[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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