[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 65 (Monday, May 20, 2002)]
[House]
[Pages H2617-H2624]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         JOBS FOR VETERANS ACT

  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and 
pass the bill (H.R. 4015) to amend title 38, United States Code, to 
revise and improve employment, training, and placement services 
furnished to veterans, and for other purposes, as amended.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                               H. R. 4015

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

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; REFERENCES TO TITLE 38, UNITED STATES 
                   CODE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.

       (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Jobs for 
     Veterans Act''.
       (b) 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.
       (c) Table of Contents.--The table of contents of this Act 
     is as follows:

Sec. 1. Short title; references to title 38, United States Code.
Sec. 2. Priority of service for veterans in Department of Labor job 
              training programs.
Sec. 3. Performance incentive awards for quality veterans employment, 
              training, and placement services.
Sec. 4. Refinement of job training and placement functions of the 
              Department.
Sec. 5. Additional improvements in veterans employment and training 
              services.
Sec. 6. Committee to raise employer awareness of skills of veterans and 
              benefits of hiring veterans.
Sec. 7. Sense of Congress commending veterans and military service 
              organizations.
Sec. 8. Study on economic benefits to the United States of long-term 
              sustained employment of veterans.

     SEC. 2. PRIORITY OF SERVICE FOR VETERANS IN DEPARTMENT OF 
                   LABOR JOB TRAINING PROGRAMS.

       (a) Veterans' Job Training Assistance.--
       (1) In general.--Chapter 42 is amended by adding at the end 
     the following new section:

     ``Sec. 4215. Priority of service for veterans in Department 
       of Labor job training programs

       ``(a) Definitions.--In this section:
       ``(1) The term `covered person' means any of the following 
     individuals:
       ``(A) A veteran.
       ``(B) The spouse of any of the following individuals:
       ``(i) Any veteran who died of a service-connected 
     disability.
       ``(ii) Any member of the Armed Forces serving on active 
     duty who, at the time of application for assistance under 
     this section, is listed, pursuant to section 556 of title 37 
     and regulations issued thereunder, by the Secretary concerned 
     in one or more of the following categories and has been so 
     listed for a total of more than 90 days: (I) missing in 
     action, (II) captured in line of duty by a hostile force, or 
     (III) forcibly detained or interned in line of duty by a 
     foreign government or power.
       ``(iii) Any veteran who has a total disability resulting 
     from a service-connected disability.
       ``(iv) Any veteran who died while a disability so evaluated 
     was in existence.
       ``(2) The term `qualified job training program' means any 
     workforce preparation, development, or delivery program or 
     service that is directly funded, in whole or in part, by the 
     Department of Labor and includes the following:
       ``(A) Any such program or service that uses technology to 
     assist individuals to access workforce development programs 
     (such as job and training opportunities, labor market 
     information, career assessment tools, and related support 
     services).
       ``(B) Any such program or service under the public 
     employment service system, one-stop career centers, the 
     Workforce Investment Act of 1998, a demonstration or other 
     temporary program, and those programs implemented by States 
     or local service providers based on Federal block grants 
     administered by the Department of Labor.
       ``(C) Any such program or service that is a workforce 
     development program targeted to specific groups.
       ``(3) The term `priority of service' means, with respect to 
     any qualified job training program, that a covered person 
     shall be given priority over nonveterans for the receipt of 
     employment, training, and placement services provided under 
     that program, notwithstanding any other provision of law.
       ``(b) Entitlement to Priority of Service.--(1) A covered 
     person is entitled to priority of service under any qualified 
     job training program if the person otherwise meets the 
     eligibility requirements for participation in such program.
       ``(2) The Secretary of Labor may establish priorities among 
     covered persons for purposes of this section to take into 
     account the needs of disabled veterans and special disabled 
     veterans, and such other factors as the Secretary determines 
     appropriate.
       ``(c) Administration of Programs at State and Local 
     Levels.--An entity of a State or a political subdivision of 
     the State that administers or delivers services under a 
     qualified job training program shall--
       ``(1) provide information and priority of service to 
     covered persons regarding benefits and services that may be 
     obtained through other entities or service providers; and
       ``(2) ensure that each covered person who applies to or who 
     is assisted by such a program is informed of the employment-
     related rights and benefits to which the person is entitled 
     under this section.
       ``(d) Addition to Annual Report.--In the annual report 
     required under section 4107(c) of this title for the program 
     year beginning in 2002 and each subsequent program year, the 
     Secretary of Labor shall evaluate whether covered persons are 
     receiving priority of service and are being fully served by 
     qualified job training programs, and whether the levels of 
     service of such programs are in proportion to the incidence 
     of representation of veterans in the labor market, including 
     within groups that the Secretary may designate for priority 
     under such programs, if any.''.
       (2) Clerical amendment.--The table of sections at the 
     beginning of chapter 42 is amended by inserting after the 
     item relating to section 4214 the following new item:

``4215. Priority of service for veterans in Department of Labor job 
              training programs.''.

       (b) Employment of Veterans With Respect to Federal 
     Contracts.--
       (1) In general.--Section 4212(a) is amended to read as 
     follows:
       ``(a)(1) Any contract in the amount of $100,000 or more 
     entered into by any department or agency of the United States 
     for the procurement of personal property and nonpersonal 
     services (including construction) for the United States, 
     shall contain a provision requiring that the party 
     contracting with the United States take affirmative action to 
     employ and advance in employment qualified covered veterans. 
     This section applies to any subcontract entered into by a 
     prime contractor in carrying out any such contract.
       ``(2) In addition to requiring affirmative action to employ 
     such qualified covered veterans under such contracts and 
     subcontracts and in order to promote the implementation of 
     such requirement, the Secretary of Labor shall prescribe 
     regulations requiring that--
       ``(A) each such contractor for each such contract shall 
     immediately list all of its employment openings with the 
     appropriate employment service delivery system (as defined in 
     section 4101(7) of this title), and may also list such 
     openings with one-stop career centers under the Workforce 
     Investment Act of 1998, other appropriate service delivery 
     points, or America's Job Bank (or any additional or 
     subsequent national electronic job bank established by the 
     Department of Labor), except that the contractor may exclude 
     openings for executive and senior management positions and 
     positions which are to be filled from within the contractor's 
     organization and positions lasting three days or less;
       ``(B) each such employment service delivery system shall 
     give such qualified covered veterans priority in referral to 
     such employment openings; and
       ``(C) each such employment service delivery system shall 
     provide a list of such employment

[[Page H2618]]

     openings to States, political subdivisions of States, or any 
     private entities or organizations under contract to carry out 
     employment, training, and placement services under chapter 41 
     of this title.
       ``(3) In this section:
       ``(A) The term `covered veteran' means any of the following 
     veterans:
       ``(i) Disabled veterans.
       ``(ii) Veterans who served on active duty in the Armed 
     Forces during a war or in a campaign or expedition for which 
     a campaign badge has been authorized.
       ``(iii) Veterans who, while serving on active duty in the 
     Armed Forces, participated in a United States military 
     operation for which an Armed Forces service medal was awarded 
     pursuant to Executive Order 12985 (61 Fed. Reg. 1209).
       ``(iv) Recently separated veterans.
       ``(B) The term `qualified', with respect to an employment 
     position, means having the ability to perform the essential 
     functions of the position with or without reasonable 
     accommodation for an individual with a disability.''.
       (2) Conforming and technical amendments.--(A) Section 
     4212(c) is amended--
       (i) by striking ``suitable''; and
       (ii) by striking ``subsection (a)(2) of this section'' and 
     inserting ``subsection (a)(2)(B)''.
       (B) Section 4212(d)(1) is amended--
       (i) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by striking 
     ``of this section'' after ``subsection (a)''; and
       (ii) by amending subparagraphs (A) and (B) to read as 
     follows:
       ``(A) the number of employees in the workforce of such 
     contractor, by job category and hiring location, and the 
     number of such employees, by job category and hiring 
     location, who are qualified covered veterans;
       ``(B) the total number of new employees hired by the 
     contractor during the period covered by the report and the 
     number of such employees who are qualified covered veterans; 
     and''.
       (C) Section 4212(d)(2) is amended by striking ``of this 
     subsection'' after ``paragraph (1)''.
       (D) Section 4211(6) is amended by striking ``one-year 
     period'' and inserting ``three-year period''.
       (3) Effective date.--The amendments made by this subsection 
     shall apply with respect to contracts entered into on or 
     after the first day of the first month that begins 12 months 
     after the date of the enactment of this Act.
       (c) Employment Within the Federal Government.--
       (1) Purpose.--The second sentence of section 4214(a)(1) is 
     amended--
       (A) by inserting ``, competent'' after ``effective''; and
       (B) by striking ``major'' and inserting ``uniquely 
     qualified''.
       (2) Appointments.--Section 4214(b) is amended--
       (A) in paragraph (1), by striking ``readjustment'' and 
     inserting ``recruitment'';
       (B) in paragraph (2), by striking ``to--'' and all that 
     follows through the period at the end and inserting ``to 
     qualified covered veterans.'';
       (C) in paragraph (3)--
       (i) by striking subparagraphs (A) and (B);
       (ii) by redesignating subparagraphs (C) and (D) as 
     subparagraphs (B) and (C), respectively,
       (iii) in subparagraph (B), as so redesignated, by striking 
     ``The limitations of subparagraphs (A) and (B) of this 
     paragraph'' and inserting ``The limitation of subparagraph 
     (A)'';
       (iv) in subparagraph (C), as so redesignated, by striking 
     ``clause (i) of subparagraphs (A) and (B) of this paragraph'' 
     and inserting ``subparagraph (A)''; and
       (v) by inserting before subparagraph (B), as so 
     redesignated, the following new subparagraph:
       ``(A) Except as provided in subparagraph (B), a qualified 
     covered veteran may receive such an appointment only within 
     the 10-year period that begins on the date of the veteran's 
     last discharge or release from active duty.''.
       (3) Technical amendments.--(A) Section 4214(a) is amended--
       (i) in the third sentence of paragraph (1), by striking 
     ``disabled veterans and certain veterans of the Vietnam era 
     and of the post-Vietnam era'' and inserting ``qualified 
     covered veterans (as defined in paragraph (2)(B))''; and
       (ii) in paragraph (2), to read as follows:
       ``(2) In this section:
       ``(A) The term `agency' has the meaning given the term 
     `department or agency' in section 4211(5) of this title.
       ``(B) The term `qualified covered veteran' means a veteran 
     described in section 4212(a)(3) of this title.''.
       (B) Clause (i) of section 4214(e)(2)(B) is amended by 
     striking ``of the Vietnam era''.
       (C) Section 4214(g) is amended by striking ``qualified'' 
     the first place it occurs and all that follows through 
     ``era'' the first place it occurs and inserting ``qualified 
     covered veterans''.

     SEC. 3. PERFORMANCE INCENTIVE AWARDS FOR QUALITY VETERANS 
                   EMPLOYMENT, TRAINING, AND PLACEMENT SERVICES.

       (a) Performance Incentive Awards for Quality Employment, 
     Training, and Placement Services.--
       (1) In general.--Chapter 41 is amended by adding at the end 
     the following new section:

     ``Sec. 4112. Performance incentive awards for quality 
       employment, training, and placement services

       ``(a) Program of Performance Incentive Awards.--(1) The 
     Secretary shall carry out a program, consistent with the 
     provisions of this section, of performance incentive awards 
     to States to encourage the improvement and modernization of 
     employment, training, and placement services provided under 
     this chapter. The Secretary shall carry out the program 
     through the Assistant Secretary of Labor for Veterans' 
     Employment and Training.
       ``(2) The Secretary shall make performance incentive awards 
     for each program year, beginning with the program year that 
     begins in fiscal year 2004, with respect to services provided 
     under this chapter during the preceding program year.
       ``(b) Criteria for Eligibility for Awards.--The Secretary 
     shall establish criteria for eligibility for performance 
     incentive awards for purposes of this section in consultation 
     with representatives of States, political subdivisions of 
     States, and other providers of employment, training, and 
     placement services under the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 
     consistent with the performance measures established under 
     section 4102A(b)(7) of this title.
       ``(c) Determination of Amount of Award.--(1) The Secretary 
     shall determine the amount of performance incentive awards in 
     a State under this section by measuring the performance of 
     the State in providing employment, training, and placement 
     services furnished veterans and eligible persons in each 
     State through employment service delivery systems, through 
     disabled veterans' outreach program specialists, and through 
     local veterans' employment representatives during the 
     previous program year based on the measures of performance 
     established under section 4102A(b)(7) of this title.
       ``(2) In determining the amount of awards under paragraph 
     (1), the Secretary shall--
       ``(A) provide greater amounts to those States which the 
     Secretary determines furnished, during the preceding fiscal 
     year, the highest quality employment, training, and placement 
     services based on measures of performance;
       ``(B) provide awards to those States that have made 
     significant improvements in the delivery of such services, as 
     determined by the Secretary, but do not meet the criteria 
     under subparagraph (A); and
       ``(C) consider the applicable annual unemployment data for 
     the State and other factors, such as prevailing economic 
     conditions, that affect performance of individuals providing 
     employment, training, and placement services in the State.
       ``(d) Use of Award.--Amounts received by a State under this 
     section may be used--
       ``(1) to hire additional State veterans employment and 
     training staff; or
       ``(2) for such other purposes related to the provision of 
     employment, placement, and training services as the Secretary 
     may approve for such services furnished under this chapter to 
     veterans and eligible persons.
       ``(e) Relationship of Award to Grant Amounts or Other 
     Compensation.--A performance incentive award under this 
     section is in addition to amounts made available to a State 
     under section 4102A(b)(5) of this title.
       ``(f) Availability for Obligation.--Amounts received in a 
     performance incentive award under this section may be 
     obligated by the State during the program year in which the 
     award was received and the subsequent program year.
       ``(g) Appropriations.--The Secretary shall carry out the 
     program under this section from amounts appropriated pursuant 
     to the authorization under section 4106(b)(2) of this title. 
     Such amounts shall only be available to carry out the program 
     under this section.''.
       (2) Clerical amendment.--The table of sections at the 
     beginning of chapter 41 is amended by adding at the end the 
     following new item:

``4112. Performance incentive awards for quality employment, training, 
              and placement services.''.
       (b) Authorization of Appropriations.--Section 4106(b) is 
     amended--
       (1) by inserting ``(1)'' after ``(b)''; and
       (2) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
       ``(2) In addition to amounts authorized to be appropriated 
     under paragraph (1), there are authorized to be appropriated 
     to the Secretary to carry out the program of performance 
     incentive awards under section 4112 of this title the 
     following:
       ``(A) For the program year beginning during fiscal year 
     2004, $10,000,000.
       ``(B) For the program year beginning during fiscal year 
     2005, $25,000,000.
       ``(C) For the program year beginning during fiscal year 
     2006, $50,000,000.
       ``(D) For the program year beginning during fiscal year 
     2007, $75,000,000.
       ``(E) For the program year beginning during fiscal year 
     2008, $100,000,000.
       ``(F) For the program year beginning during fiscal year 
     2009 and each subsequent fiscal year, such sums as are 
     necessary.''.

     SEC. 4. REFINEMENT OF JOB TRAINING AND PLACEMENT FUNCTIONS OF 
                   THE DEPARTMENT.

       (a) Revision of Department Level Senior Officials and 
     Functions.--
       (1) In general.--Sections 4102A and 4103 are amended to 
     read as follows:

     ``Sec. 4102A. Assistant Secretary of Labor for Veterans' 
       Employment and Training; program functions; Regional 
       Administrators

       ``(a) Establishment of Position of Assistant Secretary of 
     Labor for Veterans' Employment and Training.--(1) There is 
     established within the Department of Labor an Assistant 
     Secretary of Labor for Veterans' Employment and Training, 
     appointed by the President by and with the advice and consent 
     of the Senate, who shall formulate and implement all 
     departmental policies and procedures to carry out (A) the 
     purposes of this chapter, chapter 42, and chapter 43 of this 
     title, and (B) all other Department of Labor employment, 
     unemployment, and training programs to the extent they affect 
     veterans. The Assistant Secretary of Labor for Veterans' 
     Employment and Training shall be a veteran.
       ``(2) The employees of the Department of Labor 
     administering chapter 43 of this title shall

[[Page H2619]]

     be administratively and functionally responsible to the 
     Assistant Secretary of Labor for Veterans' Employment and 
     Training.
       ``(3)(A) There shall be within the Department of Labor a 
     Deputy Assistant Secretary of Labor for Veterans' Employment 
     and Training. The Deputy Assistant Secretary shall perform 
     such functions as the Assistant Secretary of Labor for 
     Veterans' Employment and Training prescribes. The Deputy 
     Assistant Secretary shall be a veteran.
       ``(B) No individual may be appointed as a Deputy Assistant 
     Secretary of Labor for Veterans' Employment and Training 
     unless the individual has at least five years of continuous 
     service in the Federal civil service in the executive branch 
     immediately preceding appointment as the Deputy Assistant 
     Secretary. For purposes of determining such continuous 
     service of an individual, there shall be excluded any service 
     by the individual in a position--
       ``(i) of a confidential, policy-determining, policy-making, 
     or policy-advocating character;
       ``(ii) in which the individual served as a noncareer 
     appointee in the Senior Executive Service, as such term is 
     defined in section 3132(a)(7) of title 5; or
       ``(iii) to which the individual was appointed by the 
     President.
       ``(b) Program Functions.--The Secretary shall carry out the 
     following functions:
       ``(1) Except as expressly provided otherwise, carry out all 
     provisions of this chapter and chapter 43 of this title 
     through the Assistant Secretary of Labor for Veterans' 
     Employment and Training and administer through such Assistant 
     Secretary all programs under the jurisdiction of the 
     Secretary for the provision of employment and training 
     services designed to meet the needs of all veterans and 
     persons eligible for services furnished under this chapter.
       ``(2) In order to make maximum use of available resources 
     in meeting such needs, encourage all such programs, and all 
     grantees and contractors under such programs to enter into 
     cooperative arrangements with private industry and business 
     concerns (including small business concerns owned by veterans 
     or disabled veterans), educational institutions, trade 
     associations, and labor unions.
       ``(3) Ensure that maximum effectiveness and efficiency are 
     achieved in providing services and assistance to eligible 
     veterans under all such programs by coordinating and 
     consulting with the Secretary of Veterans Affairs with 
     respect to (A) programs conducted under other provisions of 
     this title, with particular emphasis on coordination of such 
     programs with readjustment counseling activities carried out 
     under section 1712A of this title, apprenticeship or other 
     on-the-job training programs carried out under section 3687 
     of this title, and rehabilitation and training activities 
     carried out under chapter 31 of this title and (B) 
     determinations covering veteran population in a State.
       ``(4) Ensure that employment, training, and placement 
     activities are carried out in coordination and cooperation 
     with appropriate State public employment service officials.
       ``(5) Subject to subsection (c), make available for use in 
     each State by grant or contract such funds as may be 
     necessary to support--
       ``(A) disabled veterans' outreach program specialists 
     appointed under section 4103A(a)(1) of this title,
       ``(B) local veterans' employment representatives assigned 
     under section 4104(b) of this title, and
       ``(C) the reasonable expenses of such specialists and 
     representatives described in subparagraphs (A) and (B), 
     respectively, for training, travel, supplies, and other 
     business expenses, including travel expenses and per diem for 
     attendance at the National Veterans' Employment and Training 
     Services Institute established under section 4109 of this 
     title.
       ``(6) Monitor and supervise on a continuing basis the 
     distribution and use of funds provided for use in the States 
     under paragraph (5).
       ``(7) Establish, and update as appropriate, a comprehensive 
     performance accountability system (as described in subsection 
     (f)) and carry out annual performance reviews of veterans 
     employment, training, and placement services provided through 
     employment service delivery systems, through disabled 
     veterans' outreach program specialists, and through local 
     veterans' employment representatives in States receiving 
     grants, contracts, or awards under this chapter.
       ``(c) Conditions for Receipt of Funds.--(1) The 
     distribution and use of funds under subsection (b)(5) in 
     order to carry out sections 4103A(a) and 4104(a) of this 
     title shall be subject to the continuing supervision and 
     monitoring of the Secretary and shall not be governed by the 
     provisions of any other law, or any regulations prescribed 
     thereunder, that are inconsistent with this section or 
     section 4103A or 4104 of this title.
       ``(2)(A) A State shall submit to the Secretary an 
     application for a grant or contract under subsection (b)(5). 
     The application shall contain the following information:
       ``(i) A plan that describes the manner in which the State 
     shall furnish employment, training, and placement services 
     required under this chapter for the program year, including a 
     description of--
       ``(I) duties assigned by the State to disabled veterans' 
     outreach program specialists and local veterans' employment 
     representatives consistent with the requirements of sections 
     4103A and 4104 of this title; and
       ``(II) the manner in which such specialists and 
     representatives are integrated in the employment service 
     delivery systems in the State.
       ``(ii) The veteran population to be served.
       ``(iii) Such additional information as the Secretary may 
     require to make a determination with respect to awarding a 
     grant or contract to the State.
       ``(B)(i) Subject to the succeeding provisions of this 
     subparagraph, of the amount available under subsection (b)(5) 
     for a fiscal year, the Secretary shall make available to each 
     State with an application approved by the Secretary an amount 
     of funding in proportion to the number of veterans seeking 
     employment using such criteria as the Secretary may establish 
     in regulation, including civilian labor force and 
     unemployment data, for the State on an annual basis. The 
     proportion of funding shall reflect the ratio of--
       ``(I) the total number of veterans residing in the State 
     that are seeking employment; to
       ``(II) the total number of veterans seeking employment in 
     all States.
       ``(ii) The Secretary shall phase in over the three fiscal-
     year period that begins on October 1, 2002, the manner in 
     which amounts are made available to States under subsection 
     (b)(5) and this subsection, as amended by the Jobs for 
     Veterans Act.
       ``(iii) In carrying out this paragraph, the Secretary may 
     establish minimum funding levels and hold-harmless criteria 
     for States.
       ``(3)(A) As a condition of a grant or contract under this 
     section for a program year, in the case of a State that the 
     Secretary determines has an entered-employment rate for 
     veterans that is deficient for the preceding program year, 
     the State shall develop and implement a corrective action 
     plan to improve that rate for veterans in the State. The 
     State shall submit the corrective action plan to the 
     Secretary.
       ``(B) To carry out subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall 
     establish in regulations a uniform national threshold 
     entered-employment rate for veterans for a program year by 
     which determinations of deficiency may be made under 
     subparagraph (A).
       ``(C) In making a determination with respect to a 
     deficiency under subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall take 
     into account the applicable annual unemployment data for the 
     State and consider other factors, such as prevailing economic 
     conditions, that affect performance of individuals providing 
     employment, training, and placement services in the State.
       ``(4) In determining the terms and conditions of a grant or 
     contract under which funds are made available to a State in 
     order to carry out section 4103A or 4104 of this title, the 
     Secretary shall take into account--
       ``(A) the results of reviews, carried out pursuant to 
     subsection (b)(7), of the performance of the employment, 
     training, and placement service delivery system in the State, 
     and
       ``(B) the monitoring carried out under this section.
       ``(5) Each grant or contract by which funds are made 
     available to a State shall contain a provision requiring the 
     recipient of the funds--
       ``(A) to comply with the provisions of this chapter; and
       ``(B) on an annual basis, to notify to Secretary of, and 
     provide supporting rationale for, each nonveteran who is 
     employed as a disabled veterans' outreach program specialist 
     and local veterans' employment representative for a period in 
     excess of 6 months.
       ``(6) Each State shall coordinate employment, training, and 
     placement services furnished to veterans and eligible persons 
     under this chapter with such services furnished with respect 
     to such veterans and persons under the Workforce Investment 
     Act of 1998 and the Wagner-Peyser Act.
       ``(d) Participation in Other Federally Funded Job Training 
     Programs.--The Assistant Secretary of Labor for Veterans' 
     Employment and Training shall promote and monitor 
     participation of qualified veterans and eligible persons in 
     employment and training opportunities under title I of the 
     Workforce Investment Act of 1998 and other federally funded 
     employment and training programs.
       ``(e) Regional Administrators.--(1) The Secretary shall 
     assign to each region for which the Secretary operates a 
     regional office a representative of the Veterans' Employment 
     and Training Service to serve as the Regional Administrator 
     for Veterans' Employment and Training in such region. A 
     person may not be assigned after October 9, 1996, as such a 
     Regional Administrator unless the person is a veteran.
       ``(2) Each such Regional Administrator shall carry out such 
     duties as the Secretary may require to promote veterans 
     employment and reemployment within the region that the 
     Administrator serves.
       ``(f) Establishment of Performance Standards and Outcomes 
     Measures.--(1) By not later than 3 months after the date of 
     the enactment of this section, the Assistant Secretary of 
     Labor for Veterans' Employment and Training shall establish 
     and implement a comprehensive performance accountability 
     system to measure the performance of employment service 
     delivery systems, disabled veterans' outreach program 
     specialists, and local veterans' employment 
     representatives providing employment, training, and 
     placement services under this chapter in a State to 
     provide accountability of that State to the Secretary for 
     purposes of subsection (c).
       ``(2) Such standards and measures shall--
       ``(A) be consistent with State performance measures 
     applicable under section 136(b) of the Workforce Investment 
     Act of 1998; and
       ``(B) be appropriately weighted to provide special 
     consideration for placement of (i) veterans requiring 
     intensive services (as defined in section 4101(9) of this 
     title), such as special disabled veterans and disabled 
     veterans, and (ii) veterans who enroll in readjustment 
     counseling under section 1712A of this title.

     ``Sec. 4103. Directors and Assistant Directors for Veterans' 
       Employment and Training; additional Federal personnel

       ``(a) Directors and Assistant Directors.--(1) The Secretary 
     shall assign to each State a representative of the Veterans' 
     Employment and Training Service to serve as the Director for 
     Veterans' Employment and Training, and shall assign full-time 
     Federal clerical or other support personnel to each such 
     Director.

[[Page H2620]]

       ``(2) Full-time Federal clerical or other support personnel 
     assigned to Directors for Veterans' Employment and Training 
     shall be appointed in accordance with the provisions of title 
     5 governing appointments in the competitive service and shall 
     be paid in accordance with the provisions of chapter 51 and 
     subchapter III of chapter 53 of title 5.
       ``(b) Additional Federal Personnel.--The Secretary may also 
     assign as supervisory personnel such representatives of the 
     Veterans' Employment and Training Service as the Secretary 
     determines appropriate to carry out the employment, training, 
     and placement services required under this chapter, including 
     Assistant Directors for Veterans' Employment and Training.''.
       (2) Clerical amendments.--The items relating to sections 
     4102A and 4103, respectively, in the table of sections at the 
     beginning of chapter 41 are amended to read as follows:

``4102A. Assistant Secretary of Labor for Veterans' Employment and 
              Training; program functions; Regional Administrators.
``4103. Directors and Assistant Directors for Veterans' Employment and 
              Training; additional Federal personnel.''.

       (3) Conforming amendment relating to performance 
     standards.--(A)(i) Section 4104A is repealed.
       (ii) The table of sections at the beginning of chapter 41 
     is amended by striking the item relating to section 4104A.
       (B) Section 4107(b) is amended by striking ``The Secretary 
     shall establish definitive performance standards'' and 
     inserting ``The Secretary shall apply performance standards 
     established under section 4102A(f) of this title''.
       (4) Effective date.--The amendments made by this subsection 
     shall take effect on December 1, 2002, and shall apply to 
     appointments made on or after that date.
       (b) Revision of Statutorily Defined Duties of Disabled 
     Veterans' Outreach Program Specialists and Local Veterans' 
     Employment Representatives.--
       (1) Disabled veterans' outreach program specialists.--
     Section 4103A is amended by striking all after the heading 
     and inserting the following:
       ``(a) Requirement for Employment by States of a Sufficient 
     Number of Specialists.--(1) Subject to approval by the 
     Secretary, a State shall employ such full- or part-time 
     disabled veterans' outreach program specialists as the State 
     determines appropriate and efficient to carry out intensive 
     services under this chapter to meet the employment needs of 
     eligible veterans with the following priority in the 
     provision of services:
       ``(A) Special disabled veterans.
       ``(B) Other disabled veterans.
       ``(C) Other eligible veterans in accordance with priorities 
     determined by the Secretary taking into account applicable 
     rates of unemployment and the employment emphases set forth 
     in chapter 42 of this title.
       ``(2) In the provision of services in accordance with this 
     subsection, maximum emphasis in meeting the employment needs 
     of veterans shall be placed on assisting economically or 
     educationally disadvantaged veterans.
       ``(b) Requirement for Qualified Veterans.--A State shall, 
     to the maximum extent practicable, employ qualified veterans 
     to carry out the services referred to in subsection (a). 
     Preference shall be given in the appointment of such 
     specialists to qualified disabled veterans.''.
       (2) Local veterans' employment representatives.--Section 
     4104 is amended by striking all after the heading and 
     inserting the following:
       ``(a) Requirement for Employment by States of a Sufficient 
     Number of Representatives.--Subject to approval by the 
     Secretary, a State shall employ such full- and part-time 
     local veterans' employment representatives as the State 
     determines appropriate and efficient to carry out employment, 
     training, and placement services under this chapter.
       ``(b) Principal Duties.--As principal duties, local 
     veterans' employment representatives shall--
       ``(1) conduct outreach to employers in the area to assist 
     veterans in gaining employment, including conducting seminars 
     for employers and, in conjunction with employers, conducting 
     job search workshops and establishing job search groups; and
       ``(2) facilitate employment, training, and placement 
     services furnished to veterans in a State under the 
     applicable State employment service delivery systems.
       ``(c) Preference for Qualified Veterans.--A State shall, to 
     the maximum extent practicable, employ qualified veterans to 
     carry out the services referred to in subsection (a).
       ``(d) Reporting.--Each local veterans' employment 
     representative shall be administratively responsible to the 
     manager of the employment service delivery system and shall 
     provide reports, not less frequently than quarterly, to the 
     manager of such office and to the Director for Veterans' 
     Employment and Training for the State regarding compliance 
     with Federal law and regulations with respect to special 
     services and priorities for eligible veterans and eligible 
     persons.''.
       (3) Effective date.--The amendments made by this subsection 
     shall take effect on December 1, 2002, and shall apply to 
     appointments made on or after that date.
       (c) Requirement To Promptly Establish One-Stop Employment 
     Services.--By not later than 18 months after the date of the 
     enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Labor shall provide 
     one-stop services and assistance to covered persons 
     electronically by means of the Internet, as defined in 
     section 231(e)(3) of the Communications Act of 1934, and such 
     other electronic means to enhance the delivery of such 
     services and assistance.
       (d) Requirement for Budget Line Item for Training Services 
     Institute.--
       (1) In general.--The last sentence of section 4106(a) is 
     amended to read as follows: ``Each budget submission with 
     respect to such funds shall include a separate listing of the 
     amount for the National Veterans' Employment and Training 
     Services Institute together with information demonstrating 
     the compliance of such budget submission with the funding 
     requirements specified in the preceding sentence.''.
       (2) Effective date.--The amendment made by paragraph (1) 
     shall take effect on the date of the enactment of this Act, 
     and apply to budget submissions for fiscal year 2004 and each 
     subsequent fiscal year.
       (e) Conforming Amendments.--(1) Section 4107(c)(5) is 
     amended by striking ``(including the need'' and all that 
     follows through ``representatives)''.
       (2) Section 3117(a)(2)(B) is amended to read as follows:
       ``(B) utilization of employment, training, and placement 
     services under chapter 41 of this title; and''.

     SEC. 5. ADDITIONAL IMPROVEMENTS IN VETERANS EMPLOYMENT AND 
                   TRAINING SERVICES.

       (a) Inclusion of Intensive Services.--
       (1) In general.--(A) Section 4101 is amended by adding at 
     the end the following new paragraph:
       ``(9) The term `intensive services' means local employment 
     and training services of the type described in section 
     134(d)(3) of the Workforce Investment Act of 1998.''.
       (B) Section 4102 is amended by striking ``job and job 
     training counseling service program,'' and inserting ``job 
     and job training intensive services program,''.
       (C) Section 4106(a) is amended by striking ``proper 
     counseling'' and inserting ``proper intensive services''.
       (D) Section 4107(a) is amended by striking ``employment 
     counseling services'' and inserting ``intensive services''.
       (E) Section 4107(c)(1) is amended by striking ``the number 
     counseled'' and inserting ``the number who received intensive 
     services''.
       (F) Section 4109(a) is amended by striking ``counseling,'' 
     each place it appears and inserting ``intensive services,''.
       (2) Effective date.--The amendments made by paragraph (1) 
     shall take effect on the date of the enactment of this Act.
       (b) Additional VETS Duty To Implement Transitions to 
     Civilian Careers.--
       (1) In general.--(A) Section 4102 is amended by striking 
     the period and inserting ``, including programs carried out 
     by the Veterans' Employment and Training Service to implement 
     all efforts to ease the transition of servicemembers to 
     civilian careers that are consistent with, or an outgrowth 
     of, the military experience of the servicemembers.''.
       (B) Such section is further amended by striking ``and 
     veterans of the Vietnam era'' and inserting ``and veterans 
     who served on active duty during a war or in a campaign or 
     expedition for which a campaign badge has been authorized''.
       (2) Effective date.--The amendments made by paragraph (1) 
     shall take effect on the date of the enactment of this Act.
       (c) Modernization of Employment Service Delivery Points To 
     Include Technological Innovations.--
       (1) In general.--Section 4101(7) is amended to read as 
     follows:
       ``(7) The term `employment service delivery system' means a 
     service delivery system at which or through which labor 
     exchange services, including employment, training, and 
     placement services, are offered in accordance with the 
     Wagner-Peyser Act.''.
       (2) Effective date.--The amendments made by paragraph (1) 
     shall take effect on the date of the enactment of this Act.
       (d) Increase in Accuracy of Reporting Services Furnished to 
     Veterans.--
       (1) In general.--(A) Section 4107(c)(1) is amended--
       (i) by striking ``veterans of the Vietnam era,''; and
       (ii) by striking ``and eligible persons who registered for 
     assistance with'' and inserting ``eligible persons, recently 
     separated veterans (as defined in section 4211(6) of this 
     title), and servicemembers transitioning to civilian careers 
     who registered for assistance with, or who are identified as 
     veterans by,''.
       (B) Section 4107(c)(2) is amended--
       (i) by striking ``the job placement rate'' the first place 
     it appears and inserting ``the rate of entered employment (as 
     determined in a manner consistent with State performance 
     measures applicable under section 136(b) of the Workforce 
     Investment Act of 1998)''; and
       (ii) by striking ``the job placement rate'' the second 
     place it appears and inserting ``such rate of entered 
     employment (as so determined)''.
       (C) Section 4107(c)(4) is amended by striking ``sections 
     4103A and 4104'' and inserting ``section 4212(d)''.
       (D) Section 4107(c) is amended--
       (i) by striking ``and'' at the end of paragraph (4);
       (ii) by striking the period at the end of paragraph (5) and 
     inserting ``; and''; and
       (iii) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
       ``(6) a report on the operation during the preceding 
     program year of the program of performance incentive awards 
     for quality employment services under section 4112 of this 
     title, including an analysis of the amount of incentives 
     distributed to each State and the rationale for such 
     distribution.''.
       (E) Section 4107(b), as amended by section 4(a)(3)(B), is 
     further amended by striking the second sentence and inserting 
     the following: ``Not later than February 1 of each year, the 
     Secretary shall report to the Committees on Veterans' Affairs 
     of the Senate and the House of Representatives on the 
     performance of States

[[Page H2621]]

     and organizations and entities carrying out employment, 
     training, and placement services under this chapter, as 
     measured under subsection (b)(7) of section 4102A of this 
     title. In the case of a State that the Secretary determines 
     has not met the minimum standard of performance (established 
     by the Secretary under subsection (f) of such section), the 
     Secretary shall include an analysis of the extent and reasons 
     for the State's failure to meet that minimum standard, 
     together with the State's plan for corrective action during 
     the succeeding year.''.
       (2) Effective date.--The amendments made by paragraph (1) 
     shall apply to reports for program years beginning on or 
     after July 1, 2002.
       (e) Clarification of Authority of NVETSI To Provide 
     Training for Personnel of Other Departments and Agencies.--
     Section 4109 is amended by adding at the end the following 
     new subsection:
       ``(c)(1) Nothing in this section shall be construed as 
     preventing the Institute to enter into contracts or 
     agreements with departments or agencies of the United States 
     or of a State, or with other organizations, to carry out 
     training of personnel of such departments, agencies, or 
     organizations in the provision of services referred to in 
     subsection (a).
       ``(2) All proceeds collected by the Institute under a 
     contract or agreement referred to in paragraph (1) shall be 
     applied to the applicable appropriation.''.

     SEC. 6. COMMITTEE TO RAISE EMPLOYER AWARENESS OF SKILLS OF 
                   VETERANS AND BENEFITS OF HIRING VETERANS.

       (a) Establishment of Committee.--There is established 
     within the Department of Labor a committee to be known as the 
     President's National Hire Veterans Committee (hereinafter in 
     this section referred to as the ``Committee'').
       (b) Duties.--The Committee shall establish and carry out a 
     national program to do the following:
       (1) To furnish information to employers with respect to the 
     training and skills of veterans and disabled veterans, and 
     the advantages afforded employers by hiring veterans with 
     such training and skills.
       (2) To facilitate employment of veterans and disabled 
     veterans through participation in America's Career Kit 
     national labor exchange, and other means.
       (c) Membership.--(1) The Secretary of Labor shall appoint 
     15 individuals to serve as members of the Committee, of whom 
     one shall be appointed from among representatives nominated 
     by each organization described in subparagraph (A) and of 
     whom eight shall be appointed from among representatives 
     nominated by organizations described in subparagraph (B).
       (A) Organizations described in this subparagraph are the 
     following:
       (i) The Ad Council.
       (ii) The National Committee for Employer Support of the 
     Guard and Reserve.
       (iii) Veterans' service organizations that have a national 
     employment program.
       (iv) State employment security agencies.
       (v) One-stop career centers.
       (vi) State departments of veterans affairs.
       (vii) Military service organizations.
       (B) Organizations described in this subparagraph are such 
     businesses, small businesses, industries, companies in the 
     private sector that furnish placement services, civic groups, 
     workforce investment boards, and labor unions as the 
     Secretary of Labor determines appropriate.
       (2) The following shall be ex officio, nonvoting members of 
     the Committee:
       (A) The Secretary of Veterans Affairs.
       (B) The Secretary of Defense.
       (C) The Assistant Secretary of Labor for Veterans' 
     Employment and Training.
       (D) The Administrator of the Small Business Administration.
       (E) The Postmaster General.
       (F) The Director of the Office of Personnel Management.
       (3) A vacancy in the Committee shall be filled in the 
     manner in which the original appointment was made.
       (d) Administrative Matters.--(1) The Committee shall meet 
     not less frequently than once each calendar quarter.
       (2) The Secretary of Labor shall appoint the chairman of 
     the Committee.
       (3)(A) Members of the Committee shall serve without 
     compensation.
       (B) Members of the Committee shall be allowed reasonable 
     and necessary travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of 
     subsistence, at rates authorized for persons serving 
     intermittently in the Government service in accordance with 
     the provisions of subchapter I of chapter 57 of title 5 while 
     away from their homes or regular places of business in the 
     performance of the responsibilities of the Committee.
       (4) The Secretary of Labor shall provide staff and 
     administrative support to the Committee to assist it in 
     carrying out its duties under this section. The Secretary 
     shall assure positions on the staff of the Committee include 
     positions that are filled by individuals that are now, or 
     have ever been, employed as one of the following:
       (A) Staff of the Assistant Secretary of Labor for Veterans' 
     Employment and Training under section 4102A of title 38, 
     United States Code as in effect on the date of the enactment 
     of this Act.
       (B) Directors for Veterans' Employment and Training under 
     section 4103 of such title as in effect on such date.
       (C) Assistant Director for Veterans' Employment and 
     Training under such section as in effect on such date.
       (D) Disabled veterans' outreach program specialists under 
     section 4103A of such title as in effect on such date.
       (E) Local veterans' employment representatives under 
     section 4104 of such title as in effect on such date.
       (5) Upon request of the Committee, the head of any Federal 
     department or agency may detail, on a nonreimbursable basis, 
     any of the personnel of that department or agency to the 
     Committee to assist it in carrying out its duties.
       (6) The Committee may contract with and compensate 
     government and private agencies or persons to furnish 
     information to employers under subsection (b)(1) without 
     regard to section 3709 of the Revised Statutes (41 U.S.C. 5).
       (e) Report.--Not later than December 31, 2003, 2004, and 
     2005, the Secretary of Labor shall submit to Congress a 
     report on the activities of the Committee under this section 
     during the previous fiscal year, and shall include in such 
     report data with respect to placement and retention of 
     veterans in jobs attributable to the activities of the 
     Committee.
       (f) Termination.--The Committee shall terminate 60 days 
     after submitting the report that is due on December 31, 2005.
       (g) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized 
     to be appropriated to the Secretary of Labor from the 
     employment security administration account (established in 
     section 901 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1101)) in 
     the Unemployment Trust Fund $3,000,000 for each of fiscal 
     years 2003 through 2005 to carry out this section.

     SEC. 7. SENSE OF CONGRESS COMMENDING VETERANS AND MILITARY 
                   SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS.

       It is the sense of Congress that--
       (1) veterans and military service organizations are to be 
     commended for the continued assistance the organizations 
     provide veterans; and
       (2) veterans and military service organizations are 
     encouraged to provide job placement assistance to veterans 
     who are job-ready by making personal computers with access to 
     electronic job placement services and programs available to 
     veterans at local posts and through other means.

     SEC. 8. STUDY ON ECONOMIC BENEFITS TO THE UNITED STATES OF 
                   LONG-TERM SUSTAINED EMPLOYMENT OF VETERANS.

       (a) Study.--The Secretary of Labor shall enter into a 
     contract with an appropriate organization or entity to 
     conduct a study to quantify the economic benefit to the 
     United States attributable to the provision of employment and 
     training services under chapter 41 of title 38, United States 
     Code, in assisting veterans to attain long-term, sustained 
     employment. Such study shall include analyses on the impact 
     of such employment on Federal, State, and local tax generated 
     by reason of such employment, the contributions of such 
     employment on the domestic gross national product, and such 
     other indicators of the effect of such employment on the 
     economy of the United States.
       (b) Report.--A condition of the contract under subsection 
     (a) shall be that the organization submit to the Secretary of 
     Labor a report on the study conducted by the organization not 
     later than 18 months after the date on which that Secretary 
     enters into such contract.
       (c) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized 
     to be appropriated to the Secretary of Labor $1,000,000 to 
     carry out the provisions of this section, such sums to remain 
     available until expended.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from New 
Jersey (Mr. Smith) and the gentleman from Mississippi (Mr. Shows) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Smith).
  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may 
consume to the gentleman from Idaho (Mr. Simpson), the distinguished 
chairman of our Subcommittee on Benefits of the Committee on Veterans' 
Affairs.
  Mr. SIMPSON. Mr. Speaker, we all agree our veterans are a unique 
national resource. H.R. 4015 provides us the opportunity to approve 
legislation that helps them get jobs. That is the bottom line of this 
legislation.
  The Jobs for Veterans Act essentially creates a new Department of 
Labor delivery system for veterans' employment and training services in 
light of the Government Performance and Results Act, the new One-Stop 
Career Centers under the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 and the 
availability of self-service job assistance by way of the Internet.
  H.R. 4015 can be described in four words: Incentives, results, 
flexibility and accountability in the delivery of employment and 
training services for veterans through individual States and counties.
  The bill we are considering will (1) give the States more program 
delivery flexibility and a new performance incentive program, (2) 
create a 3-year phase in period for the new funding formula, (3) create 
a ``hold harmless'' provision for small States with respect to the 
funding formula, (4) clarify intent regarding the hiring of veterans 
for Disabled Veteran Outreach Specialists and Local Veterans 
Representatives, (5) create the President's National Hire Veterans 
Committee, and (6) create a one-stop, full-service job service office 
on the Internet for service members and veterans.

[[Page H2622]]

  The Subcommittee on Benefits of the Committee on Veterans' Affairs 
has been working on this veterans' employment legislation for 2 years 
now, and I applaud the hard work of the gentleman from New York (Mr. 
Quinn), the gentleman from California (Mr. Filner) and the gentleman 
from Arizona (Mr. Hayworth) on earlier versions of this bill. I also 
want to recognize the ranking member of the Subcommittee on Benefits of 
the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, the gentleman from Texas (Mr. 
Reyes), for his leadership on this issue, as well as the chairman and 
the ranking member of the full committee, the gentleman from New Jersey 
(Chairman Smith) and the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Evans) for their 
support.
  Mr. Speaker, with about 215,000 service members estimated to separate 
from the armed forces in fiscal year 2003, this bill is a win-win 
situation for both our veterans and the economy. I urge my colleagues 
to support H.R. 4015.
  Mr. SHOWS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, as an original cosponsor of H.R. 4015, I rise in strong 
support of this measure, the Jobs for Veterans Act. This important 
legislation will improve the delivery of job services to veterans and 
the percentage of veterans who are placed in meaningful employment.
  H.R. 4015 is a product of dedicated work by many people. In 
particular, I want to recognize and thank our chairman, the gentleman 
from New Jersey (Mr. Smith), the ranking Democrat member, the gentleman 
from Illinois (Mr. Evans), the gentleman from Idaho (Mr. Simpson), the 
gentleman from Texas (Mr. Reyes) and the gentleman from New York (Mr. 
Quinn) for their many contributions.
  For years, outdated provisions of law hampered the delivery of 
employment services to veterans. H.R. 4015, as amended, provides needed 
flexibility in providing job services to members. This new flexibility, 
combined with performance incentives and improved measures of 
performance provided by this legislation, will result in improved 
employment opportunities for our Nation's veterans.
  We have a national responsibility to assist our veterans in their 
efforts to find and maintain stable, permanent employment. I know 
firsthand that there are a lot of hard-working, caring people providing 
employment services to veterans. Every day, these dedicated people 
strive to fulfill our national commitment. They are the Disabled 
Veterans Outreach Program Specialists, the Local Veterans Employment 
Representatives, community-based nonprofits and veterans' service 
organizations. Many, in fact, are veterans themselves.
  I applaud the cooperative effort that has transpired among my 
colleagues, the veterans' community and the Secretary of Labor to 
evaluate the roles and functions of veterans' employment specialists. 
Changes in the number and responsibilities of these important positions 
must always be made very carefully and with consensus among the 
veterans and employment service communities.
  In this regard, I am pleased that the new funding formula 
contemplated in H.R. 4015 focuses on the number of job-seeking veterans 
in each State and each State's unemployment rate. This seems to be a 
good way to factor in the unique economic and labor conditions that 
might otherwise be overlooked.
  I believe it is important to provide incentives to States to improve 
employment services to veterans. This bill provides for financial 
incentives to both States which have high quality programs and those 
who show marked improvement. We have heard complaints that the current 
system does not recognize the achievements of States who work hard to 
place severely disadvantaged veterans, including disabled veterans, in 
quality employment. I hope these incentives will encourage such 
efforts.
  I want to stress that although the committee has introduced some 
flexibility in hiring non-veterans as Disabled Veterans Outreach 
Program Specialists and Local Employment Veterans Representatives, the 
committee expects those positions will ordinarily be held by veterans, 
including disabled veterans. In order to monitor the flexibility 
granted, States are required to report and provide supporting rationale 
to the Department of Labor whenever a non-veteran is employed as a DVOP 
or LVER for a period of more than 6 months.
  Mr. Speaker, it is my understanding that in some cases veterans have 
gone without services because no qualified veteran was available to 
serve as a DVOP on even a temporary basis while efforts were under way 
to recruit and train a qualified veteran. The flexibility in this bill 
is intended to assure that the needs of the veterans do not get unmet 
in such situations.
  The provision also provides some ability to utilize the services of 
non-veterans. For example, due to a geographically dispersed veterans' 
population in a large State, it may not be feasible to hire veterans 
for limited hours of service.
  Mr. Speaker, H.R. 4015 will result in improved service to our 
Nation's unemployed and underemployed veterans. I urge all Members to 
support it.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I 
may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I want to thank our distinguished chairman for his 
leadership in authoring this bill and working it through the committee 
hearings and markup, and the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Reyes) as well, 
the ranking member, and the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Evans), the 
ranking member of the full committee.
  It has been, again, an effort made by so many. I want to thank a few 
other people on the staff again. Pat Ryan and Kingston Smith, Jeannie 
McNally, Summer Larson, Darryl Kehrer, who has done yeoman's work on 
this, Paige McManus, Devon Siebert, Jerry Tan, Mary McDermott, Mary 
Ellen McCarthy and Beth Kilker.
  Again, so much has gone into this. The distinguished chairman talked 
about the 2-year effort, and that the previous chairman of the 
subcommittee worked on this as well. This bill, we hope, will be very 
seriously and quickly considered by the Senate side. This has to be 
enacted into law as soon as humanly possible. Again, I thank him for 
his leadership.


                             General Leave

  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. 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. 4015, as 
amended.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from New Jersey?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for 
time, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. SHOWS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from 
California (Ms. Millender-McDonald.)

                              {time}  1445

  Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD. Mr. Speaker, as we embark upon this Memorial 
Day weekend and pay homage to our veterans, I rise in strong support of 
H.R. 4015, the Jobs for Veterans Act.
  I appreciate the commitment and diligent work of the Committee on 
Veterans' Affairs and the distinguished gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. 
Smith) and the distinguished gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Evans) and 
all others who have partaken of this piece of legislation on behalf of 
our Nation's veterans.
  It is a familiar principle among veterans in our armed services that 
we do not leave our wounded behind. Jobless and homeless veterans are 
our Nation's wounded, and we cannot afford to leave them without 
support. H.R. 4015 reflects the debt of gratitude we owe to those who 
have served our country with honor. It also signals our enduring 
commitment to the men and women in uniform who today defend our freedom 
throughout the world.
  Veterans represent a unique and invaluable human resource for 
American society and the economy. Service personnel leave the military 
knowing that they have made a vital contribution to our country. 
Veterans want to continue making meaningful contributions as they 
return to civilian life. However, in 21 States, fewer than 10 percent 
of veterans between the ages of 22 and 44 were placed in employment 
after seeking job search assistance from State service providers. 
During

[[Page H2623]]

2001, there was an average of 519 unemployed veterans; and in the same 
time period, 32 percent of unemployed veterans experienced 15 or more 
consecutive weeks of unemployment. This is unacceptable.
  Mr. Speaker, we have to do better. I urge everyone to support this 
legislation.
  Ms. CARSON of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank Chairman 
Simpson and Ranking member Reyes of the Benefits Subcommittee for their 
hard work to bring this bill to the floor of the House.
  This bill will allow the State of Indiana to tailor our veterans 
programs to provide the greatest benefit to the greatest number of 
veterans. These include eligible veterans who have served since the 
Vietnam War, including; Lebanon, Bosnia, Desert Storm, and Enduring 
Freedom.
  All 567,000 Indiana veterans and spouses of certain veterans will be 
eligible for priority of service for employment, training, and 
placement services in any job training program directly funded by the 
Department of Labor.
  It will also make eligible for federal contracts: disabled veterans; 
veterans who served on active duty during a war or in a campaign or 
expedition in which a campaign badge has been authorized; veterans who 
participated in military operation for which an Armed Services medal 
was awarded; or veterans discharged or released from military service 
within the past three years.
  It is important that those veterans who served their country and 
settled around the country, like my home state of Indiana, should not 
be penalized for their military service. In fact, it should be 
celebrated.
  This will allow the experience of these veterans to enrich Indiana 
and add to the quality of life for all Hoosiers
  All states would now have an incentive to make that extra for their 
veterans, like the effort these veterans have made for our country.
  Mr. Speaker, this legislation can only help the veterans in Indiana 
and around the country and urge all my colleagues to join in my 
support.
  Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Mr. Speaker, this bill on the floor today 
will significantly improve the lives of the veterans who have served us 
so honorably.
  H.R. 4015, the Jobs for Veterans Act, grants priority placement in 
certain job training programs for veterans and their spouses. Beginning 
with $10 million in FY 2004, this bill authorizes increasing amounts 
through FY 2008, and such sums as may be necessary in FY 2009 and 
succeeding years, for a new performance incentive awards program to 
encourage states to improve their employment, training, and placement 
programs for veterans. This incentive program will award the states 
that have the best record in helping veterans find work. The awards 
will take the form of new contracts for veterans employment programs.
  This bill also establishes the President's National Hire Veterans 
Committee to take actions to facilitate the employment of veterans and 
disabled veterans.
  Mr. REYES. Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman Smith, Democratic Ranking 
Member Evans, and the Chairman of our Subcommittee, Mike Simpson, for 
their work on H.R. 4015. This bill is the product of a lot of hard work 
by our present Benefits Subcommittee as well as its former Chairman, 
Jack Quinn, and Ranking Member Bob Filner.
  When enacted, this measure will result in increased and improved job 
placements for veterans who use the public labor exchange and receive 
assistance from Disabled Veterans Program Outreach and Local Veterans 
Employment Representatives.
  Mr. Speaker, during our hearing on this bill, I was particularly 
disturbed that March 2002, data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics 
(BLS) indicated a very high rate of unemployment for young male 
veterans, especially minority veterans. In March 2002, male veterans 
aged 20 to 24 had an unemployment rate of 26 percent compared to 12 
percent of all males. For African Americans, the rate was 54 percent 
and for Hispanic veterans, 30 percent. At this point in time, it is not 
clear if the data from March 2002, which is considerably worse than 
that reported during all of Fiscal Year 2001, is an anomaly or a trend. 
I expect the Department of Labor, under the provisions of this bill, to 
pay special attention to areas where minority veterans are 
disproportionately represented in the unemployed labor force. I hope 
that by providing more flexibility to the States, intensive services 
will be directed to such veterans.
  During the hearing on the bill, some concerns were raised concerning 
increased flexibility to the states in permitting nonveterans to be 
employed as Disabled Veterans Outreach Program Specialists (DVOP) and 
Local Veterans Employment Representatives (LVER). I requested that 
certain changes be made in the bill and I appreciate Chairman Simpson's 
cooperation in strengthening this section of the bill.
  In order to emphasize the Committee's expectation that these 
positions ordinarily be filled by veterans, the language in the bill 
now indicates that to ``the maximum extent practicable'', veterans be 
employed in these positions. Since the bill allows for part time as 
well as full time employees in these positions, the States may find 
circumstances under which a qualified veteran may not be available to 
provide services most effectively or efficiently. In order to assure 
compliance with the Committee's intention that permanent positions 
ordinarily be filled by veterans, the States are required to submit 
information and supporting rationale to the Secretary whenever 
nonveterans are employed in these positions for more than six months. I 
intend to monitor this provision closely.
  I believe that H.R. 4015 will provide the states with the flexibility 
that they need in order to effectively meet the needs of veterans in 
the 21st century. I urge all Members to support this bill.
  Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 4015, 
the Jobs for Veterans Act, and I commend the distinguished Chairman of 
the Veterans Affairs Committee, the gentleman from New Jersey, Mr. 
Smith.
  This legislation provides priority of service to veterans and spouses 
of certain veterans for the receipt of employment, training, and 
placement services in any job training program directly funded, in 
whole or in party by the Department of Labor. This bill also provides, 
with respect to Federal contracts and subcontracts in the amount of 
$100,000 or more, the contractor to take affirmative action to employ 
and advance in employment qualified veterans, including listing 
employment openings immediately through the appropriate employment 
delivery system.
  This measure also changes ``Veterans Readjustment Authority (VRA)'' 
to ``Veterans Recruitment Authority'' and changes eligibility for such 
appointment from Vietnam ERA and post-Vietnam ERA veterans to qualified 
covered veterans within the 10-year period that begins on the date of 
the veterans' last discharge; the 10-year period will not apply to a 
veteran with a service-connected disability of 30 percent or more.
  Additionally, the bill requires the Secretary to carry out a program 
of performance incentive cash awards to States to encourage the 
improvement and modernization of employment, training and placement 
services to veterans; such program begins with the program year that 
begins in FY 2004, with respect to services provided during the 
preceding program year.
  Funding for this incentive program is authorized to be appropriated 
for the Secretary to carry out a program of performance incentive 
awards of $10 million for the program year beginning in FY 2004 (for 
performance in FY 2003); $25 million for the program year beginning in 
FY 2005; $50 million for the program year beginning in FY 2006; $75 
million for the program year beginning in FY 2007; and $100 million for 
the program year beginning in FY 2008.
  This bill also makes a number of adjustments to the manner in which 
the Secretary of the VA furnishes veterans job training funds to the 
States. The primary goal of the change is to fund States in proportion 
to the level of veterans who are seeking employment with it. This 
change will be phased in over a three year period beginning in October 
2002.
  Finally, this measure directs the VA to develop and implement 
comprehensive accountability system to measure the performance of 
training programs within the States.
  Mr. Speaker, like the other veterans measures being considered by the 
House today, this bill is appropriately paying tribute to the service 
and sacrifice for our Nation's veterans, by offering improvements to 
existing job training programs. Accordingly, I urge my colleagues to 
give H.R. 4015 their unqualified support.
  Mr. SHOWS. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I 
yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. LaTourette). The question is on the 
motion offered by the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Smith) that the 
House suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 4015, as amended.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds of 
those present have voted in the affirmative.
  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and 
nays.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the 
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be 
postponed.

[[Page H2624]]



                          ____________________