I 111th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 1821 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES March 31, 2009 Mr. Filner introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs A BILL To amend chapter 31 of title 38, United States Code, to increase vocational rehabilitation and employment assistance, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Equity for Injured Veterans Act of 2009.

2.

Increase of vocational rehabilitation and employment benefits

(a)

Period of Eligibility

Section 3103(a) of title 38, United States Code, is amended by striking twelve-year and inserting fifteen-year. (b)

Increased Allowance

Section 3108 of title 38, United States Code, is amended— (1)in subsection (a)(1), by inserting or (j) after subsection (f); (2)in subsection (a)(2), by striking two months and inserting six months; and (3)by adding at the end the following new subsection: (j)(1)As part of a vocational rehabilitation program under this chapter, a veteran who is eligible for and entitled to rehabilitation under this chapter may elect to pursue an approved program of education and receive assistance under this chapter in monthly amounts described under paragraph (2) to the extent that such veteran has remaining eligibility for and entitlement to assistance under this section, if the Secretary approves the educational, professional, or vocational objective chosen by such veteran for such program. (2)The monthly amounts a veteran may receive under paragraph (1)— (A)with respect to a veteran who is considered a covered individual for purposes of section 3311 of this title, are the amounts equal to the monthly amounts the veteran is eligible to receive for educational assistance under section 3313 of this title (including the monthly stipend provided under section 3313(c)(1)(B)); and (B)with respect to a veteran who is not considered a covered individual for purposes of section 3311, are the amounts equal to the monthly amounts the Secretary determines would be payable to such veteran if such veteran were eligible to receive educational assistance under section 3313 of this title (including the monthly stipend provided under section 3313(c)(1)(B)). (3)In the event that such veteran makes an election under paragraph (1), the terms and conditions applicable to the pursuit of a comparable program of education and the payment of allowances and provision of assistance under chapter 33 of this title for such a comparable program shall be applied to the pursuit of the approved program of education under this chapter. . (c)

Child care; President’s Budget

(1)

In general

Chapter 31 of title 38, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new sections:

3123.

Child care assistance for single parents

(a)

In general

Pursuant to regulations prescribed by the Secretary to carry out this section, the Secretary shall provide reimbursements for child care to a veteran who is— (1)participating in a vocational rehabilitation program under this chapter; and (2)the sole caretaker of a child. (b)

Amount and duration

The amount of the reimbursement for child care under this section shall be not more than $2,000 per month for each month the veteran is participating in a vocational rehabilitation program under this chapter.

3124.

Information included in support of President’s budget

The Secretary shall include in documents submitted to Congress by the Secretary in support of the President’s budget for each fiscal year submitted under section 1105 of title 31, United States Code, the following: (1)For the calendar year preceding the submission— (A)the percentage of veterans receiving assistance under this chapter who became employed; and (B)the percentage of veterans receiving assistance under this chapter who achieved independence in daily living. (2)Any changes made by the Secretary in measuring or calculating the performance of the department under this chapter.

. (2)

Clerical Amendment

The table of sections at the beginning of chapter 31 of title 38, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following: 3123. Child care assistance for single parents. 3124. Information included in support of President’s budget. .