[Congressional Bills 104th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 1711 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

  2d Session
                                S. 1711

   To establish a commission to evaluate the programs of the Federal 
  Government that assist members of the Armed Forces and veterans in 
         readjusting to civilian life, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             April 29, 1996

   Mr. Dole introduced the following bill; which was read twice and 
             referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
   To establish a commission to evaluate the programs of the Federal 
  Government that assist members of the Armed Forces and veterans in 
         readjusting to civilian life, 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. ESTABLISHMENT OF COMMISSION.

    (a) Establishment.--There is established a commission to be known 
as the Commission on Service Members and Veterans Transition Assistance 
(hereafter in this Act referred to as the ``Commission'').
    (b) Membership.--
            (1) In general.--The Commission shall be composed of 12 
        members appointed from among private United States citizens 
        with appropriate and diverse veterans, military, 
        organizational, and management experiences and historical 
        perspectives, of whom--
                    (A) four shall be appointed by the Chairman of the 
                Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate, in 
                consultation with the Ranking Member of that committee;
                    (B) four shall be appointed by the Chairman of the 
                Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the House of 
                Representatives, in consultation with the Ranking 
                Member of that committee;
                    (C) two shall be appointed by the Chairman of the 
                Committee on Armed Services of the Senate, in 
                consultation with the Ranking Member of that committee; 
                and
                    (D) two shall be appointed by the Chairman of the 
                Committee on National Security of the House of 
                Representatives, in consultation with the Ranking 
                Member of that committee.
            (2) VSO members.--One member of the Commission appointed 
        under each of subparagraphs (A) and (B) of paragraph (1) shall 
        be a representative of a veterans service organization.
            (3) Date.--The appointments of the members of the 
        Commission shall be made not later than 45 days after the date 
        of enactment of this Act.
    (c) Period of Appointment; Vacancies.--Members shall be appointed 
for the life of the Commission. Any vacancy in the Commission shall not 
affect its powers, but shall be filled in the same manner as the 
original appointment.
    (d) Initial Meeting.--Not later than 30 days after the date on 
which all members of the Commission have been appointed, the Commission 
shall hold its first meeting.
    (e) Quorum.--A majority of the members of the Commission shall 
constitute a quorum, but a lesser number may hold hearings.
    (f) Chairman and Vice Chairman.--The Commission shall select a 
Chairman and Vice Chairman from among its members.
    (g) Meetings.--The Commission shall meet at the call of the 
Chairman.
    (h) Panels.--The Commission may establish panels composed of less 
than the full membership of the Commission for the purpose of carrying 
out the Commission's duties under this Act. The actions of such panels 
shall be subject to the review and control of the Commission. Any 
findings and determinations made by such a panel shall not be 
considered the findings and determinations of the Commission unless 
approved by the Commission.
    (i) Authority of Individuals To Act for Commission.--Any member or 
agent of the Commission may, if authorized by the Commission, take any 
action which the Commission is authorized to take under this Act.

SEC. 2. DUTIES OF COMMISSION.

    (a) In General.--The Commission shall--
            (1) review the efficacy and appropriateness of veterans 
        transition and assistance programs in providing assistance to 
        members of the Armed Forces in making the transition and 
        adjustment to civilian life upon their separation from the 
        Armed Forces and in providing assistance to veterans in 
        adjusting to civilian life;
            (2) evaluate proposals for improving such programs, 
        including proposals to consolidate, streamline, and enhance the 
        provision of such assistance and proposals for alternative 
        means of providing such assistance; and
            (3) make recommendations to Congress regarding means of 
        ensuring the continuing utility of such programs and assistance 
        and of otherwise improving such programs and the provision of 
        such assistance.
    (b) Review of Programs To Assist Members of the Armed Forces at 
Separation.--
            (1) In general.--While carrying out the general duties 
        specified in subsection (a), the members of the Commission 
        appointed under subparagraphs (C) and (D) of section 1(b)(1) 
        shall review primarily programs intended to assist members of 
        the Armed Forces at the time of their separation from service 
        in the Armed Forces, including programs designed to assist 
        families of such members in preparing for the transition of 
        such members from military life to civilian life and to 
        facilitate that transition.
            (2) Specific requirements.--In carrying out the review, 
        such members of the Commission shall determine--
                    (A) the adequacy of the programs referred to in 
                paragraph (1) for their purposes;
                    (B) the adequacy of the support of the Armed Forces 
                for such programs;
                    (C) the effect, if any, of the existence of such 
                programs on combat readiness;
                    (D) the extent to which such programs provide 
                members of the Armed Forces with job-search skills;
                    (E) the extent to which such programs prepare such 
                members for employment in the private sector and in the 
                public sector;
                    (F) the effectiveness of such programs in assisting 
                such members in finding employment in the public 
                sector; and
                    (G) the means by which such programs could be 
                improved in order to assist such members in securing 
                meaningful employment in the private sector upon their 
                separation from service.
    (c) Review of Programs To Assist Veterans.--
            (1) In general.--While carrying out the general duties 
        specified in subsection (a), the members of the Commission 
        appointed under subparagraphs (A) and (B) of section 1(b)(1) 
        shall review primarily the adequacy of programs intended to 
        assist veterans (including disabled veterans, homeless 
        veterans, and economically disadvantaged veterans), including 
        the programs referred to in paragraph (2).
            (2) Covered programs.--The programs referred to in 
        paragraph (1) are the following:
                    (A) Educational assistance programs.
                    (B) Job counseling, job training, and job placement 
                services programs.
                    (C) Rehabilitation and training programs.
                    (D) Housing loan programs.
                    (E) Small business loan and small business 
                assistance programs.
                    (F) Employment and employment training programs for 
                employment in the public sector and the private sector.
                    (G) Federal Government personnel policies 
                (including veterans' preference policies) and the 
                enforcement of such policies.
                    (H) Programs that prepare the families of veterans 
                for their transition from military life to civilian 
                life and facilitate that transition.
    (d) Reports.--
            (1) Implementing plan.--Not later than 90 days after the 
        date on which all members of the Commission have been 
        appointed, the Commission shall submit to the Committees on 
        Veterans' Affairs and Armed Services of the Senate and the 
        Committees on Veterans' Affairs and National Security of the 
        House of Representatives a report setting forth a plan for the 
        work of the Commission. The Commission shall develop the plan 
        in consultation with the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of 
        Veterans Affairs, and the heads of other appropriate 
        departments and agencies of the Federal Government.
            (2) Final report.--
                    (A) Requirement.--Not later than one year after the 
                date of the first meeting of the Commission, the 
                Commission shall submit to the committees referred to 
                in paragraph (1), and to the Secretary of Defense, the 
                Secretary of Veterans Affairs, the Secretary of Labor, 
                and the Secretary of Education, a report setting forth 
                the activities, findings, and recommendations of the 
                Commission, including any recommendations for 
                legislative action and administrative action as the 
                Commission considers appropriate.
                    (B) Executive comment.--Not later than 90 days 
                after receiving the report referred to in subparagraph 
                (A), the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of 
                Veterans Affairs shall jointly submit to Congress a 
                report setting forth the comments of such Secretaries 
                with respect to the report.

SEC. 3. POWERS OF COMMISSION.

    (a) Hearings.--The Commission may hold such hearings, sit and act 
at such times and places, take such testimony, and receive such 
evidence as the Commission considers advisable to carry out the 
purposes of this Act.
    (b) Information From Federal Agencies.--The Commission may secure 
directly from the Department of Defense, the Department of Veterans 
Affairs, and any other department or agency of the Federal Government 
such information as the Commission considers necessary to carry out its 
duties under this Act. Upon request of the Chairman of the Commission, 
the head of such department or agency shall furnish such information 
expeditiously to the Commission.

SEC. 4. MISCELLANEOUS ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS.

    (a) Postal Services.--The Commission may use the United States 
mails in the same manner and under the same conditions as other 
departments and agencies of the Federal Government.
    (b) Gifts.--The Commission may accept, use and dispose of gifts or 
donations of services or property.
    (c) Miscellaneous Administrative Support.--The Secretary of Defense 
and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall, upon the request of the 
Chairman of the Commission, furnish the Commission, on a 
reimbursable basis, any administrative and support services as the 
Commission may require.

SEC. 5. COMMISSION PERSONNEL MATTERS.

    (a) Compensation of Members.--Each member of the Commission who is 
not an officer or employee of the Federal Government shall be 
compensated at a rate equal to the daily equivalent of the annual rate 
of basic pay prescribed for level IV of the Executive Schedule under 
section 5315 of title 5, United States Code, for each day (including 
travel time) during which such member is engaged in performing the 
duties of the Commission. All members of the Commission who are 
officers or employees of the United States shall serve without 
compensation in addition to that received for their services as 
officers or employees of the United States.
    (b) Travel and Travel Expenses.--
            (1) Travel.--Members and personnel of the Commission may 
        travel on military aircraft, military vehicles, or other 
        military conveyances when travel is necessary in the 
        performance of a responsibility of the Commission except when 
        the cost of commercial transportation is less expensive.
            (2) Expenses.--The members of the Commission shall be 
        allowed travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of 
        subsistence, at rates authorized for employees of agencies 
        under subchapter I of chapter 57 of title 5, United States 
        Code, while away from their homes or regular places of business 
        in the performance of services for the Commission.
    (c) Staff.--
            (1) In general.--The Chairman of the Commission may, 
        without regard to civil service laws and regulations, appoint 
        and terminate an executive director and such other additional 
        personnel as may be necessary to enable the Commission to 
        perform its duties. In appointing an individual as executive 
        director, the Chairman shall, to the maximum extent 
        practicable, attempt to appoint an individual who is a veteran. 
        The employment of an executive director shall be subject to 
        confirmation by the Commission.
            (2) Compensation.--The Chairman of the Commission may fix 
        the compensation of the executive director and other personnel 
        without regard to the provisions of chapter 51 and subchapter 
        III of chapter 53 of title 5, United States Code, relating to 
        classification of positions and General Schedule pay rates, 
        except that the rate of pay for the executive director and 
        other personnel may not exceed the rate payable for level V of 
        the Executive Schedule under section 5316 of such title.
    (d) Detail of Government Employees.--Upon request of the Chairman 
of the Commission, the head of any department or agency of the Federal 
Government may detail, on a nonreimbursable basis, any personnel of the 
department or agency to the Commission to assist the Commission in 
carrying out its duties.
    (e) Procurement of Temporary and Intermittent Services.--The 
Chairman of the Commission may procure temporary and intermittent 
services under section 3109(b) of title 5, United States Code, at rates 
for individuals which do not exceed the daily equivalent of the annual 
rate of basic pay prescribed for level IV of the Executive Schedule 
under section 5316 of such title.

SEC. 6. TERMINATION OF COMMISSION.

    The Commission shall terminate 90 days after the date on which the 
Commission submits its report under section 2(d)(2).

SEC. 7. DEFINITIONS.

    For the purposes of this Act--
            (1) The term ``veterans transition and assistance program'' 
        means any program of the Federal Government, including the 
        Department of Defense, the Department of Veterans Affairs, the 
        Department of Labor, and the Department of Education, the 
        purpose of which is--
                    (A) to assist, by rehabilitation or other means, 
                members of the Armed Forces in readjusting or otherwise 
                making the transition to civilian life upon their 
                separation from service in the Armed Forces; or
                    (B) to assist veterans in civilian life.
            (2) The term ``members of the Armed Forces'' includes 
        individuals serving in the reserve components of the Armed 
        Forces.
            (3) The term ``veteran'' has the meaning given such term in 
        section 101(2) of title 38, United States Code.
            (4) The term ``veterans service organization'' means any 
        organization covered by section 5902(a) of title 38, United 
        States Code.

SEC. 8. FUNDING.

    (a) In General.--The Secretary of Defense shall, upon the request 
of the Chairman of the Commission, make available to the Commission 
such amounts as the Commission may require to carry out its duties 
under this Act. The Secretary shall make such amounts available from 
amounts appropriated for the Department of Defense.
    (b) Availability.--Any sums made available to the Commission under 
subsection (a) shall remain available, without fiscal year limitation, 
until the termination of the Commission.
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