[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 135 (Tuesday, October 15, 2002)]
[Senate]
[Pages S10476-S10479]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
JOBS FOR VETERANS ACT
Mr. DASCHLE. I ask unanimous consent that the Veterans Affairs
Committee be discharged from further consideration of H.R. 4015, and
the Senate proceed to its immediate consideration.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
The clerk will report the bill by title.
The legislative clerk read as follows:
A bill (H.R. 4015) to amend title 38, of the United States
Code, to revise and improve employment, training and
placement services furnished to veterans, and for other
purposes.
There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the bill.
Mr. ROCKEFELLER. Mr. President, as Chairman of the Committee on
Veterans' Affairs, I am pleased the Senate supports H.R. 4015, the
proposed ``Jobs for Veterans Act,'' as modified by a Manager's
Amendment which reflects a final compromise developed by the House and
Senate Veterans' Affairs Committees. This legislation would improve the
employment, training and placement services furnished to the men and
women who have served our Nation.
At the conclusion of World War II, Congress made job placement for
veterans a national priority. Legislation passed then created special
employment services for returning troops, establishing hiring
priorities for veterans in federal employment and giving them early
notice of jobs in the private sector.
Later, Congress provided grants to states to hire experts with
experience in placing veterans into civilian jobs. These experts,
called Local Veterans' Employment Representatives and Disabled Veterans
Outreach Program Specialists, serve veterans through state employment
service offices and one-stop centers. Currently, the funding to hire
these specialists is provided by a rigid formula that affords states
little flexibility in allocating personnel for veterans' employment
services.
The Jobs for Veterans Act would change this formula, and would remove
restrictions on how states can employ these experts in veterans'
employment. I expect that these changes will enable the Department of
Labor to rise above the criticism the veterans employment programs have
recently drawn. These necessary changes would allow states to tailor
their employment services to better serve our Nation's veterans.
Mr. President, the ``Jobs for Veterans Act'' would additionally
restore priority of service to veterans, and spouses of certain
veterans, for employment, training and placement and extend it to any
job training program administered by the Department of Labor.
Additionally, the Secretary of Labor would be authorized to set
priorities among eligible veterans and spouses by taking into account
their special needs.
H.R. 4015 would also modify the threshold that determines when
Federal contractors and subcontractors must take affirmative action to
employ--and to advance in employment--qualified veterans, including
immediately listing employment openings for such contracts. This
modified threshhold keeps pace with inflation, and provides the Office
of Contract Compliance with a manageable amount of contracts to oversee
and assure that contractors are meeting their obligations.
This legislation would also provide special financial and
nonfinancial incentives to state employees to encourage them to develop
improved and modern employment services for veterans. The awards would
be administered through the states, based on criteria established by
the Secretary of Labor in consultation with the states.
In some states, certain economic obstacles may create serious
challenges to finding appropriate job placements for veterans. The
``Jobs for Veterans Act'' would allow the Secretary of Labor to give
technical assistance to states that might need help in finding
solutions, and would mandate that the state develop and implement a
corrective plan to be approved by the Secretary.
As we ask the young men and women of this Nation to prepare
themselves to take up arms in its defense, we must ensure that we will
be able to help them find productive careers upon their return as we
did for the previous generations that defended our freedoms. I am
pleased colleagues have joined in supporting this bill on behalf of
those who have served, and those who will serve in the future.
Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the accompanying joint
explanatory statement be printed in the Record following this
statement.
There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in
the Record, as follows:
Summary of H.R. 4015, as Amended by a Manager's Amendment
jobs for veterans act
Revises and improves employment, training and placement
services furnished to veterans.
Provides priority of service (over non-veterans) to
veterans and spouses of certain veterans in job training
programs funded by the Department of Labor.
Revises the current formula for funding veterans employment
service providers in State employment offices, and removes
restrictions on how they are used by the State. This is to
give States greater flexibility in how they provide
employment, training and placement services to veterans.
Modifies the threshold for when Federal contractors and
subcontractors must take affirmative action to employ and
advance in employment qualified veterans, including
immediately listing employment openings for such contracts.
Promotes employment and job advancement opportunities
within the Federal government for disabled veterans, veterans
who served in a military operation for which a service medal
was awarded, and recently separated veterans by removing an
eligibility restriction that allowed only Vietnam veterans to
participate in these opportunities.
[[Page S10477]]
Establishes financial and non-financial incentive awards
for state employees who furnish quality employment, training
and placement services to veterans.
Requires the Department of Labor to set performance
standards for states and when those standards are not met for
a corrective action plan be submitted to the Secretary for
approval. Authorizes the Secretary to have on-going authority
to furnish technical assistance to any State that the
Secretary determines to have a deficient entered-employment
rate, including assessment in developing a corrective action
plan.
Establishes the President's National Hire Veterans
Committee that would furnish information to employers
regarding the advantages afforded employers by hiring
veterans.
____
Joint Explanatory Statement on Senate Amendments to House Amendments to
H.R. 4015
H.R. 4015, as amended, the Jobs for Veterans Act, reflects
a Compromise Agreement the House and Senate Committees on
Veterans' Affairs have reached on H.R. 4015, as amended,
(``House Bill''). H.R. 4015, as amended, passed the House of
Representatives on May 21, 2002. There is no comparable
Senate bill.
The House and Senate Committees on Veterans' Affairs have
prepared the following explanation of H.R. 4015, as amended,
(``Compromise Agreement''). Clerical corrections, conforming
changes, and minor drafting, technical, and clarifying
changes are not noted in this document.
priority of service for veterans in department of labor job training
programs
Current law
Section 4212 of title 38, United States Code, requires that
for certain Federal contracts of $25,000 or more, contractors
and subcontractors take affirmative action to employ and
advance in employment ``special disabled veterans'' (veterans
with serious employment handicaps or disability ratings of 30
percent or higher), Vietnam-era veterans, recently-separated
veterans, and other veterans who are ``preference eligible.''
Preference eligible veterans generally are veterans who have
served during wartime or in a campaign or expedition for
which a campaign badge has been authorized.
Under section 4214 of title 38, United States Code, the
Office of Personnel Management administers the Veterans
Readjustment Appointment (``VRA'') authority program to
promote employment and job advancement opportunities within
the Federal government for disabled veterans, certain
veterans of the Vietnam era, and veterans of the post-Vietnam
era who are qualified for such employment and advancement. In
general: (1) such appointments may be made up to and
including the GS-11 level or its equivalent; (2) a veteran
shall be eligible for such an appointment without regard to
the veteran's number of years of education; (3) a veteran who
receives VA disability compensation shall be given preference
for a VRA appointment over other veterans; (4) upon receipt
of a VRA appointment, a veteran may receive training or
education if the veteran has less than 15 years of education;
and (5) upon successful completion of the prescribed
probation period, a veteran may acquire competitive status.
Except for a veteran who has a service-connected disability
rated at 30 percent or more, a veteran of the Vietnam era may
receive a VRA appointment only during the period ending 10
years after the date of the veteran's last separation from
active duty or December 31, 1995, whichever is later.
House bill
Section 2 of H.R. 4015 would create a new section 4215
within chapter 42 of title 38, United States Code, to provide
priority of service (over non-veterans) to veterans and
spouses of certain veterans for the receipt of employment,
training, and placement services in any qualified job
training program directly funded, in whole or in part, by the
Department of Labor, notwithstanding any other provision of
law. The Secretary of Labor would be authorized to establish
priorities among such covered persons to take into account
the needs of disabled veterans and such other factors as the
Secretary determines appropriate.
With respect to Federal contracts and subcontracts in the
amount of $100,000 or more, section 2 would provide that a
contractor and any subcontractor take affirmative action to
employ and advance in employment qualified veterans. This
would include immediate listing of employment openings for
such contracts through the appropriate employment delivery
system.
Section 2 would also change the Veterans Readjustment
Appointment (``VRA'') to the ``Veterans Recruitment
Appointment'' authority and change eligibility for these
appointments from Vietnam era and post-Vietnam era veterans
to qualified covered veterans (see below) within the 10-year
period that begins on the date of the veteran's last
discharge, the 10-year period would not apply to a veteran
with a service-connected disability of 30 percent or more.
Finally, section 2 would make eligible as ``covered
veterans'' for Federal contracts and subcontracts and the
Veterans Recruitment Appointment authority: disabled
veterans; veterans who served on active duty during a war or
in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge has
been authorized; 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; or veterans discharged or released from military
service within the past three years.
Compromise agreement
Section 2 of the Compromise Agreement follows the House
language with amendments.
The agreement would delete the 10-year eligibility period
for a VRA appointment, in light of the broader Veterans
Recruitment (not ``Readjustment'') Appointment authority
embodied in the Compromise Agreement.
The Committees note that the definition of the term
``covered person'' for priority of service in Department of
Labor veterans job training programs includes both veterans
and certain spouses and surviving spouses of deceased
veterans. Specifically, the provision would include a
surviving spouse of a veteran who died as a result of a
service-connected disability, including the surviving spouse
of a veteran who died in the active military, naval or air
service, and the surviving spouse of a veteran who was
totally disabled at the time of death. The provision would
also apply to spouses of active duty servicemembers who
have for a period of at least 90 days been missing in
action, captured by a hostile force or forcibly detained
or interned in line of duty by a foreign government and
the spouses of veterans who are totally disabled due to a
service-connected disability.
financial and non-financial performance incentive awards for quality
veterans employment, training, and placement services
Current law
No provision.
House bill
Section 3 of H.R. 4015 would create a new section 4112
within chapter 41 of title 38, United States Code, to require
the Secretary to carry out a program of performance incentive
awards to States to encourage improvement and modernization
of employment, training and placement services to veterans.
The Secretary would provide greater amounts to States that
furnish the highest quality of services, but also would
provide awards to States that have made significant
improvements in services. States could use such awards to
States that have made significant improvements in services.
States could use such awards to hire additional State
veterans' employment and training staff for such other
purposes relating to these services that the Secretary may
approve. Awards would be obligated by the State during the
program year in which the award was received and the
subsequent program year.
Section 3 also would authorize additional funds to be
appropriated for the Secretary to carry out the program of
performance incentive awards in the following amounts: $10
million for the program year beginning in fiscal year 2004;
$25 million for the program year beginning in fiscal year
2005; $50 million for the program year beginning in fiscal
year 2006; $75 million for the program year beginning in
fiscal year 2007; and $100 million for the program year
beginning in fiscal year 2008.
Compromise agreement
Section 3 of the Compromise Agreement would establish a
system of financial and non-financial incentive awards to be
administered by the States, based on criteria established by
the Secretary in consultation with the States. Disabled
Veterans Outreach Program Specialists (``DVOP''), Local
Veterans Employment Representatives (``LVER''), Workforce
Investment Act (``WIA''), and Wagner-Peyser staffs would be
eligible for each award. Beginning in program years during or
after fiscal year 2004, the Secretary would be required to
identify and assign one percent of the annual grant to each
State for the State to use as a performance incentive
financial award (see section 4). Under this section, each
State would be required to describe how it would administer
this award in its annual grant application to the Secretary
(see section 4). States would also administer the non-
financial performance incentive award program based on
criteria established by the Secretary.
The Committees intend that the Secretary's criteria be
broad in order to give States maximum flexibility in the
manner chosen to recognize employees for excellence in
service delivery to veterans or improvements thereto. The
Committees also intend that States use Salary and Expense
(S&E) funds to pay for such items as employee recognition
plaques and other modest forms of recognition, as part of the
non-financial performance incentive awards program.
refinement of job training and placement functions of the department
Current law
Chapter 41 of title 38, United States Code, establishes
policies governing the administration of veterans' employment
and training services by the States, as funded by Department
of Labor funds.
Section 4101 of title 38, United States Code, defines terms
used in the chapter, such as ``disabled veteran,'' ``eligible
person,'' and ``local employment service office.''
In section 4102, Congress declares as its intent and
purpose that there shall be an effective: (1) job and
training counseling service program; (2) employment placement
service program; and (3) job training placement service
program for eligible veterans and eligible persons.
Section 4102A specifies the job duties of the Assistant
Secretary of Labor for Veterans'
[[Page S10478]]
Employment and Training (``ASVET'') and Regional
Administrators for Veterans' Employment and Training
(``RAVET''). The RAVET is required to be a veteran. The
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Veterans Employment and
Training (``DASVET'') is also required to be a veteran. The
ASVET need not be a veteran.
Section 4103 prescribes in detail the 15 job duties of
Directors (``DVET'') and Assistant Directors (``ADVET'') of
Veterans' Employment and Training. It also requires that the
Secretary of Labor assign to each State one ADVET for every
250,000 veterans and eligible persons in the State veteran's
population.
Section 4103A prescribes the appointment of one DVOP for
every 7,400 veterans who are between the ages of 20 and 64
residing in each State. This section also requires that each
DVOP be a veteran and specifies that preference be given to
qualified disabled veterans in filling these positions. It
prescribes where a DVOP is to be stationed in furnishing
services and the specific functions that DVOPs perform.
Section 4104 requires that in any fiscal year funding be
available to the States to employ 1,600 full-time LVERs. This
section prescribes that funding furnished to the States for
LVERs shall be assigned in each States on January 1, 1987,
plus one additional LVER per State. This section also
specifies in detail the manner in which the 1,600 LVERs shall
be allocated to the States, and the manner in which the
States shall assign LVERs to local employment service offices
based on the number of veterans and eligible persons
who register for assistance. This section also requires
that in appointing LVERs, preference shall be given to
qualified eligible veterans or eligible persons.
Preference is accorded first to qualified eligible
veterans, and then to qualified eligible persons. Lastly,
this section prescribes the specific functions that LVERs
shall perform.
Section 4104A requires that each State employment agency
develop and apply DVOP and LVER programs. It requires the
Secretary to furnish prototype standards to the States. This
section also requires DVETs and ADVETs to furnish appropriate
assistance to States in developing and implementing such
standards.
Section 4106 requires the Secretary to estimate the funds
necessary for the proper and efficient administration of
chapters 41, 42, and 43 of title 38, United States Code. This
section authorizes such sums as may be necessary for
administration of chapter 41 services, including the National
Veterans' Employment and Training Services Institute
(``NVETSI'').
In general, section 4107 of title 38, United States Code,
requires the Secretary of Labor to establish and carry out
various administrative controls to ensure veterans and
eligible persons receive job placement, job training, or some
other form of assistance such as individual job development
or employment counseling services. This section also requires
the Secretary to submit to the Committees on Veterans'
Affairs of the House and Senate not later than February 1 of
each year, a report on the success during the previous
program year of the Department of Labor (``DOL'') and State
employment service agencies in furnishing veterans'
employment and training services.
Section 4109 requires that the Secretary make available
such funds as may be necessary to operate a NVETSI for
training DVOP, LVER, DVET, ADVET, and RAVET personnel.
House bill
Section 4 of H.R. 4015 would amend sections 4102A, 4103,
4103A, 4104, and 4109 of title 38, United States Code.
Section 4 of H.R. 4015 would amend current law section
4102A, of title 38, United States Code. The ASVET would be
required to be a veteran. It also would impose new
qualifications for the position of DASVET. In doing so, it
would make this position a career federal civil service
position. The individual appointed to this position would be
required to have at least five years of continuous Federal
service in the executive branch immediately preceding
appointment as Deputy Assistant Secretary, and to be a
veteran.
This section would set forth conditions for receipt of
funding by States to include a requirement that a State
submit an application for a grant or contract describing the
manner in which the State would furnish employment, training,
and placement services. A service delivery plan would include
a description of the DVOP and LVER duties assigned by the
State and other matters.
Section 4 would revise the methods by which the Secretary
furnishes funds to a State. It would require the Secretary to
make funds available for a fiscal year to each State in
proportion to the number of veterans seeking employment using
such criteria as the Secretary may establish in regulations.
Under this section, the proportion of funding would reflect
the ratio of the total number of veterans residing in the
State who are seeking employment to the total number of
veterans seeking employment in all States.
Section 4 also would require:
1. A state to annually submit to the Secretary of Labor an
application for a grant or contract that includes a plan
describing the manner in which the State would furnish
employment, training, and placement services, with a
description of DVOP and LVER duties assigned by the State.
The plan would also be required to describe the manner in
which DVOPs and LVERs would be integrated into the employment
service delivery systems in the State, the veteran population
to be served, and additional information the Secretary might
require;
2. The Secretary to make available to each State based on
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 might
establish in regulation, including civilian labor force and
unemployment data;
3. The Secretary to phase-in such annual funding over the
three fiscal year-periods that begin on October 1, 2002;
4. The Secretary to establish minimum funding levels and
hold-harmless criteria in administering funding to the
States;
5. The State to develop and implement a corrective action
plan to be submitted to the Secretary when a State has an
entered-employment rate that the Secretary determines is
deficient for the proceeding year;
6. The Secretary to establish by regulation a uniform
national threshold entered-employment rate for a program year
by which determinations of deficiency might be made. The
Secretary would be required to take into account 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;
7. The State to notify the Secretary on an annual basis of,
and provide a supporting rationale for, each non-veteran who
is employed as a DVOP and LVER for a period in excess of six
months;
8. The Secretary to assign to each region a representative
of the Veterans' Employment and Training Service (``VETS'')
to serve as RAVET. The RAVET would be required to be a
veteran; and
9. The ASVET to establish and implement a comprehensive
accountability system to measure the performance of delivery
systems in a State. The accountability system would be
required to be (1) consistent with State performance measures
applicable under section 136(b) of the Workforce Investment
Act of 1998, and (2) appropriately weighted to provide
special consideration for veterans requiring intensive
services and for veterans who enroll in readjustment
counseling services furnished by the Department of Veterans
Affairs.
Supervisory Personnel. Section 4 would also amend current
section 4103 of title 38, United States Code, to authorize
the Secretary to assign as supervisory personnel such
representatives of VETS as the Secretary determines
appropriate. It would also replace the specific requirements
for appointment of ADVET with a more flexible authority to
appoint supervisory personnel.
Disabled Veterans Outreach Program Specialist. This section
would amend current section 4103A of title 38, United States
Code, to require, subject to approval by the Secretary, that
States employ a sufficient number of full or parttime DVOPs
to carry out intensive services to meet the employment needs
of special disabled veterans, other disabled veterans and
other eligible veterans. It would require to the maximum
extent practicable, that such employees be qualified
veterans. Preference would be given to qualified disabled
veterans.
Local Veterans Employment Specialists. Section 4 would
amend current law section 4104 of title 38, United States
Code, by requiring, subject to approval by the Secretary,
that a State employ such full and part-time LVERs as the
State determines appropriate and efficient to carry out
employment, training, and placement services. It would
require, to the maximum extent practicable, that such
employees be qualified veterans.
This section would require that each LVER be
administratively responsible to the manager of the employment
service delivery system. Under this section, the LVER would
provide reports, not less frequently than quarterly, to the
manager of such office and to the DVET for the State
regarding compliance with Federal law and regulations with
respect to special services and priorities for eligible
veterans and eligible persons.
National Veterans' Employment and Training Services
Institute. Additionally, section 4 would amend current
section 4109 of title 38, United States Code, to clarify the
authority of the NVETSI 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 in
providing veterans' employment, training, and placement
services. Further, it would require that each annual budget
submission include a separate listing of the amount of
funding proposed for NVETSI.
Finally, section 4 would require that the Secretary, within
18 months of enactment, enhance the delivery of services by
providing ``one-stop'' services and assistance to covered
persons by way of the Internet and by other electronic means.
Compromise agreement
Section 4 of the Compromise Agreement follows the House
language with amendments.
Under this section, the individual appointed as DASVET
would be required to have at least five years of service in a
management position as a Federal civil service employee or
comparable service in a management position in the Armed
Forces preceding appointment as DASVET.
The annual grant application plan submitted by the States
would have an additional requirement to describe the manner
in
[[Page S10479]]
which the respective States would administer the performance
incentives established in section 3. The Committees note that
other aspects of the State plan and grant application
requirements contained in the House-passed bill, such as
describing DVOP and LVER duties, are retained.
The Compromise Agreement clarifies that State corrective
action plans would be submitted to the Secretary for
approval, and if approved, would be expeditiously
implemented. If the Secretary disapproves a corrective action
plan, the Secretary would be required to take such steps as
would be necessary for the State to implement corrective
actions.
The Secretary would also be required to identify and assign
one percent of the funding grant to each State to establish
financial performance incentive awards. Further, the
Secretary would have on-going authority to furnish technical
assistance to any State that the Secretary determines has, or
may have, a deficient entered-employment rate, including
assistance in developing a corrective action plan.
The Committees intend that the Secretary should offer
technical assistance in an anticipatory way, so as to avoid
deficient performance.
The Compromise Agreement would require that the DVET be a
bona fide resident of the State for two years to qualify for
such a position.
Lastly, the Compromise Agreement does not require that the
ASVET, DASVET, RVET, DVET, or ADVET be veterans. The
Committees encourage the appointment of veterans to these
positions but do not believe a statutory requirement is
necessary.
The amendments made by subsection (a) revising department
level senior officials and functions, and subsection (b)
revising statutorily-defined duties of DVOP and LVERs, would
take effect on the date of enactment of this Act, and apply
to program and fiscal years under chapter 41 of title 38,
United States Code, beginning on or after such date.
additional improvements in veterans' EMPLOYMENT AND training SERVICES
Current law
Sections 4102, 4106(a), 4107(a), 4107(c)(1), and section
4109(a) of title 38, United States Code, refer to terms such
as ``job and job training counseling service program''
``proper counseling,'' ``employment counseling services,''
``the number counseled,'' and ``counseling,'' respectively,
in describing services available to veterans and eligible
persons under this chapter.
Section 4101(7) of title 38, United States Code, defines
the term ``local employment service office'' as a service
delivery point which has an intrinsic management structure
and at which employment services are offered in accordance
with the Wagner-Peyser Act.
Section 4107(c)(1) of title 38, United States Code, defines
``veterans of the Vietnam era'' as a group which the
Secretary must address with respect to various employment and
training services in the annual report to the Committees on
Veterans' Affairs. Section 4107(c)(2) requires submission in
the report of data on the ``job placement rate'' for veterans
and eligible persons.
House bill
Section 5 of H.R. 4015 would substitute the words
``intensive services'' for the word ``counseling'' throughout
chapter 41 of title 38, United States Code, so as to make the
chapter consistent with section 134(d)(3) of the Workforce
Investment Act of 1998, Public Law 105-220. This section
would also add programs carried out by the VETS to ease
transition of servicemembers to civilian careers as a new
program the Secretary would administer.
This section of the bill would make a definitional change
so as to replace ``local employment service office'' and its
current-law definition with ``employment service delivery
system.'' The latter term would be redefined as 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.
This section also would replace ``job placement rate'' with
``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).''
Further, with respect to the Secretary's annual report, it
would replace ``veterans of the Vietnam era'' and ``eligible
persons registered for assistance'' with ``eligible persons,
recently separated veterans (as defined in section 4211(6) of
title 38), and servicemembers transitioning to civilian
careers who are registered for assistance.''
Lastly, section 5 would add two additional requirements to
the Secretary's annual report submitted to the Committees on
Veterans' Affairs of the House and Senate. First, the report
must include information 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. Second, a report would be
required on the ``performance of States and organizations and
entities carrying out employment, training, and placement
services under this chapter, as measured by revised
performance criteria. In the case of a State that the
Secretary determines has not met the minimum standard of
performance established by the Secretary, the Secretary would
be required to 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.''
Compromise agreement
Section 5 of the Compromise Agreement follows the House
language with an amendment. The Secretary's annual report to
the Committees on Veterans' Affairs of the House and Senate
would be required to include information on the operation
during the preceding program year of performance incentive
awards for quality employment services administered through
the States. The report would not require an analysis of the
amount of incentives distributed to each State and the
rationale for such distribution because each State's DVOP/
LVER grant would identify and assign one percent of the grant
for use by State for the financial incentive awards.
COMMITTEE TO RAISE EMPLOYER AWARENESS OF SKILLS OF VETERANS AND
BENEFITS OF HIRING VETERANS
Current law
No provision.
House bill
Section 6 of H.R. 4015 would authorize $3 million to be
appropriated to the Secretary of Labor from the Employment
Security Administration account in the Unemployment Trust
Fund for each of fiscal years 2003 through 2005 to establish
within the Department of Labor the President's National Hire
Veterans Committee. The Committee would furnish information
to employers with respect to the training and skills of
veterans and disabled veterans, and with respect to the
advantages afforded employers by hiring veterans. The
Secretary of Labor would provide staff and administrative
support to the Committee to assist it in carrying out its
duties under this section. Upon request of the Committee, the
head of any Federal department or agency would be authorized
to detail staff on a non-reimbursable basis. The Committee
would also have the authority to contract with government and
private agencies to furnish information to employers. The
Committee would terminate on December 31, 2005.
Compromise agreement
Section 6 of the Compromise Agreement contains the House
language.
sense of congress commending veterans and military service
organizations
Current law
No provision.
House bill
Section 7 of the H.R. 4015 would express the sense of
Congress commending veterans and military service
organizations, and encouraging them to provide job placement
assistance to veterans who are job-ready by making personal
computers available to them with access to electronic job
placement services and programs.
Compromise agreement
The Compromise Agreement does not include this section.
report on implementation of employment reforms
Current law
No provision.
House bill
Section 8 of H.R. 4015 would authorize $1 million for the
Secretary of Labor to enter into a contract with an
appropriate organization or entity to conduct an 18-month
study to quantify the economic benefit to the United States
attributable to the provision of employment and training
services provided under chapter 41 of title 38, United States
Code, in helping veterans to attain long-term, sustained
employment.
Compromise agreement
Section 7 of the Compromise Agreement would direct the
Comptroller General of the United States to conduct a study
on the implementation by the Secretary of Labor of the
provisions of this title during the program years that begin
during fiscal years 2003 and 2004. The study would include an
assessment of the effect of this title on employment,
training, and placement services furnished to veterans. Not
later than six months after the conclusion of the program
year that begins during fiscal year 2004, the Comptroller
General would submit to Congress a report on the conducted
study. Under this section, the report would include
recommendations for legislation or administrative action.
Mr. DASCHLE. I ask unanimous consent that the Rockefeller substitute
amendment at the desk be agreed to, the bill be read the third time and
passed, and the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table, with no
intervening action or debate, and that any statements be printed in the
Record.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
The amendment (No. 4884) was agreed to.
(The amendment is printed in today's Record under ``Text of
Amendments.'')
The bill (H.R. 4015), as amended, was read the third time and passed.
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