[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 81 (Wednesday, May 28, 2014)]
[House]
[Pages H4861-H4863]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 REESTABLISHMENT OF PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATION AND LICENSURE ADVISORY 
                               COMMITTEE

  Mr. MILLER of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and 
pass the bill (H.R. 2942) to amend title 38, United States Code, to 
reestablish the Professional Certification and Licensure Advisory 
Committee of the Department of Veterans Affairs.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 2942

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

     SECTION 1. REESTABLISHMENT OF PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATION AND 
                   LICENSURE ADVISORY COMMITTEE.

       (a) Reestablishment.--Section 3689(e)(5) of title 38, 
     United States Code, is amended by

[[Page H4862]]

     striking ``December 31, 2006'' and inserting ``December 31, 
     2019''.
       (b) Appointment of New Members.--In reestablishing the 
     Professional Certification and Licensure Advisory Committee 
     under subsection (e) of section 3689 of title 38, United 
     States Code, pursuant to subsection (a), the Secretary of 
     Veterans Affairs may appoint new members of the Committee 
     under paragraph (3)(A) of such subsection (e) without regard 
     to the individuals who served as members before the date of 
     the enactment of this Act.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Florida (Mr. Miller) and the gentlewoman from Arizona (Mrs. 
Kirkpatrick) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Florida.


                             General Leave

  Mr. MILLER of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all 
Members would have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend 
their remarks on H.R. 2942.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Florida?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. MILLER of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I do rise today in support of H.R. 2942, that amends 
title 38 of the United States Code, reestablishing the Professional 
Certification and Licensure Advisory Committee at the Department of 
Veterans Affairs.
  I know my colleague who introduced this bill, Mrs. Kirkpatrick, will 
go into greater detail as to the importance of this legislation, but I 
do believe that this bill is another step in the right direction to 
assist our veterans as they look for work in the civilian sector 
following their service to our great Nation.
  The reestablishment of the Professional Certification and Licensure 
Advisory Committee would improve the quality of both the Department of 
Veterans Affairs' and State approving agencies' licensing and 
certification process and will ultimately benefit our servicemembers, 
as well as employers, and ease the process of placing veterans in 
civilian careers that match their skills.
  Mr. Speaker, although the unemployment rate for veterans is lower 
than the national average for nonveterans, getting veterans into a job 
must remain an issue of national importance. Reestablishing this 
advisory committee will be yet another tool to help veterans get into a 
career in a timely fashion.
  We have already made the investment to train our veterans during 
their military service for careers in the civilian sector, and by 
getting advice from industry experts on how to streamline and improve 
licensing and credentialing, we will make it easier for veterans to 
find meaningful and timely employment.
  So with that, Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to support 
H.R. 2942, and I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mrs. KIRKPATRICK. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of my bill, H.R. 
2942, and I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 2942, a bill that will 
help transitioning servicemembers find employers who want to make a 
smart investment hiring a veteran.
  This bill, to reestablish the Professional Certification and 
Licensure Advisory Committee of the Department of Veterans Affairs, 
will allow subject-matter experts to review State licenses and 
credentialing to certify that military men and women in specific career 
fields are able to transfer their skills to the private sector.
  By the time most of our servicemen and -women leave the military, 
they have gained a wealth of experience that can translate into 
civilian career fields. In addition to teamwork, perseverance, loyalty, 
and leadership, our military servicemembers possess technical skills 
that are available to employers.
  Unfortunately, many of our military servicemen and -women have 
difficulty finding jobs after leaving the military because they don't 
have a civilian license or certification.
  They possess the same skills and have the same training, but can't 
obtain employment in their career field because they need a license.
  In a tough job market, this creates one more barrier for our 
transitioning military men and women that can mean the difference 
between finding and not finding a job.
  This bill addresses some of these barriers for our newest veterans. 
Under this bill, the VA's advisory committee on professional 
certification and licensure, which ended in 2006, will be reestablished 
through December 2019.
  In addition to helping veterans transfer their skills toward civilian 
licenses, these subject-matter experts will advise the VA to recognize 
new licensing and certification programs, so that veterans can use 
their GI Bill benefits to pay for the cost of these training programs 
and licensing exams.
  This advisory committee will also make it easier for veterans to 
comply with State licensing requirements that may differ from State to 
State. This will give veterans more options in their choice of training 
and certification programs, since veterans cannot use their GI Bill 
benefits toward programs that are not VA-approved, even though 
completion of many of these programs would give veterans the licenses 
they need.
  When veterans are able to put their skills to work, they are able to 
support their families, businesses profit, and communities benefit.
  Again, I urge your support for these men and women as they return 
home and ask you to ensure their valuable time in the military is not 
lost.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. MILLER of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers at 
this time, so I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mrs. KIRKPATRICK. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to 
the gentleman from California (Mr. Takano).
  Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from Arizona (Mrs. 
Kirkpatrick) for introducing H.R. 2942, which will have an important 
impact on the lives of our servicemen and -women separating from the 
military.
  I also want to extend my thanks to Chairman Miller for the bipartisan 
way in which he leads our committee.
  During my time as ranking member of the Economic Opportunity 
Subcommittee, I have seen how transitioning servicemembers can struggle 
to find employment. Life beyond the military can be complicated, as we 
found out from employers who attended a March veterans employment 
roundtable hosted by myself and our committee's ranking member, the 
gentleman from Maine (Mr. Michaud).
  These are men and woman who have real work experience, but are still 
struggling to find steady, meaningful employment. Meanwhile, when they 
return to their communities, people are shaking their hands and 
thanking them for their service, when what they really need is a job.
  Many employers have recognized the skills veterans bring to the 
table, but there is still so much more work to be done. By passing this 
legislation, we will be sending a clear message of our respect for 
military members' service and their experience as professionals.
  Reestablishing the advisory committee on professional certification 
and licensure will ensure veterans get the broadest and most 
comprehensive support to acknowledge the skills they have earned and 
the experience they have gained while in the military.
  By supporting this legislation, we will help ensure these men and 
women can be our next nurse, electrician, or plumber or engineer or any 
other professional they are qualified to be.
  Please, I urge my colleagues to support this legislation.
  Mr. MILLER of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers. I 
continue to reserve the balance of my time.
  Mrs. KIRKPATRICK. Mr. Speaker, in closing, I just want to thank 
Chairman Miller, Ranking Member Michaud, and the committee staff for 
working with me on this legislation.
  I urge my colleagues to pass this. Earlier this year, I had the 
opportunity to visit some military bases, talking to our men and women 
who will soon transition out of the military and become veterans, and 
the number one concern they had was: Where am I going to find a job? 
How am I going to find a job?
  So this bill is critically important to our veterans. They deserve to 
know that they are going to find meaningful work when they come back 
and especially in the areas that they have been trained in the 
military.
  Mr. Speaker, I thank the committee and the staff for helping me with 
this.

[[Page H4863]]

I urge my colleagues to support this bill.
  Mr. Speaker, I don't have any further speakers, so I yield back the 
balance of my time.
  Mr. MILLER of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I congratulate the gentlelady for 
her fine work, and I urge all of my colleagues to support H.R. 2942.
  I yield back the balance of my time.
  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. 2942.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the bill was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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