[Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4173 Introduced in House (IH)]






108th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 4173

To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to contract for a report on 
employment placement, retention, and advancement of recently separated 
                            servicemembers.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             April 20, 2004

Mr. Michaud (for himself, Mr. Brown of South Carolina, Mr. Smith of New 
    Jersey, and Mr. Evans) introduced the following bill; which was 
             referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to contract for a report on 
employment placement, retention, and advancement of recently separated 
                            servicemembers.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. REPORT OF EMPLOYMENT PLACEMENT, RETENTION, AND ADVANCEMENT 
              OF RECENTLY SEPARATED SERVICEMEMBERS.

    (a) Contract for Report.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall 
enter into a contract with a qualified entity to conduct a study of and 
prepare a report on the employment histories of recently separated 
servicemembers.
    (b) Content of Report.--(1) The study conducted pursuant to 
subsection (a) shall consist of an analysis of employment-related data 
that has been collected with respect to recently separated 
servicemembers.
    (2) In conducting the study, the qualified entity shall--
            (A) determine whether the employment obtained by recently 
        separated servicemembers is commensurate with training and 
        education of those servicemembers;
            (B) determine whether recently separated servicemembers 
        received educational assistance or training and rehabilitation 
        under programs administered by the Secretary of Veterans 
        Affairs under chapter 30 or 31 of title 38, United States Code, 
        or under chapter 1606 of title 10, United States Code;
            (C) determine whether transition assistance services 
        provided to recently separated servicemembers assisted those 
        servicemembers in obtaining civilian employment;
            (D) analyze trends in hiring of veterans by the private 
        sector; and
            (E) identify recently separated servicemembers who have 
        reached senior level management positions.
    (c) Use of Data.--In conducting the study under subsection (a), the 
qualified entity shall review data compiled and reported by Bureau of 
Labor Statistics and shall collect additional data on the employment 
histories of recently separated servicemembers available from such 
other sources as the qualified entity determines to be appropriate.
    (d) Contract Requirements.--(1) The contract entered into under 
subsection (a) shall contain such terms and conditions as the Secretary 
may require. The contract shall require that the report on the study be 
submitted to the Secretary not later than 2 years after the date on 
which the contract was entered into.
    (2) The report required under subsection (a) shall contain the 
findings and conclusions of the qualified entity on the study and 
specific recommendations to improve employment opportunities for 
veterans recently separated from service in the Armed Forces, including 
if appropriate recommendations for--
            (A) the establishment of networks of contacts for 
        employment of such veterans in the private sector;
            (B) outreach to private sector leaders on the merits and 
        sound business practice of hiring such veterans; and
            (C) additional methods to facilitate communication between 
        private sector employers and such veterans who are seeking 
        employment.
    (e) Funding.--Payment by the Secretary for the contract entered 
into under subsection (a)--
            (1) shall be made from the Department of Veterans Affairs 
        appropriations account from which payments for compensation and 
        pensions are made; and
            (2) may not exceed $490,000.
    (f) Definitions.--In this section:
            (1) The term ``qualified entity'' means an entity or 
        organization that meets the following requirements:
                    (A) Demonstrated experience in conducting 
                employment surveys of recently separated 
                servicemembers, including Internet-based surveys, that 
                meet such quality assurance requirements as the 
                Secretary determines appropriate.
                    (B) Demonstrated familiarity with veteran 
                employment matters.
                    (C) Demonstrated ability in developing plans to 
                market veterans as employment assets.
                    (D) Demonstrated ability to acquire services at no 
                cost from other organizations, such as technology, 
                staff services, and advertising services.
                    (E) Demonstrated ability to develop relationships, 
                establish employment networks, and facilitate 
                interaction between private and public sector leaders 
                and veterans.
            (2) The term ``employment history'' means, with respect to 
        a recently separated servicemember, training, placement, 
        retention, and advancement in employment of that servicemember.
            (3) The term ``recently separated servicemember'' means any 
        veteran (as defined in section 101(2) of title 38, United 
        States Code) discharged or released from active duty in the 
        Armed Forces of the United States during the 16-year period 
        beginning on January 1, 1990.
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