[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 197 (Tuesday, December 12, 1995)]
[House]
[Pages H14336-H14340]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 VETERANS HOUSING, EMPLOYMENT PROGRAMS, AND EMPLOYMENT RIGHTS BENEFITS 
                              ACT OF 1995

  Mr. STUMP. Mr. Speaker, I move the House suspend the rules and pass 
the bill (H.R. 2289) to amend title 38, United States Code, to extend 
permanently certain housing programs, to improve the veterans 
employment and training system, and to make clarifying and technical 
amendments to further clarify the employment and reemployment rights 
and responsibilities of members of the uniformed services, as well as 
those of the employer community, and for other purposes, as amended.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                               H.R. 2289

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Veterans Housing, Employment 
     Programs, and Employment Rights Benefits Act of 1995''.

     SEC. 2. REFERENCES TO TITLE 38, UNITED STATES CODE.

       Except as otherwise expressly provided, whenever in this 
     Act an amendment or repeal is expressed in terms of an 
     amendment to, or repeal of, a section or other provision, the 
     reference shall be considered to be made to a section or 
     other provision of title 38, United States Code.
                  TITLE I--VETERANS' HOUSING PROGRAMS

     SEC. 101. EXTENSIONS OF CERTAIN VETERANS' HOUSING PROGRAMS.

       (a) Negotiated Interest Rates.--Paragraph (4) of section 
     3703(c) is amended by striking out subparagraph (D).
       (b) Energy Efficient Mortgages.--Section 3710(d) is 
     amended--
       (1) in paragraph (1), by striking out ``to demonstrate the 
     feasibility of guaranteeing'' and inserting in lieu thereof 
     ``to guarantee''; and
       (2) by striking out paragraph (7).
       (c) Enhanced Loan Asset Sale Authority.--Section 3720(h)(2) 
     is amended by striking out ``1995'' and inserting in lieu 
     thereof ``2000''.
       (d) Authority of Lenders of Automatically Guaranteed Loans 
     To Review Appraisals.--Section 3731(f) is amended by striking 
     out paragraphs (3), (4), and (5).
       (e) Housing Assistance for Homeless Veterans.--Section 3735 
     is amended by striking out subsection (c).

     SEC. 102. CODIFICATION OF REPORTING REQUIREMENTS AND CHANGES 
                   IN THEIR FREQUENCY.

       (a) Codification of Housing Related Reporting 
     Requirements.--(1) Chapter 37 is amended by adding after 
     section 3735 the following new section:

     ``Sec. 3736. Reporting requirements

       The annual report required by section 529 of this title 
     shall include a discussion of the activities under this 
     chapter. Beginning with the report submitted at the close of 
     fiscal year 1996, and every second year thereafter, this 
     discussion shall include information regarding the following:
       ``(1) Loans made to veterans whose only qualifying service 
     was in the Selected Reserve.
       ``(2) Interest rates and discount points which were 
     negotiated between the lender and the veteran pursuant to 
     section 3703(c)(4)(A)(i) of this title.
       ``(3) The determination of reasonable value by lenders 
     pursuant to section 3731(f) of this title.
       ``(4) Loans that include funds for energy efficiency 
     improvements pursuant to section 3710(a)(10) of this title.
       ``(5) Direct loans to Native American veterans made 
     pursuant to subchapter V of this chapter.''.
       (2) The table of sections at the beginning of chapter 37 is 
     amended by inserting after the item relating to section 3735 
     the following new item:

``3736. Reporting requirements.''.

       (b) Repeal of Superseded Reporting Requirements.--The 
     Veterans Home Loan Program Amendments of 1992 (Public Law 
     102-547; 106 Stat. 3633) is amended by striking out sections 
     2(c), 3(b), 8(d), 9(c), and 10(b).

     SEC. 103. JOB PLACEMENT FOR HOMELESS VETERANS.

       (a) Homeless Veterans Employment Program.--Section 
     738(e)(1) of the Stewart B. McKinney Homeless Assistance Act 
     (42 U.S.C. 11448(e)(1)) is amended--
       (1) in subparagraph (A), by striking out ``1993'' and 
     inserting in lieu thereof ``1996'';
       (2) in subparagraph (B)--
       (A) by striking out ``$12,000,000'' and inserting in lieu 
     thereof ``$10,000,000'', and
       (B) by striking out ``1994'' and inserting in lieu thereof 
     ``1997''; and
     
[[Page H14337]]

       (3) in subparagraph (C)--
       (A) by striking out ``$14,000,000'' and inserting in lieu 
     thereof ``$10,000,000'', and
       (B) by striking out ``1995'' and inserting in lieu thereof 
     ``1998''.
       (b) General Authorization of Appropriations.--Section 
     739(a) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 11448(a)) is amended by 
     striking out ``fiscal years 1994 and 1995'' and inserting in 
     lieu thereof ``fiscal years 1996, 1997, and 1998''.
       (c) Extension of Program.--Section 741 of such Act (42 
     U.S.C. 11450) is amended by striking out ``1995'' and 
     inserting in lieu thereof ``1998''.
              TITLE II--VETERANS' EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING

     SEC. 201. REGIONAL OFFICES FOR VETERANS' EMPLOYMENT AND 
                   TRAINING.

       Paragraph (1) of section 4102A(e) is amended to read as 
     follows:
       ``(1) The Secretary of Labor shall assign regional 
     administrators for Veterans' Employment and Training in such 
     regions, which may not be less than five in number, as the 
     Secretary may determine are necessary for the effective 
     administration of the Veterans' Employment and Training 
     Service. Each regional administrator appointed after the date 
     of the enactment of the Veterans Housing, Employment 
     Programs, and Employment Rights Benefits Act of 1995 shall be 
     a veteran.''.

     SEC. 202. SUPPORT PERSONNEL FOR DIRECTORS OF VETERANS' 
                   EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING.

       Subsection (a) of section 4103 is amended--
       (1) in the first sentence, by striking out ``full-time 
     Federal clerical support'' and inserting in lieu thereof 
     ``full-time Federal clerical or other support personnel''; 
     and
       (2) in the third sentence, by striking out ``Full-time 
     Federal clerical support personnel'' and inserting in lieu 
     thereof ``Full-time Federal clerical or other support 
     personnel''.

     SEC. 203. DIRECTORS AND ASSISTANT DIRECTORS FOR VETERANS' 
                   EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING.

       Subparagraph (B) of section 4103(b)(1) is amended to read 
     as follows:
       ``(B) A person who serves in the position of Director for 
     Veterans' Employment and Training or Assistant Director of 
     Veterans' Employment Training for any State for not less than 
     two years is eligible for appointment as such a Director or 
     Assistant Director for any State, regardless of the period of 
     the person's residence in that State.''.

     SEC. 204. PILOT PROGRAM TO INTEGRATE AND STREAMLINE FUNCTIONS 
                   OF LOCAL VETERANS' EMPLOYMENT REPRESENTATIVES.

       (a) Authority To Conduct Pilot Program.--In order to assess 
     the effects on the timeliness and quality of services to 
     veterans resulting from re-focusing the staff resources of 
     local veterans' employment representatives, the Secretary 
     of Labor is authorized to conduct a pilot program under 
     which the primary responsibilities of local veterans' 
     employment representatives will be case management and the 
     provision and facilitation of direct employment and 
     training services to veterans.
       (b) Authorities Under Chapter 41.--To implement the pilot 
     program, the Secretary is authorized to suspend or limit 
     application of those provisions of chapter 41 (other than 
     sections 4104 (b)(1) and (c)) of such title that pertain to 
     the Local Veterans' Employment Representative Program in 
     States designated by the Secretary under subsection (d), 
     except that the Secretary may use the authority of chapter 
     41, as the Secretary may determine, in conjunction with the 
     authority of this section, to carry out the pilot program. 
     The Secretary may collect such data as the Secretary 
     considers necessary for assessment of the pilot program. The 
     Secretary shall measure and evaluate on a continuing basis 
     the effectiveness of the pilot program in achieving its 
     stated goals in general, and in achieving such goals in 
     relation to their cost, their effect on related programs, and 
     their structure and mechanisms for delivery of services.
       (c) Targeted Veterans.--Within the pilot program, eligible 
     veterans who are among groups most in need of intensive 
     services, including disabled veterans, economically 
     disadvantaged veterans, and veterans separated within the 
     previous four years from active military, naval, or air 
     service shall be given priority for service by local 
     veterans' employment representatives. Priority for the 
     provision of service shall be given first to disabled 
     veterans and then to the other categories of veterans most in 
     need of intensive services in accordance with priorities 
     determined by the Secretary of Labor in consultation with 
     appropriate State labor authorities.
       (d) States Designated.--The pilot program shall be limited 
     to not more than five States to be designated by the 
     Secretary of Labor.
       (e) Reports to Congress.--(1) One year after the date of 
     the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Labor shall 
     submit to Congress and the Committees on Veterans' Affairs of 
     the Senate and the House of Representatives, an interim 
     report describing in detail the development and 
     implementation of the pilot program on a State by State 
     basis.
       (2) Not later than 120 days after the expiration of this 
     section under subsection (h), the Secretary of Labor shall 
     submit to Congress and the Committees on Veterans' Affairs of 
     the Senate and the House of Representatives, a final report 
     evaluating the results of the pilot program and make 
     recommendations based on the evaluation, which may include 
     legislative recommendations.
       (f) Definitions.--For the purposes of this section--
       (1) the term ``veteran'' has the meaning given such term by 
     section 101(2) of title 38, United States Code;
       (2) the term ``disabled veteran'' has the meaning given 
     such term by section 4211(3) of such title; and
       (3) the term ``active military, naval, or air service'' has 
     the meaning given such term by section 101(24) of such title.
       (g) Authorization.--There is authorized to be appropriated 
     for the pilot program, in the States designated by the 
     Secretary of Labor pursuant to subsection (d), the amount 
     allocated to such States under section 4102A(b)(5) of title 
     38, United States Code, for fiscal years 1996, 1997, and 
     1998.
       (h) Expiration Date.--Except as provided by subsection (e), 
     this section shall expire on October 1, 1998.
    TITLE III--EMPLOYMENT AND REEMPLOYMENT RIGHTS OF MEMBERS OF THE 
                           UNIFORMED SERVICES

     SEC. 301. PURPOSES.

       Section 4301(a)(2) is amended by striking out ``under 
     honorable conditions''.

     SEC. 302. DEFINITIONS.

       Section 4303(16) is amended by inserting ``national'' 
     before ``emergency''.

     SEC. 303. DISCRIMINATION AGAINST PERSONS WHO SERVE IN THE 
                   UNIFORMED SERVICES AND ACTS OF REPRISAL 
                   PROHIBITED.

       Section 4311 is amended by striking out subsections (b) and 
     (c) and inserting in lieu thereof the following:
       ``(b) An employer may not discriminate in employment 
     against or take any adverse employment action against any 
     person because such person (1) has taken an action to enforce 
     a protection afforded any person under this chapter, (2) has 
     testified or otherwise made a statement in or in connection 
     with any proceeding under this chapter, (3) has assisted or 
     otherwise participated in an investigation under this 
     chapter, or (4) has exercised a right provided for in this 
     chapter. The prohibition in this subsection shall apply with 
     respect to a person regardless of whether that person has 
     performed service in the uniformed services.
       ``(c) An employer shall be considered to have engaged in 
     actions prohibited--
       ``(1) under subsection (a), if the person's membership, 
     application for membership, service, application for service, 
     or obligation for service in the uniformed services is a 
     motivating factor in the employer's action, unless the 
     employer can prove that the action would have been taken in 
     the absence of such membership, application for membership, 
     service, application for service, or obligation for service; 
     or
       ``(2) under subsection (b), if the person's (A) action to 
     enforce a protection afforded any person under this chapter, 
     (B) testimony or making of a statement in or in connection 
     with any proceeding under this chapter, (C) assistance or 
     other participation in an investigation under this chapter, 
     or (D) exercise of a right provided for in this chapter, is a 
     motivating factor in the employer's action, unless the 
     employer can prove that the action would have been taken in 
     the absence of such person's enforcement action, testimony, 
     statement, assistance, participation, or exercise of a right.
       ``(d) The prohibitions in subsections (a) and (b) shall 
     apply to any position of employment, including a position 
     that is described in section 4312(d)(1)(C).''.

     SEC. 304. REEMPLOYMENT RIGHTS OF PERSONS WHO SERVE IN THE 
                   UNIFORMED SERVICES.

       (a) Inclusion of Preparation and Travel Time Prior to 
     Service.--Section 4312(a) is amended by striking out ``who is 
     absent from a position of employment'' and inserting in lieu 
     thereof ``whose absence from a position of employment is 
     necessitated''.
       (b) Limitation on Service Exemption to War or National 
     Emergency.--Section 4312(c)(4)(B) is amended to read as 
     follows:
       ``(B) ordered to or retained on active duty (other than for 
     training) under any provision of law because of a war or 
     because of a national emergency declared by the President or 
     the Congress as determined by the Secretary concerned;''.
       (c) Brief, Nonrecurrent Periods of Service.--Section 
     4312(d)(2)(C) is amended by striking out ``is brief or for a 
     nonrecurrent period and without a reasonable expectation'' 
     and inserting in lieu thereof ``is for a brief, nonrecurrent 
     period and there is no reasonable expectation''.
       (d) Conforming Amendments to Redesignations in Title 10.--
     Section 4312(c) is amended--
       (1) in paragraph (3), by striking out ``section 270'' and 
     inserting in lieu thereof ``section 10147''; and
       (2) in paragraph (4)--
       (A) by striking out ``section 672(a), 672(g), 673, 673b, 
     673c, or 688'' in subparagraph (A) and inserting in lieu 
     thereof ``section 688, 12301(a), 12301(g), 12302, 12304, or 
     12305'';
       (B) by striking out ``section 673b'' in subparagraph (C) 
     and inserting in lieu thereof ``section 12304''; and
       (C) by striking out ``section 3500 or 8500'' in 
     subparagraph (E) and inserting in lieu thereof ``section 
     12406''.

     SEC. 305. REEMPLOYMENT POSITIONS.

       Section 4313(a)(4) is amended--
       (1) by striking out ``uniform services'' in clause (A)(ii) 
     and inserting in lieu thereof ``uniformed services''; and
     
[[Page H14338]]

       (2) by striking out ``of lesser status and pay which'' and 
     inserting in lieu thereof ``which is the nearest 
     approximation to a position referred to first in clause 
     (A)(i) and then in clause (A)(ii) which''.

     SEC. 306. LEAVE.

       Section 4316(d) is amended by adding at the end the 
     following new sentence: ``No employer may require any such 
     person to use vacation, annual or similar leave during such 
     period of service.''.

     SEC. 307. HEALTH PLANS.

       Section 4317(a) is amended--
       (1) by striking out ``(a)(1)(A) subject to paragraphs (2) 
     and (3), in'' and inserting in lieu thereof ``(a)(1) In'';
       (2) by redesignating clauses (i) and (ii) of paragraph (1) 
     (as amended by paragraph (1) of this section) as 
     subparagraphs (A) and (B), respectively;
       (3) by redesignating subparagraph (B) as paragraph (2); and
       (4) by redesignating subparagraph (C) as paragraph (3), and 
     in that paragraph by redesignating clauses (i) and (ii) as 
     subparagraphs (A) and (B), and by redesignating subclauses 
     (I) and (II) as clauses (i) and (ii), respectively.

     SEC. 308. EMPLOYEE PENSION BENEFIT PLANS.

       The last sentence of section 4318(b)(2) is amended by 
     striking out ``services,'' and inserting in lieu thereof 
     ``services, such payment period''.

     SEC. 309. ENFORCEMENT OF EMPLOYMENT OR REEMPLOYMENT RIGHTS.

       (a) Technical Amendment.--The second sentence of section 
     4322(d) is amended by inserting ``attempt to'' before 
     ``resolve''.
       (b) Notification.--Section 4322(e) of is amended--
       (1) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by striking out 
     ``with respect to a complaint under subsection (d) are 
     unsuccessful,'' and inserting in lieu thereof ``with respect 
     to any complaint filed under subsection (a) do not resolve 
     the complaint,''; and
       (2) in paragraph (2), by inserting ``or the Office of 
     Personnel Management'' after ``Federal executive agency''.

     SEC. 310. ENFORCEMENT OF RIGHTS WITH RESPECT TO A STATE OR 
                   PRIVATE EMPLOYER.

       Section 4323(a) is amended--
       (1) in paragraph (1), by striking out ``of an unsuccessful 
     effort to resolve a complaint''; and
       (2) in paragraph (2)(A), by striking out ``regarding the 
     complaint under section 4322(c)'' and inserting in lieu 
     thereof ``under section 4322(a)''.

     SEC. 311. ENFORCEMENT OF RIGHTS WITH RESPECT TO FEDERAL 
                   EXECUTIVE AGENCIES.

       (a) Referral.--Section 4324(a)(1) is amended by striking 
     out ``of an unsuccessful effort to resolve a complaint 
     relating to a Federal executive agency''.
       (b) Alternative Submission of Complaint.--Section 4324(b) 
     is amended--
       (1) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by inserting 
     ``or the Office of Personnel Management'' after ``Federal 
     executive agency''; and
       (2) in paragraph (1), by striking out ``regarding a 
     complaint under section 4322(c)'' and inserting in lieu 
     thereof ``under section 4322(a)''.
       (c) Relief.--Section 4324(c)(2) is amended--
       (1) by inserting ``or the Office of Personnel Management'' 
     after ``Federal executive agency''; and
       (2) by striking out ``employee'' and inserting in lieu 
     thereof ``Office''.

     SEC. 312. ENFORCEMENT OF RIGHTS WITH RESPECT TO CERTAIN 
                   FEDERAL AGENCIES.

       Section 4325(d)(1) is amended--
       (1) by striking out ``, alternative employment in the 
     Federal Government under this chapter,''; and
       (2) by striking out ``employee'' the last place it appears 
     and inserting in lieu thereof ``employees''.

     SEC. 313. CONDUCT OF INVESTIGATION; SUBPOENAS.

       Section 4326(a) is amended by inserting ``have reasonable 
     access to and the right to interview persons with information 
     relevant to the investigation and shall'' after ``at all 
     reasonable times,''.

     SEC. 314. TRANSITION RULES AND EFFECTIVE DATES.

       (a) Reemployment.--Section 8(a) of the Uniformed Services 
     Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994 (38 U.S.C. 
     4301 note) is amended--
       (1) in paragraph (3), by adding at the end thereof the 
     following: ``Any service begun up to 60 days after the date 
     of enactment of this Act, which is served up to 60 days after 
     the date of enactment of this Act pursuant to orders issued 
     under section 502(f) of chapter 5 of title 32, United States 
     Code, shall be considered under chapter 43 of title 38, 
     United States Code, as in effect on the day before such date 
     of enactment. Any service pursuant to orders issued under 
     section 502(f) of chapter 5 of title 32, United States Code, 
     served after 60 days after the date of enactment of this Act, 
     regardless of when begun, shall be considered under the 
     amendments made by this Act.''; and
       (2) in paragraph (4), by striking out ``such period'' and 
     inserting in lieu thereof ``such 60-day period''.
       (b) Insurance.--Section 8(c)(2) of such Act is amended by 
     striking out ``person on active duty'' and inserting in lieu 
     thereof ``person serving a period of service in the uniformed 
     services''.

     SEC. 315. EFFECTIVE DATES.

       (a) In General.--Except as provided in subsection (b), the 
     amendments made by this title shall take effect as of October 
     13, 1994.
       (b) Reorganized Title 10 References.--The amendments made 
     by section 304(d) shall take effect as of December 1, 1994.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Arizona [Mr. Stump] will be recognized for 20 minutes, and the 
gentleman from Mississippi [Mr. Montgomery] will be recognized for 20 
minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Arizona [Mr. Stump].


                             general leave

  Mr. STUMP. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may 
have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks 
and include extraneous material on H.R. 2289, the bill now under 
consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Arizona?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. STUMP. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume
  (Mr. STUMP asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks.)
  Mr. STUMP. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 2289, would make improvements to several 
veterans benefit programs.
  These would: Extend several VA home loan and housing programs; reduce 
VA reporting requirements; streamline the operations of the veterans 
employment and training service; and clarify many of the provisions of 
the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act.
  Under pay-as-you-go budget rules, this bill would save $14 million 
over the next 3 fiscal years.
  As always, I want to thank the VA Committee's ranking member, my 
distinguished colleague and good friend, Sonny Montgomery for his hard 
work and assistance on this bill.
  I also want to thank the chairman of the Education, Employment, 
Training and Housing Subcommittee, Steve Buyer, and the subcommittee's 
ranking member, Maxine Waters, for their bipartisan work on this 
measure.
  They worked in a very constructive fashion with other members of the 
committee to resolve differences of opinion and accommodate members' 
desires in regard to this legislation.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman 
from Indiana [Mr. Buyer], chairman of the Subcommittee on Education, 
Training, Employment and Housing.
  Mr. BUYER. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me this 
time.
  Mr. Speaker, H.R. 2289 contains provisions affecting various 
veterans' benefits. Title I makes several VA home loan pilot programs 
permanent.
  To share with the colleagues, in particular, loans for energy-
efficient home improvements, the ability of veterans to negotiate 
interest rates, the ability of the VA to package its portfolio for 
resale in the secondary market, automatic review of appraisals by 
lenders and continuation of authority to provide for foreclosed 
properties to community homeless providers, and it reduces reporting 
requirements on VA loan programs.
  I would also ask my colleagues to, please, note that the President's 
budget did not call for an extension of the VA adjustable rate mortgage 
program. However, the committee looked at that program and of 
consideration, approved it. Prior to the passage of the committee, the 
CBO estimated that the ARM cost would be zero. After the committee's 
passage, CBO reestimated the ARM cost at $37 million dollars. Clearly, 
we could not find the offset. Therefore, the extension of the VA 
adjustable rate mortgage program is not in this bill.
  However, the Committee on Veterans' Affairs will continue to work to 
find a way to reauthorize the program.
  H.R. 2289 will also rename and promote the homeless veterans' 
reintegration project. Although the project is unfunded this year, it 
is important to keep alive so that the Department of Labor can fund it 
out of its resources.
  Title II of this bill focuses on the veterans' employment and 
training service, VETS. The changes in the law will assist the VETS 
program in streamlining its approach to finding jobs for veterans and 
improve the service at the same time. This portion of the bill will, 

[[Page H14339]]
first, reduce the number of regional administrators; second, broaden 
the support staff responsibilities; third, amend the residency 
requirements for Federal directors of veterans' employment and training 
stations in the States. Providing that flexibility is important. And, 
authorize, fourth, authorize a pilot program to test the VETS 
participation in the one-stop employment centers.
  Title III of this bill makes several technical improvements to the 
Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act that was 
passed in the 103d Congress. The changes specifically would clarify the 
employee and employer responsibilities, the time periods covered by the 
law, and also clarifies issues such as health care and pension benefits 
while called to active duty, and define what constitutes both 
discrimination and reprisal under the law.
  Mr. Speaker, I would like to give special recognition to the chairman 
of the committee and the ranking member for their continued leadership 
and also the distinguished ranking member of the subcommittee, the 
gentlewoman from California [Ms. Waters]. During work on the 
reemployment rights portion of the bill, she offered an amendment that 
was very constructive that significantly improved a large portion of 
title III of the bill. I appreciate her efforts and thank her for the 
bipartisan way in which she has worked with me on this bill.
  I also thank my colleagues in the Subcommittee on Education, 
Training, Employment and Housing for their dedication on behalf of 
veterans.
  It is a pleasure to bring this bill to the floor and to note that it 
streamlines the process and saves money.
  Mr. MONTGOMERY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  I rise in strong support of H.R. 2289, a measure which would make 
permanent certain veterans' housing programs, improve, Mr. Speaker, the 
veterans' employment and training programs, and further improve and 
clarify veterans' reemployment rights. The veterans' housing and 
employment programs we have enacted in the last several Congresses are 
working well. This bill extends the VA authority to make housing loans, 
a very important benefit for the veteran and for the active-duty 
personnel.
  Mr. Speaker, we are encouraging in this bill and in other legislation 
to get active-duty persons to use their veterans' home benefits. When 
they are on active duty, they are veterans, and they still have the 
privilege of using some of these home loans.
  It also allows changes in our veterans' employment programs to go 
forward. Fewer resources and less staff personnel means these programs 
must streamline and become more efficient. H.R. 2289 authorizes these 
necessary changes.
  I do want to commend the gentleman from Indiana [Mr. Buyer], the 
chairman of the Subcommittee on Education, Training, Employment and 
Housing, and also the Ranking member of the subcommittee, the 
gentlewoman from California [Ms. Waters], and all members of the 
subcommittee for really developing an excellent bill.
  I also want to thank my good friend, the gentleman from Arizona [Mr. 
Stump], for brining this measure to the floor. This bill will help 
veterans, and I urge my colleagues to support it.
  Mr. Speaker, I will yield such time as she may consume to the 
gentlewoman from California [Ms. Waters], the ranking member of the 
subcommittee.

                              {time}  1845

  Ms. WATERS. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me time 
and for all of his work and support on this and all of the legislation 
on behalf of veterans in the Committee on Veterans Affairs.
  Mr. Speaker, I, too, rise in strong support of H.R. 2289. Title I of 
this measure will greatly enhance the ability of veterans to purchase 
the home of their choice. I am, however, disappointed that we were 
forced to drop the section which would have extended the VA Adjustable 
Rate Mortgage [ARM] program. Unfortunately, CBO changed their cost 
estimate and, two days after the full committee markup, told us we have 
to come up with over $30 million to fund the ARM. We simply do not have 
those funds. I fully intend to work with the subcommittee chairman on 
this matter, however, and expect we will revisit this issue in the 
future.
  The provisions of title II will improve the implementation and 
administration of veterans' employment programs. I am particularly 
pleased the bill includes an amendment I offered which would authorize 
the Secretary of Labor to conduct a pilot program under which the 
responsibilities of Local Veterans' Employment Representatives [LVER's] 
would be redirected to focus on case management and direct service to 
veterans.
  Last year, the committee extensively revised chapter 43 of title 38, 
which provides employment and reemployment rights for members of the 
uniformed services. Public Law 103-353, the Uniformed Services 
Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994, was signed into law on 
October 13, 1994. Because of the complex and technical nature of this 
measure, the committee anticipated that technical and clarifying 
amendments would be necessary. Title II of H.R. 2289 responds to the 
issues and concerns that have thus far been brought to the attention of 
the committee.
  Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the chairman of the subcommittee, my 
colleague, Steve Buyer, for the cooperative, bipartisan spirit with 
which he has conducted the business of the subcommittee. We have had a 
good year, and the veterans of our Nation will benefit from our joint 
efforts.
  H.R. 2289 is an excellent bill. I am proud of the work we have done 
on this measure, and I hope our colleagues will support H.R. 2289.
  Mr. STUMP. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from New 
York [Mr. Gilman], the chairman of the Committee on International 
Relations.
  (Mr. GILMAN asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks.)
  Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me time.
  Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to rise today in strong support of H.R. 
2289, the Veterans Housing and Educational Benefits Act of 1995, and I 
commend its sponsor, the gentleman from Indiana, Mr. Buyer, as well as 
Mr. Stump, the chairman of the House Veterans' Affairs Committee and 
the committee's ranking member, Mr. Montgomery for their dedicated work 
on this important veterans measure.
  This bill, H.R. 2289 provides permanent authorization for negotiated 
interest rates, energy efficient mortgages, and extends the VA's 
authority for enhanced loan asset sales for an additional 5 years in VA 
loan programs. This change will improve the secondary market of VA-
backed mortgages and thereby eliminates the need for future VA 
servicing.
  Where this bill provides great assistance for our Nation's veterans 
is in the area of the provision of housing assistance for homeless 
veterans and for employment services for those who have sacrificed so 
much for the freedoms we hold so dear.
  For our homeless veterans this bill provides $10 million per year to 
assist them in their plight. For our veterans competing in an 
increasingly competitive employment market this measure requires the 
Secretary of Labor to maintain no fewer than five veterans employment 
and training facilities with which to assist our job training efforts 
for our veterans.
  Accordingly, Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to fully support this 
important measure which will provide further educational and housing 
support for our Nation's veterans.
  Mr. MONTGOMERY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself one minute.
  Mr. Speaker, I do so only to point out to the House that the 
gentleman from Arizona, Chairman Stump, and I have sent each Member of 
the House of Representatives a letter pointing out that he and I have 
been notified by the VA officials that if either the VA-HUD 
appropriations bills or a continuing resolution has not been passed by 
December 21, the Veterans Administration says the checks for veterans 
will be delayed. So I think Members should know that.
  We are talking about 2.5 million veterans getting their checks 
delayed. It is a 2.6-percent cost-of-living increase in those checks. 
So I certainly hope that the House and the Senate and the President of 
the United States can get 

[[Page H14340]]
together and we will not delay these veterans' checks as well as other 
checks that go to people in this country.
  Mr. Speaker, this is a fine bill, and I ask support of the House.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. STUMP. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I 
yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. LaHood). The question is on the motion 
offered by the gentleman from Arizona [Mr. Stump] that the House 
suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 2289, as amended.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor 
thereof) the rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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