[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 83 (Tuesday, May 20, 2008)]
[House]
[Pages H4191-H4193]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        LONGITUDINAL STUDY OF VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION PROGRAMS

  Mr. FILNER. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill

[[Page H4192]]

(H.R. 3889) to amend title 38, United States Code, to require the 
Secretary of Veterans Affairs to conduct a longitudinal study of the 
vocational rehabilitation programs administered by the Secretary, as 
amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 3889

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

     SECTION 1. LONGITUDINAL STUDY OF DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS 
                   AFFAIRS VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION PROGRAMS.

       (a) Study Required.--Chapter 31 of title 38, United States 
     Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new 
     section:

     ``Sec. 3122. Longitudinal study of vocational rehabilitation 
       programs

       ``(a) Study Required.--(1) Subject to the availabilty of 
     appropriated funds, the Secretary shall conduct a 
     longitudinal study of a statistically valid sample of each of 
     the groups of individuals described in paragraph (2). The 
     Secretary shall study each such group over a period of at 
     least 20 years.
       ``(2) The groups of individuals described in this paragraph 
     are the following:
       ``(A) Individuals who begin participating in a vocational 
     rehabilitation program under this chapter during fiscal year 
     2009.
       ``(B) Individuals who begin participating in such a program 
     during fiscal year 2011.
       ``(C) Individuals who begin participating in such a program 
     during fiscal year 2014.
       ``(b) Annual Reports.--By not later than July 1 of each 
     year covered by the study required under subsection (a), the 
     Secretary shall submit to the Committees on Veterans' Affairs 
     of the Senate and House of Representatives a report on the 
     study during the preceding year.
       ``(c) Contents of Report.--The Secretary shall include in 
     the report required under subsection (b) any data the 
     Secretary determines is necessary to determine the long-term 
     outcomes of the individuals participating in the vocational 
     rehabilitation programs under this chapter. The Secretary may 
     add data elements from time to time as necessary. In 
     addition, each such report shall contain the following 
     information:
       ``(1) The number of individuals participating in vocational 
     rehabilitation programs under this chapter who suspended 
     participation in such a program during the year covered by 
     the report.
       ``(2) The average number of months such individuals served 
     on active duty.
       ``(3) The distribution of disability rating of such 
     individuals.
       ``(4) The types of other benefits administered by the 
     Secretary received by such individuals.
       ``(5) The types of social security benefits received by 
     such individuals.
       ``(6) Any unemployment benefits received by such 
     individuals.
       ``(7) The average number of months such individuals were 
     employed during the year covered by the report.
       ``(8) The average annual starting and ending salaries such 
     individuals who were employed during the year covered by the 
     report.
       ``(9) The number of such individuals enrolled in an 
     institution of higher learning, as that term is defined in 
     section 3452(f) of this title.
       ``(10) The average number of academic credit hours, 
     degrees, and certificates obtained by such individuals during 
     the year covered by the report.
       ``(11) The average number of visits such individuals made 
     to Department medical facilities during the year covered by 
     the report.
       ``(12) The average number of visits such individuals made 
     to non-Department medical facilities during the year covered 
     by the report.
       ``(13) The average annual income of such individuals.
       ``(14) The average total household income of such 
     individuals for the year covered by the report.
       ``(15) The percentage of such individuals who own their 
     principal residences.
       ``(16) The average number of dependents of each such 
     veteran.''.
       (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the 
     beginning of such chapter is amended by adding at the end the 
     following new item:

``3122. Longitudinal study of vocational rehabilitation programs.''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
California (Mr. Filner) and the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Buyer) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from California.
  Mr. FILNER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I might 
consume.
  As I said earlier, amongst this package of bills are legislation from 
both sides of the aisle. This one comes to us from the ranking member 
of the Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity, Mr. Boozman, and I thank 
him for this important bill.
  What H.R. 3889 does is require the VA to conduct what is called a 
longitudinal study for at least 20 years of the veterans who began 
participating in the VA's Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment 
Program. The bill requires annual reports to Congress to assist with 
better management of the program.
  It's an important step in ensuring that the Vocational Rehabilitation 
and Employment Program has services that are meeting the needs of our 
veterans as they seek to heal from their injuries and reenter civilian 
life.
  So I hope we all support H.R. 3889.
  Mr. Speaker, I would reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. BUYER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 3889, as amended, which would 
amend title 38, United States Code, to require the Secretary of 
Veterans Affairs to conduct a longitudinal study of the vocational 
rehabilitation programs administered by the Secretary. I appreciate 
Chairman Filner for moving this legislation through the committee to 
bring it to the floor.
  Mr. Speaker, too often we support benefit programs such as VA's 
Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment without requiring or verifying 
how well the program is achieving its goals. In the case of the VR&E, 
the program has two goals: employment and developing independent living 
skills for those too disabled to work.
  Unfortunately, there is too little long-term data to judge the 
program's success in preparing disabled veterans for their return to 
the workforce. H.R. 3889 would require the VA to study three cohorts of 
veterans for 20 years to determine the outcomes of their participation 
in this program.
  Mr. Speaker, I thank the foresight of my colleague, Dr. John Boozman, 
for bringing this needed legislation before the House, and I urge my 
colleagues to support its passage.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. FILNER. We reserve the balance of our time.
  Mr. BUYER. I now yield to Dr. Boozman of Arkansas such time as he may 
consume.
  Mr. BOOZMAN. Thank you, Mr. Buyer.
  Mr. Speaker, I introduced H.R. 3889 to determine whether the VA's 
Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment Program was meeting its goals 
of employment and independent living for disabled veterans.
  To do that, my bill would require that the Department of Veterans 
Affairs conduct a 20-year longitudinal study of three cohorts of 
disabled veterans who participate in the VR&E Program during years 
2009, 2011 and 2013. The data VA collects and reports to Congress will 
enable us to fine-tune the program to achieve higher rehabilitation 
rates and to provide the most appropriate education and training 
leading to full employment.
  Mr. Speaker, the bill specifies 15 different data points that must be 
collected and authorizes VA to add any other data points they deem 
appropriate. With this information, I believe veterans who participate 
in voc rehab will be more successful in finding gainful employment over 
their working career.
  This is a good bill that does not require offsets and will improve 
the lives of veterans, and I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 3889, 
as amended.
  I want to thank the Chair of my subcommittee, Ms. Herseth Sandlin, 
for her support and hard work. I also want to thank Chairman Filner and 
Ranking Member Buyer as always for bringing the bill forward. Again, I 
want to thank the staff on both sides for helping to prepare this.
  Mr. BUYER. Mr. Speaker, I also want to thank the chairman of the 
Economic Opportunity Subcommittee, Stephanie Herseth Sandlin, and Dr. 
Boozman. They worked very well together on these issues, and I urge my 
colleagues to pass this bill.
  I yield back the balance of my time.


                             General Leave

  Mr. FILNER. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include 
extraneous material on H.R. 3889, as amended.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from California?
  There was no objection.
  Ms. HERSETH SANDLIN. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 
3889, a bill to require the Department of Veterans Affairs to conduct a 
longitudinal study of the vocational rehabilitation programs 
administered by the VA.
  I would like to thank Representative Boozman, the Ranking Member of 
the Veterans' Affairs Economic Opportunity Subcommittee, which I Chair, 
for introducing H.R.

[[Page H4193]]

3889 to help determine the effectiveness and long-term outcomes of the 
VA's vocational rehabilitation programs for disabled veterans. These 
vocational rehabilitation programs are important factors in helping 
disabled veterans obtain and keep suitable jobs. They also help 
seriously disabled veterans achieve independence in daily living.
  I also would like to thank Veterans' Affairs Committee Chairman 
Filner and Ranking Member Buyer for their support of the bill and for 
working to quickly move this legislation to the House floor.
  I support H.R. 3889 to ensure the VA's vocational rehabilitation 
services are helping disabled veterans reach their rehabilitation 
goals.
  Again, I thank Representative Boozman for introducing this important 
bill. I encourage my colleagues to support it.
  Mr. FILNER. I yield back the balance of our time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from California (Mr. Filner) that the House suspend the rules 
and pass the bill, H.R. 3889, as amended.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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