[Congressional Bills 114th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2835 Received in Senate (RDS)]

<DOC>
114th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 2835


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                           September 29, 2015

                                Received

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 AN ACT


 
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 must 
        be enhanced 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.

    The Secretary of Homeland Security shall consider the expedited 
hiring of qualified candidates who have the ability to perform the 
essential functions of the position of a Customs and Border Protection 
officer and who are eligible for a veterans recruitment appointment 
authorized under section 4214 of title 38, United States Code.

SEC. 4. ENHANCEMENTS TO EXISTING PROGRAMS TO RECRUIT SERVICE MEMBERS 
              SEPARATING FROM MILITARY SERVICE FOR CUSTOMS AND BORDER 
              PROTECTION OFFICER VACANCIES.

    (a) In General.--The Secretary of Homeland Security, in 
consultation with the Secretary of Defense, and acting through existing 
programs, authorities, and agreements, where applicable, shall enhance 
the efforts of the Department of Homeland Security to recruit members 
of the Armed Forces who are separating from military service to serve 
as Customs and Border Protection officers.
    (b) Elements.--The enhanced recruiting efforts 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) include outreach efforts to educate members of the 
        Armed Forces with Military Occupational Specialty Codes and 
        Officer Branches, 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 of available hiring opportunities to become 
        Customs and Border Protection officers;
            (5) identify shared activities and opportunities for 
        reciprocity related to steps in hiring Customs and Border 
        Protection officers with the goal of minimizing the time 
        required to hire qualified applicants;
            (6) 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 of the next 3 years 
thereafter, the Secretary of Homeland Security, in consultation with 
the Secretary of Defense, shall submit a report to the Committee on 
Homeland Security and the Committee on Armed Services of the House of 
Representatives and the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental 
Affairs and the Committee on Armed Services of the Senate that includes 
a description and assessment of the efforts of the Department of 
Homeland Security to hire members of the Armed Forces who are 
separating from military service as Customs and Border Protection 
officers under section 4.
    (b) Content.--The report required under subsection (a) shall 
include--
            (1) a detailed description of the efforts to implement 
        section 4, including--
                    (A) elements of the enhanced recruiting efforts and 
                the goals associated with such elements; and
                    (B) a description of how the elements and goals 
                referred to in subparagraph (A) will assist in meeting 
                statutorily mandated staffing levels and agency hiring 
                benchmarks;
            (2) a detailed description of the efforts that have been 
        undertaken under section 4;
            (3) the estimated number of separating service members made 
        aware of Customs and Border Protection officer vacancies;
            (4) the number of Customs and Border Protection officer 
        vacancies filled with separating service members; and
            (5) 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.

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.

            Passed the House of Representatives September 28, 2015.

            Attest:

                                                 KAREN L. HAAS,

                                                                 Clerk.