[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 85 (Wednesday, June 18, 1997)]
[House]
[Page H3921]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        THE VA'S BEST KEPT SECRET: VETERAN'S ON-THE-JOB TRAINING

  The SPEAKER pro tempore [Mr. Christensen]. Under a previous order of 
the House, the gentleman from New York [Mr. Quinn] is recognized for 5 
minutes.
  Mr. QUINN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today for a short period of time here, 
4 or 5 minutes, to inform my colleagues in the House about a veterans' 
congressional jobs program that has come to my attention and we have 
initiated in my district office.
  This is information for our colleagues here in Congress and for their 
staff members, and the chairman of the Subcommittee on Benefits of the 
Committee on Veterans' Affairs here in the House.
  Back in January and February, Mr. Speaker, I had an opportunity to 
meet with staff over at the VA and talk about the existing programs. We 
talked about financing and the budget that is coming up. I also know 
that most of us as Federal Representatives here in the Congress are 
committed to improving veterans' employment opportunities, and I think 
that the Members here will be very interested that the VA is offering a 
jobs program for service-connected disabled veterans.
  This is an existing program that I believe is a win-win-win 
situation, Mr. Speaker. I think it is one of the VA's best kept 
secrets, not purposefully; but I think that, if Members know about it 
and if they are informed about it, they are going to be very excited 
about it for the district offices and serving our constituents and 
helping the employment picture for veterans back home in their 
districts.
  That is why it was important for me to come to the floor today and to 
speak to our colleagues and our Members. This program is referred to as 
the Chapter 31 Program. The purpose of the VA's vocational 
rehabilitation program is to assist service-disabled veterans find and 
maintain suitable employment. The trainee receives a stipend from the 
VA. In other words, there is no additional cost to us in our district 
offices.
  I mentioned before that I think it is a win-win-win situation because 
it has helped the effectiveness of my office. It has helped us with our 
constituent service. It is also a win then for the individual veteran 
who has an opportunity to experience this on-the-job training, and I 
believe it is a win for the community at large.
  The VA has done an excellent job in finding a candidate to work in my 
congressional office back in our district. We selected a trainee, Mr. 
Mark Dunford, who has a bachelor's degree in history, and he is 
completing his prelaw work at Canisius College in Buffalo. He has 
agreed to take on all our constituent work relating to veterans.
  When we have constituents call our offices that want some help with 
either hospital veterans benefits or problems with some benefits they 
are receiving for a previously expired husband or wife, this is the 
kind of individual that will take that constituent work and get it 
done.
  He is doing an outstanding job, Mr. Dunford is. His experience and 
skills acquired in the military are an asset to our office. But when he 
is assisting in constituent work, when he is monitoring the needs that 
people in my district and all of our districts have with regard to 
veterans affairs, he is one of those take-charge people who gets it 
done.
  This on-the-job training program is an excellent way for disabled 
veterans to gain the work experience that they need.
  I think, finally, that it is an opportunity for those of us who are 
Members of Congress here to lead by example. It is an opportunity to 
take this congressional job training experience another step and allow 
our veterans to have that experience so they can get meaningful 
employment either in our offices or in other places around the 
community.
  In a time of limited resources, Mr. Speaker, it is also an 
opportunity for us to provide this job at no additional costs to our 
congressional payrolls. I think it is a win-win-win situation, as I 
said, for everybody involved.
  I came to the floor today to make our Members aware of this program. 
As I mentioned, it is called the Chapter 31 Program. Later this week I 
will be sending a dear colleague letter to all of our Members here in 
the House suggesting that they look into the program. They can very 
easily give my staff a call in my office so we can put them in touch 
with the right people in the VA who, to tell you the truth, handle 
everything for us.
  It is a great program. It is one that our constituents should know 
about. It is one that will help us run our offices more effectively and 
more efficiently. Finally, it is the right thing to do for some 
veterans back in our districts.
  I would suggest that with the dear colleague letter that goes out 
from our office later this week, if anybody needs any attention from us 
or any help, we stand ready to do that, as does the VA.
  Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the time this afternoon to make my office 
available.

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