[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.

                          ____________________