[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 129 (Wednesday, September 9, 2015)]
[Senate]
[Pages S6539-S6540]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
BORDER JOBS FOR VETERANS ACT OF 2015
Mrs. FISCHER. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate
proceed to the immediate consideration of Calendar No. 196, S. 1603.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the bill by title.
The senior assistant legislative clerk read as follows:
A bill (S. 1603) to actively recruit members of the Armed
Forces who are separating from military service to serve as
Customs and Border Protection Officers.
There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the bill,
which had been reported from the Committee on Homeland Security and
Governmental Affairs, with an amendment to strike all after the
enacting clause and insert in lieu thereof the following:
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Border Jobs for Veterans Act
of 2015''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress finds the following:
(1) Customs and Border Protection Officers at United States
ports of entry carry out critical law enforcement duties
associated with screening foreign visitors, returning United
States citizens, and imported cargo entering the United
States.
(2) It is in the national interest for United States ports
of entry to be adequately staffed with Customs and Border
Protection Officers in a timely fashion, including meeting
the congressionally funded staffing target of 23,775 officers
for fiscal year 2015.
(3) An estimated 250,000 to 300,000 members of the Armed
Forces separate from military service every year.
(4) Recruiting efforts and expedited hiring procedures
should be undertaken to ensure that qualified individuals
separating from military service are aware of, and partake
in, opportunities to fill vacant Customs and Border
Protection Officer positions.
SEC. 3. EXPEDITED HIRING OF APPROPRIATE SEPARATING SERVICE
MEMBERS.
(a) Identification of Transferable Qualifications.--Not
later than 60 days after the date of the enactment of this
Act, the Secretary of Homeland Security, in conjunction with
the Secretary of Defense, shall jointly identify Military
Occupational Specialty Codes, Air Force Specialty Codes,
Naval Enlisted Classifications and Officer Designators, and
Coast Guard Competencies that are transferable to the
requirements, qualifications, and duties assigned to Customs
and Border Protection Officers.
(b) Hiring.--The Secretary of Homeland Security shall
consider hiring qualified candidates with the Military
Occupational Specialty Codes, Air Force Specialty Codes,
Naval Enlisted Classifications and Officer Designators, and
Coast Guard Competencies identified as transferable under
subsection (a) who are eligible for veterans recruitment
appointment authorized under section 4214 of title 38, United
States Code.
SEC. 4. ESTABLISHING A PROGRAM FOR RECRUITING SERVICE MEMBERS
SEPARATING FROM MILITARY SERVICE FOR CUSTOMS
AND BORDER PROTECTION OFFICER VACANCIES.
(a) In General.--Not later than 180 days after the date of
the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Homeland
Security, in conjunction with the Secretary of Defense, shall
establish a program to actively recruit members of the Armed
Forces who are separating from military service to serve as
Customs and Border Protection Officers.
(b) Elements.--The program established under subsection (a)
shall--
(1) include Customs and Border Protection Officer
opportunities in relevant job assistance efforts under the
Transition Assistance Program;
(2) place U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials or
other relevant Department of Homeland Security officials at
recruiting events and jobs fairs involving members of the
Armed Forces who are separating from military service;
(3) provide opportunities for local U.S. Customs and Border
Protection field offices to partner with military bases in
the region;
(4) conduct outreach efforts to educate members of the
Armed Forces with Military Occupational Specialty Codes, Air
Force Specialty Codes, Naval Enlisted Classifications and
Officer Designators, and Coast Guard Competencies that are
transferable to the requirements, qualifications, and duties
assigned to Customs and Border Protection Officers of
available hiring opportunities to become Customs and Border
Protection Officers;
(5) require the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of
Homeland Security to work cooperatively to identify shared
activities and opportunities for reciprocity related to steps
in hiring U.S. Customs and Border Patrol officers with the
goal of minimizing the time required to hire qualified
applicants;
(6) require the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of
Homeland Security to work cooperatively to ensure the
streamlined interagency transfer of relevant background
investigations and security clearances; and
(7) include such other elements as may be necessary to
ensure that members of the Armed Forces who are separating
from military service are aware of opportunities to fill
vacant Customs and Border Protection Officer positions.
SEC. 5. REPORT TO CONGRESS.
(a) In General.--Not later than 180 days after the date of
the enactment of this Act, and not later than December 31 of
each of the 3 successive years, the Secretary of Homeland
Security and the Secretary of Defense shall jointly submit a
report to the appropriate congressional committees that
includes a description and assessment of the program
established under section 4.
(b) Content.--The report required under subsection (a)
shall include--
(1) a detailed description of the program established under
section 4, including--
(A) programmatic elements;
(B) goals associated with those elements; and
(C) a description of how the elements and goals will assist
in meeting statutorily mandated staffing levels and agency
hiring benchmarks;
(2) a detailed description of the program elements that
have been implemented under section 4;
(3) a detailed summary of the actions taken under section 4
to implement such program elements;
(4) the number of separating service members made aware of
Customs and Border Protection Officer vacancies;
(5) the Military Occupational Specialty Codes, Air Force
Specialty Codes, Naval Enlisted Classifications and Officer
Designators, and Coast Guard Competencies identified as
transferable under section 3(a) and a rationale for such
identifications;
(6) the number of Customs and Border Protection Officer
vacancies filled with separating service members;
(7) the number of Customs and Border Protection Officer
vacancies filled with separating service members under
veterans recruitment appointment authorized under the section
4214 of title 38, United States Code; and
(8) the results of any evaluations or considerations of
additional elements included or not included in the program
established under section 4.
SEC. 6. RULES OF CONSTRUCTION.
Nothing in this Act may be construed--
(a) as superseding, altering, or amending existing Federal
veterans' hiring preferences or Federal hiring authorities;
or
(b) as authorizing the appropriation of additional amounts
to carry out this Act.
Mrs. FISCHER. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the
committee-reported substitute amendment be withdrawn; the Johnson
substitute amendment be agreed to; the bill, as amended, be read a
third time and passed; and that the motion to reconsider be considered
made and laid upon the table.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
The committee-reported substitute amendment was withdrawn.
The amendment (No. 2648) in the nature of a substitute was agreed to,
as follows:
(Purpose: In the nature of a substitute)
Strike all after the enacting clause and insert the
following:
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Border Jobs for Veterans Act
of 2015''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress finds the following:
[[Page S6540]]
(1) Customs and Border Protection Officers at United States
ports of entry carry out critical law enforcement duties
associated with screening foreign visitors, returning United
States citizens, and imported cargo entering the United
States.
(2) It is in the national interest for United States ports
of entry to be adequately staffed with Customs and Border
Protection Officers in a timely fashion, including meeting
the congressionally funded staffing target of 23,775 officers
for fiscal year 2015.
(3) An estimated 250,000 to 300,000 members of the Armed
Forces separate from military service every year.
(4) Recruiting efforts and expedited hiring procedures must
be enhanced to ensure that qualified individuals separating
from military service are aware of, and partake in,
opportunities to fill vacant Customs and Border Protection
Officer positions.
SEC. 3. EXPEDITED HIRING OF APPROPRIATE SEPARATING SERVICE
MEMBERS.
(a) Identification of Transferable Qualifications.--Not
later than 60 days after the date of the enactment of this
Act, the Secretary of Homeland Security, in conjunction with
the Secretary of Defense, shall identify Military
Occupational Specialty Codes and Officer Branches, Air Force
Specialty Codes, Naval Enlisted Classifications and Officer
Designators, and Coast Guard Competencies that are
transferable to the requirements, qualifications, and duties
assigned to Customs and Border Protection Officers.
(b) Hiring.--The Secretary of Homeland Security shall
consider hiring qualified candidates with the Military
Occupational Specialty Codes, Air Force Specialty Codes,
Naval Enlisted Classifications and Officer Designators, and
Coast Guard Competencies identified as transferable under
subsection (a) who are eligible for veterans recruitment
appointment authorized under section 4214 of title 38, United
States Code.
SEC. 4. ENHANCEMENTS TO EXISTING PROGRAMS TO RECRUIT SERVICE
MEMBERS SEPARATING FROM MILITARY SERVICE FOR
CUSTOMS AND BORDER PROTECTION OFFICER
VACANCIES.
(a) In General.--The Secretary of Homeland Security, in
conjunction with the Secretary of Defense, and acting through
existing programs, authorities, and agreements, where
applicable, shall enhance the efforts of the Department of
Homeland Security to recruit members of the Armed Forces who
are separating from military service to serve as Customs and
Border Protection Officers.
(b) Elements.--The enhanced recruiting efforts under
subsection (a) shall--
(1) include Customs and Border Protection Officer
opportunities in relevant job assistance efforts under the
Transition Assistance Program;
(2) place U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials or
other relevant Department of Homeland Security officials at
recruiting events and jobs fairs involving members of the
Armed Forces who are separating from military service;
(3) provide opportunities for local U.S. Customs and Border
Protection field offices to partner with military bases in
the region;
(4) include outreach efforts to educate members of the
Armed Forces with Military Occupational Specialty Codes and
Officer Branches, Air Force Specialty Codes, Naval Enlisted
Classifications and Officer Designators, and Coast Guard
Competencies that are transferable to the requirements,
qualifications, and duties assigned to Customs and Border
Protection Officers of available hiring opportunities to
become Customs and Border Protection Officers;
(5) require the Secretary of Homeland Security and the
Secretary of Defense to work cooperatively to identify shared
activities and opportunities for reciprocity related to steps
in hiring U.S. Customs and Border Patrol officers with the
goal of minimizing the time required to hire qualified
applicants;
(6) require the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of
Homeland Security to work cooperatively to ensure the
streamlined interagency transfer of relevant background
investigations and security clearances; and
(7) include such other elements as may be necessary to
ensure that members of the Armed Forces who are separating
from military service are aware of opportunities to fill
vacant Customs and Border Protection Officer positions.
SEC. 5. REPORT TO CONGRESS.
(a) In General.--Not later than 180 days after the date of
the enactment of this Act, and not later than December 31 of
each of the 3 successive years, the Secretary of Homeland
Security and the Secretary of Defense shall jointly submit a
report to the appropriate congressional committees that
includes a description and assessment of the efforts of the
Department of Homeland Security to hire separating service
members as Customs and Border Protection Officers.
(b) Content.--The report required under subsection (a)
shall include--
(1) a detailed description of the proposed efforts under
section 4, including--
(A) elements of the enhanced recruiting efforts;
(B) goals associated with those elements; and
(C) a description of how the elements and goals will assist
in meeting statutorily mandated staffing levels and agency
hiring benchmarks;
(2) a detailed description of the efforts that have been
undertaken under section 4;
(3) the number of separating service members made aware of
Customs and Border Protection Officer vacancies;
(4) the Military Occupational Specialty Codes and Officer
Branches, Air Force Specialty Codes, Naval Enlisted
Classifications and Officer Designators, and Coast Guard
Competencies identified as transferable under section 3(a)
and a rationale for such identifications;
(5) the number of Customs and Border Protection Officer
vacancies filled with separating service members; and
(6) the number of Customs and Border Protection Officer
vacancies filled with separating service members under
veterans recruitment appointment authorized under section
4214 of title 38, United States Code.
SEC. 6. RULES OF CONSTRUCTION.
Nothing in this Act may be construed--
(a) to supersede, alter, or amend existing Federal
veterans' hiring preferences or Federal hiring authorities;
or
(b) to authorize the appropriation of additional amounts to
carry out this Act.
The bill (S. 1603), as amended, was ordered to be engrossed for a
third reading, was read the third time, and passed.
____________________