115 HR 5649 IH: Navy SEAL Chief Petty Officer William Bill Mulder (Ret.) Transition Improvement Act of 2018
U.S. House of Representatives
2018-04-27
text/xml
EN
Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.
1.This Act may be cited as the Navy SEAL Chief Petty Officer William Bill
Mulder (Ret.) Transition Improvement Act of 2018
. 2.The table of contents for this Act is as follows:
Sec. 1. Short title.
Sec. 2. Table of contents.
Sec. 3. Definitions.
Title I—Improvements to TAP
Sec. 101. Pathways for TAP.
Sec. 102. Contents of TAP.
Title II—Other Transition Assistance
Sec. 201. Access for the Secretaries of Labor and Veterans Affairs to the Federal directory of new
hires.
Sec. 202. Pilot program for off-base transition training for veterans and spouses.
Sec. 203. Grants for provision of transition assistance to members of the Armed Forces after
separation, retirement, or discharge.
Sec. 204. Study of community-based transition assistance programs for members of the Armed Forces
after separation, retirement, or discharge.
Sec. 205. One-year independent assessment of the effectiveness of TAP.
Sec. 206. Longitudinal study on changes to TAP.
3.In this Act: (1)The term TAP
means the Transition Assistance Program under sections 1142 and 1144 of title 10, United States Code.
(2)The term Secretary concerned
has the meaning given such term in section 101 of title 10, United States Code. <enum>I</enum><header>Improvements to TAP</header> <section id="HBE92BD5BBC754D2A86E4F4DD4831F6A0"><enum>101.</enum><header>Pathways for TAP</header> <subsection id="H07F9BE7F1612411DB5D2884D9E8EC8DE"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 1142 of title 10, United States Code, is amended—</text>
<paragraph commented="no" id="HAF05F4390F864AD2A941367C1067A793"><enum>(1)</enum><text>in the section heading by striking <quote><header-in-text level="section" style="USC">medical</header-in-text></quote> and inserting <quote><header-in-text level="section" style="USC">certain</header-in-text></quote>;</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="HC7A00E747FBB483E91924E38E1ADBF0F"><enum>(2)</enum><text>in subsection (a)—</text>
<subparagraph id="H9599B2A8EBFA475F96C225BFEE409B5C"><enum>(A)</enum><text>in paragraph (1), by inserting <quote>(regardless of character of discharge)</quote> after <quote>discharge</quote>;</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="H9333E5F7536345AD9905BAD63AAB714B"><enum>(B)</enum><text>in paragraph (3)(A)—</text>
<clause commented="no" id="H072385417C2D4450B86D475A0FE4A746"><enum>(i)</enum><text>by inserting <quote>or other separation</quote> after <quote>anticipated retirement</quote> each place it appears;</text> </clause><clause commented="no" id="H8FB7C0C9694E4F208ACFC30C2E7C23F1"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>by striking the second sentence;</text>
</clause><clause commented="no" id="H2FCCF3AD1E73400DACAE9F1DA4124571"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>by striking <quote>90 days</quote> and inserting <quote>365 days</quote>; and</text> </clause><clause commented="no" id="HBADD81E1C06146BDA9A53661A1EAF117"><enum>(iv)</enum><text>by striking <quote>discharge or release</quote> and inserting <quote>retirement or other separation</quote>; and</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H407FA46181D44C798E90EA29AD3CF397"><enum>(C)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in paragraph (3)(B)—</text> <clause id="H5D40EB8194C540C99F82310F3249B4CB"><enum>(i)</enum><text>by striking <quote>90</quote> and inserting <quote>365</quote>; and</text>
</clause><clause id="H65207C5556DD4A198C4ECA91E8C9040F"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>by striking <quote>90-day</quote> and inserting <quote>365-day</quote>;</text> </clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H1CAD7BE7F0B345C19713F27A752EDABA"><enum>(3)</enum><text>by redesignating subsection (c) as subsection (d);</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H1D81512D71E34FABAF577F9AF6D1CBBC"><enum>(4)</enum><text>by inserting after subsection (b) the following new subsection (c):</text> <quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HD2B10DCD54E2480A86DEC5A214012DFC" style="USC"> <subsection id="HEA5956B1BAF348FABE4E1F24E06C8668"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Counseling pathways</header> <paragraph commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="H6CB23386C9AD4AC3ADE1D5039D8E54E6"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Each Secretary concerned, in consultation with the Secretaries of Labor and Veterans Affairs, shall establish at least three pathways for members of the military department concerned receiving individualized counseling under this section. The Secretaries shall design the pathways to address the needs of members, based on the following factors:</text>
<subparagraph id="H0D3C13FA7E064C6487BDECE076C7A7FE"><enum>(A)</enum><text>Rank.</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="H51A18102E8C6476DAF7FED4C06752CC2"><enum>(B)</enum><text>Term of service.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HBBEE135CC691429F917709CFDCE7C25A"><enum>(C)</enum><text>Gender.</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="H44058B6CFC4342A797F1F24CAA69D28B"><enum>(D)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Whether the member was a member of a regular or reserve component of an armed force.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HDE17F7F592C44B389835F6F520315BCB"><enum>(E)</enum><text>Disability.</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="H022BF48ED5A9487382A9B7D0862BA189"><enum>(F)</enum><text>Character of discharge (including expedited discharge and discharge under conditions other than honorable).</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H042DB8596F994B0DA693A305E78614CD"><enum>(G)</enum><text>Health (including mental health).</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="H0E404761E3F749598DFAA340D9139513"><enum>(H)</enum><text>Military occupational specialty.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H89941B035E294517B60B531C5053F53E"><enum>(I)</enum><text>Whether the member intends, after separation, retirement, or discharge, to—</text> <clause id="HE050C25155BF46498B45D85A5571B425"><enum>(i)</enum><text>seek employment;</text>
</clause><clause id="HD545BF9B9F764F1E8FBFABF062982F5D"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>enroll in a program of higher education;</text> </clause><clause id="H932D7F18CA1841C8B852511EDDDBF7AE"><enum>(iii)</enum><text>enroll in a program of vocational training; or</text>
</clause><clause id="HCE3A3C75A1444CEA95C7DF5A91A7E9EF"><enum>(iv)</enum><text>become an entrepreneur.</text> </clause></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="HFC7CA10DD9344D07BA389EA62B993393"><enum>(J)</enum><text>The educational history of the member.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="H199E83AEDA534B4D82D039797B4769B6"><enum>(K)</enum><text>The employment history of the member.</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="H7188A4867A974CA596F2E2BA546024B7"><enum>(L)</enum><text>Whether the member has secured—</text>
<clause id="HD1B9F9B189584B1DB8E8AA604670771F"><enum>(i)</enum><text>employment;</text> </clause><clause id="HBA83B3B5BE864E0E8585FC99F95FDE8C"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>enrollment in a program of education; or</text>
</clause><clause id="H819D620A782B4CB19F1D9839172D32B5"><enum>(iii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">enrollment in a program of vocational training.</text> </clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H79CC8D4A25DE4CD291F5C6D012A15B0D"><enum>(M)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Other factors the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Homeland Security, in consultation with the Secretaries of Labor and Veterans Affairs, determine appropriate.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H6A79371877914C7CA2A5E9D7D478052E" indent="up1"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Each member described in subsection (a) shall meet in person or by video conference with a counselor before beginning counseling under this section to—</text>
<subparagraph id="HC7904382CD9745EF8E03194528D7E875"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">take a self-assessment designed by the Secretary concerned (in consultation with the Secretaries of Labor and Veterans Affairs) to ensure that the Secretary concerned places the member in the appropriate pathway under this subsection; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="H3316AB73F4FB4077A69FB4851A060496"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">receive information from the counselor regarding reenlistment in the armed forces; and</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="H0D2047BB7BC641D89CCE4785B9946E09"><enum>(C)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">receive information from the counselor regarding resources—</text>
<clause id="HDC24255AC0F4464A941514C4AD236B04"><enum>(i)</enum><text>for members of the armed forces separated, retired, or discharged;</text> </clause><clause id="H0C94CAB16E5F48BF9588292E6704EC97"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>located in the community in which the member will reside after separation, retirement, or discharge.</text>
</clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H28E3F35B711A4D54922D16FC547F9AD7" indent="up1"><enum>(3)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">At the meeting under paragraph (2), the member may elect to have the Secretary concerned (in consultation with the Secretaries of Labor and Veterans Affairs) provide the contact information of the member to the resources described in paragraph (2)(B).</text></paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block>; and</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H127AA9DDF798419D9B18B5AFFABBA259"><enum>(5)</enum><text>by adding at the end the following new subsection:</text> <quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HAF78EA26A9864883B55ACF8E44C4F8D0" style="USC"> <subsection id="H62D075D7241341F78AA6D5896344B2F8"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Joint service transcript</header> <paragraph commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="H31DBA969CEF74B51AECA3F684BFEADE9"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary concerned shall provide a copy of the joint service transcript of a member described in subsection (a) to—</text>
<subparagraph commented="no" id="H72145EA068AB46CCA3F65B9763E2139E" indent="up1"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">that member—</text> <clause id="H99CCC6312CF94459A5A07621881BCA0D"><enum>(i)</enum><text>at the meeting with a counselor under subsection (c)(2); and</text>
</clause><clause id="HE171B38602314C4D95BA02D6D67B65E8"><enum>(ii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">on the day the member separates, retires, or is discharged; and</text> </clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H0C96AA1034BA40699CADF6C3D1960936" indent="up1"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the Secretary of Veterans Affairs on the day the member separates, retires, or is discharged.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="HB188C800AB764586B29AD1A49929B3ED" indent="up1"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall ensure that a member who has separated, retired, or is discharged may access the joint service transcript of that member from a website of the Department of Veterans Affairs not later than one year after the day the member separates, retires, or is discharged.</text></paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H4AD5255294A24EA78322B020658A3970"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Deadline</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Each Secretary concerned shall carry out subsection (c) of such section, as amended by subsection (a), not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="H3687A017FC8B4A0D919B3D65AA8FFB6F"><enum>(c)</enum><header>GAO study</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Not later than one year after the Secretaries concerned carry out subsection (c) of such section, as amended by subsection (a), the Comptroller General of the United States shall submit to Congress a review of the pathways for the Transition Assistance Program established under such subsection (c).</text>
</subsection></section><section id="HEA8B207027DF4BF89DD2015062F2AC24"><enum>102.</enum><header>Contents of TAP</header>
<subsection id="H90BE09CCE5FD4347BF153A6D9636E8E5"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Section 1144 of title 10, United States Code, is amended—</text> <paragraph id="H0F45CA25D56D4B7B8BF74A9810CA4589"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in subsection (a), by striking <quote>Such services</quote> and inserting <quote>Subject to subsection (f)(2), such services</quote>; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H7066CF9A1FE149F5AD71AE2B97E14729"><enum>(2)</enum><text>by amending subsection (f) to read as follows:</text> <quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HCED37F3D78864C8E984C03E1457F912C" style="USC"> <subsection display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H1645C6F286D44E749FDF88A9ECD7F66F"><enum>(f)</enum><header>Program contents</header> <paragraph commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="HCA7A5FDE8DF74D75BFE7FD12427BF645"><enum>(1)</enum><text>The program carried out under this section shall consist of at least five days of instruction as follows:</text>
<subparagraph display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HD3CA8C016620458982A9064A86744E09"><enum>(A)</enum><text>One day of preseparation training specific to the armed force concerned, as determined by the Secretary concerned.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HF78173CE8A1F4617B92B46B0675BB3D9"><enum>(B)</enum><text>One day of instruction regarding—</text> <clause id="H7EB243861F984D9B8894E39DFBB1E411"><enum>(i)</enum><text>benefits under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs; and</text>
</clause><clause id="H8D95BAFF3B894F9D810EDC92B6109722"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>other subjects determined by the Secretary concerned.</text> </clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HDEDA016EFFCE41C5B73F922ECD7EC198"><enum>(C)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">One day of instruction regarding preparation for employment.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H6B4EC2E0163749BAA3081B41A726A2FF"><enum>(D)</enum><text>Two days of instruction regarding a topic selected by the member from the following subjects:</text> <clause commented="no" id="H88BB801A32CF4EFE9C34438B4813C65D"><enum>(i)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Preparation for employment.</text>
</clause><clause commented="no" id="H3870D7E5188A4EC18C0CCB140D4C6E9A"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>Preparation for education.</text> </clause><clause commented="no" id="HFD65CD72E7CB4E2585F75BFA832232B5"><enum>(iii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Preparation for vocational training.</text>
</clause><clause commented="no" id="H1BD6C8ED712748FAA25C55A5505AB94A"><enum>(iv)</enum><text>Preparation for entrepreneurship.</text> </clause><clause commented="no" id="H75641179B8324C6598022510BFFC8B5E"><enum>(v)</enum><text>Other options determined by the Secretary concerned.</text>
</clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H5BED2979EAAC41A7AB525F152A4EADC5" indent="up1"><enum>(2)</enum><text>The Secretary concerned may permit a member to attend training and instruction under the program established under this section—</text>
<subparagraph id="HFDC32B7535A04059ABCCACABAB2C4E02"><enum>(A)</enum><text>before the time periods established under section 1142(a)(3) of this title;</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph id="H61E93A9532424217BBD1C64A4709972E"><enum>(B)</enum><text>in addition to such training and instruction required during such time periods.</text></subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H8C6AE6D0CEE240DBA6FACFAE77E8EFF8"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Deadline</header><text>TAP shall comply with the requirements of subsection (f) of such section, as amended by subsection (a)(2), not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="H6E9A04FC327740258E4CF226244B163D"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Report</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">On the date that is two years after the date of the enactment of this Act and annually thereafter for the subsequent four years, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the Committees on Armed Services and Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and the House of Representatives a report regarding members of the Armed Forces who have attended TAP counseling during the preceding year. The report shall detail the following:</text>
<paragraph id="HD60DC6AB0F7949E29F2B6C09794920DB"><enum>(1)</enum><text>The total number of members who attended TAP counseling.</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="H5634E7F243304C7BB7569184D510843D"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The number of members who attended TAP counseling under paragraph (1) of section 1142(f) of title 10, as amended by subsection (a).</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HB6DB2E31BE09490184BB5247E0F48A1E"><enum>(3)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The number of members who attended TAP counseling under paragraph (2) of such section.</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="HBB8E7592928C4664A38FD9AB8A1F3FD2"><enum>(4)</enum><text>The number of members who elected to attend each two-day instruction under paragraph (1)(D) of such section.</text>
</paragraph></subsection></section><enum>II</enum><header>Other transition assistance</header>
<section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H692F71B8BF9149029B28BB44369D3C9A"><enum>201.</enum><header>Access for the Secretaries of Labor and Veterans Affairs to the Federal directory of new hires</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 453A(h) of the Social Security Act (<external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/42/653a">42 U.S.C. 653a(h)</external-xref>) is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph:</text>
<quoted-block id="H5B8D82698A854EA1A441FE72E12E3C85" style="OLC">
<paragraph commented="no" id="H72DB81D9FD3E46FD977B273370A79145"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Veteran employment</header><text>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.</text></paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</section><section id="HC5227F1C6302422E87F503F59CFD5C1D" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>202.</enum><header>Pilot program for off-base transition training for veterans and spouses</header>
<subsection id="H5CE362B67ED7478BAE032BD42A9E2695"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Extension of pilot program</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Subsection (a) of section 301 of the Dignified Burial and Other Veterans’ Benefits Improvement Act of 2012 (<external-xref legal-doc="public-law" parsable-cite="pl/112/260">Public Law 112–260</external-xref>; <external-xref legal-doc="usc" parsable-cite="usc/10/1144">10 U.S.C. 1144</external-xref> note) is amended—</text>
<paragraph id="H96D34A4452E74FEDAD409BB9B124D276"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by striking <quote>During the two-year period beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act, the</quote> and inserting <quote>During the five-year period beginning on the date of the enactment of the <short-title>Navy SEAL Chief Petty Officer William <quote>Bill</quote> Mulder (Ret.) Transition Improvement Act of 2018</short-title>, the</quote>; and</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="H30638AF2E162469EA5DDC75C9A7A4418"><enum>(2)</enum><text>by striking <quote>to assess the feasibility and advisability of providing such program to eligible individuals at locations other than military installations</quote>.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H81CE00D6894E4B29875E63D024987BAB"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Locations</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Subsection (c) of such section is amended—</text> <paragraph id="HF7A50DE3B64843F8BC326798B5EEF615"><enum>(1)</enum><text>in paragraph (1), by striking <quote>not less than three and not more than five States</quote> and inserting <quote>not less than 50 locations in States (as defined in section 101(20) of title 38, United States Code)</quote>; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HDE21F48CE19647F69DEC7DB15E776673"><enum>(2)</enum><text>in paragraph (2), by striking <quote>at least two</quote> and inserting <quote>at least 20</quote>.</text> </paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H18F14FE2D89B4702B0AAB7E1A55801F2"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Conforming repeal</header><text>Subsection (f) of such section is repealed.</text>
</subsection></section><section commented="no" id="HE4E0B1E39A1E4313991A70E5D88FD4B9"><enum>203.</enum><header>Grants for provision of transition assistance to members of the Armed Forces after separation,
retirement, or discharge</header>
<subsection commented="no" id="HB84E9DB88FAF4A13AFF8027C3F1A154B"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">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.</text>
</subsection><subsection commented="no" id="HBE21800C242245C1A244A0BDD7DBBAC4"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Use of funds</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">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.</text>
</subsection><subsection commented="no" id="H885C38035C8E4B98A3937702CEE1A24F"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Eligible organizations</header><text>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.</text>
</subsection><subsection commented="no" id="HE63369A3C30145C494B74985E23BA988"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Priority for hubs of services</header><text>In making grants under this section, the Secretary shall give priority to an organization that provides multiple forms of services described in subsection (b).</text>
</subsection><subsection commented="no" id="H26DF9D74E8024D5492FEC21F8A0CA41F"><enum>(e)</enum><header>Inclusion in TAP counseling</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary of the military department concerned shall include in the information provided to a member of the Armed Forces during TAP counseling under section 1142(c)(2)(B) of title 10, United States Code, as amended by section 101 of this Act, information regarding any recipient of a grant under this section that is located in the community in which that member will reside after separation, retirement, or discharge from the Armed Forces.</text>
</subsection><subsection commented="no" id="H15260D934E554290A02ADBDC6330A688"><enum>(f)</enum><header>Amount of grant</header><text>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).</text>
</subsection><subsection commented="no" id="H7C58F6276E154C458BDA71EA3F0BB2F2"><enum>(g)</enum><header>Deadline</header><text>The Secretary shall carry out this section not later than six months after the effective date of this Act.</text>
</subsection><subsection commented="no" id="HCD485B15BBCF48A6AE7DA70FE330AE70"><enum>(h)</enum><header>Termination</header><text>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.</text>
</subsection><subsection commented="no" id="H015EDD398EDF4ADB9664922FF40B43D6"><enum>(i)</enum><header>Authorization of appropriations</header><text>There is authorized to be appropriated $10,000,000 to carry out this section.</text> </subsection></section><section id="H994E01DB7CED4696A90D49FC796B3054"><enum>204.</enum><header>Study of community-based transition assistance programs for members of the Armed Forces after separation, retirement, or discharge</header> <subsection commented="no" id="H59FF260ED66D402D9B65A95C6221270A"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Study</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary of Veterans Affairs, in consultation with State entities that serve members of the Armed Forces who are retired, separated, or discharged from the Armed Forces, shall enter into an agreement with an appropriate non-Federal entity to carry out a study to identify community-based programs—</text>
<paragraph commented="no" id="H8D50886548A04E30A56824D15458D797"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">that provide transition assistance to such members; and</text> </paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="HCD75CB44B14D49CCAB0054B5CF9434D6"><enum>(2)</enum><text>operated by nonprofit entities.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H37A19DB1963241DABAE033BF536F9C0E"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Transmission to members</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall transmit the list of programs identified under this section to the Secretary of Defense so the Secretaries of the military departments may carry out section 1142(c)(2)(B) of title 10, United States Code, as amended by section 101 of this Act.</text>
</subsection><subsection commented="no" id="H8B1B3D18497D43C9A54B357993158ABF"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Online publication</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall publish the most recent version of the list of programs identified under this section on a public website of the Department of Veterans Affairs.</text>
</subsection></section><section commented="no" id="HAF71D92B41A8444EB7E54DAA0AC24384"><enum>205.</enum><header>One-year independent assessment of the effectiveness of TAP</header>
<subsection commented="no" id="H37647B5674A846858D7E052239142F60"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Independent assessment</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, in consultation with the covered officials, shall enter into an agreement with an appropriate entity with experience in adult education to carry out a one-year independent assessment of TAP, including—</text>
<paragraph commented="no" id="HFF23D112250A4BBBB4E8BC98E8F80E76"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the effectiveness of TAP for members of each military department during the entire military life cycle;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="H8A4D0C37065C4E779A3BFCA08F58BF0B"><enum>(2)</enum><text>the appropriateness of the TAP career readiness standards;</text> </paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="HA4CEEEB8C4B242F69FF1E5CBABCE2FB6"><enum>(3)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">a review of information that is provided to the Department of Veterans Affairs under TAP, including mental health data;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="H2A19600142824B25B6468111C45AE553"><enum>(4)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">whether TAP effectively addresses the challenges veterans face entering the civilian workforce and in translating experience and skills from military service to the job market;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="HB291A7B7C24F4D8BA7D315B1C8E919DC"><enum>(5)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">whether TAP effectively addresses the challenges faced by the families of veterans making the transition to civilian life;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="H93555D08396448C9BD0BCA597AC566C2"><enum>(6)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">appropriate metrics regarding TAP outcomes for members of the Armed Forces one year after separation, retirement, or discharge from the Armed Forces;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="H9A0E24D6A01D4366826B874F28404138"><enum>(7)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">what the Secretary, in consultation with the covered officials, veterans service organizations, and organizations described in section 203(a) of this Act, determine to be successful outcomes for TAP;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HD3DBE542A74843DC9F2AD5F015562BB4"><enum>(8)</enum><text>whether members of the Armed Forces achieve successful outcomes for TAP, as determined under paragraph (7);</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="H73B359624A0A465980E04E4E24D1F039"><enum>(9)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">how the Secretary and the covered officials provide feedback to each other regarding such outcomes;</text> </paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="H43428F1E84834E91979C7C56BF2906FB"><enum>(10)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">recommendations for the Secretaries of the military departments regarding how to improve outcomes for members of the Armed Forces after separation, retirement, and discharge; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="H031A9F30C91C4CF69BA224202469F3E3"><enum>(11)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">other topics the Secretary and the covered officials determine would aid members of the Armed Forces as they transition to civilian life.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" id="H5884807200B144F39B57CA11C866CB19"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Report</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Not later than 90 days after the completion of the independent assessment under subsection (a), the Secretary and the covered officials, shall submit to the Committees on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and House of Representatives and the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and House of Representatives—</text>
<paragraph commented="no" id="H440ECD22C95E4BE59C36734A1B087425"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the findings and recommendations (including recommended legislation) of the independent assessment prepared by the entity described in subsection (a); and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="H381227D7CC554C1884B8291692AC7C4D"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">responses of the Secretary and the covered officials to the findings and recommendations described in paragraph (1).</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" id="H79E8A969DE064871900BDF1CA0722DB4"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Definitions</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In this section:</text> <paragraph commented="no" id="H04FB15A6AA5F4E7F8A6CC6E588433DC6"><enum>(1)</enum><text>The term <quote>covered officials</quote> is comprised of—</text>
<subparagraph commented="no" id="H4D7033ED28A34592A8422FE441D908F5"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the Secretary of Defense;</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="H9F574DC86C3B43398CDD2BDBA4A7F16E"><enum>(B)</enum><text>the Secretary of Labor;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="HC9F2A68E1EB64C36BA57F0D1DFDBE6C9"><enum>(C)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the Administrator of the Small Business Administration; and</text> </subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" id="HD82101ABEFAD42AAB98406F9604AD338"><enum>(D)</enum><text>the Secretaries of the military departments.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="HD33FCB7B98954E6ABFD1BF4FB254627E"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The term <quote>military departments</quote> has the meaning given such term in section 101(8) of title 10, United States Code.</text> </paragraph></subsection></section><section id="H90FD1BD80D5E4E5795F2686A76EEFEEA"><enum>206.</enum><header>Longitudinal study on changes to TAP</header> <subsection id="H6BB6CD5A809947028209CF29286453F2"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Study</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, in consultation with the Secretaries of Defense and Labor and the Administrator of the Small Business Administration, shall conduct a five-year longitudinal study regarding TAP on three separate cohorts of members of the Armed Forces who have separated from the Armed Forces, including—</text>
<paragraph id="H784B4917E1AA484F9CE0A7A527FF0C86"><enum>(1)</enum><text>a cohort that has attended TAP counseling as implemented on the date of the enactment of this Act;</text> </paragraph><paragraph id="H016D063BB55C4BA89B294315B690F23E"><enum>(2)</enum><text>a cohort that attends TAP counseling after the Secretaries of Defense and Labor implement changes recommended in the report under section 205(b) of this Act; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HBF09A3759CA84FA3B56F0DE3D59751EA"><enum>(3)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">a cohort that has not attended TAP counseling.</text> </paragraph></subsection><subsection display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H4BEF2503D281454ABBABB7634D50CE07"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Progress reports</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Not later than 90 days after the day that is one year after the date of the initiation of the study under subsection (a) and annually thereafter for the three subsequent years, the Secretaries of Veterans Affairs, Defense, and Labor, and the Administrator of the Small Business Administration, shall submit to the Committees on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and House of Representatives and the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and House of Representatives a progress report of activities under the study during the immediately preceding year.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="H488046ECB0E64A20A60EFF7DA9D4BD31"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Final report</header><text>Not later than 180 days after the completion of the study under subsection (a), the Secretaries of Veterans Affairs, Defense, and Labor, and the Administrator of the Small Business Administration, shall submit to the Committees on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and House of Representatives and the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and House of Representatives a report of final findings and recommendations based on the study.</text>
</subsection><subsection commented="no" id="H56C1430B41A347B48F956E40C3142EF9"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Elements</header><text>The final report under subsection (c) shall include information regarding the following:</text> <paragraph commented="no" id="H96D5ADBFB2AB4FDF93F9D2BC41612275"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The percentage of each cohort that received unemployment benefits during the study.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="HB33AE21708114D19B808D7D78265540E"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The numbers of months members of each cohort were employed during the study.</text> </paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="HD88C0E0D4FF94F6FB9064B63F2C100A3"><enum>(3)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Annual starting and ending salaries of members of each cohort who were employed during the study.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="H561A3B56EF9847A79333A8E1F07CC912"><enum>(4)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">How many members of each cohort enrolled in an institution of higher learning, as that term is defined in section 3452(f) of title 38, United States Code.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="H9392F967F27A4858B1970D1523098FBD"><enum>(5)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The academic credit hours, degrees, and certificates obtained by members of each cohort during the study.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="H89957C17477D457AA5AEF4166ABCA5F1"><enum>(6)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The annual income of members of each cohort.</text> </paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="HBF0FF6A293C641998B70AC5A73822F8D"><enum>(7)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The total household income of members of each cohort.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="HF9C5F3ACA9BA4110A54C1857A815E3CC"><enum>(8)</enum><text>How many members of each cohort own their principal residences.</text> </paragraph><paragraph commented="no" id="HEB98BD0546E84B72A3C8E30A1A85DFE3"><enum>(9)</enum><text>How many dependents that members of each cohort have.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H99BAA6A69B3C4FC784A8B5E517A4F636"><enum>(10)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The percentage of each cohort that achieves a successful outcome for TAP, as determined under section 205(a)(6) of this Act.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H21D839A8F1B94D2F93CC93F76930ABBF"><enum>(11)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Other criteria the Secretaries and the Administrator of the Small Business Administration determine appropriate.</text>
</paragraph></subsection></section>