[Congressional Bills 114th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2835 Introduced in House (IH)]
114th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 2835
To actively recruit members of the Armed Forces who are separating from
military service to serve as Customs and Border Protection Officers.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
June 18, 2015
Ms. McSally (for herself, Ms. Titus, Mr. Hurd of Texas, Mr. Gallego,
Ms. Stefanik, Mr. Gosar, Mr. Zinke, Ms. Sinema, Mr. Donovan, and Mr.
Knight) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Homeland Security, and in addition to the Committee on
Armed Services, for a period to be subsequently determined by the
Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall
within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To actively recruit members of the Armed Forces who are separating from
military service to serve as Customs and Border Protection Officers.
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 ``Border Jobs for Veterans Act of
2015''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress finds the following:
(1) Customs and Border Protection Officers at United States
ports of entry carry out critical law enforcement duties
associated with screening foreign visitors, returning United
States citizens, and imported cargo entering the United States.
(2) It is in the national interest for United States ports
of entry to be adequately staffed with Customs and Border
Protection Officers in a timely fashion, including meeting the
congressionally funded staffing target of 23,775 officers for
fiscal year 2015.
(3) An estimated 250,000 to 300,000 members of the Armed
Forces separate from military service every year.
(4) Recruiting efforts and expedited hiring procedures
should be undertaken to ensure that individuals separating from
military service are aware of, and partake in, opportunities to
fill vacant Customs and Border Protection Officer positions.
SEC. 3. EXPEDITED HIRING OF APPROPRIATE SEPARATING SERVICE MEMBERS.
(a) Identification of Transferable Qualifications.--Not later than
60 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of
Homeland Security, in conjunction with the Secretary of Defense, shall
jointly identify Military Occupational Specialty Codes, Air Force
Specialty Codes, Naval Enlisted Classifications and Officer
Designators, and Coast Guard Competencies that are transferable to the
requirements, qualifications, and duties assigned to Customs and Border
Protection Officers.
(b) Hiring.--The Secretary of Homeland Security shall consider
hiring qualified candidates with the Military Occupational Specialty
Codes, Air Force Specialty Codes, and Naval Enlisted Classifications
and Officer Designators identified as transferable under subsection (a)
who are eligible for veterans recruitment appointment authorized under
section 4214 of title 38, United States Code.
SEC. 4. ESTABLISHING A PROGRAM FOR RECRUITING SERVICE MEMBERS
SEPARATING FROM MILITARY SERVICE FOR CUSTOMS AND BORDER
PROTECTION OFFICER VACANCIES.
(a) In General.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Homeland Security, in
conjunction with the Secretary of Defense, shall establish a program to
actively recruit members of the Armed Forces who are separating from
military service to serve as Customs and Border Protection Officers.
(b) Elements.--The program established under subsection (a) shall--
(1) include Customs and Border Protection Officer
opportunities in relevant job assistance efforts under the
Transition Assistance Program;
(2) place U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials or
other relevant Department of Homeland Security officials at
recruiting events and jobs fairs involving members of the Armed
Forces who are separating from military service;
(3) provide opportunities for local U.S. Customs and Border
Protection field offices to partner with military bases in the
region;
(4) conduct outreach efforts to educate members of the
Armed Forces with Military Occupational Specialty Codes, Air
Force Specialty Codes, Naval Enlisted Classifications and
Officer Designators, and Coast Guard Competencies that are
transferable to the requirements, qualifications, and duties
assigned to Customs and Border Protection Officers;
(5) require the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of
Homeland Security to work cooperatively to identify shared
activities and opportunities for reciprocity related to steps
in hiring U.S. Customs and Border Patrol officers with the goal
of minimizing the time required to hire qualified applicants;
(6) require the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of
Homeland Security to work cooperatively to ensure the
streamlined interagency transfer of relevant background
investigations and security clearances; and
(7) include such other elements as may be necessary to
ensure that members of the Armed Forces who are separating from
military service are aware of opportunities to fill vacant
Customs and Border Protection Officer positions.
SEC. 5. REPORT TO CONGRESS.
(a) In General.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the
enactment of this Act, and by December 31 of each year thereafter, the
Secretary of Homeland Security and the Secretary of Defense shall
jointly submit a report to the appropriate congressional committees
that includes a description and assessment of the program established
under section 4.
(b) Content.--The report required under subsection (a) shall
include--
(1) a detailed description of the program established under
section 4, including--
(A) programmatic elements;
(B) goals associated with those elements; and
(C) a description of how the elements and goals
will assist in meeting statutorily mandated staffing
levels and agency hiring benchmarks;
(2) a detailed description of the program elements that
have been implemented under section 4;
(3) a detailed summary of the actions taken under section 4
to implement such program elements;
(4) the number of separating service members made aware of
Customs and Border Protection Officer vacancies;
(5) the Military Occupational Specialty Codes, Air Force
Specialty Codes, Naval Enlisted Classifications and Officer
Designators, and Coast Guard Competencies identified as
transferable under section 3(a) and a rationale for such
identifications;
(6) the number of Customs and Border Protection Officer
vacancies filled with separating service members;
(7) the number of Customs and Border Protection Officer
vacancies filled with separating service members under Veterans
Recruitment Appointment authorized under section 4214 of title
38, United States Code; and
(8) the results of any evaluations or considerations of
additional elements included or not included in the program
established under section 4.
SEC. 6. RULES OF CONSTRUCTION.
Nothing in this Act may be construed--
(1) as superseding, altering, or amending existing Federal
veterans' hiring preferences or Federal hiring authorities; or
(2) to authorize the appropriation of additional amounts to
carry out this Act.
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