[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 151 (Tuesday, October 11, 2011)]
[House]
[Pages H6680-H6689]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  1410
                VETERANS OPPORTUNITY TO WORK ACT OF 2011

  Mr. MILLER of Florida. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and 
pass the bill (H.R. 2433) to amend title 38, United States Code, to 
make certain improvements in the laws relating to the employment and 
training of veterans, and for other purposes, as amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 2433

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

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.

       (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Veterans 
     Opportunity to Work Act of 2011''.
       (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act 
     is as follows:

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.

                      TITLE I--RETRAINING VETERANS

Sec. 101. Veterans retraining assistance program.

         TITLE II--IMPROVING THE TRANSITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM

Sec. 201. Transition Assistance Program contracting.
Sec. 202. Mandatory participation in Transition Assistance Program.
Sec. 203. Report on Transition Assistance Program.
Sec. 204. Transition Assistance Program outcomes.
Sec. 205. Comptroller General review.

 TITLE III--IMPROVING THE TRANSITION OF VETERANS TO CIVILIAN EMPLOYMENT

Sec. 301. Reauthorization and improvement of demonstration project on 
              credentialing and licensure of veterans.
Sec. 302. Inclusion of performance measures in annual report on veteran 
              job counseling, training, and placement programs of the 
              Department of Labor.
Sec. 303. Clarification of priority of service for veterans in 
              Department of Labor job training programs.
Sec. 304. Evaluation of individuals receiving training at the National 
              Veterans' Employment and Training Services Institute.
Sec. 305. Requirements for full-time disabled veterans' outreach 
              program specialists and local veterans' employment 
              representatives.

[[Page H6681]]

Sec. 306. Report on findings of the Department of Defense and 
              Department of Labor credentialing work group.

      TITLE IV--IMPROVEMENTS TO UNIFORMED SERVICES EMPLOYMENT AND 
                          REEMPLOYMENT RIGHTS

Sec. 401. Clarification of benefits of employment covered under USERRA.

                         TITLE V--OTHER MATTERS

Sec. 501. Extension of certain expiring provisions of law.
Sec. 502. Department of Veterans Affairs housing loan guarantees for 
              surviving spouses of certain totally disabled veterans.
Sec. 503. Reimbursement rate for ambulance services.
Sec. 504. Annual reports on Post-9/11 Educational Assistance Program 
              and Survivors' and Dependents' Educational Assistance 
              Program.
Sec. 505. Limitation on amount authorized to be appropriated for 
              employee travel, printing, and fleet vehicles.
Sec. 506. Extension of reduced pension for certain veterans covered by 
              Medicaid plans for services furnished by nursing 
              facilities.
Sec. 507. Statutory Pay-As-You-Go-Act of 2010.

                      TITLE I--RETRAINING VETERANS

     SEC. 101. VETERANS RETRAINING ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.

       (a) Program Authorized.--
       (1) In general.--In accordance with this section, during 
     the period beginning on June 1, 2012, and ending on March 31, 
     2014, the Secretary of Labor shall provide for monthly 
     payments of retraining assistance to eligible veterans. 
     Payments of retraining assistance under this section shall be 
     made by the Secretary of Labor through the Secretary of 
     Veterans Affairs.
       (2) Number of eligible veterans.--The number of eligible 
     veterans who participate in the program may not exceed--
       (A) 45,000 during fiscal year 2012; and
       (B) 55,000 during the period beginning October 1, 2012, and 
     ending March 31, 2014.
       (b) Retraining Assistance.--Except as provided by 
     subsection (i), each veteran who participates in the program 
     established under subsection (a)(1) shall be entitled to up 
     to 12 months of retraining assistance, as determined by the 
     Secretary of Labor. Such retraining assistance may only be 
     used by the veteran to pursue a program of education (as such 
     term is defined in section 3452(b) of title 38, United States 
     Code) or training on a full-time basis that--
       (1) is approved under chapter 36 of such title;
       (2) is offered by a community college or technical school;
       (3) leads to an associates degree or a certificate (or 
     other similar evidence of the completion of the program of 
     education or training); and
       (4) is designed to provide training for a high-demand 
     occupation, as determined by the Secretary of Labor.
       (c) Monthly Certification.--Each veteran who participates 
     in the program established under subsection (a)(1) shall 
     certify to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs the enrollment 
     of the veteran in a program of education described in 
     subsection (b) for each month in which the veteran 
     participates in the program.
       (d) Amount of Assistance.--The monthly amount of the 
     retraining assistance payable under this section is the 
     amount in effect under section 3015(a)(1) of title 38, United 
     States Code.
       (e) Eligibility.--For purposes of this section, an eligible 
     veteran is a veteran who--
       (1) is at least 35 years of age but not more than 60 years 
     of age;
       (2) was last discharged from active duty service in the 
     Armed Forces with an honorable discharge;
       (3) as of the date of the submittal of the application for 
     assistance under this section, has been unemployed for a 
     period of time determined by the Secretary, with special 
     consideration given to veterans who have been unemployed for 
     at least 26 continuous weeks;
       (4) is not eligible to apply for educational assistance 
     under chapter 30, 31, 33, or 35 of title 38, United States 
     Code; and
       (5) by not later than October 1, 2013, submits to the 
     Secretary of Labor an application containing such information 
     and assurances as the Secretary may require.
       (f) Report.--Not later than July 1, 2014, the Secretary of 
     Labor and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall jointly 
     submit to the Committees on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate 
     and the House of Representatives a report on the retraining 
     assistance provided under this section, including--
       (1) the total number of--
       (A) eligible veterans who participated;
       (B) credit hours completed; and
       (C) associates degrees or certificates awarded (or other 
     similar evidence of the completion of the program of 
     education or training earned); and
       (2) data related to the employment status of eligible 
     veterans who participated.
       (g) Joint Agreement.--The Secretary of Labor and the 
     Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall enter into an agreement 
     on carrying out this section.
       (h) Source of Funds.--Payments under this section shall be 
     made from amounts appropriated to the readjustment benefits 
     account of the Department of Veterans Affairs.
       (i) Termination of Authority.--The authority to make 
     payments under this section shall terminate on March 31, 
     2014.

         TITLE II--IMPROVING THE TRANSITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM

     SEC. 201. TRANSITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM CONTRACTING.

       (a) Transition Assistance Program Contracting.--
       (1) In general.--Section 4113 of title 38, United States 
     Code, is amended to read as follows:

     ``Sec. 4113. Transition Assistance Program personnel

       ``(a) Authority To Contract.--In accordance with section 
     1144 of title 10, the Secretary shall enter into a contract 
     with an appropriate private entity or entities to provide the 
     functions described in subsection (b) at all locations where 
     the program described in such section is carried out.
       ``(b) Functions.--Contractors under subsection (a) shall 
     provide to members of the Armed Forces who are being 
     separated from active duty (and the spouses of such members) 
     the services described in section 1144(a)(1) of title 10, 
     including--
       ``(1) counseling;
       ``(2) assistance in identifying employment and training 
     opportunities and help in obtaining such employment and 
     training;
       ``(3) other related information and services under such 
     section; and
       ``(4) any other services that the Secretary determines are 
     appropriate.''.
       (2) Clerical amendment.--The table of sections at the 
     beginning of chapter 41 of title 38, United States Code, is 
     amended by striking the item relating to section 4113 and 
     inserting the following new item:

``4113. Transition Assistance Program personnel.''.

       (b) Deadline for Implementation.--The Secretary of Labor 
     shall enter into the contract required by section 4113 of 
     title 38, United States Code, as added by subsection (a), by 
     not later than 24 months after the date of the enactment of 
     this Act.

     SEC. 202. MANDATORY PARTICIPATION IN TRANSITION ASSISTANCE 
                   PROGRAM.

       Section 1144(c) of title 10, United States Code, is amended 
     by striking ``shall encourage'' and all that follows and 
     inserting ``shall encourage the participation of members of 
     the armed forces in pay grades E-8 and above and O-6 and 
     above who are eligible for assistance under the program and 
     shall require the participation of all other members of the 
     armed forces who are eligible for assistance under the 
     program unless a documented urgent operational requirement 
     prevents attendance or an individual service member, with 
     written approval of their commander, chooses to decline 
     participation, in writing, based on post-service employment 
     or acceptance to an education program. Such documentation 
     shall be included in the personnel record of the member.''.

     SEC. 203. REPORT ON TRANSITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.

       Section 1144 of title 10, United States Code, is amended by 
     adding at the end the following new subsection:
       ``(e) Reports and Audits.--(1) Not later than January 30 of 
     each year, the Secretary of Labor shall submit to the 
     Committees on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and House of 
     Representatives a report on the program established under 
     this section that includes the number of members of the armed 
     forces eligible for assistance under the program who 
     participated in the program within 30, 90, and 180 days of 
     being separated from active duty, and the percentages of all 
     such eligible participants who participated within each such 
     time period.
       ``(2)(A) The Secretary of Labor shall enter into a contract 
     with an appropriate entity to conduct an audit of the program 
     established under this section not less frequently than once 
     every three years and to submit to the Secretary of Defense, 
     the Secretary of Labor, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, 
     and the Committees on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and 
     House of Representatives a report containing the results of 
     each such audit.
       ``(B)(i) Except as provided in clause (ii), the Secretary 
     of Labor shall enter into the contract under subparagraph (A) 
     with an appropriate entity that is a small business concern 
     owned and controlled by veterans or a small business concern 
     owned and controlled by service-disabled veterans and that is 
     included in the database of veteran-owned businesses 
     maintained under subsection (f) of section 8127 of title 38 
     and verified by the Secretary pursuant to paragraph (4) of 
     that subsection.
       ``(ii) If the Secretary of Labor is unable to enter into 
     the contract under subparagraph (A) with a qualified business 
     concern described in clause (i), the Secretary shall enter 
     into such contract with another qualified appropriate entity.
       ``(C) The Secretary of Labor shall enter into the contract 
     under this paragraph using funds made available for the State 
     grant program authorized under section 4102A of title 38.''.

     SEC. 204. TRANSITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM OUTCOMES.

       Section 1144 of title 10, United States Code, as amended by 
     section 202 and 203, is further amended by adding at the end 
     the following new subsection:
       ``(f) Program Outcomes.--The Secretary of Labor shall 
     develop a method to assess the outcomes for individuals who 
     participate in the program established under this section.

[[Page H6682]]

     The Secretary of Defense shall provide to the Secretary of 
     Labor any data on participation in the program that is 
     necessary for the Secretary of Labor to develop such method. 
     Such method shall be designed to determine the following 
     outcomes:
       ``(1) The length of the period during which the individual 
     was unemployed following the individual's separation from 
     active duty.
       ``(2) The beginning salary paid to the individual for the 
     first job the individual obtained following such separation.
       ``(3) The number of months of school or other training the 
     individual attended during the first 12-month period 
     following such separation.''.

     SEC. 205. COMPTROLLER GENERAL REVIEW.

       Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of 
     this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States shall 
     conduct a review of the Transition Assistance Program under 
     section 1144 of title 10, United States Code, and submit to 
     Congress a report on the results of the review and any 
     recommendations of the Comptroller General for improving the 
     program.

 TITLE III--IMPROVING THE TRANSITION OF VETERANS TO CIVILIAN EMPLOYMENT

     SEC. 301. REAUTHORIZATION AND IMPROVEMENT OF DEMONSTRATION 
                   PROJECT ON CREDENTIALING AND LICENSURE OF 
                   VETERANS.

       Section 4114 of title 38, United States Code, is amended--
       (1) in subsection (b)--
       (A) in paragraph (1), by striking ``not less than 10'' and 
     inserting ``not less than 5 but not more than 10''; and
       (B) in paragraph (2), by striking ``consult with 
     appropriate Federal, State, and industry officials'' and 
     inserting ``enter into a contract with an appropriate entity 
     representing a coalition of State governors'';
       (2) in subsection (g)--
       (A) by striking ``Veterans Benefits, Health Care, and 
     Information Technology Act of 2006'' and inserting the 
     ``Veterans Opportunity to Work Act of 2011''; and
       (B) by striking ``September 30, 2009'' and inserting 
     ``September 30, 2014'';
       (3) in subsection (h)--
       (A) by striking ``utilizing unobligated funds'' and 
     inserting ``using not more than $180,000 of the funds in each 
     fiscal year''; and
       (B) by inserting before the period at the end the 
     following: ``, to be derived from amounts otherwise made 
     available to carry out sections 4103A and 4104 of this 
     title''; and
       (4) by adding at the end the following new subsection:
       ``(i) Report to Congress.--Not later than 30 days after the 
     last day of a fiscal year during which the demonstration 
     project under this section is carried out, the Assistant 
     Secretary, in coordination with the entity with which the 
     Assistant Secretary enters into a contract under subsection 
     (b)(2), shall submit to the Committees on Veterans' Affairs 
     of the Senate and House of Representatives a report on the 
     implementation of the demonstration project during that 
     fiscal year.''.

     SEC. 302. INCLUSION OF PERFORMANCE MEASURES IN ANNUAL REPORT 
                   ON VETERAN JOB COUNSELING, TRAINING, AND 
                   PLACEMENT PROGRAMS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR.

       Section 4107(c) of title 38, United States Code, is 
     amended--
       (1) in paragraph (2), by striking ``clause (1)'' and 
     inserting ``paragraph (1)'';
       (2) in paragraph (5), by striking ``and'' at the end;
       (3) in paragraph (6), by striking the period and inserting 
     ``; and''; and
       (4) by adding at the end the following new paragraphs:
       ``(7) performance measures for the provision of assistance 
     under this chapter, including--
       ``(A) the percentage of participants in programs under this 
     chapter who are employed after the 180-day period following 
     their completion of the program;
       ``(B) the percentage of such participants who are employed 
     after the one-year period following their completion of the 
     program;
       ``(C) the median earnings of such participants after the 
     180-day period following their completion of the program;
       ``(D) the median earnings of such participants after the 
     one-year period following their completion of the program; 
     and
       ``(E) the percentage of participants in such program who 
     complete a certificate, degree, diploma, licensure, or 
     industry-recognized credential while they are participating 
     in the program or within one year of completing the 
     program.''.

     SEC. 303. CLARIFICATION OF PRIORITY OF SERVICE FOR VETERANS 
                   IN DEPARTMENT OF LABOR JOB TRAINING PROGRAMS.

       Section 4215 of title 38, United States Code, is amended--
       (1) in subsection (a)(3), by adding at the end the 
     following: ``Such priority includes giving access to such 
     services to a covered person before a non-covered person or, 
     if resources are limited, giving access to such services to a 
     covered person instead of a non-covered person.''; and
       (2) by amending subsection (d) to read as follows:
       ``(d) Addition to Annual Report.--(1) In the annual report 
     required under section 4107(c) of this title for the program 
     year beginning in 2003 and each subsequent program year, the 
     Secretary of Labor shall evaluate whether covered persons are 
     receiving priority of service and are being fully served by 
     qualified job training programs. Such evaluation shall 
     include--
       ``(A) an analysis of the implementation of providing such 
     priority at the local level;
       ``(B) whether the representation of veterans in such 
     programs is in proportion to the incidence of representation 
     of veterans in the labor market, including within groups that 
     the Secretary may designate for priority under such programs, 
     if any; and
       ``(C) performance measures, as determined by the Secretary, 
     to determine whether veterans are receiving priority of 
     service and are being fully served by qualified job training 
     programs.
       ``(2) The Secretary may not use the proportion of 
     representation of veterans described in subparagraph (B) of 
     paragraph (1) as the basis for determining under such 
     paragraph whether veterans are receiving priority of service 
     and are being fully served by qualified job training 
     programs.''.

     SEC. 304. EVALUATION OF INDIVIDUALS RECEIVING TRAINING AT THE 
                   NATIONAL VETERANS' EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING 
                   SERVICES INSTITUTE.

       (a) In General.--Section 4109 of title 38, United States 
     Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new 
     subsection:
       ``(d) The Secretary shall require that each individual who 
     receives training provided by the Institute, or its 
     successor, is given a final examination to evaluate the 
     individual's performance in receiving such training. Each 
     such evaluation shall be designed to provide the individual 
     with a grade, which shall be designated as either a passing 
     grade or a failing grade. The results of such final 
     examination shall be provided to the entity that sponsored 
     the individual who received the training.''.
       (b) Effective Date.--Subsection (d) of section 4109 of 
     title 38, United States Code, shall apply with respect to 
     training provided by the National Veterans' Employment and 
     Training Services Institute that begins on or after the date 
     of the enactment of this Act.

     SEC. 305. REQUIREMENTS FOR FULL-TIME DISABLED VETERANS' 
                   OUTREACH PROGRAM SPECIALISTS AND LOCAL 
                   VETERANS' EMPLOYMENT REPRESENTATIVES.

       (a) Disabled Veterans' Outreach Program Specialists.--
     Section 4103A of title 38, United States Code, is amended by 
     adding at the end the following new subsection:
       ``(d) Additional Requirement for Full-Time Employees.--(1) 
     A full-time disabled veterans' outreach program specialist 
     shall perform only duties related to meeting the employment 
     needs of eligible veterans, as described in subsection (a), 
     and shall not perform other non-veteran-related duties.
       ``(2) The Secretary shall conduct regular audits to ensure 
     compliance with paragraph (1). If, on the basis of such an 
     audit, the Secretary determines that a State is not in 
     compliance with paragraph (1), the Secretary may reduce the 
     amount of a grant made to the State under section 4102A(b)(5) 
     of this title.''.
       (b) Local Veterans' Employment Representatives.--Section 
     4104 of such title is amended--
       (1) by redesignating subsection (e) as subsection (f); and
       (2) by inserting after subsection (d) the following new 
     subsection (e):
       ``(e) Additional Requirements for Full-Time Employees.--(1) 
     A full-time local veterans' employment representative shall 
     perform only duties related to the employment, training, and 
     placement services under this chapter, and shall not perform 
     other non-veteran-related duties.
       ``(2) The Secretary shall conduct regular audits to ensure 
     compliance with paragraph (1). If, on the basis of such an 
     audit, the Secretary determines that a State is not in 
     compliance with paragraph (1), the Secretary may reduce the 
     amount of a grant made to the State under section 4102A(b)(5) 
     of this title.''.

     SEC. 306. REPORT ON FINDINGS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE AND 
                   DEPARTMENT OF LABOR CREDENTIALING WORK GROUP.

       (a) In General.--The Secretary of Defense and the Secretary 
     of Labor shall jointly enter into a contract with a qualified 
     organization or entity jointly selected by the Secretaries to 
     complete the study of 10 military occupational specialties 
     already begun by the joint Department of Defense and 
     Department of Labor Credentialing Work Group to reduce 
     barriers to certification and licensure for transitioning 
     members of the Armed Forces and veterans. This study shall 
     also include an examination of current initiatives, programs, 
     and authority already established within the Department of 
     Defense and the military services to promote credentialing of 
     members of the Armed Forces and identify best practices that 
     can be leveraged by all services to increase the 
     transferability of military education, training, experience, 
     and skills.
       (b) Report.--The contract described in subsection (a) shall 
     provide that upon completion of the study described in such 
     subsection, the organization or entity with which the 
     Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Labor entered into 
     the contract shall submit to the Secretary of Defense and the 
     Secretary of Labor a report setting forth the results of the 
     study. The report shall include--
       (1) a plan for leveraging existing successful initiatives, 
     programs, and authority to promote the credentialing of all 
     members of the Armed Forces; and
       (2) such information as the Secretaries shall specify in 
     the contract.
       (c) Submittal to Congress.--Not later than March 31, 2012, 
     the Secretary of Defense

[[Page H6683]]

     and the Secretary of Labor shall jointly submit to Congress a 
     report on the results of the study described in subsection 
     (a), together with such comments on the report as the 
     Secretaries jointly consider appropriate.

      TITLE IV--IMPROVEMENTS TO UNIFORMED SERVICES EMPLOYMENT AND 
                          REEMPLOYMENT RIGHTS

     SEC. 401. CLARIFICATION OF BENEFITS OF EMPLOYMENT COVERED 
                   UNDER USERRA.

       Section 4303(2) of title 38, United States Code, is amended 
     by inserting ``the terms, conditions, or privileges of 
     employment, including'' after ``means''.

                         TITLE V--OTHER MATTERS

     SEC. 501. EXTENSION OF CERTAIN EXPIRING PROVISIONS OF LAW.

       (a) Adjustable Rate Mortgages.--Section 3707(a) of such 
     title is amended by striking ``2012'' and inserting ``2014''.
       (b) Hybrid Adjustable Rate Mortgages.--Section 3707A(a) of 
     such title is amended by striking ``2012'' and inserting 
     ``2014''.
       (c) Pool of Mortgage Loans.--Section 3720(h)(2) of title 
     38, United States Code, is amended by striking ``December 31, 
     2011'' and inserting ``December 31, 2016''.
       (d) Loan Fees.--
       (1) Extension of fees.--Section 3729(b)(2) of such title is 
     amended--
       (A) in subparagraph (A)--
       (i) in clause (iii), by striking ``November 18, 2011'' and 
     inserting ``October 1, 2017''; and
       (ii) in clause (iv), by striking ``November 18, 2011'' and 
     inserting ``October 1, 2017'';
       (B) in subparagraph (B)--
       (i) in clause (i), by striking ``November 18, 2011'' and 
     inserting ``October 1, 2017'';
       (ii) by striking clauses (ii) and (iii) and redesignating 
     clause (iv) as clause (ii); and
       (iii) in clause (ii), as so redesignated, by striking 
     ``October 1, 2013'' and inserting ``October 1, 2017'';
       (C) in subparagraph (C)--
       (i) in clause (i), by striking ``November 18, 2011'' and 
     inserting ``October 1, 2017''; and
       (ii) in clause (ii), by striking ``November 18, 2011'' and 
     inserting ``October 1, 2017''; and
       (D) in subparagraph (D)--
       (i) in clause (i), by striking ``November 18, 2011'' and 
     inserting ``October 1, 2017''; and
       (ii) in clause (ii), by striking ``November 18, 2011'' and 
     inserting ``October 1, 2017''.
       (2) Effective date.--The amendments made by paragraph (1) 
     shall take effect on the later of--
       (A) October 1, 2011; or
       (B) the date of the enactment of this Act.
       (e) Temporary Adjustment of Maximum Home Loan Guaranty 
     Amount.--Section 501 of the Veterans Benefits Improvement Act 
     of 2008 (Public Law 110-389; 122 Stat. 4175; 38 U.S.C. 3703 
     note) is amended by striking ``December 31, 2011'' and 
     inserting ``December 31, 2014''.

     SEC. 502. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS HOUSING LOAN 
                   GUARANTEES FOR SURVIVING SPOUSES OF CERTAIN 
                   TOTALLY DISABLED VETERANS.

       (a) In General.--Section 3701(b) of title 38, United States 
     Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new 
     paragraph:
       ``(6) The term `veteran' also includes, for purposes of 
     home loans, the surviving spouse of a deceased veteran who 
     dies and who was in receipt of or entitled to receive (or but 
     for the receipt of retired or retirement pay was entitled to 
     receive) compensation at the time of death for a service-
     connected disability rated totally disabling if--
       ``(A) the disability was continuously rated totally 
     disabling for a period of 10 or more years immediately 
     preceding death;
       ``(B) the disability was continuously rated totally 
     disabling for a period of not less than five years from the 
     date of such veteran's discharge or other release from active 
     duty; or
       ``(C) the veteran was a former prisoner of war who died 
     after September 30, 1999, and the disability was continuously 
     rated totally disabling for a period of not less than one 
     year immediately preceding death.''.
       (b) Effective Date.--The amendment made by subsection (a) 
     shall apply with respect to a loan guaranteed after the date 
     of the enactment of this Act.
       (c) Clarification With Respect to Certain Fees.--Fees shall 
     be collected under section 3729 of title 38, United States 
     Code, from a person described in paragraph (6) of subsection 
     (b) of section 3701 of such title, as added by subsection 
     (a), in the same manner as such fees are collected from a 
     person described in paragraph (2) of such subsection.

     SEC. 503. REIMBURSEMENT RATE FOR AMBULANCE SERVICES.

       Section 111(b)(3) of title 38, United States Code, is 
     amended by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:
       ``(C) In the case of transportation of a person under 
     subparagraph (B) by ambulance, the Secretary may pay the 
     provider of the transportation the lesser of the actual 
     charge for the transportation or the amount determined by the 
     fee schedule established under section 1834(l) of the Social 
     Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395(l)) unless the Secretary has 
     entered into a contract for that transportation with the 
     provider.''.

     SEC. 504. ANNUAL REPORTS ON POST-9/11 EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE 
                   PROGRAM AND SURVIVORS' AND DEPENDENTS' 
                   EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.

       (a) Reports Required.--
       (1) In general.--Subchapter III of chapter 33 of title 38, 
     United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the 
     following new section:

     ``Sec. 3325. Reporting requirement

       ``(a) In General.--For each academic year--
       ``(1) the Secretary of Defense shall submit to Congress a 
     report on the operation of the program provided for in this 
     chapter; and
       ``(2) the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report on 
     the operation of the program provided for in this chapter and 
     the program provided for under chapter 35 of this title.
       ``(b) Contents of Secretary of Defense Reports.--The 
     Secretary of Defense shall include in each report submitted 
     under this section--
       ``(1) information indicating--
       ``(A) the extent to which the benefit levels provided under 
     this chapter are adequate to achieve the purposes of inducing 
     individuals to enter and remain in the Armed Forces and of 
     providing an adequate level of financial assistance to help 
     meet the cost of pursuing a program of education;
       ``(B) whether it is necessary for the purposes of 
     maintaining adequate levels of well-qualified active-duty 
     personnel in the Armed Forces to continue to offer the 
     opportunity for educational assistance under this chapter to 
     individuals who have not yet entered active-duty service; and
       ``(C) describing the efforts under section 3323(b) of this 
     title to inform members of the Armed Forces of the active 
     duty service requirements for entitlement to educational 
     assistance benefits under this chapter and the results from 
     such efforts; and
       ``(2) such recommendations for administrative and 
     legislative changes regarding the provision of educational 
     assistance to members of the Armed Forces and veterans, and 
     their dependents, as the Secretary of Defense considers 
     appropriate.
       ``(c) Contents of Secretary of Veterans Affairs Reports.--
     The Secretary shall include in each report submitted under 
     this section--
       ``(1) information concerning the level of utilization of 
     educational assistance and of expenditures under this chapter 
     and under chapter 35 of this title;
       ``(2) the number of credit hours, certificates, degrees, 
     and other qualifications earned by beneficiaries under this 
     chapter and under chapter 35 of this title during the 
     academic year covered by the report; and
       ``(3) such recommendations for administrative and 
     legislative changes regarding the provision of educational 
     assistance to members of the Armed Forces and veterans, and 
     their dependents, as the Secretary considers appropriate.
       ``(d) Termination.--No report shall be required under this 
     section after January 1, 2021.''.
       (2) Clerical amendment.--The table of sections at the 
     beginning of such chapter is amended by inserting after the 
     item relating to section 3324 the following new item:

``3325. Reporting requirement.''.

       (3) Deadline for submittal of first report.--The first 
     reports required under section 3325 of title 38, United 
     States Code, as added by paragraph (1), shall be submitted by 
     not later than November 1, 2012, and shall cover the 2011-
     2012 academic year.
       (b) Repeal of Report on All Volunteer-Force Educational 
     Assistance Program.--
       (1) In general.--Chapter 30 of such title is amended by 
     striking section 3036.
       (2) Clerical amendment.--The table of sections at the 
     beginning of such chapter is amended by striking the item 
     relating to section 3036.

     SEC. 505. LIMITATION ON AMOUNT AUTHORIZED TO BE APPROPRIATED 
                   FOR EMPLOYEE TRAVEL, PRINTING, AND FLEET 
                   VEHICLES.

       The amount authorized to be appropriated for the Department 
     of Veterans Affairs for employee travel, printing, and fleet 
     vehicles for fiscal year 2012 shall not exceed $385,000,000.

     SEC. 506. EXTENSION OF REDUCED PENSION FOR CERTAIN VETERANS 
                   COVERED BY MEDICAID PLANS FOR SERVICES 
                   FURNISHED BY NURSING FACILITIES.

       Section 5503(d)(7) of title 38, United States Code, is 
     amended by striking ``May 31, 2015'' and inserting ``May 31, 
     2016''.

     SEC. 507. STATUTORY PAY-AS-YOU-GO-ACT OF 2010.

       The budgetary effects of this Act, for the purpose of 
     complying with the Statutory Pay-As-You-Go-Act of 2010, shall 
     be determined by reference to the latest statement titled 
     ``Budgetary Effects of PAYGO Legislation'' for this Act, 
     submitted for printing in the Congressional Record by the 
     Chairman of the House Budget Committee, provided that such 
     statement has been submitted prior to the vote on passage.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Florida (Mr. Miller) and the gentleman from California (Mr. Filner) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Florida.
  Mr. MILLER of Florida. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I 
may consume.
  Today I rise in strong support of H.R. 2433, as amended, the Veterans 
Opportunity to Work, or the VOW Act. The objective of H.R. 2433, as 
amended, is to use an approach that is comprehensive and is fiscally 
and programmatically sound to help a broad cross-section of

[[Page H6684]]

veterans obtain or retain meaningful employment.
  Foremost among the provisions of the VOW Act is title I of the 
original legislation that I was proud to introduce to help put our 
unemployed veterans back to work. Title I targets retraining assistance 
to 100,000 unemployed veterans of past wars by temporarily extending 
their eligibility for the Montgomery GI bill. The advantage of this 
approach is that we are providing a reasonably robust yet affordable 
benefit without creating a new program. Other provisions in this bill 
continue the comprehensive approach by mandating, with a few 
exceptions, that separating servicemembers participate in transition 
assistance program classes.
  Yet other provisions facilitate the alignment of State licensing and 
credentialing standards with the skills servicemembers learned during 
their military service to our country, and strengthening the Uniformed 
Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act provisions. The bill 
also incorporates a bill authored by the vice chairman of our 
committee, my good friend Gus Bilirakis from Florida, to direct the VA 
to collect data to determine the number of credit hours, the degrees, 
and the certificates earned by those attending courses under the GI 
bill.
  Most importantly, the data collected will help us to learn how well 
the GI bill benefits are positioning veterans to get jobs in today's 
economy and market.
  Provisions from H.R. 120, authored by the gentlewoman from North 
Carolina (Ms. Foxx), are also a part of this legislation. These 
provisions would extend the VA's home loan guaranty program to certain 
surviving spouses of chronically and severely disabled veterans. I 
thank Ms. Foxx for her continued advocacy on behalf of those whose 
support and loyalty was so important to their veteran spouses.
  And finally, I should point out that the mandatory and discretionary 
costs of the bill before us today are fully covered and are compliant 
with the budget rules of this House, according to CBO. Mandatory 
offsets are covered by extending at their present rate funding fees 
paid by veterans using their home loan guaranty benefit and by limiting 
pension payments to veterans receiving care in Medicaid-funded nursing 
homes. These are both offsets that the committee has used extensively 
in the past, and most importantly, in passing a fix to the post-9/11 GI 
bill by a vote of 424-0 in this House.
  The discretionary costs of the bill are covered by two additional 
provisions. The first eliminates the overcharging of VA by ambulance 
providers for transporting certain veterans. And the second holds VA 
employee travel, printing, and vehicle fleet costs at 2011 levels.
  To my colleagues on both sides of the aisle, I say that this is in 
fact a good bill that addresses a major issue confronting the Nation in 
a comprehensive and fiscally responsible manner with the support of the 
veterans service organizations.
  Madam Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to join me in supporting 
H.R. 2433, as amended, and I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. FILNER. I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Madam Speaker, I think the whole committee, and certainly the 
chairman and I, agree that putting veterans to work, especially at a 
time of high unemployment in general, should be one of the chief goals 
not only of this committee but of the entire Congress and our Nation. 
And when we may have, for example, double or even triple the already 
tragic unemployment rate for veterans, it becomes that much more 
important.
  Now I've heard descriptions of this bill as comprehensive and as 
meaningful. And I was looking forward to this VOW bill, the Veterans 
Opportunity to Work. I was hoping it would be a WOW bill--that is, a 
wonderful opportunity to work--but it seems it has become, and remains 
so, the HOW bill--how are we going to put anybody to work with this 
bill?
  Let me try to make that clear, Madam Speaker. Throughout the whole 
committee process that this bill went through, I described it as one 
that did not create jobs, but actually taxed veterans. Taxed veterans. 
Remember that, Madam Speaker. You took a pledge not to vote for 
anything that taxed anybody. This bill does. It actually taxes one 
group of veterans to help some other group of veterans. And I still 
feel the same way about the bill as it came through the process. Now I 
support all programs that will help veterans and improve their lives, 
and I know this bill is called a jobs bill. But, it is merely a 
retraining bill. Retraining.
  Now, we all want retraining, and we all know it's important. But I 
want to get people a job. I don't just want to retrain them and call 
this some great bill. My concern is that this bill will not get 
veterans hired at all. It may retrain them, who knows, but they'll have 
no place to get a job. And we'll have taxed one set of veterans to pay 
for their retraining--an increased tax, for all of you who took the 
pledge not to increase taxes.
  Now I think we have to support the spirit of the bill of retraining 
and try to find proper funding in a bipartisan way, and I hope that 
working with our Senate counterparts we can do that. We need proper 
funding for all of these programs that are so good. But the gentleman 
and his party don't want to ask for more money from anybody, even our 
millionaires. They want to tax one group of veterans who are trying to 
buy homes, and so they'll train this group of veterans and claim 
they're creating jobs. Now, that's not what we should be doing here in 
this Congress.
  This bill will actually diminish services to our veterans. I know 
that my counterparts, for example, want the so-called TAP classes, the 
Transition Assistance Program classes, contracted out. But I don't 
think the time is right to do that. So how do we pay for this bill for 
retraining, this VOW bill that should've been a WOW bill but is only a 
HOW bill? It says to those who want to buy a home through the VA 
housing program that your fees, which were scheduled to go down, will 
not now go down. They're going to be kept high. This refusal to extend 
a tax decrease has always been described by the party over there as a 
tax increase, so I will keep your language. You are increasing the 
taxes on one group of veterans who want to buy homes to pay for this 
retraining bill which may not get anybody a job.
  Now, I know, Madam Speaker, you're going to tell Grover Norquist 
what's going on here, get hold of him right away, because this is a 
violation of the pledge that he is requiring of all of the Republicans: 
don't raise taxes. And in his definition of raising taxes, it's 
extending fees that were going to go down that now don't go down. So 
that's an increase in taxes.
  So let's remember this when we think about the VOW bill. Let's vow to 
say we want to put people to work, we don't want to raise taxes. But 
this bill does neither. It not only doesn't put people to work, it 
raises taxes. So I cannot support the bill, Madam Speaker, and I 
reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. MILLER of Florida. Madam Speaker, I did not know that we were 
here today to hear a recitation of Dr. Seuss, but apparently we are.
  What's interesting to note is that the gentleman from California has 
supported over and over and over again reaching into fee payments to 
pay for funding of other programs which he supported, like the Filipino 
Veterans Act, which I supported. And, in fact, I was a cosponsor of 
that piece of legislation. And I find that it's interesting that in 
2010, Mr. Filner proposed nearly $1 billion in cuts to old age pension 
and aid, and attendants payments to the elderly, the poor, and the 
disabled wartime American veterans in an attempt to provide generous 
payments to noncitizen Filipino veterans of the Second World War.

                              {time}  1420

  With that, I would like to yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from 
Florida, the vice chair of the Veterans' Affairs Committee, Mr. 
Bilirakis.
  Mr. BILIRAKIS. I rise today in support of H.R. 2433, the Veterans 
Opportunity to Work Act.
  One of our Nation's most pressing concerns is job creation, Madam 
Speaker. I find it particularly disheartening when members of our armed 
services return home, only to find a difficult economic climate and a 
civilian sector workforce that cannot translate the valuable skills 
that they have

[[Page H6685]]

learned in that service. I'm so proud to have cosponsored H.R. 2433, 
which will provide veterans with meaningful transition assistance, 
retrain unemployed veterans in high-demand fields, and better link 
military skills to civilian jobs through licensing and credentialing.
  I believe that one of the greatest benefits afforded to any 
individual is the opportunity to obtain a quality education, Madam 
Speaker. As more and more of our current servicemembers return home 
from active duty, many will opt to use their post-9/11 GI benefits. I'm 
pleased that language I introduced as H.R. 2274--and I'd like to thank 
the chairman for that--was also incorporated into my bill. This 
commonsense language will create a tracking mechanism to ensure that 
the Post-9/11 Educational Assistance Program is adequately providing 
the education benefits intended in order to ensure that money for our 
heroes is being spent in the most efficient and effective manner to 
afford our veterans an education.
  Madam Speaker, as more and more men and women return home from active 
duty, we must ensure that we are easing their transition back into the 
civilian workforce as best as we can. I believe that H.R. 2433 does 
just that. I want to thank the chairman again for introducing it.
  Mr. FILNER. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  I thank the gentleman for the description of Dr. Seuss. He's a great 
citizen of the city of San Diego, and a great hero to all of us in San 
Diego. So we always quote Dr. Seuss. I understand your appreciation, 
and I'm thrilled by it.
  You are not quite as accurate, though, when you say where we got the 
money for the Filipino veterans bill. In fact, we got it from a 
completely different source. You may or may not be accurate on my 
previous votes, but I never took the pledge that you have taken, Mr. 
Chairman. I never took the pledge that all of you have taken about not 
allowing the lowering of fees as a new tax.
  Mr. MILLER of Florida. Will the gentleman yield?
  Mr. FILNER. I will yield when I'm finished. You have a lot of time 
left.
  We're coming from wholly different places. I believe in the jobs bill 
that is being voted on in the Senate, that we should actually in fact 
not only cut programs but increase our revenue from a surtax on the 
millionaires in our society. So I'm there when I say we need new funds. 
You're the ones who keep saying, Don't do anything; Don't do anything; 
Don't increase anything; Don't extend this, don't extend that. You're 
the guys who are the hypocrites here. So don't confuse my past votes 
with hypocrisy.
  In addition, there are bills before our committee, Mr. Chairman, and 
you know it, that actually increase the jobs that are available for 
veterans. They actually take steps to increase the ability for our 
veterans who are defending our Nation, who we owe so much to, to get 
the jobs.
  Besides, as you know, we have goals all over the government to hire 
veterans and to hire disabled veterans. Those goals are not enforced. 
What if we enforced those goals? We could hire thousands of veterans, 
because it is the intent of Congress and the intent of this Nation that 
they be given priority in the hiring process, especially with public 
jobs. Yet we do not enforce those goals.
  So let's not say that this is the only way to increase jobs. There 
are dozens of way, and they're in front of our committee.
  Let's go for a WOW bill; a wonderful opportunity to work for our 
veterans. Let's move off the VOW. Let's move off the taxing of one part 
of veterans to pay for the other. Let's really create jobs for those 
who have done so much for our Nation.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. MILLER of Florida. Since the gentleman, my good friend, forgot to 
yield to me during that discussion, I just want to set the record 
straight that H.R. 2297, on December 16, 2003, of which Mr. Filner was 
a cosponsor, increased--it didn't just extend--it increased fees on 
original and subsequent use loans, which was done to finance veterans 
benefits in the bill, including the burial of Philippine veterans. In 
the House he enthusiastically endorsed the bill reported out of 
committee and again endorsed a negotiated version with the Senate.
  With that, I yield 2 minutes to my colleague from North Carolina (Ms. 
Foxx).
  Ms. FOXX. I thank the gentleman from Florida, Chairman Miller, for 
bringing this legislation to the floor.
  Madam Speaker, in 30 days, our country will pause to celebrate and 
thank the millions of Americans who have worn the uniform of the United 
States. As we approach Veterans Day, we should ask ourselves if this 
Congress is doing all that can be done for our veterans. This bill 
maintains our promise not only to the men and women who have served in 
the Armed Forces, but to their families as well.
  Out of concern that some families of veterans were being excluded 
from benefits that common sense would dictate that they be eligible 
for, I authored H.R. 120, the Disabled Veterans' Spouses Home Loans 
Act. It is only right that these surviving spouses be eligible to 
receive the VA Home Loan Guaranty, even though the veterans' deaths are 
not identified as service-connected, because such veterans had 
permanent and total service-connected disabilities for at least 10 
years immediately preceding their deaths.
  H.R. 120 has been endorsed by the Disabled American Veterans, who 
agree that this legislation is long overdue. The legislation has also 
been endorsed by the 2.1 million of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, who 
believe that ``allowing a military widow to utilize the VA home loan 
program is the right thing to do.'' This legislation rightfully gives 
disabled veterans the peace of mind that their surviving spouses will 
be able to benefit from the VA Home Loan Guaranty after their death. 
These veterans and their families have sacrificed so that others may 
live freely, and for that they deserve to be eligible for this benefit.
  Again, I thank Chairman Miller for including H.R. 120 as part of H.R. 
2433 and for the great work that the committee is doing on behalf of 
America's veterans. On behalf of our veterans, I urge my colleagues to 
support this legislation.
  Mr. FILNER. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume, 
and I would yield to the gentlelady from North Carolina (Ms. Foxx).
  I appreciate the provision you put in. But do you know that the other 
provision increases the fees for veterans to buy their homes, that you 
are extending a higher fee and paying for this whole thing by taxing 
these veterans at a higher rate? Do you realize that that's what you're 
voting for, in violation of your pledge to Grover Norquist?
  Ms. FOXX. I am going to yield to my colleague from Florida (Mr. 
Miller).
  Mr. FILNER. I asked you. I didn't yield to him. I yielded to you, Ms. 
Foxx. Do you know that you're voting on an extension of taxes, in 
violation of your pledge to Grover Norquist?
  Ms. FOXX. As I said, I would yield to my colleague----
  Mr. FILNER. I don't yield to the chair. I yielded only to you.
  For the record, I guess you don't know what you're voting on, or 
you're voting against what your pledge was.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman will address his remarks to 
the Chair.
  Mr. FILNER. Madam Speaker, the gentlelady from North Carolina did not 
answer my question. I guess she either doesn't know what's in the bill, 
or she's violating her pledge. I'll leave it at that.
  Once again, we need jobs for veterans in this country. There is no 
debate about that. And there's no debate that retraining is okay. What 
we are debating here is whether this is an effective way to use the 
floor of this House to bring up a bill which will be presented as 
something that did jobs, and does nothing, and shows the hypocrisy of 
these pledges that they're voting to extend the increase----
  Mr. MILLER of Florida. Will the gentleman yield?
  Mr. FILNER. I'm not yielding.
  Mr. MILLER of Florida. Will my good friend yield?
  Mr. FILNER. I will not even yield to my good friend. Even if you were 
my best friend, I wouldn't yield to you.
  The hypocrisy of saying, we can't tax anything, we can't tax anything 
but when it comes to veterans who want to buy a home, their fees are 
going to be increased because of this bill.

[[Page H6686]]

                              {time}  1430

  Now, that ought to be known to the American people that we're going 
to vote against a 5 percent surcharge on millionaires, but we're going 
to go after these folks who are trying to buy their first home and have 
to pay higher fees.
  This Republican party is going to protect the millionaires but go 
after the veterans who can't afford a home. That's what this argument 
is about right now, under the guise of helping our veterans find jobs. 
Let's show the American people where reality is.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. MILLER of Florida. I would ask my good friend, the ranking 
member, if he would respond to a question.
  Mr. FILNER. Tell me what the question is.
  Mr. MILLER of Florida. Madam Speaker, I would ask if the gentleman 
from California supports Senator Murray's piece of legislation--which I 
believe there is almost an identical piece filed in the House by Mr. 
Bishop--does he support, yes or no, that piece of legislation?
  Mr. FILNER. Will the gentleman yield?
  Mr. MILLER of Florida. I yield to the gentleman from California.
  Mr. FILNER. No, I don't support it because it has the same funding 
thing. And I don't support the hypocrisy of the Republican Party, which 
says it's against a 5 percent surtax on millionaires but will tax 
veterans who are trying to buy their first home.
  Mr. MILLER of Florida. Reclaiming my time, Madam Speaker, I find it 
quite interesting that the gentleman from California has just called 
the Senator, who is the chair of the Veterans' Affairs Committee, a 
hypocrite, which I do not believe is appropriate.
  I believe that there are nuances and differences which we will be 
able to work out, hopefully, in conference when we bring these bills 
together. I hope that the minority will, in fact, engage in the 
conference portion of this piece of legislation because we have tried 
to engage them over and over outside of the committee structure to be 
able to give them an opportunity to give us another offset, another way 
to fund this particular piece of legislation, and they have not brought 
anything to us. So, to me, it's a problem we are trying to solve. We 
have different ways in which we are trying to accomplish goals.
  And I want to put veterans back to work, helping to retrain those, in 
particular those that are unemployed in this very, very difficult 
economic time. The overall veterans' unemployment numbers are around 
8.1 percent, and we know that the numbers with the OEF/OIF returning 
veterans are significantly higher.
  I don't believe I have any more speakers on this particular piece of 
legislation, Madam Speaker, and I would reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. FILNER. Madam Speaker, how much time do I have remaining?
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman from California has 9\1/2\ 
minutes remaining.
  Mr. FILNER. Thank you.
  Let me just correct again my friend, the chairman. I didn't call 
Chairman Murray a hypocrite. I called those of the Republican Party who 
have taken a pledge of no taxation and voting for taxes here, 
hypocrites. Let's be clear about whom I'm calling hypocrite. Let's be 
clear about that.
  Second, there are a hundred different ways to have a better bill 
here. I would support it with all my heart. There are bills before the 
committee. There are concepts that have been brought up by me and 
others. Let's bring a real jobs bill to the floor and I'll be happy to 
support it.
  Mr. MILLER of Florida. Will the gentleman yield?
  Mr. FILNER. I yield to the gentleman from Florida.
  Mr. MILLER of Florida. If there are a hundred ways to perfect the 
piece of legislation, why have you and the minority party not offered 
one, not one time in our committee? And you and I have tried very 
diligently during the preceding months in this Congress to try to be 
able to keep as nonpartisan as we possibly can, but not one time have 
you offered anything other than rhetoric to attempt to perfect this 
bill. Why haven't you offered any amendments?
  Mr. FILNER. Mr. Chairman, first of all, let me first say I do 
appreciate the efforts that you have made, very aggressively, to keep a 
bipartisan aura on this committee. And I think you and I have taken a 
whole new position than the past. We have met regularly for breakfast 
and for lunch. We have even paid for each other--without taxing others.
  But you know as well as I do, there are other bills that should have 
been brought to this floor. You wouldn't bring them up. Sanford 
Bishop's bill, for example, which came to the committee. I endorsed it. 
I don't see it anywhere. You wouldn't take it up.
  You know we can't get any amendments through your committee when you 
tell them not to vote for them. So, come on, you know the process. You 
decided that this is the bill that's going to happen.


                Announcement by the Speaker Pro Tempore

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Members will address their remarks to the 
Chair.
  Mr. FILNER. I will say through the Chair that the chairman knows very 
well how the process works. He knows that we can't get amendments 
passed. He knows there are other bills--mainly Democratic bills--that 
are before the committee; some have had a hearing, some haven't, but 
they haven't been brought to the floor. We get a ``vow'' act, we don't 
get a ``wow'' act, we get a ``how'' act. That's what has been brought 
by the leadership of the committee to the floor.
  Mr. Chairman, you have yielded to me; I will yield back here. Why 
won't you support mandatory goals for veterans or disabled veterans, as 
they are in legislation as goals--3 percent sometimes--for hiring? 
Let's make them mandatory. Do you agree to that? You asked me a 
question. Do you agree to mandatory goals for disabled veterans for 
hiring in public projects?
  Mr. MILLER of Florida. I do support goals.
  Mr. FILNER. You don't support mandatory goals.
  Mr. MILLER of Florida. I do support goals.
  Mr. FILNER. Do you support mandatory?
  Mr. MILLER of Florida. I support creating jobs.
  Mr. FILNER. You asked me yes or no, and now you won't say ``yes'' or 
``no.''


                Announcement by the Speaker Pro Tempore

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Members should bear in mind that the 
official reporters of debate cannot be expected to transcribe two 
Members simultaneously. Members should not participate in debate by 
interjection and should not expect to have the reporter transcribe 
remarks that are uttered when not properly under recognition.
  Mr. FILNER. Madam Speaker, I wish you would remind the chair that he 
asked me a yes or no. I just asked him a yes or no, and he's playing 
games with words.
  I guess it's his time, but I continue to reserve the balance of my 
time.
  Mr. MILLER of Florida. We continue to have no more speakers and would 
reserve the balance of our time until such time as the minority wishes 
to close.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
California.
  Mr. FILNER. I thank the Speaker, and I thank the chairman.
  We are good friends, and we have tried to maintain a bipartisan 
stance, but I disagree with the way this bill is brought forth. We have 
so many opportunities to increase the jobs for veterans and we're just 
not taking them. That saddens me. It's not partisan. We can do better. 
We can do better than this, and we're not taking the opportunity.
  And we get all this rhetoric over the taxes, that if you don't extend 
the Bush tax cuts, that's raising taxes; if you don't extend the 
lowering of fees, that's a tax increase. Well, here the same thing is 
being done to a small group of veterans who can't afford it.
  I'm sick of this rhetoric, Madam Speaker, that says we can't do any 
of this, we can't do any of this, we can't do this, we can't tax 
millionaires, we can't have a balanced approach to balancing the 
budget, but then we take on veterans who can't afford a home and 
increase their fees. That, for me, is the definition of hypocrisy, and 
that's why I'm against the bill.
  I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. MILLER of Florida. Madam Speaker, I thank my good friend from 
California for the lively debate.

[[Page H6687]]

  I would remind my colleagues that this piece of legislation did pass 
out of our committee with bipartisan support, 17-5.
  I would like to enter into the Record the following letters of 
support from various organizations:

                                     Military Officers Association


                                                   of America,

                                    Alexandria, VA, July 14, 2011.
     Hon. Jeff Miller,
     Chairman, Committee on Veterans Affairs, House of 
         Representatives, Washington, DC.
       Dear Chairman Miller: On behalf of the 370,000 members of 
     the Military Officers Association of America (MOAA), I am 
     writing to thank you for your leadership in introducing H.R. 
     2433, The Veterans Opportunity to Work Act.
       H.R. 2433 would re-open Vietnam Era GI Bill educational 
     benefits to certain veterans who have been chronically 
     unemployed, mandate attendance in the Transition Assistance 
     Program (TAP), require the Defense and Departments of Labor 
     to track outcome measures for TAP participants, re-authorize 
     a pilot program to link military acquired skills to civilian 
     jobs through licensing and certification, and for other 
     purposes.
       MOAA recommends including a provision in the bill to 
     require outreach by the VA to unemployed veterans who may be 
     eligible for the GI Bill benefits authorized in Title I of 
     the legislation. We would also recommend adoption of 
     Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (VRE) program 
     adjustments and other employment-related features in the 
     Hiring Heroes Act of 2011, H.R. 1941.
       MOAA pledges its full support for early enactment of H.R. 
     1941 and respectfully requests including this letter in the 
     record of any hearing to consider or mark-up this important 
     legislation.
           Sincerely,
     Norb Ryan.
                                  ____



         Disabled American Veterans, Washington, DC, July 15, 
                                                         2011.

     Hon. Jeff Miller,
     Chairman, House Veterans' Affairs Committee,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Chairman Miller: I am writing on behalf of the 
     Disabled American Veterans (DAV), a congressionally chartered 
     national veterans service organization with 1.2 million 
     members, all of whom were disabled as a result of wartime 
     active duty in the United States Armed Forces. The DAV works 
     to build better lives for America's disabled veterans, their 
     families and survivors.
       Chairman Miller, we have reviewed your bill, H.R. 2433, the 
     Veterans Opportunity to Work Act of 2011. This bill contains 
     a number of provisions of importance to America's veterans.
       Approval of this legislation would make participation in 
     the Transition Assistance Program generally mandatory for all 
     military service members. The bill would mandate that the 
     Department of Labor's (DOL's) licensure and certification 
     demonstration project, which the originating statute only 
     recommended, be carried out in an effort to identify and to 
     eliminate barriers between military training and civilian 
     licensure or credentialing for military occupational 
     specialties. Enactment of the legislation would require DOL, 
     in concert with state workforce agencies, to implement new 
     performances measures to evaluate the priority of services 
     provided to eligible veterans and mandates that Disabled 
     Veterans' Outreach Program Specialists and Local Veterans' 
     Employment Representatives' sole duty will be to assist 
     eligible veterans in finding suitable employment.
       Another important provision in this legislation is Section 
     401, which clarifies the Uniformed Services Employment and 
     Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA). While this section 
     stipulates that such protections extend to any advantages 
     earned as a result of employment to include rights and 
     benefits offered by an employer, we respectfully recommend 
     that it be amended to include allowing veterans to seek 
     medical treatment for service-connected conditions in 
     accordance with DAV Resolution 141.
       Overall, the Veterans Opportunity to Work Act of 2011 makes 
     important improvements to support veterans transitioning to 
     civilian life, especially those who return with disabilities 
     from their service. DAV supports approval of this legislation 
     and thanks you for your support of disabled veterans.
           Sincerely,
                                               Joseph A. Violante,
     National Legislative Director.
                                  ____

                                              Iraq and Afghanistan


                                          Veterans of America,

                                                    July 18, 2011.
     Hon. Jeff Miller,
     House of Representatives,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Chairman Miller: Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of 
     America (IAVA) is proud to offer our support for H.R. 2433, 
     the Veterans Opportunity to Work Act.
       The most pressing concern for new veterans in 2011 is 
     unemployment. With 13.3% unemployment for Iraq and 
     Afghanistan veterans in June 2011 and a rate of 12.3% for the 
     year overall, unemployment is one of the single greatest 
     challenges faced by veterans. Even though employment is a 
     concern for every American in the current economic 
     environment, the average unemployment rate for new veterans 
     is 25 percent higher than the rate for civilians.
       H.R. 2433 attacks this problem head on, by making 
     Transition Assistance Programs mandatory, providing veterans 
     with increased job training benefits, studying how military 
     skills translate in to the civilian market, strengthening 
     USERRA and collecting data on the effectiveness of government 
     job training and placement services.
       IAVA believes that no veteran should come home to an 
     unemployment check. We are proud to offer our assistance and 
     thank you for this meaningful legislation. If we can be of 
     help, please contact Tom Tarantino, IAVA's Senior Legislative 
     Associate, at (202) 544-7692 or [email protected].
           Sincerely,
     Paul Rieckhoff,
       Founder and Executive Director, Iraq and Afghanistan 
     Veterans of America (IAVA).
                                  ____



                                Paralyzed Veterans of America,

                                                    July 19, 2011.
     Hon. Jeff Miller,
     Chairman, Committee on Veterans' Affairs, House of 
         Representatives, Washington, DC.
       Dear Chairman Miller: On behalf of Paralyzed Veterans of 
     America (PVA), I would like to offer our support for H.R. 
     2433, the ``Veterans Opportunity to Work Act of 2011.'' The 
     employment challenges facing average Americans is certainly 
     no secret, but the challenges facing veterans, particularly 
     disabled veterans, are even greater.
       PVA appreciates the emphasis placed on improving the 
     Transition Assistance Program (TAP) in this legislation. We 
     also fully support the requirement that participation in the 
     TAP be made mandatory for all service members prior to 
     discharge. Given the difficulty that recently discharged 
     service members have achieving meaningful employment, it only 
     makes sense that they be required to participate in TAP or 
     DTAP.
       PVA also fully supports the provisions to require state 
     employment offices receiving federal grants to maintain a 
     full-time Disabled Veterans' Outreach Program (DVOP) 
     specialist and a full-time Local Veterans' Employment 
     Representative, (LVER) whose responsibilities are to only 
     serve the employment needs of eligible veterans. Too often, 
     state employment offices take advantage of DVOP and LVER 
     staff to fulfill other requirements not related to serving 
     veterans. This has long been a complaint of veterans' service 
     organizations.
       Again, we offer our strong support for H.R. 2433. 
     Meaningful employment is a vital part of improving transition 
     for service members currently serving as well as fulfilling 
     our obligation to the men and women who served in the past.
           Sincerely,
                                                       Carl Blake,
     National Legislative Director.
                                  ____



                 National Association of Realtors',

                                    Washington, DC, July 21, 2011.
     Hon. Jeff Miller,
     Chairman, House Committee on Veterans Affairs, House of 
         Representatives, Washington, DC.
       Dear Chairman Miller: On behalf of the more than 1.1 
     million members of the National Association of 
     REALTORS', we thank you for extending the loan 
     limits in H.R. 2433, the ``Veterans Opportunity to Work Act 
     of 2011''. This legislation provides extensive opportunities 
     for veterans, and will also extend the current loan limits, 
     allowing veterans fair and affordable access to home 
     mortgages.
       Since its establishment in 1944, the VA home loan guarantee 
     program has helped millions of veterans purchase and maintain 
     homes. We believe this program is a vital homeownership tool 
     that provides veterans with a centralized, affordable, and 
     accessible method of purchasing homes as a benefit for their 
     service to our nation. The current loan limits, which provide 
     loans up to 125% of local area median price, expire on 
     December 31, 2011. H.R. 2433 would extend these limits 
     through 2014. Veterans in high costs areas should not be 
     penalized for geographic differences in the housing market.
       We thank you for including this important provision in your 
     legislation, and stand ready to work with you to see its 
     enactment.
           Sincerely,
     Ron Phipps,
       2011 President,
         National Association of REALTORS'.
                                  ____

                    Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States,
                                                   August 1, 2011.
     Hon. Jeff Miller,
     Chairman, House Committee on Veterans Affairs, Washington, 
         DC.
       Dear Chairman Miller: On behalf of the 2.1 million members 
     of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States (VFW) 
     and our Auxiliaries, I am pleased to offer our support for 
     your bill, the Veterans Opportunity to Work Act, H.R. 2433, 
     which offers substantive new programs to help veterans remain 
     competitive in the workforce, and also codifies reporting 
     requirements for government authorities tasked with assisting 
     veterans in finding viable careers.
       Your important legislation will extend additional 
     assistance to an oft-overlooked demographic group of veterans 
     who remain unemployed at a time of economic uncertainty. This 
     temporary solution is a responsible stop-gap measure that 
     will help ensure that our nation's heroes can receive the 
     training and skills they need in an ever-evolving civilian 
     job market.
       The VFW also supports initiatives in the VOW Act to mandate 
     transition assistance

[[Page H6688]]

     programs and finally conduct reasonable follow-up with TAP 
     participants, as well as assessment and follow-up for 
     disabled veterans outreach program specialists (DVOPs) and 
     local veterans employment representatives (LVERs), ensuring 
     that each program serves its intended purpose--helping 
     veterans find jobs.
       The men and women who serve today are the future leaders of 
     our great nation. They deserve every opportunity to succeed 
     in the civilian workforce. However, the employment climate 
     for veterans--particularly veterans of the current 
     conflicts--is a national embarrassment that demands immediate 
     attention. Thank you for your leadership on this critical 
     issue, and for your continued support of our armed forces and 
     veterans.
           Sincerely,
                                      Raymond C. Kelley, Director,
     VFW National Legislative Service.
                                  ____



                                          The American Legion,

                                   Washington, DC, August 3, 2011.
     Hon. Jeff Miller,
     Chair, House Veterans' Affairs Committee,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Chairman Miller: On behalf of the 2.4 million members 
     of The American Legion, I express our full support for H.R. 
     2433, the Veterans Opportunity to Work Act of 2011 or VOW 
     Act, which makes improvements relating to veterans employment 
     and training.
       The Department of Labor reported in June that 1 million 
     veterans were unemployed, and of that million, over 632,000 
     are between the ages of 35 and 64. Our membership includes 
     working age veterans of the Vietnam and Persian Gulf War 
     eras, as well as, of the conflicts of Iraq and Afghanistan. 
     We are acutely concerned with the unemployment of all 
     veterans.
       Veterans separating now from the military may go to school 
     on the Post 9/11 GI Bill; however, veterans of prior 
     conflicts have no similar opportunity. Consequently, we 
     applaud your efforts with this bill to provide a time-limited 
     educational benefit to unemployed veterans aged 35 to 60 at 
     community colleges and technical training schools These 
     institutions should provide enrolled veterans with the 
     training and skills necessary to compete in the today's 
     economy. We also support the other provisions that will 
     improve the Transition Assistance Program and will ease 
     regulatory impediments to licensing and certification. The 
     American Legion believes this bill will improve the 
     employment outlook for all veterans that participate in these 
     programs.
       The American Legion welcomes your efforts to provide 
     training assistance to veterans and reduce their unacceptably 
     high unemployment and we stand ready to assist you in the 
     passage of this vital legislation. Thank you for your support 
     of America's veterans and their families.
           Sincerely,
                                                 Jimmie L. Foster,
     National Commander.
                                  ____



                                       The Military Coalition,

                                   Alexandria, VA, August 3, 2011.
     Hon. Jeff Miller,
     Chairman, Committee on Veterans Affairs,
     House of Representatives, Washington, DC.
       Dear Chairman Miller: The Military Coalition (TMC), a 
     consortium of uniformed services and veterans associations 
     representing more than 5.5 million current and former 
     servicemembers and their families and survivors, is writing 
     to thank you for your leadership in introducing HR. 2433, the 
     Veterans Opportunity to Work Act of 2011.
       H.R. 2433 would re-open Vietnam Era GI Bill educational 
     benefits to certain veterans who have been chronically 
     unemployed, mandate attendance in the Transition Assistance 
     Program (TAP), require the Department of Defense and the 
     Department of Labor to track outcome measures for TAP 
     participants, re-authorize a pilot program to link military 
     acquired skills to civilian jobs through licensing and 
     certification, and for other purposes.
       TMC recommends including a provision in the bill to require 
     outreach by the VA to unemployed veterans who may be eligible 
     for the GI Bill benefits authorized in Title I of the 
     legislation. We would also recommend extension and 
     improvement of Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (VRE) 
     program benefits provided for in similar legislation pending 
     before your Committee such as the Hiring Heroes Act of 2011.
       Our veterans have put their lives on the line to protect 
     the freedom we sometimes take for granted. They have the 
     skills, discipline and talent to succeed in the marketplace 
     but may encounter unique challenges in finding meaningful 
     employment or starting a business. The Veterans Opportunity 
     to Work Act will help our nation's veterans gain the skills 
     and knowledge they need to compete for meaningful jobs.
       The Military Coalition endorses H.R. 2433, the Veterans 
     Opportunity to Work Act of 2011 and pledges our collective 
     efforts to see it enacted this year.
           Sincerely,


                         The Military Coalition

       Air Force Sergeants Association (AFSA); Air Force Women 
     Officers Associated; AMVETS; Army Aviation Assn. of America; 
     Assn. of Military Surgeons of the United States; Assn. of the 
     US Army; Association of the United States Navy; Commissioned 
     Officers Assn. of the US Public Health Service, Inc.; CWO & 
     WO Assn. US Coast Guard; Enlisted Association of the National 
     Guard of the US; Fleet Reserve Assn.
       Gold Star Wives of America; Inc.; Iraq & Afghanistan 
     Veterans of America; Jewish War Veterans of the USA; Marine 
     Corps League; Marine Corps Reserve Association; Military 
     Officers Assn. of America; Military Order of the Purple 
     Heart; National Association for Uniformed Services; National 
     Guard Assn. of the US; National Military Family Assn.
       Naval Enlisted Reserve Assn.; Non Commissioned Officers 
     Assn. of the United States of America; Reserve Enlisted Assn. 
     of the US; Reserve Officers Assn; Society of Medical 
     Consultants to the Armed Forces; The Military Chaplains Assn. 
     of the USA; The Retired Enlisted Assn.; USCG Chief Petty 
     Officers Assn.; US Army Warrant Officers Assn.; Veterans of 
     Foreign Wars of the US; Vietnam Veterans of America.
                                  ____

                                              National Association


                                       for Uniformed Services,

                                 Springfield, VA, August 15, 2011.
     Hon. Jeff Miller,
     Chairman, Committee on Veterans' Affairs,
     House of Representatives, Washington, DC.
       Dear Chairman Miller: On behalf of the members and 
     supporters of the National Association for Uniformed Services 
     (NAUS), I am honored to pledge our full support for your 
     bill, the Veterans Opportunity to Work Act, H.R. 2433.
       The numbers of unemployed veterans reported by the 
     Department of Labor in June, was not only shocking but also 
     very disappointing. Over a million veterans looking for work 
     with the newest veterans, those from the Iraq and Afghanistan 
     conflicts, with a higher unemployment rate than the general 
     populace.
       We are heartened to see your commitment to extending every 
     possible form of help to veterans in finding gainful 
     employment. We depended on them to defend and protect our way 
     of life and now it is time for the country to honor and 
     assist those same brave men and women.
       We stand by to assist you in any way possible to ensure 
     that this bill quickly moves forward to alleviate the 
     suffering that goes with not having a job.
       Thank you for your continued support of our active duty 
     troops, our veterans and their families and survivors.
           Sincerely,
                                                 Richard A. Jones,
     Legislative Director.
                                  ____

                                                 October 11, 2011.
     Hon. Jeff Miller,
     Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Veterans 
         Affairs, Washington, DC.
       Dear Chairman Miller: On behalf of AMVETS (American 
     Veterans), I am writing to you to urge the swift, bi-partisan 
     passage today of the following bills:
       H.R. 2433--Veterans Opportunity to Work Act of 2011, as 
     amended (Sponsored by Rep. Jeff Miller/Veterans' Affairs 
     Committee)
       H.R. 2074--Veterans Sexual Assault Prevention Act, as 
     amended (Sponsored by Rep. Ann Marie Buerkle/Veterans' 
     Affairs Committee)
       H.R. 2349--Veterans' Benefits Training Improvement Act of 
     2011 (Sponsored by Rep. Jon Runyan/Veterans' Affairs 
     Committee)
       H.R. 1263--To amend the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act to 
     provide surviving spouses with certain protections relating 
     to mortgages and mortgage foreclosures (Sponsored by Rep. Bob 
     Filner/Veterans' Affairs Committee)
       H.R. 1025--To amend title 38, United States Code, to 
     recognize the service in the reserve components of certain 
     persons by honoring them with status as veterans under law 
     (Sponsored by Rep. Timothy Walz/Veterans' Affairs Committee)
       These bills are all critically important in ensuring 
     veterans have timely, high-quality, equal access to VA care 
     and benefits, as well as gainful, living-wage employment and/
     or re-employment.
       Through our close work with both the VA and Congress over 
     the past several years, AMVETS has done everything in its 
     power to assist in removing these injustices which adversely 
     impact our men and women in uniform, especially the members 
     of the National Guard.
       Now is the time for the action that only you, the members 
     of the 112th Congress, can provide our veterans. The long-
     awaited and much needed passage of the aforesaid legislation 
     will remove all of the obstacles and injustices veterans are 
     continuing to experience under the status quo. AMVETS, the 
     VSO and veteran's communities look to your leadership to 
     finally close these loopholes to care and earned benefits.
       Please be assured of our ongoing support of all veteran 
     issues and feel free to call on us if you could benefit from 
     our military expertise.
           Sincerely,

                                             Diane M. Zumatto,

                                    National Legislative Director,
                                                           AMVETS.


                             General Leave

  Mr. MILLER of Florida. I also ask unanimous consent that all Members 
have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks on 
H.R. 2433, as amended.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Florida?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. MILLER of Florida. I once again encourage all Members to support 
this

[[Page H6689]]

legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.

                              {time}  1440

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Florida (Mr. Miller) that the House suspend the rules 
and pass the bill, H.R. 2433, as amended.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds 
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
  Mr. FILNER. Madam Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, further 
proceedings on this question will be postponed.

                          ____________________