[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 170 (Tuesday, November 29, 2016)]
[House]
[Pages H6340-H6343]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  HONORING INVESTMENTS IN RECRUITING AND EMPLOYING AMERICAN MILITARY 
                          VETERANS ACT OF 2016

  Mr. MILLER of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and 
pass the bill (H.R. 3286) to encourage effective, voluntary private 
sector investments to recruit, employ, and retain men and women who 
have served in the United States military with annual presidential 
awards to private sector employers recognizing such efforts, and for 
other purposes, as amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 3286

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

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Honoring Investments in 
     Recruiting and Employing American Military Veterans Act of 
     2016'' or the ``HIRE Vets Act''.

     SEC. 2. HIRE VETS MEDALLION PROGRAM.

       (a) Program Established.--Not later than one year after the 
     date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Labor shall 
     establish, by rule, a HIRE Vets Medallion Program to solicit 
     voluntary information from employers for purposes of 
     recognizing, by means of an award to be designated a ``HIRE 
     Vets Medallion'', verified efforts by such employers--
       (1) to recruit, employ, and retain veterans; and
       (2) to provide community and charitable services supporting 
     the veteran community.
       (b) Application Process.--Beginning in the calendar year 
     following the calendar year in which the Secretary 
     establishes the program--
       (1) the Secretary shall annually--
       (A) solicit and accept voluntary applications from 
     employers in order to consider whether those employers should 
     receive a HIRE Vets Medallion;
       (B) review applications received in each calendar year; and
       (C) provide to the President a list of recipients; and
       (2) the President shall annually--
       (A) notify such recipients of their awards; and
       (B) at a time to coincide with the annual commemoration of 
     Veterans Day--
       (i) announce the names of such recipients;
       (ii) recognize such recipients through publication in the 
     Federal Register; and
       (iii) issue to each such recipient--

       (I) a HIRE Vets Medallion of the level determined under 
     section 3; and
       (II) a certificate stating that such employer is entitled 
     to display such HIRE Vets Medallion during the following 
     calendar year, to be designated a ``HIRE Vets Medallion 
     Certificate''.

[[Page H6341]]

       (c) Timing.--
       (1) Solicitation period.--The Secretary shall solicit 
     applications not later than January 31st of each calendar 
     year for the medallions to be awarded in November of that 
     calendar year.
       (2) End of acceptance period.--The Secretary shall stop 
     accepting applications not earlier than April 30th of each 
     calendar year for the medallions to be awarded in November of 
     that calendar year.
       (3) Review period.--The Secretary shall finish reviewing 
     applications not later than August 31st of each calendar year 
     for the medallions to be awarded in November of that calendar 
     year.
       (4) Recommendations to president.--The Secretary shall 
     provide to the President a list of employers to receive HIRE 
     Vets Medallions not later than September 30th of each 
     calendar year for the medallions to be awarded in November of 
     that calendar year.
       (5) Notice to recipients.--The President shall notify 
     employers who will receive HIRE Vets Medallions not later 
     than October 11th of each calendar year for the medallions to 
     be awarded in November of that calendar year.

     SEC. 3. SELECTION OF RECIPIENTS.

       (a) Application Review Process.--
       (1) In general.--The Secretary shall review all 
     applications received in a calendar year to determine whether 
     an employer should receive a HIRE Vets Medallion, and, if so, 
     of what level.
       (2) Application contents.--The Secretary shall require that 
     all applications provide information on the programs and 
     other efforts of applicant employers during the calendar year 
     prior to that in which the medallion is to be awarded, 
     including the categories and activities governing the level 
     of award for which the applicant is eligible under subsection 
     (b).
       (3) Verification.--In reviewing applications, the Secretary 
     shall verify all information provided in the applications, to 
     the extent that such information is relevant in determining 
     whether or not an applicant should receive a HIRE Vets 
     Medallion or in determining the appropriate level of HIRE 
     Vets Medallion for that employer to receive.
       (b) Awards.--
       (1) Large employers.--
       (A) In general.--The Secretary shall establish two levels 
     of HIRE Vets Medallions to be awarded to employers employing 
     500 or more employees, to be designated the ``Gold HIRE Vets 
     Medallion'' and the ``Platinum HIRE Vets Medallion''.
       (B) Gold hire vets medallion.--No employer shall be 
     eligible to receive a Gold HIRE Vets Medallion in a given 
     calendar year unless--
       (i) veterans constitute not less than 7 percent of all 
     employees hired by such employer during the prior calendar 
     year;
       (ii) such employer has established an employee veteran 
     organization or resource group to assist new veteran 
     employees with integration, including coaching and mentoring; 
     and
       (iii) such employer has established programs to enhance the 
     leadership skills of veteran employees during their 
     employment.
       (C) Platinum hire vets medallion.--No employer shall be 
     eligible to receive a Platinum HIRE Vets Medallion in a given 
     calendar year unless--
       (i) veterans constitute not less than 10 percent of all 
     employees hired by such employer during the prior calendar 
     year;
       (ii) such employer retains through the end of the prior 
     calendar year not less than 85 percent of veteran employees 
     hired during the calendar year before the prior calendar 
     year;
       (iii) such employer employs dedicated human resources 
     professionals to support hiring and retention of veteran 
     employees, including efforts focused on veteran hiring and 
     training;
       (iv) such employer provides each of its employees serving 
     on active duty in the United States National Guard or Reserve 
     with compensation sufficient, in combination with the 
     employee's active duty pay, to achieve a combined level of 
     income commensurate with the employee's salary prior to 
     undertaking active duty; and
       (v) such employer has established a tuition assistance 
     program to support veteran employees' attendance in 
     postsecondary education during the term of their employment.
       (D) Exemption for smaller employers.--An employer shall be 
     deemed to meet the requirements of subparagraph (C)(iv) if 
     such employer--
       (i) employs 5,000 or fewer employees; and
       (ii) employs at least one human resources professional 
     whose regular work duties include those described under 
     subparagraph (C)(iii).
       (E) Additional criteria.--The Secretary may provide, by 
     rule, additional criteria with which to determine 
     qualifications for receipt of each level of HIRE Vets 
     Medallion.
       (2) Small- and medium-sized employers.--The Secretary shall 
     establish similar awards in order to recognize achievements 
     in supporting veterans by--
       (A) employers with 50 or fewer employees; and
       (B) employers with more than 50 but fewer than 500 
     employees.
       (c) Design by Secretary.--The Secretary shall establish the 
     shape, form, and metallic content of each HIRE Vets 
     Medallion.

     SEC. 4. DISPLAY OF AWARD.

       (a) In General.--The recipient of a HIRE Vets Medallion 
     may--
       (1) publicly display such medallion through the end of the 
     calendar year following receipt of such medallion; and
       (2) publicly display the HIRE Vets Medallion Certificate 
     issued in conjunction with such medallion.
       (b) Unlawful Display Prohibited.--It is unlawful for any 
     employer to publicly display a HIRE Vets Medallion, in 
     connection with, or as a part of, any advertisement, 
     solicitation, business activity, or product--
       (1) for the purpose of conveying, or in a manner reasonably 
     calculated to convey, a false impression that the employer 
     received the medallion through the HIRE Vets Medallion 
     Program, if such employer did not receive such medallion 
     through the HIRE Vets Medallion Program; or
       (2) for the purpose of conveying, or in a manner reasonably 
     calculated to convey, a false impression that the employer 
     received the medallion through the HIRE Vets Medallion 
     Program during the preceding calendar year if it is after the 
     end of the calendar year following the calendar year in which 
     such medallion was issued to such employer through the HIRE 
     Vets Medallion Program.

     SEC. 5. APPLICATION FEE AND FUNDING.

       (a) Fund Established.--There is established in the Treasury 
     of the United States a fund to be designated the ``HIRE Vets 
     Medallion Award Fund''.
       (b) Fee Authorized.--The Secretary may assess a reasonable 
     fee on employers that apply for receipt of a HIRE Vets 
     Medallion and the Secretary shall deposit such fees into the 
     HIRE Vets Medallion Award Fund. The Secretary shall establish 
     the amount of the fee such that the amounts collected as fees 
     and deposited into the Fund are sufficient to cover the costs 
     associated with carrying out this Act.
       (c) Use of Funds.--Amounts in the HIRE Vets Medallion Award 
     Fund shall be available, subject to appropriation, to the 
     Secretary to carry out the HIRE Vets Medallion Program.

     SEC. 6. REPORT TO CONGRESS.

       (a) Reports.--Beginning not later than two years after the 
     date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to 
     Congress annual reports on--
       (1) the fees collected from applicants for HIRE Vets 
     Medallions in the prior year and any changes in fees to be 
     proposed in the present year;
       (2) the cost of administering the HIRE Vets Medallion 
     Program in the prior year;
       (3) the number of applications for HIRE Vets Medallions 
     received in the prior year; and
       (4) the HIRE Vets Medallions awarded in the prior year, 
     including the name of each employer to whom a HIRE Vets 
     Medallion was awarded and the level of medallion awarded to 
     each such employer.
       (b) Committees.--The Secretary shall provide the reports 
     required under subsection (a) to the Chairman and Ranking 
     Member of--
       (1) the Committees on Education and the Workforce and 
     Veterans' Affairs of the House of Representatives; and
       (2) the Committees on Health, Education, Labor, and 
     Pensions and Veterans' Affairs of the Senate.

     SEC. 7. DEFINITIONS.

       In this Act:
        (a) Employer.--The term ``employer'' has the meaning given 
     such term under section 4303 of title 38, United States Code, 
     except that such term does not include--
       (1) the Federal Government;
       (2) any State, as defined in such section; or
       (3) any foreign state.
       (b) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
     of Labor.
       (c) Veteran.--The term ``veteran'' has the meaning given 
     such term under section 101 of title 38, United States Code.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Florida (Mr. Miller) and the gentleman from California (Mr. Takano) 
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 may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their 
remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 3286, 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. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, H.R. 3286, as amended, would require the Department of 
Labor to establish a HIRE Vets Medallion Program to recognize and to 
award employers with a HIRE Vets Medallion for their efforts to 
recruit, employ, and retain veterans, as well as their work to provide 
community and charitable services to veterans in their local 
communities.
  While we still have work to do, it is important to note that the 
veteran unemployment rate has continued to decrease over recent years 
and, as of last month, it was at a low of 4.3 percent.

[[Page H6342]]

While many factors have led to the continued reduction of the 
unemployment rate for the men and women who have served, our Nation's 
employers in both the public and the private sectors deserve a lot of 
the credit, and it is important that we highlight the work that these 
companies have done and publicly recognize their commitment for hiring 
veterans.
  With this idea in mind, H.R. 3286, as amended, would authorize the 
Secretary of Labor to create the HIRE Vets Medallion Program, which 
would recognize employers who hire and retain veterans, as well as 
companies who provide support services to the veterans in their 
communities.
  Employers would earn either platinum or gold status based on 
requirements related to the number of veterans hired each year, 
providing pay equity for guardsmen and Reserve employees who were 
called up to active military service, and other requirements. Once 
these employers have earned a HIRE Vets Medallion, they would be able 
to publicly display their award to illustrate the work they have done 
on behalf of veterans and the priority that they place on hiring 
veterans within their workforce.
  As we work to continue to decrease the national unemployment rate 
among our men and women who have served, it is vital that we highlight 
and step up and thank the employers who have employed these individuals 
and recognize the benefits of hiring a veteran.
  I want to thank Colonel Paul Cook of California for introducing and 
advocating for this bill. It has my full and complete support.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 3286, as amended, the Honoring 
Investments in Recruiting and Employing American Military Veterans Act 
of 2016, or the HIRE Vets Act. I thank my colleague and fellow Inland 
Empire and California Representative Colonel Paul Cook for introducing 
this innovative bill.
  The HIRE Vets Act directs the Department of Labor's Veterans' 
Employment and Training Services, otherwise known as DOL VETS, to 
establish a HIRE Vets Medallion Program. This program will solicit 
voluntary information from private sector employers who successfully 
recruit, employ, and retain veterans, and allow these employers to 
display on their marketing materials a recognized medallion as a symbol 
of their commendable hiring practices. Employers who provide community 
and charitable services supporting veterans will also be eligible to 
display a HIRE Vets Medallion.
  Hiring veterans isn't just the right thing to do from a moral 
perspective; it also makes good business sense. The men and women who 
served in our military received invaluable training and experience that 
has been proven to help them thrive in postmilitary employment, whether 
in the public or private sectors.
  Fortunately, we have been seeing encouraging trends in veterans' 
employment. Thanks to the hard work of DOL VETS, combined with efforts 
within the private sector and Federal and State governments, the 
veterans' unemployment rate in October was 4.3 percent. That is lower 
than the national unemployment rate, which was 4.9 percent. This 
continues a 24-month trend, with only a single exception.
  We can all be very proud of the progress we have made in making sure 
more veterans are able to find quality, good-paying jobs upon 
transitioning into civilian life. That said, we want to remain vigilant 
to make sure that the men and women who signed up to defend our Nation 
enjoy opportunities for growth and prosperity when they return home.
  Again, I want to thank my colleague, Colonel Cook, for offering this 
legislation to provide a uniform, recognizable medallion to show our 
appreciation to companies that hire and retain veteran employees. I am 
proud to be a cosponsor of this bill and to stand in support of its 
passage today.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. MILLER of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the 
gentleman from California (Mr. Cook), the sponsor of this legislation, 
from the Eighth District of California.
  Mr. COOK. Mr. Speaker, as a combat veteran, I am deeply concerned 
that the men and women of our Armed Forces continue to struggle to find 
jobs upon their return to civilian life. These individuals have not 
only displayed great courage serving their country, but have acquired 
distinctive skills that make them ideal candidates for employment.
  Veterans who serve this country honorably should never struggle to 
find employment, which is why I have introduced H.R. 3286, the Honoring 
Investments in Recruiting and Employing American Military Veterans Act, 
the HIRE Vets Act.
  As already mentioned, this bill creates an innovative system to 
encourage and recognize employers who make veterans a priority in their 
hiring practices, incentivizing the creation of thousands of jobs for 
veterans.

  This bill goes beyond simply recognizing that a business hires 
veterans. It is critical that we establish a nationwide gold standard 
program that creates a strong and consistent brand. This bill is an 
opportunity for Americans to see which companies truly live up to the 
employment promises they made to veterans.
  It is our duty to ensure veterans receive the benefits and resources 
they have earned through their services to this country, and that 
includes encouraging meaningful job opportunities.
  I have been around a long while and, of course, have my own 
experiences from Vietnam, where a lot of veterans returned to their 
hometown and were shunned; they were ostracized, creating problems in 
terms of alcohol, drugs, you name it. A lot of it was related to the 
fact that they couldn't find a job or people didn't want to talk to 
them. This bill, I think, with the help of businesses, goes a long way 
to correct a problem we have had for many, many years.
  This bill passed out of the House Veterans' Affairs Committee 
unanimously, and I want to thank Chairman Miller and Ranking Member 
Takano for their support. I would also like to thank Representative 
Tulsi Gabbard for being the original cosponsor of this important 
legislation.
  I urge my colleagues to vote in favor of this bill.

                              {time}  1715

  Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from 
Hawaii (Ms. Gabbard).
  Ms. GABBARD. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 3286, a 
bill on which I am proud to have worked with my colleague and fellow 
veteran, the gentleman from California (Mr. Cook), whose service I 
honor very much.
  Every single day, we have roughly 500 veterans who return to civilian 
life, joining the more than 2.9 million veterans who have returned home 
just since 9/11 alone. Now, some choose to take advantage of 
educational benefits they have earned, and others choose to jump right 
back into the workforce. Unfortunately, for many of our veterans, 
making that move is not as simple as submitting a resume and waiting 
for a call back.
  Our veterans, unfortunately, often face sometimes an unfriendly job 
market or an unfriendly job culture that does not fully understand 
their needs and the unique challenges of transitioning from military 
servicemember life to civilian life.
  Now, we have taken some important steps to encourage employers to 
hire more veterans, and we have seen the total percentage of unemployed 
veterans drop by 1.5 percent over the past year. While this is 
progress, the fact is, we still have over 400,000 veterans unemployed 
today. This tells us that more must be done, not only to get them 
employed but to make sure that they are employed in meaningful, good-
paying jobs.
  I recently hosted a panel of experts from both the public and private 
sector where we talked about how we can better empower our veterans in 
the tech sector specifically. The tech industry has experienced 
unprecedented growth over the past decade and is the fastest growing 
sector in our economy. Yet, so far, veterans remain largely 
underrepresented, making up just 2 percent of this fast-growing 
industry.
  Now, it is not because they are not qualified. It is not because they 
don't have what it takes to do the job. Through their service and 
training, our

[[Page H6343]]

highly trained men and women develop the ability to lead, make 
decisions under pressure, act as a member of a team and accomplish the 
mission. The bottom line is they get the job done. These skills make 
them especially valuable to employers, whether it be in the tech 
industry or in any other business, nonprofit, or civic leadership 
position.
  That is why I am proud to join my fellow veteran and friend, 
Congressman Paul Cook, today in support of this important legislation 
because it incentivizes employers to hire and retain veterans by 
creating a standard of recognition for those who go the extra mile to 
recruit and retain veterans, and provide services that support our 
veteran community.
  I strongly urge our colleagues to pass this legislation and help 
serve and empower our veterans and businesses to thrive.
  Mr. MILLER of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I have no more requests for time 
at this point. I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers. I yield myself 
such time as I may consume.
  It just strikes me, Colonel Cook, I know we have named this act the 
HIRE Vets Act, and knowing of your service in Vietnam, and so many of 
the Vietnam veterans that live in the Inland Empire, we could also call 
this the Welcome Home Act because nothing is more welcoming than a job.
  I share your passion for caring about our veterans in the Inland 
Empire, and in California, of course, all over our country, and I 
certainly honor your service to our country.
  So I urge all my colleagues to support--to join me in passing H.R. 
3286, and I look forward to seeing those medallions in many businesses 
across your district and mine in California.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. MILLER of Florida. Mr. Speaker, once again, I urge my colleagues 
to support H.R. 3286, as amended.
  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. 3286, as amended.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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