[House Hearing, 119 Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
LEGISLATIVE HEARING
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HEARING
BEFORE THE
SUBCOMMITTEE ON ECONOMIC
OPPORTUNITY
OF THE
COMMITTEE ON VETERANS' AFFAIRS
U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
ONE HUNDRED NINETEENTH CONGRESS
SECOND SESSION
__________
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 21, 2026
__________
Serial No. 119-44
__________
Printed for the use of the Committee on Veterans' Affairs
[GRAPHIC NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]
Available via http://govinfo.gov
__________
U.S. GOVERNMENT PUBLISHING OFFICE
63-302 WASHINGTON : 2026
=======================================================================
COMMITTEE ON VETERANS' AFFAIRS
MIKE BOST, Illinois, Chairman
AUMUA AMATA COLEMAN RADEWAGEN, MARK TAKANO, California, Ranking
American Samoa, Vice-Chairwoman Member
JACK BERGMAN, Michigan JULIA BROWNLEY, California
NANCY MACE, South Carolina CHRIS PAPPAS, New Hampshire
MARIANNETTE MILLER-MEEKS, Iowa SHEILA CHERFILUS-MCCORMICK,
GREGORY F. MURPHY, North Carolina Florida
DERRICK VAN ORDEN, Wisconsin MORGAN MCGARVEY, Kentucky
MORGAN LUTTRELL, Texas DELIA RAMIREZ, Illinois
JUAN CISCOMANI, Arizona NIKKI BUDZINSKI, Illinois
KEITH SELF, Texas TIMOTHY M. KENNEDY, New York
JEN KIGGANS, Virginia MAXINE DEXTER, Oregon
ABE HAMADEH, Arizona HERB CONAWAY, New Jersey
KIMBERLYN KING-HINDS, Northern KELLY MORRISON, Minnesota
Mariana Islands
TOM BARRETT, Michigan
Jon Clark, Staff Director
Matt Reel, Democratic Staff Director
SUBCOMMITTEE ON ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY
DERRICK VAN ORDEN, Wisconsin, Chairman
JUAN CISCOMANI, Arizona CHRIS PAPPAS, New Hampshire,
ABE HAMADEH, Arizona Ranking Member
KIMBERLYN KING-HINDS, Northern MORGAN MCGARVEY, Kentucky
Mariana Islands DELIA RAMIREZ, Illinois
TOM BARRETT, Michigan TIMOTHY M. KENNEDY, New York
Pursuant to clause 2(e)(4) of Rule XI of the Rules of the House, public
hearing records of the Committee on Veterans' Affairs are also
published in electronic form. The printed hearing record remains the
official version. Because electronic submissions are used to prepare
both printed and electronic versions of the hearing record, the process
of converting between various electronic formats may introduce
unintentional errors or omissions. Such occurrences are inherent in the
current publication process and should diminish as the process is
further refined.
C O N T E N T S
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WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 21, 2026
Page
OPENING STATEMENTS
The Honorable Tom Barrett, Acting Chairman....................... 1
The Honorable Chris Pappas, Ranking Member....................... 3
SPEAKING FROM THE DAIS
The Honorable David Valadao, U.S. House of Representatives, (CA-
22)............................................................ 4
The Honorable George Whitesides, U.S. House of Representatives,
(CA-27)........................................................ 5
The Honorable Thomas Kean, U.S. House of Representatives, (NJ-07) 5
The Honorable John Mannion, U.S. House of Representatives, (NY-
22)............................................................ 6
The Honorable Jen Kiggans, U.S. House of Representatives, (VA-02) 7
The Honorable Zachary Nunn, U.S. House of Representatives, (IA-
03)............................................................ 8
The Honorable Abe Hamadeh, U.S. House of Representatives, (AZ-08) 9
WITNESSES
Panel I
Mr. Kenneth Smith, Assistant Deputy Undersecretary, Veterans
Benefits Administration, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs... 10
Accompanied by:
Ms. Chantile Stovall, Acting Executive Director, Veteran
Readiness and Employment Service, Veterans Benefits
Administration, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Mr. Jeremiah Workman, Assistant Secretary, Veterans' Employment
and Training Service, U.S. Department of Labor................. 11
Panel II
Mr. Sam Cook, President, Superior Van & Mobility, On behalf of
BraunAbility................................................... 21
Mr. Larry Smith, Semiconductor Industry Expert................... 23
Ms. Julie Howell, Associate Legislative Director for Government
Relations, Paralyzed Veterans of America....................... 25
Ms. Kathryn Monet, Chief Executive Officer, National Coalition of
Homeless Veterans.............................................. 26
APPENDIX
Prepared Statements Of Witnesses
Mr. Kenneth Smith Prepared Statement............................. 39
Mr. Jeremiah Workman Prepared Statement.......................... 60
Mr. Sam Cook Prepared Statement.................................. 64
Mr. Larry Smith Prepared Statement............................... 73
Ms. Julie Howell Prepared Statement.............................. 74
Ms. Kathryn Monet Prepared Statement............................. 77
APPENDIX--continued
Statements For The Record
Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States Prepared Statement. 79
Veterans United Home Loans Prepared Statement.................... 82
Niskanen Center Prepared Statement............................... 84
With Honor Action Prepared Statement............................. 86
The American Legion Prepared Statement........................... 88
National Association of Electrical Distributors (NAED) Prepared
Statement...................................................... 98
Student Veterans of America Prepared Statement................... 101
National Association of State Approving Agencies Prepared
Statement...................................................... 105
LEGISLATIVE HEARING
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WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 21, 2026
Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity,
Committee on Veterans' Affairs,
U.S. House of Representatives,
Washington, DC.
The subcommittee met, pursuant to notice, at 2:30 p.m., in
room 360, Cannon House Office Building, Hon. Tom Barrett,
[acting chairman of the subcommittee] presiding.
Present: Representatives Barrett, Hamadeh, Pappas,
McGarvey, Ramirez, and Kennedy.
Also present: Representatives Nunn, Kean, Valadao, Kiggans,
Whitesides, and Mannion.
OPENING STATEMENT OF TOM BARRETT, ACTING CHAIRMAN
Mr. Barrett. Good afternoon, everyone. The subcommittee
will come to order, and I welcome the witnesses and
subcommittee members to today's hearing and the other members
of the subcommittee. I am standing in for Chairman Van Orden as
he is dealing with a personal family issue today, and I look
forward to giving him a report of how today's committee went.
As he has said many times, and all of you have heard, we
operate this subcommittee and the U.S. Department of Veterans
Affairs (VA) Committee in whole with the ultimate goal of
improving opportunities for those who have served our country
and doing that in a nonpartisan fashion in a collaborative way.
I am excited to work with the minority today on how we can move
the agenda forward in that effort, and this legislative hearing
will continue in that spirit of bipartisanship.
We hold legislative hearings to learn from VA and other
stakeholders about their views on the bills that we are
proposing and to ensure members are making informed decisions
when we do or do not mark them up later in the process. We
value this insight provided by these folks with the witness
testimony that we have before us today.
Unfortunately, though, the committee did not receive the VA
or U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) testimony until less than 24
hours before this hearing started. You know, to me, we want to
work collaboratively with these agencies in a way that
ultimately achieves the best benefit for our veterans. It is
really my expectation and that of Chairman Van Orden to make
sure that we can do that effectively. It is my hope, and really
my request from you today, that you can furnish that
legislative testimony to us ahead of time so that we can have a
deeper and better insight into it ahead of time. It is my hope
that it is the last time that we received late testimony in
order to ensure that we are providing the best economic
opportunities and support for our veterans.
We have 12 important legislative proposals to consider here
today. It is important to note that not all of the proposals we
discuss will move forward in the legislative process, but it is
important to have them take testimony on these bills. A number
of these bills seek to improve education programs,
accessibility to VA benefits, and VA's home loan program.
I specifically want to highlight my own bill on the agenda.
My bill, H.R. 7083, the Centralized Reimbursement for Upgraded
Innovative Service Equipment (CRUISE) Act, would require the VA
to develop a plan and centralize all payments for Adaptive
Automobile Equipment program, the Automobile Adaptive Equipment
(AAE) program. This would help eliminate the bureaucratic
barriers of each individual hospital making their own payments
directly to the AAE dealers and instead move it to a central VA
office. By doing so, this bill would streamline the process of
paying these providers with the intent of ensuring the
providers get paid sooner and more efficiently.
We have heard of instances where there are delays in the
hundreds of days in paying these providers. There have been
continued payment delays from VA, and in certain parts of the
country, there are 22 adaptive automotive invoices that are
over 1,000 days late for their payments. That is years in
backlog. That is unacceptable, and my bill would get to work at
addressing these delays, cutting out the red tape, and ensuring
providers get paid for their valuable work, all the while
getting disabled veterans the service that they deserve. My
bill would also hold VA accountable for making these payments
to AAE providers in a timely manner by requiring the VA to
publish the exact number of days that each payment takes that
exceeds 30 days.
If we do not fix this, we risk losing good providers who
help our veterans get the adaptive vehicles that they need.
Many of these are, of course, beyond the reach of veterans.
Otherwise, if we do not have the VA step up and do this, and
these are benefits that they have earned due to injuries they
have sustained while serving our country. We cannot let the
bureaucracy get in the way of providing these benefits. If this
continues, veterans will have less provider options available
to them because they will not see the VA as a good-faith
partner in that effort.
Additional bills that we will consider would address
modernizations and improvements to workforce, the Transition
Assistance Program (TAP) program, the VA Home Loan program, and
the GI Bill. I have reservations about some of the proposals on
the agenda today, and the witness testimony and questions from
members will hopefully address some of these issues so we can
make informed decisions about whether to move these bills
forward in the legislative process. I come to them with an open
mind. Just because we have bills on the legislative hearing
does not necessarily guarantee that we can advance them through
the markup process due to policy or cost concerns, or other
things that may arise through testimony today.
We look forward to hearing from the members who have
introduced these proposals, as well as our witnesses, on how we
can continue to improve these bills and better the lives of our
veterans.
With that, I will yield to the ranking member for his
testimony and opening remarks.
OPENING STATEMENT OF CHRIS PAPPAS, RANKING MEMBER
Mr. Pappas. Well, thank you, Mr. Chairman, and I will get
right to the point. I know our time is limited here today.
First off, I would just like to express disappointment that we
do not have a witness from the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD)
joining us here today to understand the legislation before us.
On the other hand, I am glad to welcome someone from the
Department of Labor. I am glad that we have Veteran Employment
Training Services Assistant Secretary confirmed. I want to
welcome you, Mr. Workman, to the subcommittee and thank you for
being here.
I know we are going to have members joining from off the
committee today to help us understand their legislation and
work together on bipartisan solutions that will help our
Nation's veterans. I am really glad to see that.
I want to highlight a few of these bills.
One is Mr. Riley's bill to address issues that we saw
during the recent government shutdown around expiring
authorizations in the VA's Housing and Security programs. The
Chairman and I have spoken many times on the realities of
affordable housing in our districts and across the country. We
have also highlighted addressing homelessness as among the top
priorities for the subcommittee. Here is an opportunity to do
just that. I will also note that Ms. McClain Delaney's bill on
Improvements to the Service Member Civil Relief Act, Mr.
Mannion's bill prohibiting the withholding of student veterans'
transcripts, and Mr. Whiteside's bill to improve reporting from
the VA home loan program are all expected to be cost-neutral. I
hope to see them move through the subcommittee into the full
committee markup quickly.
As for other legislation before the committee today, I hope
that the Chairman will work with our staff to make improvements
to bills that move forward to a future markup. While I think
that the authors are all well-intentioned, the proposed changes
to the Transition Assistance Program, as well as modifications
to grant employment and apprenticeship programs, may include--
may require some larger structural changes to achieve the
desired effects and prevent unintended consequences.
I support the intent of the Veteran Employment Through
Technology Education Courses (VET-TEC) program, now known as
the high-technology program. It is critical that we first
address the under 50 percent employment rate for graduates of
the program before we add anything to it. We cannot keep
throwing taxpayer dollars at well-intentioned but
underperforming programs.
Speaking specifically to the CRUISE Act, I think it is
unfortunate how late the VA's testimony was submitted, and I do
not believe that VA has a witness here that can directly speak
to that problem. I understand that the status quo is untenable
for the dealerships, and I have concerns that this pill fails
to hit the mark, especially given that it does not provide
additional staff or funding to help process the claims, which
will only make delays worse. I am committed to getting a
bipartisan solution in coordination with stakeholders. I have
concerns in terms of how the bill has been drafted.
After today's hearing, as we move forward to the markups
and subcommittee and full committee at both levels, I ask the
Chairman to continue working with us to find and focus on areas
within where we agree. This committee has a great tradition of
bipartisan work, and we have got to reinforce it with action
year in and year out. While the traditionally agreed-upon ratio
of majority to minority bills brought forward in legislative
hearings for this Congress is still slightly out of balance, I
trust that the Chairman will remedy this in future hearings.
I yield back, Mr. Chairman. Thank you.
Mr. Barrett. Thank you, Ranking Member Pappas.
I ask unanimous consent that Representative Valadao from
California, Representative Whitesides from California,
Representative Kean from New Jersey, Representative Kiggans
from Virginia, and Representative Nunn from Iowa be permitted
to participate in today's subcommittee hearing.
Without objection, that is so ordered.
I recognize Representative Valadao for 3 minutes.
STATEMENT OF DAVID VALADAO
Mr. Valadao. Thank you, Chairman Barrett, Ranking Member
Pappas, and all members of the subcommittee for your time
today.
After serving our Nation, veterans deserve timely access to
quality care, especially when they are facing homelessness and
mental health challenges. Too often, veterans slip through the
cracks not because help does not exist, but because the system
is not working the way it should. That is why I was proud to
introduce the Improving Mental Health Care and Coordination for
Homeless Veterans Act. This bill is about accountability,
coordination, and making sure vulnerable veterans are connected
with every VA service created to help them readjust to civilian
life.
A recent Inspector General report uncovered the serious
gaps in how the VA documents assessments and shares critical
information across the programs. When assessments are not
completed or recorded properly, veterans miss out on services,
housing options, and critical follow-up care that could mean
the difference between life and death. This is unacceptable.
My bill requires the VA to conduct a comprehensive
assessment within 3 days of identifying a veteran in need,
evaluate immediate and long-term health needs, identify
appropriate housing options, and ensure the information is
included in the veteran's electronic health records so nothing
gets lost. Roughly 1 in 10 veterans experience homelessness
after serving and seek help from the VA. We owe it to them to
ensure the system works properly, they can access the service--
and that they can access the services they need. This bill is a
reasonable step to strengthen coordination and accountability,
and I urge all members of the committee to support it.
Thank you. I yield back.
Mr. Barrett. Thank you. Mr. Valadao yields.
I now recognize Representative Whitesides for 3 minutes.
STATEMENT OF GEORGE WHITESIDES
Mr. Whitesides. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I appreciate the
opportunity to speak today in support of my legislation to
strengthen transparency and oversight of the VA Home Loan
Program. For generations, this program has been one of the most
effective tools we have to help veterans achieve home ownership
and stay housed during times of financial hardship. It is a
promise we make to those who served that their--who served,
that their sacrifice will be met with opportunity and stability
when they return home.
A promise only works if the system behind it is healthy. In
recent years, changing market conditions and policy shifts have
raised real concerns among veterans' service organizations,
housing experts, and lawmakers about the long-term stability of
the VA Home Loan Program. We have heard warnings about
increased financial stress among veteran borrowers and
questions about whether the program is equipped to withstand
future economic shocks. Right now, Congress and the public do
not have consistent, detailed data to fully understand how the
program is performing. That makes it harder to spot problems
early on and harder to act before veterans are put at risk.
My bill is a straightforward, good governance solution. It
requires the Department of Veterans' Affairs to publish regular
public reports on the health and performance of the VA Home
Loan Program. These reports would track how many loans are
being issued, denied, and refinanced, and provide insight into
staffing levels at the VA Home Loan office so we can ensure the
program has the capacity it needs to serve veterans
effectively.
This is about making sure government systems designed to
support veterans actually work. I firmly believe that good data
leads to good policy. With better information, Congress can
conduct stronger oversight, stakeholders can identify issues
earlier, and the VA can respond more quickly when veterans
begin to experience financial stress. Most importantly, this
bill helps protect the long-term solvency of the program so
that it remains available for future generations of veterans
and not just those who served today.
Preventing veteran housing insecurity should be a shared
priority across the committee. As I know it is. Transparency is
one of the most effective tools we have to do that. I am
grateful to Ranking Member Takano for his partnership and
leadership on this issue, and I look forward to working with
members on both sides of the aisle to ensure that this program
remains strong, accountable, and worthy of the veterans it
serves.
Thank you. I yield back.
Mr. Barrett. Thank you. Gentleman yields.
Representative Kean, you are recognized for 3 minutes.
STATEMENT OF THOMAS KEAN
Mr. Kean. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I appreciate the
opportunity to speak before the Veterans Affairs Committee
today in support of the Veterans Flight Training Responsibility
Act, a bill that I introduced with Congressman McGarvey.
I come from the State of New Jersey, proud home to over
400,000 veterans. Whether at Picatinny Arsenal in my district
or military bases throughout our State, America's armed forces
serve faithfully throughout New Jersey and the world. Our
veterans have given so much to serve our country, and so I am
dedicated to ensuring that they receive the benefits that they
deserve. Today, we have a chance to move forward a bill that
provides veterans with the flexibility to pursue education at
their own pace.
The Veterans Flight Training Responsibility Act expedites
the flight training process for veterans by removing the 1-year
requirement for accessing their GI Bill benefits. Flight
training timelines often look different than traditional
education programs. This means costs are accrued at a different
rate. Our veterans' benefits should reflect this. The Veterans
Flight Training Responsibility Act ensures veterans can
complete their flight training on a timeline that makes sense
for their program without having to pay costly out-of-pocket
tuition fees.
I am proud to stand with our veterans to ensure that they
receive their education benefits on a timeline that supports
their chosen course of study. This bill honors our veterans by
helping them launch successful aviation careers after serving
in our Nation's military. I thank this committee for their
consideration of my bill, and I encourage my colleagues to
support this important legislation.
Thank you. I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. Barrett. Thank you.
I ask unanimous consent that Representative Mannion from
New York be permitted to participate in today's subcommittee
hearing.
Without objection. So ordered.
Represent Mannion, you are recognized for 3 minutes.
STATEMENT OF JOHN MANNION
Mr. Mannion. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I appreciate the
opportunity to speak today in support of my bill, the End
Transcript Withholding for Veterans Act. I would also like to
thank my colleague Representative Moylan for co-leading this
effort with me. This common-sense legislation would close the
gap in Federal law that has unfairly denied veterans access to
the educational benefits that they have earned.
For too long, colleges and universities have been permitted
to withhold transcripts from students as a debt collection
tactic. For many students, this puts a hold on their careers or
prevents them from furthering their education. What is also
troubling is that in many cases, these debts are the result of
billing errors or disputed balances. Yet, student veterans are
left in limbo for no fault of their own.
Student veterans often pursue their education in non-
traditional ways, balancing academic responsibilities alongside
raising families and building careers. If you do not have
access to your academic records, it is much harder to secure
employment and pay back the debts that triggered the
withholding in the first place.
In 2024, the Department of Education took an important step
in addressing this issue by prohibiting colleges from
withholding academic transcripts for coursework paid for with
Title IV financial aid. However, Title IV aid is separate from
the educational benefits provided under the Post-9/11 GI Bill,
and as a result, current law allows veterans to be excluded
from these protections. My bill would correct this inequity and
provide parity. No veteran who has served this country should
face these unnecessary barriers to opportunity.
In the district I represent, Syracuse, Central New York,
and the Mohawk Valley, our institutions of higher education
serve our military-connected students and veterans
exceptionally well, and I am proud to stand behind that
mission. I thank the members of the subcommittee for
considering my bill and for having me here today. I kindly ask
for your support in passing this legislation and looking out
for our student veterans.
I yield back.
Mr. Barrett. Thank you. Gentleman yields.
I recognize Representative Kiggans for 3 minutes. Go ahead.
STATEMENT OF JEN KIGGANS
Ms. Kiggans. Thank you, Mr. Chair. I appreciate the
Economic Opportunity Subcommittee for having me here today to
discuss my bill, the Veterans Energy Transition Act, also known
as the VET Act. I introduced this bill to help our Nation's
service members transition into meaningful, sustainable careers
in the fast-growing energy sector. It is very simple. We know
that we need more energy and energy producers, and our veterans
need jobs. It is a great--a great marriage for sure.
When service members transition out of the military, it can
be challenging to find a mission-driven career beyond the
service, and that can make this period difficult for them. My
district is home to thousands of these transitioning veterans,
as well as a booming energy sector. Virginia has an all-of-the-
above energy approach, which we embrace and encourage veterans
to be an important part of that. Energy companies continue to
choose Virginia as their home base, and our Nation's veterans
are uniquely qualified for many of these jobs.
While our National energy demand continues to steadily
increase around the country, we must maintain a reliable
workforce that secures our energy dominance on the world stage.
The VET Act creates a hiring pathway for veterans through a
grant program to assist separating members of the armed forces
and their spouses in obtaining employment in the energy
industry, an industry that is vital to our Nation's future and
economy.
At its core, this legislation recognizes something many of
us already know. When our service members complete their
service to our Nation, their dedication and skills do not end.
They simply need a new pathway. The VET Act is a practical,
targeted step toward helping those who have served our country
find stable careers and contribute to our National energy
goals. It bridges military experience with civilian
opportunity, supports families, and strengthens our workforce.
I urge thoughtful consideration and bipartisan support for this
bill and its goal of honoring service with meaningful
opportunity.
Thank you. I yield back.
Mr. Barrett. Thank you.
Representative Nunn, you are now recognized for 3 minutes.
STATEMENT OF ZACHARY NUNN
Mr. Nunn. I want to thank both the Chair and the Ranking
Member on the good bipartisan work we are all trying to do to
help our veterans. I am proud today to be joining and
advocating for H.R. 2878, the Daniel J. Harvey and Adam Lambert
Improving Service Members' Transition to Reduce Veteran Suicide
Act.
The U.S. is leading on a new era of foreign policy, one
where our sons and daughters are called to serve and defend our
great Nation, where we have invested in their safety, in their
families, and in their economic well-being with one of the
greatest pay raises ever. We also must invest on their health
when they return from the battlefield.
Last month, I joined my fellow Iowans as well as President
Trump at Dover Air Force Base to receive the remains of two
Iowa National Guardsmen who were killed defending this country
in Syria, Staff Sergeant William Nathaniel Howard and Staff
Sergeant Edgar Brian Torres-Tovar, who is from my district.
While I attended their funerals, I also saw other warriors who
came home and bore scars not seen to the human eye. It is never
easy to lose a warrior on the field, but it is equally
devastating to lose a warrior on the home front.
I am here today not just as a U.S. Congressman, but like
many of you, as a veteran. 20 years of combat service, and as a
commander, I watch my own airmen endure the struggles that come
with post-service life. I carry the message of those who cannot
be here to speak on their behalf today because veteran suicide
rates still rank as some of the highest reasons for veteran
death.
Specifically, I speak today in honor of Corporal Adam
Lambert, a proud Marine from Adel, Iowa. He loved his family.
His family loved him. Adam put others before himself, his
friends, family, and our country. Adam bravely served our
country in the Marines. He deployed to Okinawa and in
Afghanistan. During boot camp, Adam met a fellow Marine named
Daniel Harvey. He was from Rhode Island. They became friends,
and they stayed connected throughout their entire career in the
U.S. Marine Corps. At just 22 years old, Daniel died by
suicide. He had just left the Marines. Adam, his friend,
followed him less than a month later. Adam was a friend. He was
a beloved son. He was a brother.
Unfortunately, their stories are all too common for our
service members when they come home from duty. To address this,
I am proud to be working with this committee as we introduce
H.R. 2778. The Daniel J. Harvey and Adam Lambert Improving
Service Members Transition to Reduce Veteran Suicide Act will
work with our Transition Assistance Program to ensure
transitioning vets are aware of both their mental health
services that are available to them and help them provide
access to the resources they deserve.
With the help of this committee and advocates like all of
you in this room, we can and should and will save others like
Daniel and Adam. Thank you to all the witnesses who are here
today, and thank you, Mr. Chairman, for holding this very
important hearing. I yield.
Mr. Barrett. Thank you. Appreciate your testimony.
I now recognize Representative Hamadeh for 3 minutes.
STATEMENT OF ABE HAMADEH
Mr. Hamadeh. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. My bill, the
Improving Emerging Tech Opportunities Veterans Act, is not just
another workforce bill. It is a National security imperative
with Arizona's fingerprints all over it.
Since 2020, America has seen over $600 billion in private
semiconductor investment announced across 28 states. That means
more than 500,000 American jobs. Artificial intelligence is a
booming emerging tech sector of the economy, but the problem is
we do not have enough workers trained to fill them. We do have
enough veterans.
In my own district, the Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing
Company, TSMC, is investing hundreds of billions of dollars in
the local economy, which will amount to thousands of jobs. It
is a critical piece of President Trump's mission to end our
reliance on foreign chips, especially from adversaries like
Communist China. In every meeting with TSMC, I have prioritized
veterans, and they have assured me that they are in the process
of creating a robust veteran program. Right now, the VA could
do more to connect veterans with these opportunities, and
private industry could move faster to implement the veteran
hiring and training programs they have promised.
My bill fixes that. It requires the VA to partner with
industry leaders, educational institutions, and nonprofits to
identify high-demand emerging tech jobs like semiconductor
manufacturing and artificial intelligence. Then it mandates the
VA put that information front and center during transition
assistance, and on the VA website. It also creates an expedited
90-day approval process for courses of education that train
veterans for these positions because we cannot afford
bureaucratic delays when National security and veteran
opportunities are on the line.
Now, I served as an Army intelligence officer. I know the
discipline, the technical aptitude, and the mission focus our
service members bring to every task. These men and women are
exactly the type of people the semiconductor industry needs. I
urge my colleagues to support this legislation. Our veterans
deserve a path to high-paying, high-impact careers that also
serve our National security interest.
Thank you. I yield back.
Mr. Barrett. Thank you, Representative Hamadeh.
I will now introduce our witness panel.
Our first witness, Mr. Kenneth Smith, acting executive
director, Education Services at the Department of Veteran
Affairs. Mr. Smith is accompanied by Ms. Chantile Stovall,
acting executive director of Veteran Readiness and Employment
Services within the Veteran Affairs Administration at the
Department of Veteran Affairs. Our final witness is Mr.
Jeremiah Workman, assistant secretary of Veterans Employment
and Training Service at the Department of Labor. I ask
witnesses on our first panel, please stand and raise your right
hand.
[Witnesses sworn.]
Mr. Barrett. Let the record reflect that the witnesses have
answered in the affirmative.
I ask the witness and members today to respect our 5-minute
rule due to the votes that we have pending on the floor.
Mr. Smith, you are now recognized for 5 minutes to deliver
your testimony on behalf of the Department of VA.
STATEMENT OF KENNETH SMITH
Mr. Smith. Thank you. Chairman Barrett, Ranking Member
Pappas, and distinguished members of the subcommittee. Thank
you for the opportunity to present our views on bills affecting
VA's programs and benefits. Joining me today is Ms. Chantile
Stovall, acting executive director of Veteran Readiness and
Employment Service.
Before we begin, I would like to apologize on behalf of VA
for the delay in providing testimony due to the committee. VA
continues to work on process improvements internally and
externally to prevent future delays. Additionally, our Veterans
Health Administration (VHA) partners are not able to attend
today's hearing. Unfortunately, I will be unable to speak on
the Improving Mental Health Care and Coordination of Homeless
Veterans Act, the elimination of maximum authorizations of
appropriations for certain benefits for homeless veterans, and
making permanent the authority to carry out certain programs
for homeless veterans. I will be taking those questions for the
record.
VA is happy to offer support for several bills. However,
others--we support the bills but have concerns with the
language as written.
VA supports the intent of H.R. 982 Warriors to Workforce
Act. However, we are still assessing the budgetary impacts of
the bill. The bill would increase the amount of Monthly Housing
Allowance (MAH) paid to individuals pursuing a full-time
apprenticeship or on-the-job training under Chapter 33 from 80
percent to 90 percent during the second 6-month period of the
program. This change will make On-the-Job Training (OJT) and
apprenticeship programs more desirable for our beneficiaries.
VA supports the intent with amendments of the Improving
Emergencies--Emerging Tech Opportunities for Veterans Act,
which would require VA to partner with critical stakeholders to
identify specific types of industrial industries and positions
that, as a result of emerging technologies, are likely to have
high employment and growth potential for individuals. We are
especially supportive of the provision requiring collaboration
with the Department of Labor, as VA already collaborates with
DOL and believes this existing partnership can be leveraged to
meet the bill's objectives.
VA could not offer its support for a few of the bills. For
instance, VA opposes H.R. 5634, the Veterans Flight Training
Responsibility Act of 2025, as this bill would establish a
$100,000 maximum total amount payable under Chapter 33 for
flight training fees for individuals pursuing flight training
programs offered by a public institution of higher learning.
VA supports expanding flight training opportunities at
flight schools for veterans and their dependents, but this bill
does the opposite by placing an arbitrary limit on amounts
payable.
VA cites concerns with the Affordable Housing Guarantee Act
to increase maximum home loan guarantee amount because VA has
no evidence that there is a market need for such a change. VA
agrees to work with Congress to make housing more affordable,
but has concerns with unintended risks to taxpayers, veterans,
and VA through an increase in the guarantee amount.
VA also cites concerns with the Home Loan Quarterly Reports
bill and commits to provide additional information to Congress
and the public without statutory requirement.
Finally, for other bills, we must defer to other
organizations as they fall outside VA's purview. We support all
efforts to eliminate veteran suicide as intended by H.R. 2878,
the Daniel J. Harvey and Adam Lambert Improving Service Member
Transition to Reduce Veteran Suicide Act, but must defer to the
Department of War on matters involving pre-separation
counseling.
VA specifically addresses mental health to include Post-
Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and suicide prevention in its
mandatory TAP module on VA benefits and services and in
military lifecycle modules. VA will work with the Committee on
Language to strengthen those services.
VA also defers H.R. 3159, improving Servicemembers Civil
Relief Act (SCRA) Benefit Utilization Act to the Department of
War.
Last, we defer to the Department of Education, H.R. 5436,
which prohibits an educational institution from withholding the
transcript of an individual who attended a course or program
using Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits solely because the individual
owes a debt to the institution.
This concludes my statement. We would be happy to answer
any questions you or the members of the subcommittee may have.
[The Prepared Statement Of Kenneth Smith Appears In The
Appendix]
Mr. Barrett. Thank you, Mr. Smith. The written statement of
Mr. Smith will be entered into the hearing record.
Mr. Workman, you are now recognized for 5 minutes to
deliver your testimony on behalf of the Department of Labor.
STATEMENT OF JEREMIAH WORKMAN
Mr. Workman. Thank you. Chairman Barrett, Ranking Member
Pappas, and distinguished members of the subcommittee, thank
you for the opportunity to testify at today's legislative
hearing.
The mission of the Department of Labor, Veterans'
Employment and Training Service is to prepare America's service
members, veterans, and military spouses for meaningful careers,
provide them with employment resources and expertise, protect
their employment rights, and promote their employment
opportunities.
As a retired Staff Sergeant of the United States Marine
Corps, a combat veteran, Navy Cross recipient, and a tireless
advocate for veterans, I am honored and humbled to serve as
Assistant Secretary of Veterans' Employment and Training
Service. While I have only been in my agency for less than a
month, I am impressed by its dedication to our mission.
President Donald Trump has demonstrated his unrelenting
support for our military, veterans, and military spouses,
placing a renewed National focus on honoring their service and
expanding their opportunities after they leave the uniform
behind. We owe our internal thanks to those who have served our
country. That is why I am thankful for the opportunity to work
with Congress to continuously improve our programs.
The Warriors to Workforce Act would increase GI Bill
monthly housing allowance benefits for apprenticeships and on-
the-job training programs, which are administered by the
Department of Veterans' Affairs. The Department of Labor
supports this bill. Registered apprenticeships are a highly
effective pathway to develop in-demand skills while also
earning a paycheck from day one. Registered apprenticeships
train workers for careers using a structured combination of
paid on-the-job training and related instruction.
In April 2025, President Trump signed an executive order on
Preparing Americans for High-Paying Skilled Trade Jobs of the
Future, which established that it is the policy of the United
States to optimize and target Federal investments in workforce
development to align with our country's reindustrialization
needs and equip American workers to fill the growing demand for
skilled trades and other occupations. In the executive order,
the President set the goal of at least 1 million new active
apprentices nationwide. This goal is closely aligned with
current labor market demand. Skilled trade jobs are facing a
significant labor shortage, leading to increased demand for
qualified workers.
In alignment with the President's priorities and the
growing demand for highly skilled trade jobs, it is my hope
that we can continue to expand veteran participation and
registered apprenticeship programs.
Separately, a draft bill would, among other provisions,
eliminate the maximum authorizations of appropriations for the
Department of Labor's administered Homeless Veterans
Reintegration Program. The Department of Labor supports this
bill if amended. The Homeless Veterans Reintegration Program is
the only Federal grant to focus exclusively on competitive
employment for veterans experiencing or at risk of homelessness
so that they can reach their full employment potential and
high-quality career outcomes. The program fosters self-
sufficiency through employment and also holds grantees to high
standards of accountability and effectiveness with proven
results.
The department strongly supports this program and shares
Congress's commitment to improving outcomes for veterans
experiencing homelessness. However, we do have some budget
concerns, which are detailed in my written testimony.
Finally, the Veterans Energy Transition Act would establish
a new $60 million per year grant program administered by the
Department of Labor to assist members of the Armed Forces who
are transitioning to civilian employment, veterans, and their
spouses to obtain employment in the energy industry. We have
concerns with how the program is structured, as detailed in my
written testimony. We look forward to working with the
committee on alternative approaches that advance our shared
goal of helping transitioning service members, veterans, and
military spouses connect to jobs in the energy sector.
Mr. Chairman, Ranking Member, distinguished members of the
subcommittee, this concludes my statement. Thank you for the
opportunity to be part of this hearing, and I welcome your
questions.
[The Prepared Statement Of Jeremiah Workman Appears In The
Appendix]
Mr. Barrett. Thank you, Mr. Workman. Written statement of
Mr. Workman will be entered into the hearing record.
I will now proceed to questioning. I ask members and
witnesses again to respect the 5-minute rule as we have votes
on the floor coming up now.
I recognize myself for 5 minutes.
Mr. Smith, beginning with you. Obviously, you can surmise
that I have taken a bit of an interest in my bill about
centralizing payments for these adaptive equipment vehicles.
Can you tell me, in your own estimation, what is the
appropriate amount of time that should be allowed for a vendor
to receive payment under this program?
Mr. Smith. Thank you for the question. I would like to say
first off, I am not sure. One of our concerns is whether this
applies to the auto grant, which is a new purchase of a new
vehicle, a one-time grant for $27,000, or whether it is the
continuous benefit and eligibility for modifying existing
vehicle for adaptive equipment. I do agree that the Prompt
Payment Act requirements for 30 days is reasonable from the
time that we know that there is eligibility to issue payment. I
do understand that we are working hard on that auto and
adaptive equipment side. On the automobile grant, so the one-
time grant, there could be a potential eligibility cycle
involving a disability claims decision if the veteran has not
already been adjudicated eligible based on loss or loss of use
of extremities or central visual acuity.
Mr. Barrett. I appreciate some of the detail there, but the
30-day prompt payment requirement is the standard that we are
going for, that we are trying to achieve. I think you would
agree with me that we have fallen short of that expectation. We
have instances. We have one provider with over $9 million in
overdue payments that have not come through. We have recently
heard that some providers are withholding adaptive automobiles.
They are literally withdrawing from the program because they do
not have confidence that they are going to get timely payment
from the VA. You heard in my opening remarks that we have heard
of instances, literally, you know, more than 2 years in arrears
for a particular provider.
Now, I will fully grant that there is going to be truly
exceptional circumstances where maybe a claim was filed, and it
has not been adjudicated, or it is under appeal. You know there
are going to be instances of that happening, but not in the
numbers that we are seeing from these providers. My severe
concern with that is that we are going to enter a situation
where veterans are not able to find a provider that will do
this work because they do not see the VA as a good--a good
partner in that. If the end result is that fewer veterans are
able to access adaptive equipment, then we are not making good
on the effort we have in our country and through the work that
you do in the VA to make sure that they are made whole to the
extent that we can for the sacrifices they have made. I mean,
these are people that have substantial injury that they have
sustained to even qualify for this benefit to begin with.
I know that we have payments that are more than 200 days
late, 42 claims we are aware of that are over 500 days late.
You know, that is well over a year in time. The length of time
for providers to receive payments seems excessively long and
seems to be a chronic issue, especially considering that they
must front the cost when supplying these vehicles to veterans.
They are not only out the money, but they are also out the
equipment that they could have sold to another customer if
they--if they had them still available.
Assuming we can work through some of your concerns, and I
would like to get a little bit more color to the--to the, I
know you gave some, you know, asked for some consideration of
amendments. I would be curious to know kind of what you would
like those to be and how we can work together to get there. To
me, we have got different VA facilities remitting payment at
vastly different times. It cannot just be a situation where,
you know, there is a unique circumstance that would not be the
case in the chronically overdue payments in certain areas. If
you can walk us through some of what your considerations of
amendments are, we would love to take them under advisement
from you.
Mr. Smith. Thank you. I will not try to give you
everything, and would certainly like to enlist support from my
compensation colleagues for policies and procedures. I can say
that I did look to see how many pending auto allowance grants
are sitting with our team right now, and it is approximately
195. Now, this is just that decision for an initial automobile
one-time grant that is equal to $27,074.99. Our average days to
complete last month was 75 days.
Now there are going to be outliers. That is an average. We
recognize that and would certainly work to make that better.
That is also in a bucket of work that is assigned to our
benefits eligibility support teams, who are working right now
through an inventory of about 900,000 adjustments to dependency
and other miscellaneous adjustments, such as drill pay
adjustments and other things. There is a good bit of work.
Specifically, if we would pull this out for specific
prioritization, we would need resource identification for that
specific assignment of work, and then we can certainly work to
assign that work to that--that workforce to achieve the
outcomes.
Mr. Barrett. Okay, thank you, and look forward to working
with you more on that. I would just further stipulate that 70-
some days is more than twice the intended target of 30 days. I
appreciate some of that background.
I recognize the Ranking Member, Mr. Pappas, for 5 minutes.
Mr. Pappas. Thanks, Mr. Chairman.
Mr. Smith, if I can start with you. I know we do not have a
representative here specifically from the Homelessness Program
Office today, but I just want to start with a question related
to H.R. 7149. That is the Veteran Housing Promise Act. I saw
that VA's legislative proposals for the Fiscal Year included
making the Healthcare for Homeless Veterans Program permanent.
I think we should all agree that the other housing and security
programs like Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF)
and Grant Per Diem (GPD) are just as important as the health
care for homeless veterans.
As noted in your written testimony, it is hard for
providers in SSVF and GPD to plan with the funding and
authorizations in the air every year. Should Congress
permanently authorize those programs, like the proposal for the
health care for homeless veterans?
Mr. Smith. Thank you for the question. As I said in my
opening, I will have to take all of those questions for the
record. However, I will add that VA certainly supports efforts
to ensure veterans experiencing homelessness are properly
assessed and cared for.
Mr. Pappas. Well, thanks for taking that for the record. We
look forward to the response. Also for you, Mr. Smith, and in
the written testimony, VA deferred to the Department of
Education regarding H.R. 5436 and transcript withholding. I
wanted to ask you directly, should student veterans receive the
same protections against schools withholding transcripts as
their peers receiving Title IV funds through the Department of
Education, as proposed in Mr. Mannion's bill?
Mr. Smith. We are certainly interested in protections for
our GI Bill veteran students, but we have to defer to the
Department of Education because transcript provisioning is in
their purview.
Mr. Pappas. VA will not provide any additional comment on
that?
Mr. Smith. No, sir.
Mr. Pappas. Okay. I want to move to another bill, H.R.
2878. I saw that you did not address the Department's stance on
tasking the Solid Start Program with assisting eligible
veterans in enrolling with--with the VHA, and I could see that
being a difficult process over the phone. Would it make more
sense just to automate the process and enroll all eligible
service members during their transition process as outlined in
the Ensuring Veterans' Smooth Transition (EVEST) Act? That way,
we are not playing catch-up, but it is systematized and
streamlined.
Mr. Smith. Thank you for the question. My understanding
that in the TAPs benefits module, there is an interactive
discussion with service members, and they are offered the
opportunity to complete that 10-10EZ form. If they defer, they
are provided information for a liaison to assist them at a
later time.
Mr. Pappas. Well, thanks for that. I mean, you know, making
things as easy as possible for the--for the end user, for the
veteran, for the transitioning service member should be
everyone's goal.
In written testimony, the discussion draft regarding the VA
Home Loan Program reporting requirements, which is now H.R.
7150, I am just having a hard time sympathizing with the idea
that the reporting would be too burdensome. In that case, I
compare the proposed requirements to other government home loan
programs, and this proposal is nowhere near as detailed or as
burdensome. VA has all that data already. It would just be to
publish it quarterly rather than annually. Am I missing
something here? Is there a reason that the Department feels
differently about this as opposed to other reporting
requirements?
Mr. Smith. We believe that we can provide that information
to Congress without a statutory requirement and look forward to
working with you on the definitions and the specific data
points that you would like to see. As you mentioned, we already
publish a lot of data annually. In addition, we provide
quarterly reporting on lender data under PL 115.174. Note that
the Federal Financial Institution Examination Council publishes
data and reports on institutions under the Home and Mortgage
Disclosure Act.
Mr. Pappas. Well, thanks for that. I know there are a
number of data reporting requirements for school, for the Home
Loan Program office. We ask for a significant amount of data
from lenders, and they often complain about the amount of
requirements, but they comply. I think that we are not asking
for too much here.
Maybe I could just ask you one more question. This is
around adding the emerging technology to the high technology
VET-TEC program, and the current statute defines high
technology as computer programming, computer software, media
application, data processing, information sciences. Is there
anything in the current statute that would prevent artificial
intelligence or semiconductor programs from participating in
the high technology program? Is this just to give it extra
emphasis, or is there any sort of change that this would
actually allow new programs in?
Mr. Smith. My understanding is that artificial intelligence
would be covered as a software product under the existing
authority. However, the addition of semiconductor manufacturing
would be an addition that would be new as authorized by this
act.
Mr. Pappas. Okay. Appreciate the responses. Thanks for
being here. I yield back.
Mr. Barrett. Thank you. The Ranking Member yields.
Representative Hamadeh, you are recognized for 5 minutes.
Mr. Hamadeh. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Smith, thank you
for being here today, and thank you for the VA's support of my
bill, the Improving Emerging Tech Opportunities for Veterans
Act. I appreciate the department's commitment to getting this
right. I look forward to working with you.
In your testimony, you note that the VA already
collaborates with the Department of Labor on identifying high-
demand occupations. Can you walk the subcommittee through step
by step how this bill would strengthen, formalize that
partnership?
Mr. Smith. I would like to say that we would continue to
leverage our meetings with the Department of Labor to discuss
industry-specific needs and then provide targeted outreach for
use of GI Bill benefits programs. Under the VET-TEC program, we
would then also partner with Department of Labor to ensure that
we are reaching to providers of this training and, you know,
ensure that they apply for and can begin training those
students or veterans under that program.
Mr. Hamadeh. When you say providers, you mean the industry
leaders?
Mr. Smith. Industry leaders who would be offering
certificates under the VET-TEC program. Correct.
Mr. Hamadeh. What relationship with the, you know, there is
already existing relationships right now with industry leaders
in the VA, correct? What would be a good model for this--for
this new bill?
Mr. Smith. I am not sure, sir. I would have to get back to
you on that.
Mr. Hamadeh. You know my bill establishes a 90-day
expedited approval process for courses that train veterans for
emerging tech jobs. Now, your testimony states the VA has no
concerns with meeting that timeline. Is that right?
Mr. Smith. We understood that as 90 days to identify and
then solicit for providers. We do believe we could meet that
with--with enough lead time to, you know, if the enactment--
enactment or effective date for the bill were a little bit in--
in the future.
Mr. Hamadeh. All right. We all know how important it is to
make things move quickly, especially for our veterans who are
looking for jobs. What, what type of message does this send to
veterans and to industry leaders when the VA moves quickly to
approve these high-demand jobs? Does that encourage more
industries and businesses to want to partner with the VA?
Mr. Smith. I certainly hope so, yes.
Mr. Hamadeh. Now, the Semiconductor Industry Association
reports over 500,000 jobs tied to recent investments across 28
states, including Arizona. From the VA's perspective, why are
veterans uniquely positioned to fill this workforce need?
Mr. Smith. We believe that they have the--the right skills
and you know that the--the propensity to succeed given new
tasks, and we would look forward to helping them achieve that
target.
Mr. Hamadeh. Yes. As a veteran myself, and you know,
talking to fellow veterans, we know that we are used to long
hours. I think the biggest challenge has been these foreign
companies moving into the United States. You know, they work
their people to death nearly over there, so they are not used
to the work requirements here in the United States. Veterans,
we know it takes a lot of work, and they are dedicated, they
are motivated, they are very disciplined. I think that is a
huge benefit to the semiconductor and this Artificial
intelligence (AI) industry that I know we are going to help out
with.
Mr. Smith, I appreciate the VA's partnership on this, and
together we can make sure our veterans are prioritized for
these high-paying jobs and high-impact careers. Thank you for
your time.
I yield back.
Mr. Barrett. Thank you, Mr. Hamadeh.
Representative McGarvey, you are recognized for 5 minutes.
Mr. McGarvey. Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and thank you for
having this hearing today. You know, I hear from veterans all
the time back home, people who are trying to build a stable
life when they take off the uniform. This is trying to get a
job. This is finish school. This is buy a home or simply even
stay housed. Every single one of the bills we are discussing
today touches one of those foundational pieces.
What I keep hearing from people, though, is like, keep it
simple, make the system work the way it is supposed to.
Basically, veterans should not have to fight all over again
just to get a wheelchair accessible van. They should not have
to lose out on a job opportunity because the school will not
release their transcript. They should not be pushed into
programs that sound good on paper but do not actually lead to
real jobs. They should not be fighting again for the things we
promise to provide for them.
One thing we do on this committee, and I think we do it
well, despite everything you see in Washington right now, is we
have a central mission. That is to keep the promise we made to
the men and women who put on a uniform, willing to serve us and
sacrifice everything for our safety and freedom. I am happy to
see that the legislation that we are talking about today are
promoting programs that actually work, programs that keep that
promise.
Mr. Workman, I want to start with you. First of all, thank
you for your service. Thank you for the heroism and bravery you
showed. Because of your actions, a lot of people came home to
their families, and we are grateful for that. We have heard
concerns that Veterans Energy Transition, or VET, the VET Act
sets up another standalone jobs program instead of fixing and
strengthening programs that already work, like Skillbridge. How
is DOL going to make sure that this does not turn into just one
more confusing program that veterans have to navigate when they
are transitioning out of the military?
Mr. Workman. Thank you for the question, Congressman. I
would like to sit down with my counterparts at the DoD and also
at the VA to ensure that we are doing the right thing by our
veterans and by those that are leaving the military every year.
As in my testimony that was submitted, you know, there are some
concerns from the Department of Labor with this bill, and I
would look forward to working with your office to try to find a
way forward with this bill so we can get more veterans employed
and gainful employment, gainful jobs where they can wake up in
the morning, feel that sense of pride, and feel good about
taking care of their families.
Mr. McGarvey. Thank you. No, we look forward to working
with you on that. You know, look, on this committee, sometimes
we might not always agree about the way to get there. I do not
think we disagree on the mission and the goal. Look forward to
working with you on that because, you know, again, this is just
something. Go to the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United
States (VFW) in Louisville and talk to people, just walk
around, talk to some of our veterans. They want a straight path
to a good job. Right? Not some of the more bureaucracy things
they have to fight to do to get things that do not actually
work. They do not want just another incentive for companies.
When you are, I know you are new at DOL, but while you are
there, you know, how--how can you guys make sure that this
grant money from the VET Act actually leads to real training
and credentials, long-term employment, instead of just giving
out sort of hiring bonuses to businesses?
Mr. Workman. Thank you for the question, Congressman. Like
I said in my submitted testimony, I think there are some issues
with the bill that need to be addressed before we can find a
way forward. I definitely look forward to working with you and
the rest of the members of this committee to find a way forward
because I agree our veterans deserve the best, and we need to
do what we can to ensure that they are set up for success once
they take the uniform off.
Mr. McGarvey. Yes. Appreciate that commitment and
definitely want to work with you on it because this is
something, you know, we do not want it to get lost. We want
this to be just another hearing where there is--there is, you
know, again, reassurances or things said or things, oh, we will
get back to like, no, let us actually make sure these programs
are working for our veterans.
Mr. Smith, I will switch to you about transcript
withholding. There is a real risk that veterans in my district
in Louisville and places all over the country could lose job
offers because their school may not release their transcript
over disputed debt. My first question to you is a simple yes or
no. Do you agree that veterans who are using the GI Bill should
never be blocked from getting their own academic record?
Mr. Smith. Unfortunately, I have to defer to the Department
of Education on that. It is their policy.
Mr. McGarvey. Okay, well, I can go ahead and state my
opinion on that. We should never have a veteran blocked from
getting their own academic record, particularly when they are
on the GI Bill. Again, a benefit not given to them, a benefit
they earned through their service, and would love your help in
making sure we can get that happen even with the Department of
Education.
The VET-TEC program has had some mixed results with job
placement dropping below 50 percent in some years. If we expand
on VET-TEC to focus more on emerging tech fields, what
protections should VA put in place to make sure that veterans
are not encouraged to participate in programs that sound good
but do not lead to jobs after they are over?
Mr. Smith. Thank you for the question, and that is--that is
a very interesting area to go to because it really speaks to
the efficiency and effectiveness of the program. We would be
happy to sit down with your staff and others to identify some
protections for that. As of right now, I am not sure that I
have--I have any great ideas.
Mr. McGarvey. Well, definitely want to sit down with both
of you on this. Let us keep this on our radar. Let us make sure
this is working. We cannot just get caught in more bureaucracy.
We got to have programs that work for our veterans. Mr.
Chairman, I yield back.
Mr. Barrett. Thank you. Ms. Ramirez is recognized for 5
minutes.
Ms. Ramirez. Thank you, Chairman and Ranking Member Pappas,
for holding this hearing, and to the witnesses that are here
with us today.
One of the many factors this committee has identified as
critical to a veteran's successful transition that stand out
for me are medical care and the second is employment. I want to
start with discussing the importance of medical and mental
health care post-service.
As you know, some of you were service members yourself,
wearing the uniform and serving our Nation, oftentimes veterans
deal in silence with the pain of PTSD, of depression, of
substance abuse, and the risk of self-harm. We know it is
essential that we do everything we can to ensure that no
veteran has to confront their challenges alone by providing
them information and the access necessary to medical and mental
health services.
I understand there are some pieces of legislation today
that we are considering that make an attempt to help our
veterans with that. I have a couple questions. I know a core
program that assists veterans transition to civilian life is a
TAP program. Here, veterans take classes to learn all that is
available to them. We know that veterans often do not retain
what they learn and can be overwhelmed by the volume of
information all coming at the same time. I understand that H.R.
2878 attempts to address the current mental health gaps
veterans face by adding information to TAPS on mental health.
The question I have, Mr. Smith, given that DOD has
expressed it would not provide more time for veterans to attend
TAP classes, from your perspective, what content, if any, would
realistically have to be removed to make room for some of the
new mandates that are coming through H.R. 2878?
Mr. Smith. I am not sure what should be or what could be
removed from that program. I realize it is a very full agenda.
I know VA's benefits and services are one entire day.
Ms. Ramirez. Yes. Let me ask you a follow-up question. Do
you have any data that veterans retain or act on information
delivered in already overstuffed formats months before
separation? If so, what does the data show you?
Mr. Smith. I do not have any information about retention of
information, which is why VA law in 2019 launched the VA Solid
Start program, where we have reached out to 115,000 veterans to
date by telephone, approximately every 90 days post-service
to--to communicate with them.
Ms. Ramirez. Well, thank you, Mr. Smith. I know that my
clock is ticking, so I am going to just shift gears for a
second, and I want to talk about employment.
I have a question on the Warriors to Workforce Act. We know
that employment is critical for a successful transition post-
service, and I am worried that some of the bills discussed
today do not address the larger issues at hand, including some
of the scarcity of apprenticeship programs, and that many
programs are not widely known to our veterans. Given that when
the GI Bill apprenticeship and on the job training structure
was created, the core assumption was the employer would pay a
meaningful share of the veterans income and then VA would then
supplement it with what--what would be necessary.
The question that I have is for Mr. Workman. Is that
assumption still holding today, that the employer would pay a
meaningful share? Specifically, what data does DOL or VA have
on how many approved apprenticeship or OJT programs are paying
veterans wages that are sufficient to offset the declining GI
Bill housing allowance?
Mr. Workman. Thank you for the question, Congresswoman. I
do not have the data in front of me. I am more than willing to
go back and get that data and provide it to you.
Ms. Ramirez. It would be really helpful for me because, as
we are looking at declining housing allowance, I want to make
sure that, you know, our veterans are not put in a position
where they are barely making it with whatever we are getting
offset from the private market.
Let me ask you just one last follow-up question. I do have
58 seconds. What happens when the apprenticeship or AGT--or OJT
programs are not paying sufficient wages? I know you are going
to get me some data, but in your own perspective or your own
experience, what do you think happens to them when they are not
getting sufficient wages?
Mr. Workman. Thank you for the question. I do not want to
speak to something that I do not know about. What I can tell
you is the President has made it clear that he wants a million
new apprenticeships.
Ms. Ramirez. Mr. Workman, when you, as you go back, I just
want to really reiterate, these apprenticeships are incredibly
important. We also do not want to add more financial stress to
our service members. We want to make sure that they are getting
wages necessary to be able to participate in the program, be
successful. I do look forward to getting this information from
you. Thank you.
With that, I yield back.
Mr. Barrett. Thank you. Appreciate it. The witnesses are
now excused, seeing no further questions. I hope you will all
stick around for the second panel.
On our second panel today, we will hear from the following
witnesses. Yes, if you are on the second panel, please come
forward, and I will introduce you as you arrive.
We are doing a quick shift change.
All right, thank you. Going from my right, your left, we
have Mr. Sam Cook, president of the Superior Van and Mobility
company. This is Mr. Larry Smith, a semiconductor industry
expert. Ms. Julie Howell, associate legislative director for
Government Relations, testifying on behalf of--on behalf of
Paralyzed Veterans of America. Ms. Kathryn Monet. Monet or
Monette (phonetic)? How do I say it? Monet? All right. Chief
Executive Officer (CEO) of the National Coalition of Homeless
Veterans (NCHV).
I would now like to welcome the witnesses to our second
panel, and I ask you to please stand and raise your right hand.
[Witnesses sworn.]
Mr. Barrett. Thank you. Let the record reflect that all
witnesses have answered in the affirmative. Mr. Cook, you are
now recognized for 5 minutes to deliver your testimony.
STATEMENT OF SAM COOK
Mr. Cook. On behalf of Superior Van & Mobility and National
Mobility Equipment Dealers Association, known as NMEDA, I would
like to thank Chairman Barrett, Chairman Van Orden, whose
family is in our prayers, Ranking Member Pappas, and all the
members of the House Veterans Subcommittee on Economic
Opportunity for the chance to testify today.
My name is Sam Cook. I am the president of Superior Van and
Mobility, the Nation's largest family owned adapted vehicle
dealer based in Louisville, Kentucky. My family owns and
operates 18 dealer locations across the South and Midwest. For
over 25 years, we have served disabled veterans through the
Automotive Adaptive Equipment Program, which provides disabled
veterans with accessible vehicles. NMEDA members across the
country are driven by one noble principle: to provide mobility
to disabled veterans who have given so much to our country.
Further, I would like to clarify that my testimony and
support for changes to the AAE is in no way an indictment on
the many hard-working, frontline employees of the VA who serve
our veterans every day. Our issue is with the system itself.
The old joke is you have been to one VA location, then you have
been to one VA location.
Unfortunately, this is not my first time testifying before
Congress about VA shortcomings. I testified in 2015, along with
many others, about the VA policy relating to the quality of
modifications made to vehicles to accommodate each veteran's
disability. That effort resulted in the passage of the Veterans
Mobility Safety Act, a bill signed into law in 2016, intended
to ensure the modifications made for veterans were properly
performed and appropriate for their disability. Sadly, and for
unexplained reasons, the law still has not been implemented due
to the VA not issuing the mandated interpretive regulations.
Consistent with this theme, VA payment policy can vary
dramatically from location to location, despite the existence
of the Prompt Payment Act, which requires Federal agencies,
including the VA, to pay their contractors usually within 30
days. At the end of 2025, my company alone had over $2.11
million in past due invoices. This makes it difficult for
businesses to serve disabled veterans in our country, as they
are essentially being asked to be a subprime lender to the VA.
There are good, credible dealers who have or are considering
ceasing to do business with the VA altogether due to the
payment issues. Without proper standards, this will likely
cause veterans to travel hundreds of miles for service.
In addition to the uncertainty is when you might get paid,
another change the VA made that has drastically affected the
amount the VA reimburses dealers for adaptive equipment. As a
taxpayer, I want the government to get the best price possible.
That being said, the price the government pays should be based
on current market conditions and data. The VA's own regulations
instructed it to establish a fee schedule on July 17, 2024,
based on the most recent data to update it annually. Despite
this requirement, the schedule was created using not the most
available data. The published schedule was based on prices from
2021. We all know that costs are considerably higher now than
they were in 2021.
Further, at this time, the VA published its schedule, and
NMEDA's 2024 survey was available then. That will be updated
every year moving forward. Absent congressional intervention,
industry has no confidence the schedule will be brought in line
with current pricing. The failure to follow very clear direct
regulations regarding publishing a current payment schedule
identified ongoing challenges with vendors and getting paid on
time. Now a decade-long wait for professional standards for
modification of vehicles suggests the VA feels it is
unrestricted discretion and interpretation of application of
the law, making it extremely difficult to serve our veterans.
One piece of the solution is the bipartisan Automotive
Support Services to Improve Safe Transportation (ASSIST) Act
sponsored by Congressman Barrett, which passed the House
unanimously last year. I, as well as NMEDA, believe that the
CRUISE Act, recently introduced by Chairman Barrett, is another
important part of the solution. I and NMEDA support Chairman
Barrett's CRUISE Act. The CRUISE Act will centralize the
process for reimbursing dealers in the department's central
office and require the VA to accurately track payments for
dealers that are more than 90 days overdue. I hope the CRUISE
Act is passed and properly implemented. Many of these issues
facing the mobility equipment dealers and disabled veterans
will be resolved.
I would like to thank the committee for listening today and
thank each of you for serving our country.
[The Prepared Statement Of Sam Cook Appears In The
Appendix]
Mr. Barrett. Thank you, Mr. Cook. The written statement of
Mr. Cook will be entered into the record.
Mr. Smith, welcome to Washington. You are now recognized
for 5 minutes to deliver your testimony.
STATEMENT OF LARRY SMITH
Mr. Smith. Thank you, Chairman Barrett, and Ranking Member
Pappas, and distinguished subcommittee members, for this
opportunity. As a veteran committed to helping others enter the
semiconductor industry, I believe these proposals will better
connect veterans to rewarding careers.
My name is Larry Smith. After a decade in the Army,
including time on active duty and in the reserves, after
graduating from West Point, I worked 35 years in the
semiconductor industry, serving as president and chairman of
the board of Tokyo Electron U.S. for 14 years. Now retired, I
have pivoted to purpose, focused on hiring and housing
veterans, and serve as vice chair of the Governor's Executive
Committee for the Texas Semiconductor Innovation Consortium and
chairman of the Board of Mobile Loaves and Fishes.
More than 10 years ago, I chose to recruit field engineers
from three groups, including veterans. During this period, I
was lucky enough to collaborate with my close friend Paul Funk,
who later became a four-star General and led TRADOC, or
Training and Doctorate Command. Paul and I began our military
careers as young lieutenants together at Fort Hood, and our
friendship has lasted ever since. He helped me and my team
connect with key leaders at the Transition Assistance Program
and take part in job fairs.
After years of recruiting veterans, I saw that our
industry, spanning thousands of companies, could reach far more
people than we had so far. I proposed recruiting veterans as a
talent pipeline to SEMI's CEO and presented this idea as a
keynote speaker at two major trade shows attended by over
35,000 people this last year. My talks addressed why and how to
recruit veterans into the semiconductor industry, highlighting
their valuable attributes and technical skills.
As mentioned already, the semiconductor industry released a
report, updated in December 2025, detailing both ongoing and
anticipated investments in the semiconductor manufacturing
facilities. These initiatives are projected to create and
support over 500,000 jobs, including 70,000 facility positions
and 122,000 construction roles. This projected growth is
anticipated to create significant demand for technicians,
rendering these positions well-suited for transitioning service
members who are seeking impactful careers that support National
security.
Currently, semiconductors are integral to geopolitical
competition and underpin advancements in artificial
intelligence, quantum computing, space exploration, and defense
technologies. Collaborative job training programs and efforts
to expand the pool of Science, Technology, Engineering, and
Mathematics (STEM) educators can address the talent shortage,
with veterans serving as an excellent resource to meet this
demand.
Let me share some details on a project in Killeen, Texas,
that can be a model to consider.
The Military Talent Pipeline near Fort Hood helps service
members and their spouses transition to jobs and fields like
semiconductor technology and design, STEM education,
cybersecurity, data analytics, and law enforcement. It is
funded by Federal, State, industry, and local partners, with
the Clean Economic Development Corporation donating a 25,000-
square-foot facility. The project also received a $2.5 million
Federal grant for renovating that donated building.
Additional support for projects includes workforce
development funds from the Texas CHIPS Act, upcoming
appropriations pending Senate review, a $2 million fab tool
donation from Tokyo Electron, and a $2 million allocation from
the Texas legislature. Collaborate partners include Texas
University System and local community colleges. Texas A&M,
Central Texas, led by Dr. Richard Rhodes, donated $2 million to
Temple College to help establish the semiconductor lab near the
Samsung site. Project leaders are creating the playbook and
sharing it with other U.S. regions, to include Arizona and New
York.
Additionally, I am proud of our team's work at Tokyo
Electron U.S. Our goal is to be a trusted global partner
providing technology that enables life. We have invested
billions of dollars in U.S. semiconductor manufacturing and
research and development. We participate in the Partnership for
Your Success (PAYS) program and earned several military-
friendly awards from the DOL and DOW. To include, today I saw a
posting on LinkedIn that we were recognized again with both a
platinum and gold level recognition. As a member of SEMI Works,
this team has reached over 150,000 military members through
outreach over the last 3 years and in a CHIP career site list
job opportunities to the thousand SEMI members and supports
military personnel with resources, tools, and career coaching.
Thank you for the opportunity to testify on behalf of these
initiatives before the subcommittee today. I am happy to answer
your questions.
[The Prepared Statement Of Larry Smith Appears In The
Appendix]
Mr. Barrett. Thank you, Mr. Smith, and Go Army. The written
statement of Mr. Smith will be entered into the hearing record.
Ms. Howell, you are now recognized for 5 minutes to deliver
your testimony.
STATEMENT OF JULIE HOWELL
Ms. Howell. Chairman Barrett, Ranking Member Pappas, and
members of the subcommittee, Paralyzed Veterans of America
(PVA) appreciates the opportunity to share our views on some of
the legislation before the subcommittee today. PVA members are
veterans who have incurred a spinal cord injury or disorder,
and they experience the breadth of VA care and benefits in
unique ways due to their injuries and their illnesses. Most of
the legislation has been addressed in our written testimony, so
I will limit my comments to three bills that we believe would
have a positive impact on our membership.
Just like every American, access to safe and reliable
transportation is essential to the mobility, health, and
independence of catastrophically disabled veterans. Thus,
addressing transportation concerns is a top priority for PVA,
and we have been honored to work with this committee to pass
several bills in recent years to improve access to adapted
vehicles. The Automobile Adaptive Equipment, or AAE, program
prescribes and pays for adaptive equipment which allows
eligible veterans to safely operate and enter or exit their
vehicles. Most adaptations are done by dealers outside of the
VA, and the work is reimbursed by payment processors at the
local VA medical center.
Unfortunately, we often hear from PVA members as well as
industry professionals that millions of dollars in unpaid
reimbursements remain outstanding. H.R. 7083, the CRUISE Act,
seeks to address this problem by changing the way VA reimburses
businesses that make the necessary modifications to the
vehicles that veterans need. The bill requires the VA to
implement a process to track invoices and issue payments in a
timely manner. If the latter takes more than 30 days, the
department must notify the business of delays and provide them
with an anticipated date of payment. While PVA supports the
intent of this legislation, we are concerned that without
careful oversight, an already difficult reimbursement process
could become even more complicated. Disabled veterans have
earned these benefits, and it is the obligation of the VA and
Congress to ensure their delivery, which includes paying
vendors that partner in achieving veteran independence.
Next, I would like to discuss H.R. 982, the Warriors to
Workforce Act. While PVA supports the intent of increasing the
monthly housing allowance rate for veterans using their Post-9/
11 GI Bill for apprenticeships, we do not think that the bill
goes far enough in supporting veterans deciding on non-
traditional education paths like apprenticeships or other on-
the-job training programs. If Congress increases the second 6
months of an apprenticeship program from 80 percent to 90
percent, that would mean that for veterans in a 2 year
apprenticeship, the first 6 months of the second year of their
program would see a drop from 90 percent to 60 percent of a
veteran's MAH payment. That would most likely result in
increased numbers of veterans choosing to discontinue this
apprenticeship. With the increasing need for skilled trades and
other non-degree holding professionals, and the significant
barriers to employment that still exist for veterans with
serious disabilities, we should ensure that any veteran who
decides to enter the trades is fully supported by their earned
education benefits.
Last, I would like to briefly mention H.R. 2878, the Daniel
J. Harvey Jr. and Adam Lambert Improving Service Member
Transition to Reduce Veteran Suicide Act. Ensuring
transitioning service members and veterans are aware of
services and supports offered by the VA is critical in the
health and well-being of our Nation's veterans, and we should
do everything we can to improve awareness of these life-saving
supports and services.
I want to remind the subcommittee that not all
transitioning service members get the traditional TAP
experience. Those who separate due to illness or injury may not
get to attend a TAP class due to medical appointments and other
requirements. The Department of Defense and the VA should do
everything possible to ensure that all service members and
veterans know about the mental health support and suicide
prevention programs made available to them.
Mr. Chairman, if I may, I would like to take the last few
minutes of my testimony to share a profound lost experience at
Paralyzed Veterans of America. Last week, Len Selfon
unexpectedly passed away. Len was PVA's general counsel, and he
worked for more than 30 years in veterans law. Not only did Len
work for PVA, the United Spinal Association, the Vietnam
Veterans of America, but he also served as a consultant to the
Veterans Consortium Pro Bono Program and was a senior appellate
attorney in the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Office of
General Counsel. Len's professionalism, wisdom, and experience
with nuances in veteran case law will be missed by more than
just PVA members.
Thank you again for the opportunity to share our views on
some of the bills being considered today, and I would be happy
to answer any of your questions.
[The Prepared Statement Of Julie Howell Appears In The
Appendix]
Mr. Barrett. Thank you. Thank you for that tribute, and our
condolences to the entire organization on that loss and the
loss of our veteran community as well. Thank you. Your
testimony will be entered into the record as well.
Ms. Monet, you are now recognized for 5 minutes.
STATEMENT OF KATHRYN MONET
Ms. Monet. Chairman Barrett, Ranking Member Pappas, and
distinguished members of the committee, thank you for the
opportunity to offer views on legislation before you. While
there are several great bills today, we are providing
statements on behalf of legislation that would directly affect
efforts to prevent and or end homelessness among veterans and
their families.
NCHV supports H.R. 7149, the Veteran Housing Promise Act,
which amends Title 38 to eliminate maximum authorizations of
appropriations and make permanent the authority for several
programs supporting homeless veterans. For decades, VA----
Mr. Barrett. Can you move your microphone a little closer?
I am having a hard time hearing you.
Ms. Monet. Yes. Is this better?
Mr. Barrett. I think so.
Ms. Monet. Okay, great.
Mr. Barrett. Thank you.
Ms. Monet. For decades, VA's homelessness programs have
been instrumental in reducing veteran homelessness. These
efforts provide essential services such as outreach, housing
assistance, employment reintegration, and supportive services
for vulnerable populations, including women veterans and those
with children. Yet the current patchwork of time-limited
authorizations and funding caps pros polluted poses significant
challenges for program continuity, planning, and the ability of
community providers to sustain the life-changing services
veterans rely on.
By removing funding caps and time-limited authorizations,
this legislation provides long-term stability and
predictability for these proven programs. Such stability allows
both VA and community based partners to better coordinate care,
invest in workforce development and ensure that no veteran who
has served our Nation has to face homelessness or housing
insecurity due to administrative challenges.
Key provisions of this bill, such as the permanent
authority for the Domiciliary Care and Supportive Services for
Very Low-Income Veteran Families program, and long-term
authorization for grants benefiting homeless veterans with
special needs, will strengthen the Federal response and allow
for continued progress toward the shared goal of ending veteran
homelessness.
NCHV supports H.R. 7049, the Improving Mental Health Care
and Coordination for Homeless Veterans Act. It seeks to address
deficiencies in the referral process to homeless programs for
veterans with positive screenings for housing instability in
other clinical settings. VHA's homeless clinical screening tool
is an important way that clinicians are able to identify
veterans facing housing challenges, especially those who may
not know help is available or those who may not want to
disclose their housing status due to stigma or other issues.
However, last month, the VA Office of Inspector General
(OIG) found that in many instances, unclear referral procedures
and staff inconsistency in following them resulted in veterans
screening positive but never receiving the housing referrals
they requested or not receiving them within the prescriptive
30-day timeline. It is unacceptable that bureaucratic
processes, or the lack thereof, prevented veterans from
accessing housing support and NCHV. Thanks, Representative
Valadao and the bill's co-sponsors, for moving quickly to
address this issue.
The focus on timely assessment and intake planning will
help VA house more veterans. Further, we appreciate the bill's
focus on ensuring VA identifies appropriate permanent housing
options for veterans quickly, in addition to addressing long-
term health and mental health needs. As the Committee considers
this provision, we encourage frank discussions with VA to
ensure that VA medical centers are being allowed to hire
sufficient staff and backfill vacancies to support these
processes. Further, as team-based case management becomes more
common, we encourage discussions around ensuring that the
homeless program staff has appropriate skill sets to identify
housing placements and support housing navigation rather than
the usual clinical skills VA tends to prioritize.
In conclusion, we commend the committee's leadership for
advancing policies that recognize homelessness among veterans
is not just a matter of housing, but of dignity, stability, and
National responsibility. We stand ready to support
implementation and continued oversight of all of these
essential programs. Thank you.
[The Prepared Statement Of Kathryn Monet Appears In The
Appendix]
Mr. Barrett. Thank you, Ms. Monet. The written statement of
Ms. Monet will be entered into the hearing record. Will now
proceed to questioning.
I am going to recognize myself first for 5 minutes.
Starting with Mr. Cook. Thank you again for being here
today. Really appreciate your testimony. Can you walk our
committee through the process for a veteran receiving a vehicle
for the first time, how that approval works, where you enter
the process, and then where the payment ultimately gets
remitted so that we can kind of get an understanding of that?
Mr. Cook. Sure. There are two programs. The 4502 program
that was mentioned in the VA's testimony is a--is an auto grant
that you can get that they get, and it is basically a check.
The grant is signed by the VA, and you can take it to an
automobile dealer, you can take it to somebody like us. If you
do not need a full conversion and you just want to be able to
get a vehicle that needs hand controls, you want to buy, you
know, a Ford Expedition, you can go to the Ford dealer, buy
that. This grant is the $27,000 figure that he referred to.
Then that is paid to either the dealer or the check comes
directly to them from the VA. That is--that check--that grant
is mailed directly to the regional office. You do not have a
lot of hands touching it. When he said 75 days of that one.
Yes, because it just--it just goes from here to here.
Where the 1394 program is, goes through the prosthetics
department. The veteran goes into the prosthetics department at
the VA, and they are prescribed a wheelchair. Then they were
determined that they need a van to be able to transport back
and forth either or to drive. There is a prescription written.
It comes to the dealer, and the dealer basically fills the
prescription from there on what the requirements are that that
person needs, what the veteran is. Every veteran is different.
Some drive, some do not drive, some need specialty steering,
and whatever those things are. Then once the work is complete,
the vehicle goes to the VA for inspection, either virtually or
in person. The VA checks and says, yes, all of these are on
there. We submit the paperwork to the prosthetics department.
Prosthetics department then signs off and sends everything to
the regional office at the Veterans Benefits Administration
(VBA).
That is where things--there is not. Those two departments
do not talk back and forth. We cannot call one and say we call
prosthetics, and they say yes, everything's submitted. Then you
try to figure out, well, is it the regional office that is
delaying it? The regional office might say, hey, we are missing
this. You do not get notification to say you are missing us.
You have to follow up and continue to do so.
Today, I got an email while I was here. We got paid on a
claim from 2023. We also got paid on one from 2024 today.
There, this is not a 75-day issue. It is much greater than
that.
Mr. Barrett. Well, hopefully, when you are here testifying
in 10 more years, it will not be on claims from today. We
appreciate your repeat performance in committee, but we are
hoping to fix some of these problems nonetheless.
If a veteran gets a prescription for a mobility van,
perhaps their spouse is going to be driving it, but they will
be riding as a passenger and need a ramp or some other, you
know, accommodation, or maybe they are going to be driving it
and need other further accommodations. The veteran would not
be--it is not designed for them to be paying out of pocket for
that mobility vehicle, is that correct?
Mr. Cook. That is correct.
Mr. Barrett. That 20-some-thousand-dollar stipend is for
modifications to a trip traditional vehicle, whereas the
prosthetic assessment is for--you need a specifically designed
vehicle for this purpose. I think, as you shared with me
before, some of the cost reimbursements are based on data from
now going on 5 years ago, and certainly, you know, has not kept
up with cost of living since then. We are now becoming, to grow
out of--out of sync with what the actual cost of some of these
products and devices are. Is that also true?
Mr. Cook. That is accurate. Right now, the veteran either
pays out of pocket the difference, or the dealership eats the
cost of that. You know, you have to make that decision as a--as
a business owner. You know, it is, to me, it is, you know, the
reason why the veteran needs this vehicle is for an injury
sustained during their service to this country. You know, that
is a promise that the country made to the veteran--
Mr. Barrett. Yes.
Mr. Cook [continuing]. and it should be fulfilled.
Mr. Barrett. Great. Well, thank you. We appreciate that. We
want to make sure that you are reimbursed and made whole for,
you know, work that you do and for a fair price.
Do you believe that H.R. 7083, the CRUISE Act that you
spoke about, would help adaptive automotive equipment dealers
like yourself provide better service for veterans and receive
timely payment that you rely on?
Mr. Cook. Sure. It definitely would have a central source
that we could go in a clearinghouse, if you will, to be able to
know--to know what is going on.
Mr. Barrett. Yes.
Mr. Cook. Right now there is so many things that can be
interpreted different ways and there is so many hands that
touch it.
Mr. Barrett. Thank you. Appreciate your testimony.
I now yield to Ranking Member Pappas for 5 minutes.
Mr. Pappas. Well, thank you very much. Ms. Howell, thanks
for being with us. I wanted to start with you, and thanks for
relating the experience and the dedication that your colleagues
showed to the veteran community and his service. We express our
condolences to you and your organization on his passing.
I wanted to ask you a question about H.R. 5436. VA could
not answer this one, but maybe you can. This is about schools
withholding student veteran transcripts. I am wondering if you
think that student veterans should receive the same protections
against schools withholding transcripts as their peers who
receive Title IV Department of--Department of Education funds.
Ms. Howell. Thank you for the question, sir. Thank you for
the condolences, everybody. PVA fully supports H.R. 5436. We
believe that passing this bill will provide parity for a post-
9/11 or any student veteran using VA education benefits. It
will provide them parity with any Title IV student. We often
see that transcript withholding is used as a means of debt
collection, and rarely is it successful. We think passing this
bill will just provide parity to other students. Particularly
in the event if a student veteran is in some kind of appeal or
dispute with VA, who has outstanding payments to the school,
the veteran should not be on the hook for that.
Mr. Pappas. Thanks for being clear on that response. I am
wondering, you also touched on this in your testimony, but just
to pull this out again. You talked about this cliff that
potentially is going to be created here if Congress raises the
MHA payment rate to veterans using GI Bill to attend
apprenticeship to 90 percent for months 7 through 12, that this
creates a drop off in month 13. I am wondering if you can just
talk about why that is the case and how this would potentially
impact veterans.
Ms. Howell. Yes, sir, absolutely. Thank you again. In the
one-pager for the bill circulated last Congress, data in the
one-pager showed that from step, we will say tier, two to three
for on-the-job training, or OJT program, showed a 56 percent
dropout rate, and apprenticeship solid 44 percent dropout rate.
That is without an increased 10 percent loss on their earnings
that they take home for MHA.
As we expressed in our written testimony and in our oral
testimony, we think that there is an opportunity here to go
even farther understanding the market demands. In light of the
hearing we had a couple weeks ago about underused appropriate
apprenticeship and success after service, we think that we can
thread the needle on this and increase the MHA rate for all
veterans using on-the-job training or apprenticeship programs
because there is a demand in the market, there is a high need
for these very skilled workers.
I just do not--PVA does not think that that 30 percent drop
in the payment is going to be any kind of solution. We are
almost guaranteed to see more people drop. Increased oversight
of the apprenticeship program might be helpful. We have heard
anecdotally at least that there is an employer obligation to
supplement that drop. That is why it tiers off the way it does.
If employers are not contributing their fair share, then that
is something that needs to be examined.
Mr. Pappas. Thank you very much.
Ms. Monet, H.R. 7049 regarding mental health care and
coordination for homeless veterans, from your testimony in VA's
testimony and hearing from current grant recipients, sounds
like VA employees working within the Homeless--Homelessness
Program Office are already required to do what is outlined in
the bill. Should the focus of the legislation be requiring
other parts of VA or community partners that come into contact
with a homeless veteran to conduct the reporting and ensure
that a warm handoff for that veteran is needed--who is needed--
needing resources?
Ms. Monet. I think anything that we can do to connect
veterans to resources quickly is a good, a very good thing.
What I will say is that intake processes do vary by community.
Some of them have one single door of entry. One of, some of
them have, you know, no wrong door options. I do think from
what I understand, the bill was designed to address really this
low-hanging fruit, right, of veterans coming into VA and
screening positive for homelessness or homelessness or housing
instability, but never getting connected to any services. To
me, I think that is probably the right starting point, and then
we expand out to other providers and resources from there.
Mr. Pappas. Well, thank you.
Mr. Cook, thanks very much for your testimony as well. I
come from a small business background, and if my business was
owed $2.1 million from our customers, we would not have been
opened as long as we have been. I thank you for your
perseverance. I know that you know it is focused on how you can
meet the needs of veterans. Frankly, you should not have to put
up with this. What we do not want to see is for businesses that
are providing important services for disabled veterans to just
walk away because of their frustration with VA's processes.
You talked about this being an issue with the system
itself. I hope that there is room here for a modern Information
Technology (IT) system where you can quickly fill out forms,
have those updated, and track the process of in-progress of
claims approvals and payments. Is that something that you think
would help provide some clarity to your business?
Mr. Cook. You know, it would. There is--but in the CRUISE
Act, you know, it is, it leaves it, it is open enough where we
can work within the current system because, you know, an IT
upgrade is going to take years. Right now, with the CRUISE Act,
if we can get that, if we will get that passed and implemented,
that at least will give us a faster way to--to our end goal.
Mr. Pappas. Well, I appreciate that. We are really
committed to working on this and finding a solution. Thanks
very much for your testimony.
Mr. Cook. Thank you.
Mr. Pappas. I yield back.
Mr. Barrett. Thank you. The Ranking Member yields.
Mr. McGarvey, you are recognized for 5 minutes.
Mr. McGarvey. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you all for
being here today.
Mr. Cook, I am going to start with you coming up here from
Louisville, Kentucky. First of all, we appreciate what you do
for our veterans, what you do in our community. You had
mentioned while you are sitting there that today you found out
that a claim has been paid you submitted in 2023.
Mr. Cook. Yes, sir.
Mr. McGarvey. We are going to let the record explicitly
show it is 2026. It is--it is unbelievable to me, and quite
frankly, it is completely unacceptable that that has happened.
That does not just impact you, that goes to the heart of what
we do here on this committee that impacts our veterans. As Mr.
Pappas said, when you run a small business and people are not
paying you for the services you provide, it is hard to stay
open. When the service you provide is getting our veterans
where they need to go, that is a real problem. Not only have
you--it is 2026, and you are talking about payments from 2023.
It is my understanding the VA is supposed to process and pay
these claims within 30 days, correct?
Mr. Cook. That is correct.
Mr. McGarvey. Okay, 30 days. Again, 2023. 2026. I am not
the best at math, but it is my understanding that that is more
than 30 days. Appreciate you being here and sharing these
stories because we need to hear how this is actually happening
out there for our veterans and for the people who provide those
services.
There are some VA locations that process claims even more
slowly. You hinted at this as well. There might be some issues
with invoices. There might be dealers who are not notified. Can
you talk just a little bit more about what this system looks
like, maybe even give an example of how these problems hurt our
veterans or could slow down their access to the mobility
equipment they need?
Mr. Cook. Well, it is right now, as I said in my testimony,
there are dealers that are having to make the decision, is it
can I afford to do business with the VA? A lot of our veterans
come from rural areas. Again, if you do not have
transportation, you know, all of these other things that these
folks are talking about today with employment, you cannot get
there if you do not have a vehicle. You know, again, if
something happens to one of our vehicles today, you know, we
can hop in an Uber, we can borrow a family member's car. Well,
if you are a disabled veteran and you have a vehicle customized
for you, you do not. When it is down, you are down. We have--
the impact is also, you know, of a startup. If you are a smart
startup, you are trying to get into this industry, and you are
like, hey, this is great. We can, you know, sell to the VA and
serve veterans. You have got a brand new business, and you are
not getting paid. You are not going to be in business very
long. You know, it affects--it does not just--it affects the
business side of it, but the whole key is the veteran. If a
veteran does not have a choice where to go and a veteran does
not have a close dealer to get their vehicle worked on, then,
you know, then they are--they are at home.
Mr. McGarvey. Yes. It is so important you--you bring up a
point that I think you brought up to me in the airport just a
few days ago as both of us were flying up here. When veterans
are getting in these vehicles, getting in these vehicles
because of their disability or their wheelchair, this is not
something that just happened randomly. This is connected to
their service. This is connected to what they did for us. I
appreciate you being here.
Ms. Howell, just want to go to you really quickly. Your
written testimony makes it clear that PVA supports ending
transcript withholding. Can you tell me how this policy affects
veterans with disabilities who already face barriers to getting
hired?
Ms. Howell. Thank you for the question, sir. This is not my
area of expertise. As far as the transcripts to justify
employment. We have heard stories of, not from our membership
per se, but we have heard stories of veterans who are in a long
hiring pipeline, and they thought they did the work, and there
is a small outstanding debt. Next thing you know, the job is
gone because they cannot get the transcript. Now, I do not want
to give a pass to people who have legitimate costs that they
have incurred at a campus. I used to work for a college or a
university. There is an obligation for veterans to be on the
ball for some of this stuff. Ultimately, using transcript
withholding as a means of debt collection is not an effective
practice. Who knows, maybe the veteran gets a job and then has
the money to pay an outstanding debt.
Mr. McGarvey. Seems like it might be a logical next step.
Your testimony also raised concerns about how many veterans
drop out of apprenticeship programs, about 44 percent. What
changes should these programs make to be more accessible and
sustainable for long-term for veterans with significant
disabilities?
Ms. Howell. I feel like that is enough content to probably
be its own hearing, sir. I do think that continuing to make
better connections between VA, DOL vets, the industry
professionals, I think if we lean in on the programs that
exist, we have an opportunity to sort of be better all around.
That is not to say necessarily that Transition or SkillBridge
or any of the existing pipelines that serve a very small number
of veterans, like they do great work, but in making sure that
the apprenticeships veterans are connected to are with
honorable and legitimate employers who are going to hold up
their end of the bargain. I think that is critical.
Mr. McGarvey. Thank you. Mr. Chairman I yield back.
Mr. Barrett. Thank you. Appreciate it. Out of a sense of
urgency, the floor just opened for votes, but I want to
recognize Ms. Ramirez. I imagine you probably have a couple of
questions.
Ms. Ramirez. Just a couple.
Mr. Barrett. Sure.
Ms. Ramirez. Try to get through them so we can make it to
votes as quickly as possible. Thank you again to the witnesses
for being here. As a former nonprofit executive director that
served unhoused neighbors, including many veterans, I
understand that oftentimes the gap between our ability to
fulfill our mission and the realities on the ground really come
back to resources.
For many housing and homeless service providers, timely
Federal grants are an essential part of the resources layered
together to meet the needs of our neighbors. I am clear that to
ensure every veteran has full access to the first full spectrum
of benefits that they have earned and deserve, we have to
ensure the programs and services that the VA offers are
consistently fully funded.
Just over the past few years, there has been consistent
investments on veteran homelessness. As a result of that,
National Point-in-Time Count data shows that not only have we
made progress in reducing veteran homelessness, but veterans
are actually the only population who has seen a decline in
rates of homelessness according to the Point-in-Time Count.
From the provider perspective, one of the biggest drivers of
instability is not funding cuts. It is Congress allowing
authorizations and statutory caps to lapse or fall out of sync
with appropriations.
Ms. Monet, can you describe the real world impact of this
instability on providers and veterans? Can you explain why
permanent authorization matters?
Ms. Monet. Yes, absolutely. I think there are a lot of
factors when you think about community planning and how systems
work together, and knowing what you have got in your community
and being able to project out how programs will work together
to meet the needs of veterans.
From a provider perspective, I mean, I think you have been
a nonprofit executive, so we all manage the budget. It is not
very different than, you know, being a small business. Right?
When you lose out on that funding, you are thinking about
making staffing changes, how you are going to reduce services
to pay the people you have got and pay the bills. You are
dealing enrollments to make sure that you can manage with what
you have got, and you are delaying subsidy payments to
veterans.
What that looks like in practice for veterans, right, is,
you know, longer delays to accessing their case management with
their, you know, local case manager. It might look like
starting over with a new case manager and a new treatment plan
from what you had before. It could look like a longer-term time
outside if your local shelter is not able to admit new
veterans. If you are on SSVF, that might mean that they are not
able to pay for your rent anymore. In a normal environment, we
might look to U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development
(HUD)-funded programs to help. Right now, the HUD Continuum of
Care (CoC) program is in a little bit of a precarious position.
There is not a lot of safety net out there to catch these
veterans right now. If you are in a community where they are
criminalizing or looking at finding, signing, ticketing in
jails as their predominant solution to homelessness, it gets
even worse.
Ms. Ramirez. Yes. Thank you, Ms. Monet. Instability.
Ms. Monet. Absolutely.
Ms. Ramirez. That is really what it boils down to. It means
that many of our veterans are either at risk of homelessness or
unable to move into permanent, affordable housing.
I want to pivot really quickly in the last 2 minutes I have
here to talk about the truth of the so-called Affordable
Housing Guarantee Act. Let me be clear, as a former housing
provider, as someone that has worked on housing for many years,
I am supportive of making every investment we need to
prioritize ending veteran homelessness.
Unfortunately, I know that it is not the orientation of
every member of the committee because I have listened to
colleagues previously discuss drastic cuts to funding for
programs that are dedicated to our most vulnerable veterans. It
seems like sometimes Republicans champion socialism when it
benefits the rich and powerful, who they think deserve it most.
However, keeping disabled veterans stably housed has to be the
priority of this committee, especially for those on fixed
incomes who are one mortgage payment away from a crisis or from
losing their home. Yet, as written, the Affordable Housing
Guarantee Act proposes doubling the VA loan guarantee on the
theory that lenders will lower rates because their risk is
reduced.
This question is for you, Ms. Howell. What confidence does
your organization have that those savings will actually reach
disabled veterans? The follow up to that is, what protections
would you need to ensure that this policy strengthens housing
stability rather than just simply increasing lender profits?
Ms. Howell. Thank you for that question, ma'am. I am going
to start by saying I am in no way a mortgage expert. PVA is not
necessary--we have concerns with this legislation because we do
not understand how just increasing the amount of the guarantee
is guaranteed to reduce any kind of rates. I think, rightly or
wrongly, and I am not trying to throw any accusations here, but
industry is going to look out for industry.
Ms. Ramirez. That is right.
Ms. Howell. Regardless of what it is. Because of that, we
do not necessarily agree with just raising the guarantee amount
for the sake of raising it in the hopes that industry might be
benevolent in that regard.
Ms. Ramirez. Any protections that you think need to be on
it in the last 7 seconds, we have?
Ms. Howell. Honestly, when it comes to the home loan, I am
not entirely sure I am prepared to say anything around that,
particularly as we wait to see the partial claim program rolled
out and see if that was effective.
Ms. Ramirez. Well, thank you, Ms. Howell. My time is up,
but I appreciate you. With that, I yield back.
Mr. Barrett. Thank you. Ms. Ramirez yields.
With that, thank you to the panelists for being here.
I know, Mr. Smith, I am not sure if you got a question on
the panel, but I appreciate you being here nonetheless, and
your testimony.
In the interest of expediting our departure to go vote, I
will yield to the ranking member for any closing remarks you
have.
Thank you all again for participating in today's hearing. I
have received a number of statements for the record, which will
be submitted into the record as long as they meet submission
requirements. I ask unanimous consent that all members have 5
legislative days, revise and extend the remarks, and include
extraneous material. Without objection, so ordered.
This hearing is adjourned.
[Whereupon, at 4:11 p.m., the subcommittee was adjourned.]
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A P P E N D I X
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Prepared Statements of Witnesses
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Prepared Statement of Kenneth Smith
[GRAPHICS NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]
Prepared Statement of Jeremiah Workman
Chairman Van Orden, Ranking Member Pappas, and distinguished
Members of the Subcommittee, thank you for the opportunity to testify
at today's legislative hearing. The mission of the Department of Labor
(DOL or Department), Veterans' Employment and Training Service (VETS),
is to prepare America's veterans, service members, and military spouses
for meaningful careers, provide them with employment resources and
expertise, protect their employment rights, and promote their
employment opportunities. As a retired Staff Sergeant of the United
States Marine Corps, combat veteran, Navy Cross recipient and a
tireless advocate for veterans, I am honored and humbled to serve as
Assistant Secretary of DOL VETS. While I've only been with VETS for
less than a month, I'm impressed by their dedication to the VETS
mission.
President Donald Trump has demonstrated his unrelenting support for
our military, veterans, and military spouses, placing a renewed
national focus on honoring their service and expanding their
opportunities after they leave the uniform behind. We owe our eternal
thanks to those who have served our country. Public service has long
been a part of my family's story. My grandfather served in World War II
and my father is a U.S. Army veteran. For me, the decision to serve
came early--I enlisted in the Marine Corps at age 17. On the morning of
September 11, 2001, I was in a barber shop at Parris Island. A few
years later, in December 2004, I was deployed with a team of Marines to
Fallujah, Iraq, as part of Operation Phantom Fury. Our mission was
going house to house clearing insurgents in one of the fiercest urban
battles of the Iraq War. During one operation, we engaged more than two
dozen insurgents fortified inside a safe house. The details of that day
are well documented, and I won't recount them all here--but I will say
this: the bravery and sacrifice I witnessed from my fellow Marines on
that day continues to inspire my life's work.
Since leaving active duty, I've committed myself to serving
veterans. Throughout my work in the government and the private sector,
I've always had the same focus--making sure veterans don't fall through
the cracks. I've seen how powerful the right support at the right time
can be. And I've also seen what happens when we fail to deliver. I've
experienced firsthand both the immense pride of military service and
the complex challenges of transitioning back into civilian life. I've
also seen the untapped potential that every veteran carries with them
after service. That's why I'm committed to the mission of DOL VETS, and
to working with Congress to continuously improve our programs.
H.R. 982: The Warriors to Workforce Act
This bill would amend 38 U.S.C. 3313(g)(3)(B) to increase the
Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Post-9/11 G.I. Bill Monthly Housing
Allowance\1\ (MHA) benefits for apprenticeships and on-the-job training
(OJT) programs from 80 percent to 90 percent during the second 6-month
period of the program.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ https://www.va.gov/education/benefit-rates/post-9-11-gi-bill-
rates/#monthly housing-allowance
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As you know, the Post-9/11 G.I. Bill is an education benefit
program administered by VA. For qualifying individuals, the program
provides tuition, fees, MHA, and other related benefits. The MHA is
calculated by VA based off the location of the educational program, and
locations with a higher cost of living generally have a higher MHA.
Eligible individuals can utilize their Post-9/11 G.I. Bill benefits for
apprenticeship and on-the-job training (OJT) programs. This includes
Registered Apprenticeships, a highly effective pathway to develop in-
demand skills while also earning a paycheck from day one. Registered
Apprenticeships train workers for careers using a structured
combination of paid OJT and related instruction. In addition to being
an effective sector-based strategy, training programs focused on
skilled trade jobs provide participants with transferable education,
licenses, certifications, and work experience that are valuable across
many in-demand job sectors. Extensive evidence from ``gold standard''
randomized evaluations has shown that sector-focused training programs
designed to prepare workers for industries with strong employer demand
can lead to substantial and long-lasting earnings gains.\2\ Registered
Apprenticeships also help employers attract and retain veterans, in
part because some may offer a structured training environment similar
to their military experience.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\2\ Katz, Lawrence F., Roth, Jonathan, Hendra, Richard, and
Schaberg, Kelsey (April 2022). Why Do Sectoral Employment Programs
Work? Lessons from WorkAdvance. Journal of Labor Economics (40, S1).
https://www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/10.1086/717932
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Post-9/11 G.I. Bill MHA benefits do not decrease over time for
participants who attend an institution of higher learning (i.e.,
colleges and universities) and certain other non-college degree
programs. But under current law, the MHA for apprenticeship and OJT
programs decreases every 6 months. Participants earn 100 percent of
their MHA for the first 6 months of training, 80 percent during the
second 6 months, 60 percent for the third 6 months, 40 percent for the
fourth 6 months, and 20 percent during the rest of the training period.
Less than 0.5 percent of G.I. Bill participants utilize their benefits
for apprenticeships and OJT, including just 0.31 percent (1,784 out of
573,732) in Fiscal Year (FY) 2024.\3\
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\3\ https://www.benefits.va.gov/REPORTS/abr/docs/2024-education.pdf
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In April 2025, President Trump signed an Executive Order on
Preparing Americans for High-Paying Skilled Trade Jobs of the
Future,\4\ which established that it is the policy of the United States
to optimize and target Federal investments in workforce development to
align with our country's reindustrialization needs and equip American
workers to fill the growing demand for skilled trades and other
occupations. In the Executive Order, the President set the goal of at
least one million new active apprentices nationwide. This goal is
closely aligned with current labor market demand. Skilled trade jobs
are facing a significant labor shortage, leading to increased demand
for qualified workers. In alignment with the President's priorities and
the growing demand for highly skilled trade jobs, it is my hope that we
can continue to expand veteran participation in Registered
Apprenticeship programs.
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\4\ Executive Order 14278: https://www.Federalregister.gov/
documents/2025/04/28/2025-07369/preparing-americans-for-high-paying-
skilled-trade-jobs-of-the-future
DOL supports this bill.
H.R. XXXX: To amend title 38, United States Code, to eliminate the
maximum authorizations of appropriations for certain benefits for
homeless veterans administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs and
to make permanent the authority of the Secretary to carry out certain
programs for homeless veterans.
This bill would, among other provisions, amend Title 38 of the U.S.
Code\5\ to eliminate the maximum authorizations of appropriations for
the DOL VETS-administered Homeless Veterans' Reintegration Program
(HVRP) and related grants.
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\5\ Section 2(c) of the bill is premised on the authorization of
appropriations at 38 U.S.C. 2021A(f) running through 2025. This
authorization was, however, extended from 2025 to 2026 in the most
recent Continuing Resolution. See Pub. L. No. 119-37, Sec. 7301, 139
Stat. 495, 650 (2025). We recommend revising section 2(c) of the bill
to account for this latest statutory amendment.
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HVRP is the only Federal grant to focus exclusively on competitive
employment for veterans experiencing or at risk of homelessness, so
that they can reach their full employment potential and obtain high-
paying careers. In Program Year (PY) 2024, HVRP awarded more than $61
million to 161 grantees, and served 15,888 veterans across the country.
Participants had median second quarter after exit earnings of $8,710,
and average hourly wages at job placement increased to $19.49, up from
$19.44 the previous year. Each HVRP participant receives customized
employment and training services to address their specific barriers to
employment. Services may include occupational, classroom, and on-the-
job training, as well as job search and placement assistance and post-
placement follow-up services.
The Department strongly supports HVRP and shares Congress'
commitment to improving outcomes for veterans experiencing
homelessness. However, the Department has concerns with provisions in
this bill that would eliminate maximum authorizations of appropriations
in favor of ``such sums as may be necessary.'' Removing these statutory
guardrails would reduce fiscal discipline and undermine effective
program oversight. The Department is prepared to work with the
Committee on amendments that preserve Congress' intent while
maintaining reasonable authorization levels and accountability measures
so HVRP can continue delivering strong results for veterans and
taxpayers. DOL VETS-funded staff in American Job Centers will continue
to help HVRP grant recipients achieve job placement and retention goals
by providing workforce system resources that support case management,
direct employer contact, job development, and follow-up services.
DOL supports this bill if amended.
H.R. 4105: The ``VET Act of 2025''
This bill would establish a new $60 million per year grant program
administered by DOL to assist members of the Armed Forces who are
transitioning to civilian employment, veterans, and their spouses to
obtain employment in the energy industry. Grants would be provided to
entities whose primary function is the generation, transmission,
storage, or distribution of energy, and the manufacture or distribution
of equipment and components critical to the energy industry. Grant
funds could be used for recruitment, training, education, licensure,
certification, orientation, administrative, and relocation costs. Each
grantee could be awarded no more than $10,000 per covered individual
and no more than $500,000 total in any fiscal year. DOL would be
required to coordinate with VA and the Department of War (DoW) to avoid
duplication with existing programs for transitioning service members,
including the Transition Assistance Program (TAP), SkillBridge, and
Solid Start. The bill also requires consultation with the Transition
Executive Committee and submission of an initial and final coordination
plan, an annual coordination report, and DOL's evaluation of and
recommendations for the program created by this bill.
DOL VETS shares the Committee's commitment to helping transitioning
service members, veterans, and military spouses connect to jobs in the
energy sector. However, the Department has significant concerns with
the approach in this bill, which would establish a new, industry-
specific grant program that directly subsidizes employers for these
costs. This model is uncommon in Federal workforce programs, which
generally invest in education providers, the public workforce system,
and/or State and local governments. Directly making payments to
businesses for their recruitment, training, and related costs in the
way that the bill mandates may lead to several unintended consequences.
For example, employers may fire some of their current employees to make
room for new employees who qualify for the $10,000 per person
reimbursement, and potentially cycle through new employees every year,
harming retention. Employers could also recruit employees for low-skill
positions with low wages which are still technically employed within
the energy industries identified in the bill and still be reimbursed
$10,000 per qualifying employee. In addition, the bill's annual
reporting framework may limit the Department's ability to provide more
frequent technical assistance and monitor performance to ensure funds
support high-quality training and strong employment outcomes, including
wages and credential attainment.
More broadly, creating a new industry-and population-specific grant
program runs counter to the Administration's emphasis on consolidating
workforce development programs at DOL, as laid out in ``America's
Talent Strategy: Building the Workforce for the Golden Age,'' rather
than expanding the footprint though new categorical initiatives.
Streamlining these programs reduces administrative overhead and
compliance burden for grantees and partners, limits duplicative Federal
bureaucracy, and helps ensure a greater share of Federal resources is
directed to direct services and measurable outcomes for veterans.
Some businesses, especially small businesses, may lack the capacity
or expertise needed to apply for and manage Federal grants. In
contrast, State and local workforce development boards\6\ are business-
led organizations designed to manage Federal education and training
grants and connect employers to job seekers in their communities
through the administration of approximately 2,300 American Job Centers
across the country. These one-stop locations offer a broad range of
career and supportive services to the public, such as employment
services, job training programs (including Registered Apprenticeships),
unemployment compensation, and referrals to other programs. Veterans
receive priority of service for all workforce training programs funded
in whole or in part by DOL, as established by the Jobs for Veterans Act
of 2002 (38 U.S.C. Sec. 4215), ensuring that they are always at the
front of the line for these resources.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\6\ Established under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act
(WIOA) Sections 101 and 107.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
DOL VETS also administers the Jobs for Veterans State Grants (JVSG)
program, which provides funding for dedicated staff who work in the
American Job Centers to provide individualized career and training-
related services to eligible veterans and other eligible persons, and
to assist employers to fill their workforce needs with job-seeking
veterans. JVSG staff also partner with TAP, and transitioning service
members who need such assistance receive ``warm handover'' person-to-
person connections to American Job Centers. JVSG and other American Job
Center staff would therefore be well situated to assist energy
employers with recruiting and training veterans and other eligible
employees.
The Department looks forward to working with the Committee on
alternative approaches that advance these shared goals by leveraging
existing workforce and veterans' employment programs and strengthening
connections between employers and veterans through the proven American
Job Center network.
Conclusion
I appreciate the opportunity to speak before you today and welcome
any questions you may have. Thank you for your continued support of
veterans and the many programs to support them through the Department
of Labor.
Prepared Statement of Sam Cook
[GRAPHICS NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]
Prepared Statement of Larry Smith
Thank you, Chairman Van Orden, Ranking Member Pappas, and
Subcommittee members for this opportunity. As a veteran committed to
helping others enter the semiconductor industry, I believe these
proposals will better connect veterans to rewarding careers.
My name is Larry Smith. After a decade in the Army, including time
on active duty and in the reserves after graduating from West Point, I
worked 35 years in the semiconductor industry, serving as President and
Chairman of Tokyo Electron US for 14 years. Now retired, I have
``pivoted to purpose'' focused on hiring and housing veterans and serve
as Vice Chair of the Governor's Executive Committee for the Texas
Semiconductor Innovation Consortium and Chairman of the Board of Mobile
Loaves and Fishes. I have also been on SEMI's North American Advisory
Board.
More than 10 years ago, I chose to recruit field engineers from
three groups, including veterans. During this period, I was lucky
enough to collaborate with my close friend Paul E. Funk II, who later
became a four-star General and led the Army's Training and Doctrine
Command (TRADOC). Paul and I began our military careers as young
lieutenants together at Fort Hood, and our friendship has lasted ever
since. He helped me and my team connect with key leaders at the
Transition Assistance Program (TAPS) and take part in job fairs.
After years of recruiting veterans, I saw that our industry--
spanning thousands of companies--could reach far more people than we
had so far. I proposed recruiting veterans as a talent pipeline to
SEMI's CEO and presented this idea as a keynote speaker at two major
trade shows attended by over 35,000 people last year. My talks
addressed why and how to recruit veterans into the semiconductor
industry, highlighting their valuable attributes and technical skills.
The Semiconductor Industry Association released an updated report
in December 2025 detailing both ongoing and anticipated investments in
semiconductor manufacturing facilities. Since 2020, the semiconductor
sector has announced more than 140 projects across 28 states,
representing over $600 billion in private investment. These initiatives
are projected to create and support over 500,000 U.S. jobs, including
70,000 facility positions, and 122,000 construction roles. This
projected growth is anticipated to create significant demand for
technicians, rendering these positions well-suited for transitioning
service members who are seeking impactful careers that support national
security. Currently, semiconductors are integral to geopolitical
competition and underpin advancements in artificial intelligence,
quantum computing, space exploration, and defense technologies.
Collaborative job training programs and efforts to expand the pool of
STEM educators can address the talent shortage, with veterans serving
as an excellent resource to meet this demand.
Let me share some details on a project in Killeen TX that can be a
model to consider.
The Military Talent Pipeline, near Fort Hood, helps service members
and their spouses transition to jobs in fields like semiconductor
technology and design, STEM education, cybersecurity, data analytics,
and law enforcement. It is funded by Federal (HUD), State, industry,
and local partners, with the Killeen Economic Development Corporation
donating a 25,000-square-foot facility. The project also received a
$2.5 million Federal grant for renovating the donated building.
Additional support for the project includes workforce development
funds from the TEXAS CHIPS ACT, upcoming appropriations, pending Senate
review, a $2 million fab tool donation from Tokyo Electron, and a $2
million allocation from the Texas legislature. Collaborative partners
include the Texas University System and local community colleges. Texas
A&M Central Texas, led by Dr Richard Rhodes, donated $2 million to
Temple College to help establish a semiconductor lab near the new
Samsung site. Project leaders are creating the playbook and sharing it
with other U.S. regions, including Arizona and New York.
Additionally, I'm proud of our team's work at Tokyo Electron US.
Our goal is to be a trusted global partner providing technology that
enables life. We've invested billions in US semiconductor manufacturing
and R&D, participate in PAYS, and have earned several military-friendly
awards from the DOL and DoW. As a member of SEMI VETWORKS, this team
helped reach over 150,000 military members through outreach over the
last 3 years. The ChipPath Career Site lists job opportunities from
1,000+ SEMI members and supports military personnel with resources,
tools, and career coaching.
Thank you for the opportunity to testify on behalf of the
initiatives before this subcommittee today. (H.R. 4015 and Discussion
Draft: Improving Emerging Tech Opportunities for Veterans Act). I am
happy to answer your questions.
Prepared Statement of Julie Howell
Chairman Van Orden, Ranking Member Pappas, and members of the
subcommittee, Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA) appreciates the
opportunity to share our views on some of the legislation before the
subcommittee today. PVA members - veterans who have incurred a spinal
cord injury or disorder (SCI/D), experience the breadth of VA care and
benefits in unique ways due to their injuries and illnesses. We welcome
the chance to show how some of this legislation may impact our members.
H.R. 982, the Warriors to Workforce Act
The Warriors to Workforce Act would amend 38 U.S.C. Sec.
3313(g)(3)(B) by increasing the monthly housing allowance (MHA) for
full-time apprenticeships and other on the job training (OJT) programs
for student veterans using their Post-9/11 GI Bill.
Currently, when a veteran is using their Post-9/11 GI Bill for an
apprenticeship, they are paid 100 percent of the MHA rate for the first
6 months of their program. The second 6 months is paid out at 80
percent of the full MHA rate for the locality. During the first 6
months of the second year of their apprenticeship a veteran receives 60
percent of the MHA rate and the last 6 months of a 2-year program is
paid out at 40 percent of the MHA rate.
The Warriors to Workforce Act would increase the amount of MHA paid
to a veteran from 80 percent to 90 percent during the second half of
their first year of an apprenticeship. PVA has no objections to the
increase; however, the drop from 90 percent to 60 percent in the first
6 months of the second year of a program will be an even bigger
financial hit on those veterans. Thus, we think the bill could go
farther.
OJT program data shared by the committee last year shows high
dropout rates. Apprenticeships see a 44 percent dropout rate between
steps two and three, and OJT programs see a 56 percent dropout rate.
Further, an article published by Urban Wire in 2021 discusses how the
GI Bill underserves apprenticeships.\1\ Less than 1 percent of GI Bill
recipients use their educational benefit for apprenticeships or OJT
programs, and we believe the VA should do more to raise awareness of
the non-traditional education paths available through the Post-9/11 GI
Bill.
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\1\ The Post-9/11 GI Bill Underserves Apprentices, April 27, 2021.
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Veterans choosing to enroll in an apprenticeship program or OJT
programs should not be penalized for their decision to bypass
enrollment in traditional higher education programs; thus, we suggest
amending the language within the bill to authorize the full MHA rate
for up to 2 years as a veteran participates in apprenticeship or OJT
programs. Additionally, employers should not be able to adjust the
participant's pay because of that allowance. Until VA exercises greater
oversight for approved apprenticeship programs and takes steps to
ensure that employers are increasing compensation in coordination with
increased and improved skills, veterans are going to continue to enroll
in institutions of higher learning rather than apprenticeship programs.
Raising awareness, coupled with an increase in MHA rates for
apprenticeships and other OJT programs, could improve opportunities,
particularly for PVA members. Significant barriers to employment exist
for veterans with catastrophic disabilities and offering non-
traditional education and employment opportunities for those that are
seeking them should be prioritized by VA education service.
H.R. 2878, the Daniel J. Harvey, Jr. and Adam Lambert Improving
Servicemember Transition to Reduce Veteran Suicide Act
PVA supports this legislation, which seeks to strengthen 10 U.S.C.
Sec. 1142(b) and 38 U.S.C. Sec. 6320(b)(1) by including more robust
language around mental health services provided by the Secretary of
Defense through the Transition Assistance Program (TAP) and the VA
Secretary through the Solid Start Program.
Ensuring that transitioning servicemembers and veterans are aware
of services and supports offered by the VA is critical in the health
and well-being of our Nation's veterans. Information about the vast
mental health resources provided by the VA should be disseminated to
the greatest degree possible.
We want to take this opportunity to remind Congress that not all
servicemembers receive a traditional TAP experience. Servicemembers who
are separated due to illness or injury are often placed in a Wounded
Warrior Platoon or another transition-focused unit. This bill could be
improved by including language directing the Department of Defense to
ensure these individuals receive this critical information.
H.R. 4105, the VET Act of 2025
This bill directs the Department of Labor (DOL) to create a grant
program to hire more military-affiliated people in the energy sector.
Access to this program would be limited to servicemembers who have a
military occupational specialty, training, or experience related to
energy production, construction, or manufacturing, as well as service-
connected veterans and homeless veterans or veterans facing significant
barriers to employment. Creating an additional DOL grant program for a
specific sector to incentivize veteran employment seems redundant.
Instead, PVA would support additional funding to allow the department
to direct existing efforts to address the needs of this sector.
H.R. 5436, to prohibit an educational institution from withholding a
transcript from an individual who pursued a course or program of
education at such institution using Post-9/11 educational assistance
Regulatory changes that went into effect for the Department of
Education in July 2024 established that institutions of higher
education could no longer withhold a student's transcript or take other
negative actions against a student due to an error on the school's
part, if that student was receiving title IV funds. Transcript
withholding as a means of debt collection is a customary practice in
the education sector, but for many veterans, the outstanding debt is
often disputed, making it a complicated issue. PVA supports this bill
which would create parity for students using VA education benefits by
prohibiting a school from withholding a student's transcript due to
outstanding institutional charges. PVA supports this legislation.
H.R. 5634, the Veterans Flight Training Responsibility Act of 2025
This bill would amend 38 U.S.C. Sec. 3313 by adding subsection (m)
and establishing a maximum total cost ceiling of $100,000 for flight
training for an individual at a public institution, which would bring
them in line with the limits on non-degree flight training programs at
private institutions. There is currently no ceiling for flight training
programs when those programs lead to a degree despite there being
limits for other programs at institutions of higher learning. PVA
supports this legislation, which caps the amount available for flight
training and ties the amount to the consumer price index.
Discussion Draft, the CRUISE Act
VA's Automobile Adaptive Equipment (AAE) program prescribes and
pays for adaptive equipment to allow eligible veterans to safely
operate and enter/exit their vehicles. Many of these adaptations are
done by dealers outside of the VA and reimbursements for their work are
processed by the individual VA medical centers (VAMC). Many PVA members
and the dealerships that serve them have complained of late payments by
a few VAMCs. This has caused some of the smaller dealerships
considerable financial hardship and discouraged others from working
with the department. Because the AAE programs are run by the individual
VAMCs, there is no uniformity in the processing time across the nation.
As written, this drag bill requires VA to centralize the process
for making AAE payments at VA Central Office and directs the department
to track and resolve payments that are more than 90 days overdue. PVA
strongly supports the intent of this drag legislation but believes it
could be improved. Specifically, we would like to see language
providing more information on how the centralization of the process
should be conducted. We would be happy to work with the bill's sponsor
to develop appropriate language. The AAE program is extremely important
to paralyzed veterans all over the nation and a mistake in this process
could prove to be catastrophic.
Discussion Draft, the Improving Mental Health Care and Coordination for
Homeless Veterans Act
PVA supports this draft bill. Veterans Health Administration (VHA)
Directive 1501 established the VHA Homeless Programs in 2016 and the
changes proposed by this legislation would codify internal improvements
that the VA and Congress have made over the years, ensuring that
advances made in combating veteran homelessness are not forgotten.
Section (a)(1) and (2) of the legislation describes the assessment
process and directs VA to identify the physical needs of a veteran and
create a plan to address them. It is critical to note that veterans who
are experiencing homelessness, and living with an SCI/D, may need to be
referred to a VA SCI/D center to assess their health status and ensure
there are no serious health concerns. To be successful, implementation
of this legislation would need to consider the situations of all
veterans who may be experiencing homelessness.
Discussion Draft, the Improving Emerging Tech Opportunities for
Veterans Act
This draft legislation seeks to add ``emerging technology'' to 38
U.S.C. Sec. 3699C. The Senator Elizabeth Dole 21st Century Veterans
Healthcare and Benefits Improvement Act (P.L. 118-210) reauthorized the
Veterans Affairs High Technology Program, or Vet Tech. VA has not
provided any data about the Vet Tech program to stakeholders in more
than a year, so we have no insight into current enrollment or impact of
the reauthorization. PVA defers to the VA regarding whether this
legislation is necessary, because it is our understanding that the
department is already counting the programs listed within the draft
text in their eligible program lists for Vet Tech enrollment.
Discussion Draft, the Affordable Housing Guarantee Act
PVA has concerns with this draft legislation, which seeks to
increase the amount covered by the VA home loan program to 50 percent,
up from 25 percent of the loan amount. This legislation would benefit
the mortgage industry by providing an additional 25 percent of coverage
in the event of a foreclosure. PVA shares concerns voiced by Chairman
Van Orden in a February 2024 subcommittee hearing where he expressed
apprehensions about the amount of debt covered by the VA when it comes
to home loans and the financial burden assumed by the department in the
event of a foreclosure.
The VA Home Loan Program Reform Act became law about 6 months ago
and we are still waiting for the VA to roll out the partial claims
program (PCP). PVA believes we should wait until we have data from VA
about the impact of the PCP before adjusting the guaranteed amount
offered by the VA.
Discussion Draft, to require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to
submit to Congress a quarterly report on housing loans insured,
guaranteed, or under laws administered by the Secretary
In recent months, there has been a lot of media coverage around
veteran foreclosures. Any data the VA could provide to Congress that
leads to informed decisions on preventative measures to avoid veteran
foreclosures would be helpful to addressing this concern. Since the VA
home loan guarantee program tracks this data throughout the year, PVA
does not foresee additional administrative burden on the VA.
Discussion Draft, to eliminate the maximum authorizations of
appropriations for certain benefits for homeless veterans administered
by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs and to make permanent the
authority of the Secretary to carry out certain programs for homeless
veterans
Services and supports for homeless veterans have greatly improved
over the past several years thanks to higher Grant and Per Diem (GPD)
rates approved by Congress and more robust, wrap-around services
offered by VA. However, recent complications experienced in
implementing increased GPD rates shines light on a concern that this
bill seeks to address.
By removing the authorization for appropriation amounts, the VA
will be better positioned to ask for the resources really needed to
support vulnerable groups of veterans. Congress and the VA should do
everything possible to guarantee smooth delivery of services and
supports to veterans regardless of fights happening in Washington D.C.
Permanently authorizing these programs shields them from future funding
lapses; thus, PVA supports this legislation.
PVA is grateful for the opportunity to share our views on some of
the legislation before the subcommittee today. We look forward to
working with Congress on these bills and we welcome any questions.
Information Required by Rule XI 2(g) of the House of Representatives
Pursuant to Rule XI 2(g) of the House of Representatives, the following
information is provided regarding Federal grants and contracts.
Fiscal Year 2026
Department of Veterans Affairs, Office of National Veterans Sports
Programs & Special Events--Grant to support rehabilitation sports
activities--$368,500.
Fiscal Year 2025
Department of Veterans Affairs, Office of National Veterans Sports
Programs & Special Events--Grant to support rehabilitation sports
activities--$502,000.
Fiscal Year 2023
Department of Veterans Affairs, Office of National Veterans Sports
Programs & Special Events--Grant to support rehabilitation sports
activities--$479,000.
Disclosure of Foreign Payments
Paralyzed Veterans of America is largely supported by donations from
the general public. However, in some very rare cases we receive direct
donations from foreign nationals. In addition, we receive funding from
corporations and foundations which in some cases are U.S. subsidiaries
of non-U.S. companies.
Prepared Statement of Kathryn Monet
Chairman Van Orden, Ranking Member Pappas, and distinguished
Members of the Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity:
NCHV thanks you for the opportunity to offer views on legislation
before the Committee. While there are several great bills today, we are
providing statements on behalf of legislation which could directly
affect efforts to prevent and or end homelessness among veterans and
their families.
A Draft Bill, The Veteran Housing Promise Act
NCHV supports this legislation, which amends title 38 of the United
States Code to eliminate maximum authorizations of appropriations and
make permanent the authority for several programs supporting homeless
veterans administered by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).
For decades, VA's homelessness programs have been instrumental in
reducing veteran homelessness. These efforts provide essential services
such as outreach, housing assistance, employment reintegration, and
supportive services for vulnerable populations--including women
veterans and veterans with children. Yet the current patchwork of time-
limited authorizations and funding caps poses significant challenges
for program continuity, planning, and the ability of community
providers to sustain the life-changing services veterans rely on.
By removing funding caps and time-limited authorizations, this
legislation provides long-term stability and predictability for these
proven programs. Such stability allows both VA and community-based
partners to better coordinate care, invest in workforce development,
and ensure that no veteran who has served our Nation has to face
homelessness or housing insecurity due to administrative uncertainty.
Key provisions of this bill--such as the permanent authority for
the Domiciliary Care and Supportive Services for Very Low-Income
Veteran Families program, and long-term authorization for grants
benefiting homeless veterans with special needs--will strengthen the
Federal response and allow continued progress toward the shared goal of
ending veteran homelessness.
H.R. 7049, the Improving Mental Health Care and Coordination for
Homeless Veterans Act.
NCHV supports this bill, which seeks to address deficiencies in the
referral process to homeless programs for veterans with positive
screenings for housing instability in other clinical settings. VHA's
homeless clinical screening tool is an important way that clinicians
are able to identify veterans facing housing instability, especially
those who may not know help is available or who may not want to
disclose their housing status. However; last month, the VAOIG found
that in many instances unclear referral procedures and staff
inconsistency in following them resulted in veterans screening positive
but never receiving the housing referrals they requested or not
receiving them within a 30-day timeline. It is unacceptable that
bureaucratic processes or the lack thereof prevented veterans from
accessing housing support and NCHV thanks Rep. Valadao and his
cosponsors for moving quickly to address this issue.
The focus on timely assessment and intake planning will help VA
house more veterans. Further, we appreciate his focus on ensuring VA
identifies appropriate housing options for veterans quickly in addition
to addressing long-term health and mental health needs. As the
Committee considers this provision, we encourage frank discussions with
VA to ensure that VAMCs are being allowed to hire sufficient staff to
support these processes. Further, as team-based care management becomes
more common, we encourage discussions around ensuring that staff have
the appropriate skill sets to identify housing placements and support
housing navigation rather than the usual clinical skills VA
prioritizes.
In conclusion, we commend the Committee's leadership for advancing
policies that recognize homelessness among veterans as not just a
matter of housing, but of dignity, stability, and national
responsibility. The National Coalition for Homeless Veterans and our
partners stand ready to support implementation and continued oversight
of these essential programs.
Statements for the Record
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Prepared Statement of Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States
Chairman Van Orden, Ranking Member Pappas, and members of the
subcommittee, on behalf of the men and women of the Veterans of Foreign
Wars of the United States (VFW) and its Auxiliary, thank you for the
opportunity to provide testimony regarding this pending legislation.
H.R. 982, Warriors to Workforce Act
The VFW supports the intent of this legislation to increase the
housing allowance during the second 6-month period of an apprenticeship
or on-the-job training program for which a veteran is using Department
of Veterans Affairs (VA) education benefits. However, we would prefer
the following stipulation. The increase from 80 percent to 90 percent
is a step in the right direction, but does not go far enough. In terms
of this housing allowance, an increase from 80 percent to 100 percent
would realistically help veterans complete these important education
programs that provide direct job training while ensuring their basic
housing needs are covered. Additionally, the VFW would also like to see
more data reported on the successes and shortfalls of these programs to
better understand the needs of the participating veterans.
H.R. 2878, Daniel J. Harvey, Jr. and Adam Lambert Improving
Servicemember Transition to Reduce Veteran Suicide Act
The VFW supports this legislation to strengthen mental health
support during the military-to-civilian transition by enhancing both
the Department of Defense (DOD) Transition Assistance Program (TAP) and
the VA Solid Start program. This legislation would ensure that
separating service members receive standardized, evidence-informed
information on mental health conditions, suicide risk factors,
available treatment options, and the stressors associated with
separation from military service. It would also improve VA's early
post-separation outreach by reinforcing VA Solid Start's role in
connecting newly separated veterans to mental health care and
enrollment in the Veterans Health Administration (VHA).
The VFW has long emphasized that the transition period is a high-
risk window for suicide and adverse mental health outcomes,
particularly when service members experience a loss of structure,
identity, and community. By making permanent improvements to TAP and
Solid Start, this bill would strengthen the ``warm handoff'' between
DOD and VA, and promote continuity of care at a critical moment. H.R.
2878 aligns with the VFW's legislative priority to eliminate service
member and veteran suicide, and is consistent with VFW Resolution No.
606 (Mental Health Disorders) that urges Congress to dedicate adequate
resources and oversight to address veteran suicide and expand access to
effective mental health care. The VFW believes this legislation
represents a necessary and constructive step toward reducing suicide
risk and improving long-term outcomes for transitioning service members
and newly separated veterans.
H.R. 3159, Improving SCRA Benefit Utilization Act
The VFW supports this legislation to strengthen financial readiness
by improving service member awareness of, and access to, protections
under the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA). The proposal would
integrate SCRA education into required financial literacy training and
ensure service members receive timely notification of these protections
when entering service, joining a reserve component, or mobilizing to
active duty.
The legislation would also address implementation gaps by
clarifying creditor obligations under the SCRA's interest rate
limitation, and requiring financial institutions to apply the statutory
cap consistently across all eligible debts. Mandating accessible
methods for service members to submit required documentation would
reduce administrative barriers that can prevent timely relief.
Financial stress is a well-documented contributor to readiness
challenges, family instability, and poor transition outcomes. H.R. 3159
aligns with the VFW's legislative priority to modernize and reform VA
and DOD programs that do not meet the needs of service members,
veterans, and their families, and is consistent with the VFW's long-
standing advocacy for consumer protections and financial stability for
those who serve.
H.R. 4105, Veterans Energy Transition (VET) Act of 2025
The VFW supports this legislation to establish a Department of
Labor (DOL) grant program to help transitioning service members,
veterans, and military spouses obtain employment in the energy sector.
This would allow eligible employers to receive reimbursement for costs
associated with hiring covered individuals, including training,
credentialing, recruitment, and onboarding, with priority given to
involuntarily separated service members, veterans with service-
connected disabilities or other barriers to employment, military
spouses, and individuals living in qualified opportunity zones.
The VFW strongly supports outcome-driven transition policies that
connect separating service members to sustainable careers. This
legislation would promote meaningful interagency collaboration by
requiring program coordination with TAP, SkillBridge, and VA Solid
Start, ensuring employment pathways are integrated into the broader
transition framework. The bill would also include reporting and
oversight provisions to evaluate retention and employment outcomes.
This legislation aligns with VFW Resolution No. 627 (Support
Improved Military-to-Civilian Transition Assistance) and advances
multiple VFW legislative priorities, including ensuring a seamless
military-to-civilian transition, improving veteran employment and
economic opportunity, and expanding employment opportunities for
military spouses. The VFW believes this legislation would represent a
targeted, accountable approach to strengthening transition outcomes
while supporting workforce needs in a critical sector of the U.S.
economy.
H.R. 5634, Veterans Flight Training Responsibility Act of 2025
The VFW supports this legislation to set limitations on the use of
the GI Bill for certain flight training. Years ago, the GI Bill
essentially had no spending restrictions for this program, enabling
certain flight schools to charge uncapped amounts of money. Flight
training is expensive, and currently pilots are in demand across the
country. However, the VFW believes there should be reasonable
limitations on the amount of money spent on flight training, and that
this legislation would be a fair balance for veterans who pursue flight
training through the GI Bill.
H.R. 5436, To amend title 38, United States Code, to prohibit an
educational institution from withholding a transcript from an
individual who pursued a course or program of education at such
institution using Post-9/11 educational assistance
The VFW supports this legislation to prohibit withholding
transcripts and to protect veterans pursuing education and employment
opportunities. Withholding transcripts prevents veterans from fully
utilizing their earned education benefits. When institutions block
transcript access, veterans cannot transfer credits or apply for
employment, creating unnecessary emotional and financial hardship. This
practice undermines the intent of the GI Bill, which is to help
veterans achieve meaningful careers and economic stability. Veterans
should not be penalized for administrative or billing issues. GI Bill
funds are Federal dollars, and schools must ensure that veterans have
uninterrupted access to their academic records.
Discussion Draft, Improving Emerging Tech Opportunities for Veterans
Act
The VFW supports this proposal to require VA to collaborate with
DOL, with an emphasis on the Veterans' Employment and Training Service,
industry stakeholders, educational institutions, and nonprofit
organizations to identify high-demand technology careers, along with
the courses veterans need to qualify for them. Veterans must be
prepared for the industries of the future to ensure they can be among
the leaders of tomorrow. These programs should be prominently featured
in TAP and on VA's website to ensure visibility and access.
Additionally, we support VA's proposed expedited approval process to
fast-track these courses and eliminate unnecessary delays.
Discussion Draft, To amend title 38, United States Code, to require the
Secretary of Veterans Affairs to submit to Congress a quarterly report
on housing loans insured, guaranteed, or under laws administered by the
Secretary, and for other purposes
The VFW supports the intent of this proposal to enhance
transparency within the VA home loan programs through more frequent
reporting. Improved data collection can help identify emerging trends
in utilization, shed light on barriers that may limit access to this
important but often underutilized benefit, and support earlier
interventions for veterans who may be at risk of falling behind on
their mortgage obligations. However, while we recognize the value of
better insight into loan performance and veteran outcomes, we have
questions regarding the shift from the current annual reporting
requirement to a quarterly mandate.
At this time, it is unclear why more frequent reporting is
necessary, what specific deficiencies exist in the current reporting
structure, or how VA would resource and sustain this increased
administrative burden. Some of the proposed data elements may indeed be
beneficial for policymakers, but it is not evident that they require
quarterly updates to inform decisions or oversight.
The VFW appreciates efforts to strengthen and safeguard the VA home
loan programs, and we stand ready to work with Congress to ensure that
any new reporting obligations meaningfully advance that objective.
Discussion Draft, Affordable Housing Guarantee Act
The VFW supports this proposal to increase the VA loan guaranty
from 25 percent to 50 percent for veterans with service-connected
disabilities. This proposal would reduce financial barriers and promote
homeownership. It is aligned with the VFW's legislative priorities that
include expanding programs to combat veteran homelessness. Disabled
veterans often face unique economic hardships, and expanding the loan
guaranty strengthens their ability to maintain stable housing while
honoring their service and sacrifices.
Discussion Draft, Veteran Housing Promise Act
The VFW supports this proposal to eliminate arbitrary funding caps
and make permanent the authority for critical VA homeless initiatives,
including comprehensive service programs, reintegration grants, and
housing assistance. These provisions align with the VFW's call for
increased availability of safe and affordable housing, inflation-
adjusted grant and per diem rates, and gender-specific services for
homeless veterans.
Discussion Draft, Improving Mental Health Care and Coordination for
Homeless Veterans Act
The VFW supports this proposal to require timely assessments of
physical and mental health needs, create individualized care plans, and
integrate housing solutions into VA electronic health records. This
proposal reflects the VFW's calls for comprehensive housing solutions,
gender--specific services, and expanded access to care for veterans
experiencing or at risk of homelessness. This proposal would improve VA
and VHA policies through its mandate for assessments within 3 days of
identification; the requirement for standardized care plans and housing
identification integrated into electronic health records; and the
implementation of a monitoring process by the Homeless Program Office
to ensure accountability. By formalizing these processes, the proposal
would strengthen VA's obligation to provide holistic care and align
with the VFW's commitment to eliminate homelessness among veterans.
However, the VFW asks Congress to ensure that any new rules come
with adequate resources. Without more money for staff, training, and
computer support, VA will have difficulty meeting these requirements.
Congress should fully fund this plan to help, not overburden, the
people who work in homeless services.
Ending veteran homelessness takes more than just housing. It also
includes timely mental health care, organized case support, and regular
follow up.
Discussion Draft, Centralized Reimbursement for Upgraded Innovative
Service Equipment (CRUISE) Act
The VFW supports this proposal to overhaul the reimbursement
procedures for VA's adaptive automobile program. By centralizing VA's
automobile reimbursement process, enforcing Federal timeliness
standards, and requiring public reporting of delays, the CRUISE Act
would enhance accountability and efficiency. These reforms would reduce
payment backlogs, increase transparency, and ensure timely access to
adaptive vehicles for severely disabled veterans. This modernization
effort aligns with the VFW's commitment to VA streamlining its
operations, improving coordination of care, and upholding the promise
our Nation made to the veterans among us who have sacrificed the most.
Chairman Van Orden and Ranking Member Pappas, this concludes my
statement. Again, thank you for the opportunity to offer comments on
this pending legislation.
Information Required by Rule XI2(g)(4) of the House of Representatives
Pursuant to Rule XI2(g)(4) of the House of Representatives, the VFW has
not received any Federal grants in Fiscal Year 2026, nor has it
received any Federal grants in the two previous Fiscal Years.
The VFW has not received payments or contracts from any foreign
governments in the current year or preceding two calendar years.
Prepared Statement of Veterans United Home Loans
Chairman Van Orden, Ranking Member Pappas, and Members of the
Committee:
Thank you for the opportunity to submit written testimony and for
your continued commitment to strengthening the VA Home Loan program. We
sincerely appreciate the Committee's proactive efforts to identify ways
to improve this incredible veteran benefit--one that has enabled
millions of veterans and their families to achieve stable, sustainable
homeownership.
Veterans United Home Loans has the privilege of being the Nation's
largest VA purchase lender since 2016, and as such we stand ready to
serve as a resource to this committee on all aspects of the VA Home
Loan. We applaud this committee's continued efforts to protect and
improve all veterans' hard-earned benefits, including the VA home loan
program, and we appreciate the opportunity to weigh in on this vital VA
benefit.
At a time when housing affordability remains strained nationwide,
the VA Home Loan program is often the difference between homeownership
and permanent exclusion from the housing market for veterans. Any
changes to the program should therefore be evaluated primarily through
the lens of their direct and long-term impact on veteran homebuyers and
homeowners.
The Impact of Funding Fees on Veteran Homeownership
One of the most significant but often overlooked cost drivers for
veteran borrowers is the VA funding fee. While the funding fee was
originally designed to offset the cost of loan guaranty claims and
protect the program's fiscal integrity, it has been used for decades to
fund other veteran benefits and meet unrelated budgetary needs.
As a result, the funding fee is now artificially high relative to
the actual credit risk of VA loans. Historically, the VA Home Loan
program has generated far more revenue through funding fees than it has
paid out in guaranty claims. In a peer-reviewed economics journal, Dr.
Joseph Haslag found that the funding fee on all zero-down purchase
loans could be reduced to 1.3 percent (from 2.15 percent and 3.30
percent, respectively) in order to be revenue neutral.\1\ For veterans,
this imbalance has concrete and lasting consequences. If the funding
fee were reduced to 1.3 percent for all purchase loans as noted in Dr.
Haslag's article, the average veteran or active duty first time
homebuyer would pay around $3,400 less in VA funding fees to utilize
their benefit. On any subsequent use of the benefit, that same average
veteran or active duty homebuyer would pay $8,000 less if the funding
fee were 1.3 percent.
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\1\ Joseph Haslag, Is the Funding Fee Enough?: A Quantitative
Analysis of the VA Mortgage Program, International Journal of Social
Science and Economic Research, Vol. 7, Issue 7, July 2022, https://
ijsser.org/2022files/ijsser_07 149.pdf.
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Higher funding fees increase the upfront and financed cost of
buying a home. Because most veterans roll the fee into their loan
balance, it immediately raises the loan-to-value ratio at origination.
This also means they pay interest on the fee, which at current rates
doubles the total amount paid over the life of the loan. This means
veterans start homeownership with less equity, higher monthly payments,
and a greater likelihood of remaining underwater for longer periods,
particularly during the early years of the loan.
For veteran homeowners, this can limit refinancing opportunities,
reduce financial flexibility during life transitions, and increase
vulnerability during economic downturns. Over time, these added costs
undermine the very affordability advantage the VA loan program is meant
to provide.
Potential Benefits Of A Uniform Guaranty Increase For Veteran
If Congress were to refocus the VA funding fee on its original,
actuarially intended purpose-covering loan guaranty losses--there is a
compelling case that the VA loan guaranty could be increased for all
veterans without placing the program at risk. Historically, the program
has generated substantially more revenue through funding fees than it
has paid out in claims, suggesting additional capacity to enhance the
guaranty while maintaining fiscal soundness.
A higher, uniform guaranty could benefit veteran homebuyers and
homeowners by reducing lender and investor risk across the entire VA
loan program. This type of risk reduction improves the pricing of
mortgage-backed securities by increasing demand for those MBS. Due to
the inverse relationship between bond prices and interest rates, the
increased demand flows through the system in the form of stronger
liquidity, improved pricing, and lower interest rates on VA Loans. For
veterans, this translates directly into lower monthly payments,
increased purchasing power, and greater access to credit--particularly
for first-time buyers and those in high-cost or competitive housing
markets.
Importantly, these benefits extend beyond new homebuyers. Existing
veteran homeowners would see improved refinance opportunities, enabling
them to lower monthly payments, reduce interest costs over the life of
the loan, and build equity more quickly. In an environment where even
small interest rate improvements can significantly affect
affordability, a uniform increase in the guaranty could deliver
immediate and tangible financial relief to veterans.
With that said, any guaranty increase should be grounded in
rigorous actuarial analysis to ensure the long-term sustainability of
the program and its ability to serve veterans for generations to come.
Concerns with Disparate Guaranty Structures
While we strongly support the goal of providing additional
assistance to veterans with service-connected disabilities, we are
concerned that increasing the guaranty for only a portion of VA loans
could create unintended consequences for veteran homebuyers.
Under the current bill, roughly half of all VA loans would carry a
higher guaranty, while the remainder would continue under existing
levels. From a veteran's perspective, this creates a system where
similarly qualified borrowers receive different pricing outcomes based
not on creditworthiness or risk, but rather on a separate guaranty
classification.
In the secondary market, this distinction matters. Servicers and
Ginnie Mae investors would be required to manage and price pools of VA
loans with different guaranty levels and risk characteristics. That
fragmentation could reduce liquidity for certain VA loan cohorts,
increase operational complexity, and ultimately lead to pricing
disparities that disadvantage some veteran borrowers.
Over time, this could mean higher rates for veterans whose loans
carry a lower guaranty despite the historically strong performance of
all VA loans.
Conclusion
We commend the Committee for its thoughtful approach to improving
the VA Home Loan program and for its focus on supporting veterans with
service-connected disabilities. As this legislation is considered, we
encourage continued attention to how funding fees, guaranty structures,
and secondary market dynamics affect the day-to-day financial reality
of veteran homebuyers and homeowners.
We stand ready to work with the Committee and the Department of
Veterans Affairs to ensure that any reforms strengthen affordability,
preserve market efficiency, and protect this extraordinary benefit for
all who have served.
Thank you for your leadership and your unwavering commitment to
America's veterans.
Prepared Statement of Niskanen Center
[GRAPHICS NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]
Prepared Statement of With Honor Action
Chairman Van Orden, Ranking Member Pappas, and Members of the
Subcommittee,
With Honor Action appreciates the opportunity to submit this
Statement for the Record. We thank the Subcommittee for its leadership
and commitment to strengthening critical programs that support service
members as they transition to civilian life following their service to
our Nation.
With Honor Action is a bipartisan, nonprofit organization that
works to strengthen democracy and fight polarization in Congress
through principled veteran leadership. Our work includes endorsing
legislative solutions to our Nation's most pressing issues, connecting
military veteran Members of Congress across the aisle to forge
bipartisan bonds, and building coalitions of like-minded organizations
to demonstrate constituent support for commonsense policies.
We work with the 38 members of the For Country Caucus in the House
of Representatives, all of whom are military veterans, and who have
taken our Pledge to serve with integrity, civility, and courage. We
also work closely with 11 Senate allies to reach bicameral consensus.
These congressional leaders leverage their military experience and
leadership to build support for and pass legislation in national
security, national service, and veterans' affairs.
With Honor Action supports H.R. 4105, the Veterans Energy Transition
(VET) Act
The transition from active duty to civilian life is a pivotal
moment for the future of our veterans and their families, and has been
a key part of our bipartisan work. With Honor Action strongly supports
the bipartisan Veterans Energy Transition (VET) Act, led by For Country
Caucus members Rep. Jen Kiggans, a Navy veteran, and Rep. Chrissy
Houlahan, an Air Force veteran. The bill has 16 cosponsors, including
six members of the For Country Caucus, and would simultaneously address
critical shortages in our energy and advanced manufacturing sectors and
the pressing issue of veteran employment after separation.
Research from the Bureau of Labor Statistics found that nearly
10,000 electricians leave the workforce annually, and only roughly
7,000 enter to replace them.\1\ As demand for energy markets grows to
power our economy and American innovation, these labor shortages in
energy and manufacturing are not only a threat to our economic
prosperity but also to our national security.
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\1\ Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor,
Occupational Outlook Handbook, Electricians, at https://www.bls.gov/
ooh/construction-and-extraction/electricians.html.
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At the same time, around 200,000 service members transition out of
active duty each year, and they are ideal candidates for technical
careers like those in the energy industry.\2\ The VET Act will help
defray costs for potential employers by empowering the Department of
Labor to provide grants to cover training, certification, relocation,
and onboarding for eligible veteran, service member, and spouse hires.
The legislation authorizes $60 million annually through Fiscal Year
2031 for these grants, with a 15 percent cap on administrative costs.
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\2\ Government Accountability Office (2024). Transition to Civilian
Life: Better Collection and Analysis of Military Service Data Needed to
Improve Oversight of the SkillBridge Program (GAO-24-107352). https://
www.gao.gov/products/gao-24-107352
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The bill also prioritizes this support for retirees and veterans
with service-connected disabilities and for those experiencing
homelessness, targeting populations desperately in need of greater
intervention, and recognizes the need for greater interagency
cooperation by coordinating implementation with existing Department of
Defense and Department of Veterans Affairs programs such as the
Transition Assistance Program (TAP), SkillBridge, and Solid Start.
With Honor Action supports H.R. 2878, the Daniel J. Harvey and Adam
Lambert Improving Servicemember Transition to Reduce Veteran Suicide
Act
With Honor also strongly supports the Daniel J. Harvey and Adam
Lambert Improving Servicemember Transition to Reduce Veteran Suicide
Act, introduced by Iowa Air National Guardsman and For Country Caucus
member Rep. Zach Nunn. This bill, named after two Marines who
tragically lost their lives to suicide within a year of separation,
will provide tools to support service-related mental health challenges.
By incorporating topics like PTSD, depression, substance abuse, and
loneliness into TAP, separating service members will receive the
information and resources they need to transition successfully.
Similarly, by strengthening the Solid Start program, veterans will
have greater awareness of the mental health programs available to them.
The first year of separation from service is a highly vulnerable time
for veterans experiencing a mental health crisis, with suicide rates
reaching 46.2 per 100,000.\3\ Early education of, and access to, mental
health programs for transitioning service members is critical for
reducing veteran suicide rates, which continue to outpace the suicide
rates of the general, non-veteran population.
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\3\ U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, 2024 National Veteran
Suicide Prevention Annual Report, Part 1 & Part 2, Office of Suicide
Prevention, December 2024, https://www.mentalhealth.va.gov/docs/data-
sheets/2024/2024-Annual-Report-Part-1-of-2_508.pdf
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This bill is cosponsored by another veteran member of the For
Country Caucus and Army veteran, Rep. Jason Crow. These veterans, who
have experienced the transition from active duty to civilian life,
understand the daunting challenges and the much-needed resources that
accompany a service member's separation. The early intervention this
bill provides to service members is key to facilitating a safe and
successful next chapter for those who have served their country.
With Honor Action was proud to endorse these bills upon their
introduction, and now we urge the Subcommittee to ensure sustained
support for transitioning service members and the workforce and support
programs they need to succeed in the civilian world. We thank the
Subcommittee for holding today's hearing and for its consideration of
this vital legislation.
Prepared Statement of The American Legion
[GRAPHICS NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]
Prepared Statement of National Association of Electrical Distributors
(NAED)
[GRAPHICS NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]
Prepared Statement of Student Veterans of America
[GRAPHICS NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]
Prepared Statement of National Association Of State Approving Agencies
Introduction
Chairman Van Orden, Ranking Member Pappas and distinguished members
of the Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity, on behalf of the fifty-
three-member State agencies of the National Association of State
Approving Agencies (NASAA) and their over 220 staff members, thank you
for the opportunity to provide comments on certain pending legislation.
H.R. 982, Warriors to Workforce Act
In addition to approving standard college degree and non-college
degree programs, State approving agencies are responsible for approving
apprenticeship (APP), and on-the-job training (OJT) programs for the GI
Bill. We are concerned that this important program is being
underutilized by our veterans for multiple reasons, one of which is
that it is neither promoted nor adequately funded. The result, as
pointed out by Chairman Van Orden earlier this year, APP and OJT
programs now account for less than 1 percent of the veterans using the
GI Bill, a continual decline over the last decade due to a lack of
awareness and inadequate incentive to utilize this benefit to pursue
skilled workforce training. For example, the Department of Veterans
Affairs (VA) reports that during Fiscal Year 2025, only 2,219 Post-9/11
GI Bill beneficiaries began an OJT or apprenticeship program. During
the same period, 78,382 individuals began receiving their VA
educational benefits while enrolled in undergraduate or graduate degree
programs. We believe that the underutilization of this valuable benefit
is partially due to lack of veteran awareness as SAAs are not
encouraged by VA to promote the program. Although it is specified in 38
CFR Sec. 21.4262(d), VA admits that this benefit has been inadequately
promoted and more should be done to ensure veterans are informed of all
the potential uses of their GI Bill entitlement. Apprenticeship
programs equip veterans with the skills needed to quickly enter the
workforce and lead to high paying careers for those veterans who choose
this route. A recent study in North Carolina spoke of critical
infrastructure needs and we believe that this only mirrors the
situation across our Nation. Veterans who wish to use their hearts,
hands, and minds to enter technical and vocational fields such as
welding, pipefitting, and software development should be encouraged to
do so.
Veterans who enroll in an APP or OJT can effectively use their
benefits to transition more quickly into the civilian workforce,
providing stability for themselves and their families. For this reason,
we strongly support H.R. 982, the Warriors to Workforce Act of 2025,
which increases benefits that veterans receive during the first year of
an apprenticeship by changing the law so that after 6 months of
training, the amount of benefit veterans receive will increase to 90
percent as opposed to the current 80 percent prescribed by law. This
change provides a stronger incentive for veterans to use this program,
while enhancing the likelihood that they will persist in their
training, enter the workforce, and become tax paying citizens in their
communities, better able to support themselves and their families If
eligible veterans choose this path, they could join the workforce
immediately after transitioning from their military service and not
have to wait until they complete a lengthy and costly traditional
school program. This route will significantly increase their chance for
successful reintegration into civilian life.
Over the past several decades, Congress has increased the financial
incentives for veterans to seek a college degree by hundreds of
thousands of dollars, but comparatively almost nothing has been done
for veterans who seek practical on-the-job training and become part of
the workforce that rebuilds the Nation's infrastructure. With this
increase in their APP/OJT benefit, veterans could be encouraged to join
the workforce immediately, thereby securing gainful employment,
becoming a tax paying citizen and contributing to their local
communities and families. Without the increase to 90 percent for the
second 6 months, veterans are often discouraged from continuing in
their program if they must sacrifice losing significant income to
support their families, unless they do not receive a commensurate pay
increase by the employer at the same time. We suggest that the bill be
expanded to provide benefits of 100 percent for the first year and to
include adjustments in subsequent years to avoid a significant drop in
benefits in the second year of participation. Finally, we would ask for
further study about this important benefit to align the program more
closely with veteran's needs.
H.R. 5634, Veterans Flight Training Responsibility Act of 2025
H.R. 5634 would amend 38 U.S.C. Sec. 3313 by adding subsection (m)
and establishing a maximum total cost ceiling of $100,000 for flight
training for an individual at a public institution, similar to the
manner in which flight training is capped at nondegree flight training
programs at private institutions. While NASAA supports the intent of
this bill to bring parity to flight training, we are concerned that a
lifetime cap on such training at public IHLs could potentially have a
chilling effect on veterans seeking these programs. Instead, we would
suggest applying the private IHL cap to contracted programs at IHLs
instead. And we would like to see the cap on vocational flight training
increased to bring parity to these schools, instead of placing a cap on
already robust in-house degree granting IHL flight programs. Our Nation
needs more pilots and now is the time to encourage veterans to enroll
in quality training programs.
H.R. 5436, To amend title 38, United States Code, to prohibit an
educational institution from withholding a transcript from an
individual who pursued a course or program of education at such
institution using Post-9/11 educational assistance
In July 2024, the Department of Education implemented regulatory
changes that mandated that institutions of higher education could no
longer withhold a student's transcript or take other negative actions
against a student due to an error on the school's part if that student
was receiving Title IV funds. Though many schools withhold transcripts
in an attempt to collect outstanding debt from students, for many
student veterans, that outstanding debt is often disputed, and in some
cases can be a result of school or VA error. As such, NASAA supports
this bill which would establish parity for students using their GI Bill
education benefits by prohibiting a school from withholding a student's
transcript due to outstanding institutional charges.
Information Required by Rule XI2(g)(4) of the House of Representatives
Pursuant to Rule XI2(g)(4) of the House of Representatives, NASAA has
not received any Federal grants in Fiscal Year 2025, nor has it
received any Federal grants in the two previous Fiscal Years.
NASAA has not received payments or contracts from any foreign
governments in the current year or preceding two calendar years.
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