Veterans Economic Recovery Act of 2020
This bill addresses the employment and retraining of veterans, specifically during the COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019) public health emergency.
The bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to implement a program under which the VA must provide up to 12 months of nontransferable retraining assistance to up to 35,000 eligible veterans for the pursuit of a specified program of education. Under the bill, an eligible veteran is an individual who, among other requirements, is unemployed due to COVID-19. Veterans who receive retraining assistance may only use such assistance to pursue specified programs, including those designed to provide training for high-demand occupations.
The Government Accountability Office must report on the outcomes and effectiveness of the retraining assistance program.
The bill provides access to the National Directory of New Hires to the VA and the Department of Labor for the purpose of tracking the employment of veterans.
The bill makes updates to the VA's High Technology Pilot Program, including by expanding the class of providers of high technology education programs.
The bill reauthorizes and expands the program for the provision of off-base transition training for veterans and their spouses, including by requiring a preference for participation by states with economies significantly impacted by COVID-19.
Finally, the bill implements a five-year grant program requiring the VA to make grants to organizations for the provision of transition assistance to members of the Armed Forces who are separated, retired, or discharged from the Armed Forces, and spouses of such members.
[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 7111 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
116th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 7111
To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out a retraining
assistance program for unemployed veterans, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
June 4, 2020
Mr. David P. Roe of Tennessee (for himself, Mr. Bilirakis, Mr. Banks,
Mrs. Radewagen, Mr. Bost, Mr. Dunn, Mr. Wenstrup, Mr. Bergman, Mr.
Arrington, Mr. Levin of California, Mr. Barr, and Mr. Meuser)
introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on
Veterans' Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means,
for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case
for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of
the committee concerned
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out a retraining
assistance program for unemployed veterans, 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 Recovery Act of
2020''.
SEC. 2. COVID-19 VETERAN RAPID RETRAINING ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.
(a) In General.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall carry out
a program under which the Secretary shall provide up to 12 months of
retraining assistance to an eligible veteran for the pursuit of a
covered program of education. Such retraining assistance shall be in
addition to any other entitlement to educational assistance or benefits
for which a veteran is, or has been, eligible.
(b) Eligible Veterans.--
(1) In general.--For purposes of this section, the term
``eligible veteran'' means a veteran who--
(A) as of the date of the submittal of the
application for assistance under this section, is at
least 25 years of age but not more than 60 years of
age;
(B) as of the date of the submittal of the
application for assistance under this section, is
unemployed by reason of the covered public health
emergency, as certified by the veteran;
(C) as of the date of the submittal of the
application for assistance under this section, is not
eligible to receive educational assistance under
chapter 30, 31, 32, 33, or 35 of title 38, United
States Code, or chapter 1606 or 1607 of title 10,
United States Code;
(D) is not enrolled in any Federal or State jobs
program;
(E) is not in receipt of compensation for a
service-connected disability rated totally disabling by
reason of unemployability; and
(F) will not be in receipt of unemployment
compensation (as defined in section 85(b) of the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986), including any cash
benefit received pursuant to subtitle A of title II of
division A of the Cares Act (Public Law 116-136), as of
the first day on which the veteran would pursue a
program of education using retraining assistance under
this section.
(2) Treatment of veterans who transfer entitlement.--For
purposes of paragraph (1)(C), a veteran who has transferred all
of the veteran's entitlement to educational assistance under
section 3319 of title 38, United States Code, shall be
considered to be a veteran who is not eligible to receive
educational assistance under chapter 33 of such title.
(3) Failure to complete.--A veteran who receives retraining
assistance under this section to pursue a program of education
and who fails to complete the program of education shall not be
eligible to receive additional assistance under this section.
(c) Covered Programs of Education.--
(1) In general.--Each eligible veteran who receives
retraining assistance under this section may only use such
assistance to pursue a program of education (as such term is
defined in section 3452(b) of title 38, United States Code) for
training, on a full-time or part-time basis, that--
(A) that--
(i) is approved under chapter 36 of such
title;
(ii) does not lead to a bachelors or
graduate degree; and
(iii) is designed to provide training for a
high-demand occupation, as determined under
paragraph (2); or
(B) is a high technology programs of education
offered by a qualified provider, under the meaning of
such terms in section 116 of the Harry W. Colmery
Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2017 (Public Law
115-48; 38 U.S.C. 3001 note).
(2) Accredited programs.--In the case of an accredited
program of education, the program of education shall not be
considered a covered program of education under this section if
the program has received a show cause order from the accreditor
of the program during the five-year period preceding the date
of the enactment of this Act.
(3) Determination of high-demand occupations.--
(A) Initial implementation.--In carrying out this
section, the Secretary shall use the list of high-
demand occupations compiled by the Commissioner of
Labor Statistics until the final list under
subparagraph (C) is complete.
(B) Study required.--The Secretary of Veterans
Affairs shall enter into an agreement with a federally
funded research and development corporation or another
appropriate non-Department entity for the conduct of a
study to determine which occupations are high-demand
occupations. Such study shall be completed not later
than 30 days after the date of the enactment of this
Act.
(C) Final list.--The Secretary--
(i) may add or remove occupation from the
list in use pursuant to subparagraph (A) during
the 60-day period following the completion of
the study required by subparagraph (B);
(ii) shall issue a final list of high-
demand occupations for use under this section
by not later than 60 days after the date of the
completion of the study; and
(iii) shall make such final list publicly
available on a website of the Department.
(D) Use of list.--The Secretary shall use the list
developed under this paragraph in order to apply the
requirement that retraining assistance under this
section is used for training for a high-demand
occupation, but the Secretary may remove occupations
from the list as the Secretary determines appropriate.
(d) Amount of Assistance.--
(1) Retraining assistance.--The Secretary of Veterans
Affairs shall provide to an eligible veteran pursuing a covered
program of education under the retraining assistance program
under this section an amount equal to the amount of educational
assistance payable under section 3313(c)(1)(A) for each month
the veteran pursues the covered program of education. Such
amount shall be payable directly to the educational institution
offering the covered program of education pursued by the
veteran as follows:
(A) 50 percent of the total amount payable shall be
paid when the eligible veteran begins the program of
education.
(B) 25 percent of the total amount payable shall be
paid when the eligible veteran completes the program of
education.
(C) 25 percent of the total amount payable shall be
paid when the eligible veteran finds employment in a
field related to the program of education.
(2) Failure to complete.--In the case of a veteran who
pursues a covered program of education under the retraining
assistance program under this section, but who does not
complete the program of education, the Secretary shall pay to
the educational institution offering such program of education
a pro-rated amount based on the number of months the veteran
pursued the program of education--
(A) under paragraph (1)(B), which shall be payable
when the veteran provides notice to the educational
institution that the veteran no longer intends to
pursue the program of education; and
(B) under paragraph (1)(C), which shall by payable
only if the veteran finds employment in a field related
to the program of education during the 180-day period
beginning on the date on which the veteran withdraws
from the program of education.
(3) Housing stipend.--For each month that an eligible
veteran pursues a covered program of education under the
retraining assistance program under this section, the Secretary
shall pay to the veteran a monthly housing stipend in an amount
equal to--
(A) in the case of a covered program of education
leading to a degree at an institution of higher
learning (as that term is defined in section 3452(f) of
title 38, United States Code) pursued on more than a
half-time basis, the amount specified under subsection
(c)(1)(B) of section 3313 of title 38, United States
Code;
(B) in the case of a covered program of education
other than a program of education leading to a degree
at an institution other than an institution of higher
learning pursued on more than a half-time basis, the
amount specified under subsection (g)(3)(A)(ii) of such
section;
(C) in the case of a covered program of education
pursued on less than a half-time basis, the amount
specified under subsection (f)(2)(A)(ii) of such
section; or
(D) in the case of a covered program of education
pursued solely through distance learning on more than a
half-time basis, the amount specified under subsection
(c)(1)(B)(iii) of such section.
(4) Failure to find employment.--The Secretary shall not
make a payment under paragraph (1)(C) with respect to an
eligible veteran who completes or fails to completes a program
of education under the retraining assistance program under this
section if the veteran fails to find employment in a field
related to the program of education within the 180-period
beginning on the date on which the veteran withdraws from or
completes the program.
(e) No Transferability.--Retraining assistance provided under this
section may not be transferred to another individual.
(f) Employment Assistance.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary of Labor shall contact each
veteran who pursues a covered program of education under this
section--
(A) not later than 30 days after the date on which
the veteran begins the program of education to notify
the veteran of the availability of employment placement
services upon completion of the program; and
(B) not later than 14 days after the date on which
the veteran completes, or terminates participation in,
such program to facilitate the provision of employment
placement services to such veteran.
(2) Provision of information.--The Secretary of Veterans
Affairs shall provide to the Secretary of Labor such
information as may be necessary to carry out paragraph (1).
(g) Nonprofit Organization.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs may
enter into a memorandum of understanding with one or more
qualified nonprofit organizations for the purpose of
facilitating the employment of veterans who participate in the
retraining assistance program under this section.
(2) Qualified nonprofit organization.--For purposes of this
subsection, a qualified nonprofit organization is a nonprofit
organization that--
(A) is an association of businesses; and
(B) has at least two years of experience providing
job placement services for veterans.
(h) Follow-Up Outreach.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs, in
coordination with the Secretary of Labor shall contact each veteran who
completes a covered program of education under the retraining
assistance program under this section 30, 60, 90, and 180 days after
the veteran completes such program of education to ask the veteran
about the experience of the veteran in the retraining assistance
program and the veteran's employment status.
(i) Time Frame for Participation.--An eligible veteran who
participates in the retraining assistance program under this section
shall--
(1) begin a program of education by not later than 150 days
after the date of the enactment of this Act; and
(2) complete such program of education by not later than 17
months after the date of the enactment of this Act.
(j) Limitation.--Not more than 35,000 eligible veterans may receive
retraining assistance under this section.
(k) Termination.--No retraining assistance may be paid under this
section after the date that is 17 months after the date of the
enactment of this Act.
(l) GAO Report.--Not later than 180 days after the termination of
the retraining assistance program under subsection (k), the Comptroller
General shall submit to the Committees on Veterans' Affairs of the
Senate and House of Representatives a report on the outcomes and
effectiveness of the program.
(m) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) The term ``covered public health emergency'' means the
declaration--
(A) of a public health emergency, based on an
outbreak of COVID-19 by the Secretary of Health and
Human Services under section 319 of the Public Health
Service Act (42 U.S.C. 247d); or
(B) of a domestic emergency, based on an outbreak
of COVID-19 by the President, the Secretary of Homeland
Security, or State, or local authority.
(2) The term ``veteran'' means--
(A) a person who served in the active military,
naval, or air service, and who was discharged or
released therefrom under conditions other than
dishonorable; or
(B) a member of a reserve component of the Armed
Forces who serves on active duty pursuant to section
502(f) of title 32, United States Code, for a period of
30 days or longer by reason of the covered public
health emergency.
(n) Funding.--
(1) In general.--For each fiscal year for which the
Secretary provides retraining assistance under this section,
such sums as may be necessary shall be made available for such
assistance from funds appropriated to, or otherwise made
available to, the Department for the payment of readjustment
benefits.
(2) Administrative costs.--There is authorized to be
appropriated to the Secretary $10,000,000 for administrative
costs associated with carrying out this section.
SEC. 3. ACCESS FOR THE SECRETARIES OF LABOR AND VETERANS AFFAIRS TO THE
FEDERAL DIRECTORY OF NEW HIRES.
Section 453A(h) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 653a(h)) is
amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
``(4) Veteran employment.--The Secretaries of Labor and of
Veterans Affairs shall have access to information reported by
employers pursuant to subsection (b) of this section for
purposes of tracking employment of veterans.''.
SEC. 4. EXPANSION OF ELIGIBLE CLASS OF PROVIDERS OF HIGH TECHNOLOGY
PROGRAMS OF EDUCATION FOR VETERANS.
Section 116 of the Harry W. Colmery Veterans Educational Assistance
Act of 2017 (Public Law 115-48; 38 U.S.C. 3001 note) is amended--
(1) in subsection (b), by adding at the end the following:
``The Secretary shall treat an individual as an eligible
veteran if the Secretary determines that the individual shall
become an eligible veteran fewer than 180 days after the date
of such determination.'';
(2) in subsection (c)--
(A) in paragraph (3)(A), by striking ``has been
operational for at least 2 years'' and inserting
``employs instructors whom the Secretary determines are
experts in their respective fields in accordance with
paragraph (6)''; and
(B) by adding at the end the following new
paragraph:
``(6) Experts.--The Secretary shall determine whether
instructors are experts under paragraph (3)(A) based on
evidence furnished to the Secretary by the provider regarding
the ability of the instructors to--
``(A) identify professions in need of new employees
to hire, tailor the programs to meet market needs, and
identify the employers likely to hire graduates;
``(B) effectively teach the skills offered to
eligible veterans;
``(C) provide relevant industry experience in the
fields of programs offered to incoming eligible
veterans; and
``(D) demonstrate relevant industry experience in
such fields of programs.'';
(3) in subsection (d), in the matter preceding paragraph
(1), by inserting ``(not including an individual described in
the second sentence of subsection (b))'' after ``each eligible
veteran'';
(4) in subsection (e), in the matter preceding paragraph
(1), by inserting ``, including a part-time program shorter
than six months in duration,'' after ``means a program of
education'';
(5) in subsection (g), by striking ``$15,000,000'' and
inserting ``$45,000,000''; and
(6) by adding at the end the following new subsection (i):
``(i) Prohibition on Certain Accounting of Assistance.--The
Secretary may not consider enrollment in a high technology program of
education under this section to be assistance under a provision of law
referred to in section 3695 of title 38, United States Code.''.
SEC. 5. PILOT PROGRAM FOR OFF-BASE TRANSITION TRAINING FOR VETERANS AND
SPOUSES.
(a) Extension of Pilot Program.--Subsection (a) of section 301 of
the Dignified Burial and Other Veterans' Benefits Improvement Act of
2012 (Public Law 112-260; 10 U.S.C. 1144 note) is amended--
(1) by striking ``During the two-year period beginning on
the date of the enactment of this Act'' and inserting ``During
the 5-year period beginning on the date of the enactment of the
Veterans Economic Recovery Act of 2020''; and
(2) by striking ``to assess the feasibility and
advisability of providing such program to eligible individuals
at locations other than military installations''.
(b) Locations.--Subsection (c) of such section is amended--
(1) in paragraph (1), by striking ``not less than three and
not more than five States'' and inserting ``not fewer than 50
locations in States (as defined in section 101 of title 38,
United States Code)'';
(2) in paragraph (2), by striking ``at least two'' and
inserting ``at least 20''; and
(3) by adding at the end the following new paragraphs:
``(5) Preferences.--In selecting States for participation
in the pilot program, the Secretary shall provide a preference
for any State with--
``(A) a high rate of usage of unemployment benefits
for recently separated members of the Armed Forces; or
``(B) a labor force or economy that has been
significantly impacted by the covered public health
emergency.
``(6) Covered public health emergency.--In this subsection,
the term `covered public health emergency' means the
declaration--
``(A) of a public health emergency, based on an
outbreak of COVID-19 by the Secretary of Health and
Human Services under section 319 of the Public Health
Service Act (42 U.S.C. 247d); or
``(B) of a domestic emergency, based on an outbreak
of COVID-19 by the President, the Secretary of Homeland
Security, or State, or local authority.''.
(c) Annual Report.--Subsection (e) of such section is amended by
adding at the end the following new sentence: ``Each such report shall
include information about the employment outcomes of the eligible
individuals who received such training during the year covered by the
report.''.
(d) Conforming Repeal.--Subsection (f) of such section is repealed.
SEC. 6. GRANTS FOR PROVISION OF TRANSITION ASSISTANCE TO MEMBERS OF THE
ARMED FORCES AFTER SEPARATION, RETIREMENT, OR DISCHARGE.
(a) In General.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall make
grants to eligible organizations for the provision of transition
assistance to members of the Armed Forces who are separated, retired,
or discharged from the Armed Forces, and spouses of such members.
(b) Use of Funds.--The recipient of a grant under this section
shall use the grant to provide to members of the Armed Forces and
spouses described in subsection (a) resume assistance, interview
training, job recruitment training, and related services leading
directly to successful transition, as determined by the Secretary.
(c) Eligible Organizations.--To be eligible for a grant under this
section, an organization shall submit to the Secretary an application
containing such information and assurances as the Secretary, in
consultation with the Secretary of Labor, may require.
(d) Priority.--In making grants under this section, the Secretary
shall give priority to an organization that--
(1) provides multiple forms of services described in
subsection (b); or
(2) is located in a State with--
(A) a high rate of veteran unemployment;
(B) a high rate of usage of unemployment benefits
for recently separated members of the Armed Forces; or
(C) a labor force or economy that has been
significantly impacted by the covered public health
emergency (as such term is defined in section 2(m)(2)).
(e) Amount of Grant.--A grant under this section shall be in an
amount that does not exceed 50 percent of the amount required by the
organization to provide the services described in subsection (b).
(f) Deadline.--The Secretary shall carry out this section not later
than six months after the effective date of this Act.
(g) Termination.--The authority to provide a grant under this
section shall terminate on the date that is five years after the date
on which the Secretary implements the grant program under this section.
(h) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be
appropriated $10,000,000 to carry out this section.
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity.
Committee Hearings Held.
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.
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