[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 32 (Thursday, February 27, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E334]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




INTRODUCTORY STATEMENT FOR H.R. 966, DISABLED VETERANS' RETURN-TO-WORK 
                              ACT OF 2003

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                        HON. HENRY E. BROWN, JR.

                           of south carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, February 27, 2003

  Mr. BROWN of South Carolina. Mr. Speaker, today on behalf of Mr. 
Rodriguez, Mr. Smith, and Mr. Evans, I am introducing H.R. 966, the 
Disabled Veterans' Return-to-Work Act of 2003. This bill reinstates a 
VA pilot program which expired on December 31, 1995.
  H.R. 966 would ensure the availability of vocational training to 
newly eligible VA nonservice-connected pension recipients. The program, 
open to those veterans age 45 years or younger, would provide disabled 
pension recipients the opportunity to receive training in order to 
return to the job market. There are many ways our veterans can and do 
contribute to the economy. Those veterans receiving nonservice-
connected pension are in effect discouraged from seeking employment 
because of the needs-based structure of VA's Pension Program, whereby 
every dollar they earn is offset from the amount of monthly pension 
they receive.
  Mr. Speaker, I expect the Veterans' Affairs Committee to consider 
this bill during the 1st Session of the 108th Congress. It is time to 
reinstate the pilot providing vocational training to certain pension 
recipients rather than requiring these veterans to rely solely on the 
VA pension program and health care system for the remainder of their 
lives. I believe the pilot program indeed will furnish data showing 
that many of these veterans desire independence from, not dependence 
on, the current nonservice-connected pension program.

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