[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 3719 Introduced in House (IH)]

111th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 3719

 To amend title 38, United States Code, to establish in the Department 
of Veterans Affairs a Veterans Economic Opportunity Administration, and 
                          for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            October 6, 2009

Mr. Buyer (for himself and Mr. Michaud) introduced the following bill; 
        which was referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
 To amend title 38, United States Code, to establish in the Department 
of Veterans Affairs a Veterans Economic Opportunity Administration, 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 Opportunity 
Administration Act of 2009''.

SEC. 2. ESTABLISHMENT OF VETERANS ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY ADMINISTRATION 
              OF DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.

    (a) Economic Opportunity Administration.--Part V of title 38, 
United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new 
chapter:

       ``CHAPTER 80--VETERANS ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY ADMINISTRATION

``8001. Organization of Administration.
``8002. Functions of Administration.
``8003. Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization.
``Sec. 8001. Organization of Administration
    ``(a) Veterans Economic Opportunity Administration.--There is in 
the Department of Veterans Affairs a Veterans Economic Opportunity 
Administration. The primary function of the Veterans Economic 
Opportunity Administration is the administration of the programs of the 
Department which provide assistance related to economic opportunity to 
veterans and their dependents and survivors.
    ``(b) Under Secretary for Economic Opportunity.--The Veterans 
Economic Opportunity Administration is under the Under Secretary for 
Veterans Economic Opportunity, who is directly responsible to the 
Secretary for the operations of the Administration.
``Sec. 8002. Functions of Administration
    ``The Veterans Economic Opportunity Administration is responsible 
for the administration of the following programs of the Department:
            ``(1) Vocational rehabilitation and employment programs.
            ``(2) Educational assistance programs.
            ``(3) Veterans' housing loan and related programs.
            ``(4) Veterans entrepreneurship programs.
            ``(5) Programs for homeless veterans.
``Sec. 8003. Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization
    ``Notwithstanding section 15(k) of the Small Business Act (15 
U.S.C. 644(k)), the head of the Office of Small and Disadvantaged 
Business Utilization shall report directly to both the Secretary and 
the Under Secretary for Veterans Economic Opportunity.''.
    (b) Clerical Amendments.--The tables of chapters at the beginning 
of title 38, and of part V of title 38, are each amended by inserting 
after the item relating to chapter 79 the following new item:

``80. Veterans Economic Opportunity Administration..........    8001''.

SEC. 3. UNDER SECRETARY FOR VETERANS ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY.

    (a) Under Secretary.--Chapter 3 of title 38, United States Code, is 
amended by inserting after section 306 the following new section:
``Sec. 306A. Under Secretary for Veterans Economic Opportunity
    ``(a) Under Secretary.--There is in the Department an Under 
Secretary for Veterans Economic Opportunity, who is appointed by the 
President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate. The Under 
Secretary for Veterans Economic Opportunity shall be appointed without 
regard to political affiliation or activity and solely on the basis of 
demonstrated ability in--
            ``(1) fiscal management; and
            ``(2) the administration of programs within the Veterans 
        Economic Opportunity Administration or programs of similar 
        content and scope.
    ``(b) Responsibilities.--The Under Secretary for Veterans Economic 
Opportunity is the head of, and is directly responsible to the 
Secretary for the operations of, the Veterans Economic Opportunity 
Administration.
    ``(c) Vacancies.--(1) Whenever a vacancy in the position of Under 
Secretary for Veterans Economic Opportunity occurs or is anticipated, 
the Secretary shall establish a commission to recommend individuals to 
the President for appointment to the position.
    ``(2) A commission established under this subsection shall be 
composed of the following members appointed by the Secretary:
            ``(A) Three persons representing education and training, 
        vocational rehabilitation, employment, real estate, mortgage 
        finance and related industries, and survivor benefits 
        activities affected by the Veterans Economic Opportunity 
        Administration.
            ``(B) Two persons representing veterans served by the 
        Veterans Economic Opportunity Administration.
            ``(C) Two persons who have experience in the management of 
        veterans benefits programs or programs of similar content and 
        scope.
            ``(D) The Deputy Secretary of Veterans Affairs.
            ``(E) The chairman of the Veterans' Advisory Committee on 
        Education formed under section 3692 of this title.
            ``(F) One person who has held the position of Under 
        Secretary for Veterans Economic Opportunity, if the Secretary 
        determines that it is desirable for such person to be a member 
        of the commission.
    ``(3) A commission established under this subsection shall 
recommend at least three individuals for appointment to the position of 
Under Secretary for Veterans Economic Opportunity. The commission shall 
submit all recommendations to the Secretary. The Secretary shall 
forward the recommendations to the President with any comments the 
Secretary considers appropriate. Thereafter, the President may request 
the commission to recommend additional individuals for appointment.
    ``(4) The Assistant Secretary or Deputy Assistant Secretary of 
Veterans Affairs who performs personnel management and labor relations 
functions shall serve as the executive secretary of a commission 
established under this subsection.
    ``(d) Qualifications of Recommended Individuals.--Each individual 
recommended to the President by the commission for appointment to the 
position of Under Secretary for Veterans Economic Opportunity shall be 
an individual who has held a senior level position in the private 
sector with responsibilities relating to at least one of the following:
            ``(1) Education policy.
            ``(2) Vocational rehabilitation.
            ``(3) Employment.
            ``(4) Home loan finance.
            ``(5) Small business development.''.
    (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the beginning of 
such chapter is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 
306 the following new item:

``306A. Under Secretary for Veterans Economic Opportunity.''.
    (c) Conforming Amendments.--Such title is further amended--
            (1) in section 7701(a), by inserting after ``assistance'' 
        the following: ``, other than assistance related to economic 
        opportunity,'';
            (2) in section 7703, by striking paragraphs (2) and (3) and 
        redesignating paragraphs (4) and (5) as paragraphs (2) and (3), 
        respectively;
            (3) in section 306(c)(2), by striking subparagraphs (A) and 
        (E) and redesignating subparagraphs (B), (C), (D), and (F), as 
        subparagraphs (A) through (D), respectively;
            (4) in section 317(d), by inserting after ``Under Secretary 
        for Benefits'' the following: ``, the Under Secretary for 
        Veterans Economic Opportunity,'';
            (5) in section 318(d)(2), by inserting after ``Under 
        Secretary for Benefits'' the following: ``, the Under Secretary 
        for Veterans Economic Opportunity,'';
            (6) in section 516(e)(2)(C), by striking ``Health and the 
        Under Secretary for Benefits'' and inserting ``Health, the 
        Under Secretary for Benefits, and the Under Secretary for 
        Veterans Economic Opportunity'';
            (7) in section 541(a)(2)(B), by striking ``Health and the 
        Under Secretary for Benefits'' and inserting ``Health, the 
        Under Secretary for Benefits, and the Under Secretary for 
        Veterans Economic Opportunity'';
            (8) in section 542(a)(2)(A)(iii), by striking ``Health and 
        the Under Secretary for Benefits'' and inserting ``Health, the 
        Under Secretary for Benefits, and the Under Secretary for 
        Veterans Economic Opportunity'';
            (9) in section 544(a)(2)(B)(vi), by striking ``Health and 
        the Under Secretary for Benefits'' and inserting ``Health, the 
        Under Secretary for Benefits, and the Under Secretary for 
        Veterans Economic Opportunity''; and
            (10) in section 709(c)(2)(A), by inserting after ``Under 
        Secretary for Benefits'' the following: ``, the Under Secretary 
        for Veterans Economic Opportunity,''.

SEC. 4. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS-DEPARTMENT OF LABOR-SMALL 
              BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION JOINT EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE ON 
              ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY.

    (a) Establishment.--Chapter 3 of title 38, United States Code, is 
amended by adding at the end the following new section:
``Sec. 323. Department of Veterans Affairs-Department of Labor-Small 
              Business Administration Joint Executive Committee on 
              Economic Opportunity
    ``(a) Establishment.--(1) There is established an interagency 
committee to be known as the Department of Veterans Affairs-Department 
of Labor-Small Business Administration Joint Executive Committee on 
Economic Opportunity (hereinafter in this section referred to as the 
`Committee').
    ``(2) The Committee is composed of--
            ``(A) the Under Secretary of Veterans Affairs for Veterans 
        Economic Opportunity;
            ``(B) the Director of Homeless Programs of the Department 
        of Veterans Affairs;
            ``(C) the Assistant Secretary of Labor for Veterans 
        Employment and Training; and
            ``(D) the Associate Administrator of the Small Business 
        Administration for Veterans Business Development.
    ``(b) Administrative Matters.--(1) The Deputy Secretary of Veterans 
Affairs, the Under Secretary of Labor, and the Administrator of the 
Small Business Administration shall jointly determine the 
administrative and procedural guidelines for the operation of the 
Committee.
    ``(2) The two Departments and the Small Business Administration 
shall supply appropriate staff and resources to provide administrative 
support and services. Support for such purposes shall be provided at a 
level sufficient for the efficient operation of the Committee.
    ``(c) Recommendations.--(1) The Committee shall recommend to the 
Secretaries and the Administrator strategic direction for the joint 
coordination and sharing efforts between and within the two Departments 
and the Administration to promote and administer veterans economic 
opportunity programs for education and training, vocational 
rehabilitation, employment, small business, and homelessness under 
section 8111 of this title, and shall oversee implementation of those 
efforts.
    ``(2) The Committee shall submit to the two Secretaries and the 
Administrator and directly to Congress an annual report containing such 
recommendations as the Committee considers appropriate.
    ``(d) Functions.--In order to enable the Committee to make 
recommendations in its annual report under subsection (c)(2), the 
Committee shall do the following:
            ``(1) Review existing policies, procedures, and practices 
        relating to the coordination and sharing of resources between 
        the two Departments.
            ``(2) Identify changes in policies, procedures, and 
        practices that, in the judgment of the Committee, would promote 
        mutually beneficial coordination, use, or exchange of use of 
        services and resources of the two Departments and the 
        Administration, with the goal of improving the quality, 
        efficiency and effectiveness of the delivery of benefits and 
        services to veterans, service members, military retirees, and 
        their families through a relationship among the Department of 
        Veterans Affairs, the Department of Labor, and the Small 
        Business Administration.
            ``(3) Identify and assess further opportunities for the 
        coordination and collaboration between the Departments and the 
        Administration that, in the judgment of the Committee, would 
        not adversely affect the range of services, the quality of 
        care, or the established priorities for benefits provided by 
        either of the Departments or the Administration.
            ``(4) Review the plans of both Departments and the 
        Administration for the acquisition of additional resources, 
        especially new facilities and major equipment and technology, 
        in order to assess the potential effect of such plans on 
        further opportunities for the coordination and sharing of 
        resources.
            ``(5) Review the implementation of activities designed to 
        promote the coordination and sharing of resources between the 
        Departments and the Administration.
    ``(e) Consultation With Certain Organizations.--In carrying out its 
responsibilities under this section, the Committee may consult with 
appropriate organizations that promote employment.''.
    (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the beginning of 
such chapter is amended by adding at the end the following new item:

``323. Department of Veterans Affairs-Department of Labor-Small 
                            Business Administration Joint Executive 
                            Committee on Economic Opportunity.''.
                                 <all>