38, and of part V of title 38, are each amended by inserting
after the item relating to chapter 79 the following new item:
``80. Veterans Economic Opportunity Administration.......... 8001''.
SEC. 3. UNDER SECRETARY FOR VETERANS ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY.
(a) Under Secretary.--Chapter 3 of title 38, United States Code, is
amended by inserting after section 306 the following new section:
``Sec. 306A. Under Secretary for Veterans Economic Opportunity
``(a) Under Secretary.--There is in the Department an Under
Secretary for Veterans Economic Opportunity, who is appointed by the
President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate. The Under
Secretary for Veterans Economic Opportunity shall be appointed without
regard to political affiliation or activity and solely on the basis of
demonstrated ability in--
``(1) information technology; and
``(2) the administration of programs within the Veterans
Economic Opportunity Administration or programs of similar
content and scope.
``(b) Responsibilities.--The Under Secretary for Veterans Economic
Opportunity is the head of, and is directly responsible to the
Secretary for the operations of, the Veterans Economic Opportunity
Administration.
``(c) Vacancies.--(1) Whenever a vacancy in the position of Under
Secretary for Veterans Economic Opportunity occurs or is anticipated,
the Secretary shall establish a commission to recommend individuals to
the President for appointment to the position.
``(2) A commission established under this subsection shall be
composed of the following members appointed by the Secretary:
``(A) Three persons representing education and training,
vocational rehabilitation, employment, real estate, mortgage
finance and related industries, and survivor benefits
activities affected by the Veterans Economic Opportunity
Administration.
``(B) Two persons representing veterans served by the
Veterans Economic Opportunity Administration.
``(C) Two persons who have experience in the management of
private sector benefits programs of similar content and scope
to the economic opportunity programs of the Department.
``(D) The Deputy Secretary of Veterans Affairs.
``(E) The chairman of the Veterans' Advisory Committee on
Education formed under section 3692 of this title.
``(F) One person who has held the position of Under
Secretary for Veterans Economic Opportunity, if the Secretary
determines that it is desirable for such person to be a member
of the commission.
``(3) A commission established under this subsection shall
recommend at least three individuals for appointment to the position of
Under Secretary for Veterans Economic Opportunity. The commission shall
submit all recommendations to the Secretary. The Secretary shall
forward the recommendations to the President and the Committees on
Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and House of Representatives with any
comments the Secretary considers appropriate. Thereafter, the President
may request the commission to recommend additional individuals for
appointment.
``(4) The Assistant Secretary or Deputy Assistant Secretary of
Veterans Affairs who performs personnel management and labor relations
functions shall serve as the executive secretary of a commission
established under this subsection.
``(d) Qualifications of Recommended Individuals.--Each individual
recommended to the President by the commission for appointment to the
position of Under Secretary for Veterans Economic Opportunity shall be
an individual who has held a senior level position in the private
sector with responsibilities relating to at least one of the following:
``(1) Education policy.
``(2) Vocational rehabilitation.
``(3) Employment.
``(4) Home loan finance.
``(5) Small business development.''.
(b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the beginning of
such chapter is amended by inserting after the item relating to section
306 the following new item:
``306A. Under Secretary for Veterans Economic Opportunity.''.
(c) Conforming Amendments.--Such title is further amended--
(1) in section 7701(a), by inserting after ``assistance''
the following: ``, other than assistance related to economic
opportunity,'';
(2) in section 7703, by striking paragraphs (2) and (3) and
redesignating paragraphs (4) and (5) as paragraphs (2) and (3),
respectively;
(3) in section 306(c)(2), by striking subparagraphs (A) and
(E) and redesignating subparagraphs (B), (C), (D), and (F), as
subparagraphs (A) through (D), respectively;
(4) in section 317(d), by inserting after ``Under Secretary
for Benefits'' the following: ``, the Under Secretary for
Veterans Economic Opportunity,'';
(5) in section 318(d)(2), by inserting after ``Under
Secretary for Benefits'' the following: ``, the Under Secretary
for Veterans Economic Opportunity,'';
(6) in section 516(e)(2)(C), by striking ``Health and the
Under Secretary for Benefits'' and inserting ``Health, the
Under Secretary for Benefits, and the Under Secretary for
Veterans Economic Opportunity'';
(7) in section 541(a)(2)(B), by striking ``Health and the
Under Secretary for Benefits'' and inserting ``Health, the
Under Secretary for Benefits, and the Under Secretary for
Veterans Economic Opportunity'';
(8) in section 542(a)(2)(A)(iii), by striking ``Health and
the Under Secretary for Benefits'' and inserting ``Health, the
Under Secretary for Benefits, and the Under Secretary for
Veterans Economic Opportunity'';
(9) in section 544(a)(2)(B)(vi), by striking ``Health and
the Under Secretary for Benefits'' and inserting ``Health, the
Under Secretary for Benefits, and the Under Secretary for
Veterans Economic Opportunity''; and
(10) in section 709(c)(2)(A), by inserting after ``Under
Secretary for Benefits'' the following: ``, the Under Secretary
for Veterans Economic Opportunity,''.
(d) Full-Time Employees.--For fiscal year 2014, the aggregate
number of full-time equivalent employees authorized for the Veterans
Benefit Administration and the Veterans Economic Opportunity
Administration, as established under chapter 80 of title 38, United
States Code, as added by section 2, may not exceed 20,851.
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity.
Subcommittee Hearings Held.
Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee (Amended) by Voice Vote .
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