[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 31 (Friday, March 5, 2010)]
[Senate]
[Page S1230]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. WYDEN:
  S. 3082. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to authorize 
individuals who are pursuing programs of rehabilitation, education, or 
training under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs 
to receive work-study allowances for certain outreach services provided 
through congressional offices, and for other purposes; to the Committee 
on Veterans' Affairs.
  Mr. WYDEN. Mr. President, today I am introducing a bill to right a 
bureaucratic wrong that has prevented capable and qualified veterans 
from serving their home States as work-study students in Congressional 
offices.
  For years, veterans have served in the office of their representative 
or senator as a vital part of an office's constituent service efforts. 
These student veterans gain employment experience while providing 
valuable expertise to our offices. Student veterans work together with 
our staffs to assist other veterans from their home State wade through 
the often confusing and lengthy process of receiving benefits from the 
Department of Veterans Affairs. Congressional offices benefit by 
providing better services to their constituents without having to hire 
a disproportionate number of people to assist with veterans affairs. 
Veteran work-study students also benefit the VA by shouldering up-front 
some of the administrative burdens of claims processing.
  Congressional offices have served as qualified work sites for VA 
work-study students for over 25 years. Student veterans have worked in 
congressional offices during my time in both the House of 
Representatives and the Senate. In recent months, however, Oregon 
congressional offices were notified that they would no longer be 
eligible sites for VA work-study programs.
  I am deeply troubled that the proud tradition of student veterans 
serving fellow veterans in Oregon congressional offices is in jeopardy. 
At a time when the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have increased the 
number of veterans seeking our help with VA benefits and services, the 
instability of the program is particularly unfortunate. Moreover, my 
concerns are heightened due to the reduction in work-study positions 
available to Oregon veterans during an economic recession that has sent 
unemployment rates over 12 percent in some areas.
  I share the VA's hope to provide high quality, prompt, and seamless 
service to veterans and their dependents, through the VA work-study 
program. That is why I am introducing legislation today to return these 
talented student veterans to Congressional offices. These student 
veterans provide an invaluable resource to our staffs. I hope that we 
are able to pass this legislation quickly to provide valuable 
employment opportunities for our Nation's veterans.
  Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be 
printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the text of the bill was ordered to be 
printed in the Record, as follows:

                                S. 3082

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

     SECTION 1. EXPANSION OF WORK-STUDY ALLOWANCE TO INCLUDE 
                   CERTAIN OUTREACH SERVICES CONDUCTED THROUGH 
                   CONGRESSIONAL OFFICES.

       Section 3485(a)(4) of title 38, United States Code, is 
     amended by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:
       ``(G) The following activities carried out at the offices 
     of Members of Congress for such Members:
       ``(i) The distribution of information to members of the 
     Armed Forces, veterans, and their dependents about the 
     benefits and services under laws administered by the 
     Secretary and other appropriate governmental and non-
     governmental programs.
       ``(ii) The preparation and processing of papers and other 
     documents, including documents to assist in the preparation 
     and presentation of claims for benefits under laws 
     administered by the Secretary.''.
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