[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 168 (Monday, November 16, 2015)]
[House]
[Pages H8169-H8170]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




PROVIDING FUNDS TO THE ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS TO ASSIST WITH CURATION 
                  AND HISTORIC PRESERVATION ACTIVITIES

  Mr. GIBBS. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill 
(H.R. 3114) to provide funds to the Army Corps of Engineers to hire 
veterans and members of the Armed Forces to assist the Corps with 
curation and historic preservation activities, and for other purposes, 
as amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                                H.R. 3114

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

     SECTION 1. FINDINGS.

       Congress finds the following:
       (1) The Corps of Engineers and other Federal agencies are 
     required to preserve and catalogue artifacts and other items 
     of national historical significance that are uncovered during 
     the course of their work (notably under part 79 of title 36, 
     Code of Federal Regulations).
       (2) Uncatalogued artifacts within the care of Federal 
     agencies are stored in hundreds of repositories and museums 
     across the Nation.
       (3) In October 2009, the Corps of Engineers, Center of 
     Expertise for the Curation and Management of Archaeological 
     Collections, initiated the Veterans' Curation Program to 
     employ and train Iraq and Afghanistan veterans in 
     archaeological processing.
       (4) The Veterans' Curation Program employs veterans and 
     members of the Armed Forces in the sorting, cleaning, and 
     cataloguing of artifacts managed by the Corps of Engineers.
       (5) Employees of the Veterans' Curation Program gain 
     valuable work skills, including computer database management, 
     records management, photographic and scanning techniques, 
     computer software proficiency, vocabulary and writing skills, 
     and interpersonal communication skills, as well as knowledge 
     and training in archaeology and history.
       (6) Since 2009, a total of 241 veterans have participated 
     in the Veterans' Curation Program, including the current 
     class of 38 participants. Of the 203 graduates of the 
     program, 87 percent have received permanent employment in a 
     field related to training received under the program or 
     chosen to continue their education.
       (7) Experience in archaeological curation gained through 
     the Veterans' Curation Program is valuable training and 
     experience for the museum, forensics, administrative, records 
     management, and other fields.
       (8) Veterans' Curation Program participants may assist the 
     Corps of Engineers in developing a more efficient and 
     comprehensive collections management program and also may 
     provide the workforce to meet the records management needs at 
     other agencies and departments, including the Department of 
     Veterans Affairs.

     SEC. 2. TRAINING AND EMPLOYMENT FOR VETERANS AND MEMBERS OF 
                   ARMED FORCES IN CURATION AND HISTORIC 
                   PRESERVATION.

       Using available funds, the Secretary of the Army, acting 
     through the Chief of Engineers, shall carry out a Veterans' 
     Curation Program to hire veterans and members of the Armed 
     Forces to assist the Secretary in carrying out curation and 
     historic preservation activities.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Ohio (Mr. Gibbs) and the gentlewoman from California (Mrs. Napolitano) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Ohio.


                             General Leave

  Mr. GIBBS. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may 
have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and 
include extraneous materials on H.R. 3114.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Ohio?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. GIBBS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  As our veterans return home, they deserve opportunities for 
employment in addition to our thanks for their brave sacrifice and 
service.
  I believe one of the greatest responsibilities our government has is 
to ensure the members of our military, both Active and retired, and 
their families have opportunities upon returning home.
  Our veterans gave a career of service to their country, risked their 
lives in combat, and experienced long periods of separation from their 
families.
  The Veterans Curation Program was created to give veterans the 
opportunity to adjust to a civilian work environment and learn 
important skills while processing at-risk archeological collections 
belonging to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
  By investing in servicemembers, the Veterans Curation Program is 
building on the skills that veterans acquire during military service, 
including leadership, teamwork, and attention to detail.
  Working under the direct supervision of professionals in the field of 
archaeology, the veterans receive competitive pay and technical 
training in a peer-to-peer veterans environment. I urge all Members to 
support the bill.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mrs. NAPOLITANO. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I too rise in support of H.R. 3114, as stated by my 
colleague, a bipartisan bill, introduced along with my colleague, 
Congressman Rodney Davis from Illinois, to permanently authorize 
available funds from the Army Corps of Engineers to hire veterans for 
curation and historic preservation of archaeological sites, items of 
historical value during their excavation and during other related 
activities.
  It is very notable that, on the legislative week immediately 
following Veterans Day, the House is considering important legislation 
to provide job training assistance to hire and train our veterans.
  As part of our government's effort to protect our Nation's 
archaeological heritage, Federal agencies are required to provide 
curation and preservation services to professional museums and archival 
practices.
  In 2009, the Army Corps of Engineers began training veterans in 
archaeological processing activities, using temporary funds provided by 
the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act, otherwise known as ARRA.
  For 6 years, veterans have enrolled in the program, and have been 
acquiring valuable job skills, including but not limited to computer 
database management, records management, scanning, and photographing 
records and artifacts. These are skills further preparing our veterans 
for today's competitive job market by giving them valuable, hands-on 
experience.
  As of earlier this year, 231 veterans have gone through the program, 
and currently they have 38 veterans in this current class.
  As a direct result of the program, 139 veterans have obtained 
permanent employment; 39 have continued their education, either at 
colleges, universities, or in certificated programs.
  Not only does the Corps' Veterans Curation Program educate, train, 
and employ veterans, the program's jobs are tailored to fit the 
capabilities of disabled veterans. The Corps undertakes these 
activities in three facilities across our country, located in Georgia, 
Virginia, and Missouri.
  Mr. Speaker, my colleagues and I are grateful for the chance to 
provide our veterans an opportunity to continue

[[Page H8170]]

healing by carrying out meaningful work and job training that is 
helping them and their families reintegrate, become more productive, 
and that is so beneficial to our Nation.
  I urge all my colleagues to support making this worthwhile program 
permanent and joining me in passing this legislation.
  Mr. Speaker, this is a program that is very worthwhile. It is one of 
the agency's many efforts to continue helping our veterans be able to 
get job training, get job skills, and be able to sustain their families 
in a way that may make them feel whole again. I do ask all my 
colleagues to support this.
  I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. GIBBS. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting 
this important legislation.
  I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Gibbs) that the House suspend the rules and 
pass the bill, H.R. 3114, 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.
  Mrs. NAPOLITANO. Mr. 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 motion will be postponed.

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