[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 25 (Monday, February 13, 2017)]
[House]
[Pages H1109-H1111]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
HONORING INVESTMENTS IN RECRUITING AND EMPLOYING AMERICAN MILITARY
VETERANS ACT OF 2017
Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the
bill (H.R. 244) 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. 244
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
2017'' or the ``HIRE Vets Act''.
SEC. 2. HIRE VETS MEDALLION AWARD PROGRAM.
(a) Program Established.--Not later than 2 years 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 Award'', 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, the Secretary shall annually--
(1) solicit and accept voluntary applications from
employers in order to consider whether those employers should
receive a HIRE Vets Medallion Award;
(2) review applications received in each calendar year; and
(3) notify such recipients of their awards; and
(4) at a time to coincide with the annual commemoration of
Veterans Day--
(A) announce the names of such recipients;
(B) recognize such recipients through publication in the
Federal Register; and
(C) issue to each such recipient--
(i) a HIRE Vets Medallion Award of the level determined
under section 3; and
(ii) a certificate stating that such employer is entitled
to display such HIRE Vets Medallion Award.
(C) Timing.--
(1) Solicitation period.--The Secretary shall solicit
applications not later than January 31st of each calendar
year for the Awards 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 Awards 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 Awards to be awarded in November of that calendar
year.
(4) Selection of recipients.--The Secretary shall select
the employers to receive HIRE Vets Medallion Awards not later
than September 30th of each calendar year for the Awards to
be awarded in November of that calendar year.
(5) Notice to recipients.--The Secretary shall notify
employers who will receive HIRE Vets Medallion Awards not
later than October 11th of each calendar year for the Awards
to be awarded in November of that calendar year.
(d) Limitation.--An employer who receives a HIRE Vets
Medallion Award for one calendar year is not eligible to
receive a HIRE Vets Medallion Award for the subsequent
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 Award, 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.--The Secretary shall verify all
information provided in the applications, to the extent that
such information is relevant in determining whether or not an
employer should receive a HIRE Vets Medallion Award or in
determining the appropriate level of HIRE Vets Medallion
Award for that employer to receive, including by requiring
the chief executive officer or the chief human relations
officer of the employer to attest under penalty of perjury
that the employer has met the criteria described in
subsection (b) for a particular level of Award.
(b) Awards.--
(1) Large employers.--
(A) In general.--The Secretary shall establish two levels
of HIRE Vets Medallion Awards to be awarded to employers
employing 500 or more employees, to be designated the ``Gold
HIRE Vets Medallion Award'' and the ``Platinum HIRE Vets
Medallion Award''.
(B) Gold hire vets medallion award.--No employer shall be
eligible to receive a Gold HIRE Vets Medallion Award 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 retained not less than 75 percent of
the veteran employees hired during the calendar year
preceding the preceding calendar year for a period of at
least 12 months from the date on which the employees were
hired;
(iii) such employer has established an employee veteran
organization or resource group to assist new veteran
employees with integration, including coaching and mentoring;
and
(iv) such employer has established programs to enhance the
leadership skills of veteran employees during their
employment.
(C) Platinum hire vets medallion award.--No employer shall
be eligible to receive a Platinum HIRE Vets Medallion Award
in a given calendar year unless--
(i) the employer meets all the requirements for eligibility
for a Gold HIRE Vets Medallion Award under subparagraph (B);
(ii) veterans constitute not less than 10 percent of all
employees hired by such employer during the prior calendar
year;
(iii) such employer has retained not less than 85 percent
of the veteran employees hired during the calendar year
preceding the preceding calendar year for a period of at
least 12 months from the date on which the employees were
hired;
(iv) such employer employs dedicated human resources
professionals to support hiring and retention of veteran
employees, including efforts focused on veteran hiring and
training;
(v) 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
(vi) such employer has 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)(iv).
(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 Award.
(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 design of each HIRE Vets Medallion Award,
except that the Award shall be in the form of a certificate
and shall state the year for which it was awarded.
SEC. 4. DISPLAY OF AWARD.
(a) In General.--The recipient of a HIRE Vets Medallion
Award may--
(1) publicly display such Award through the end of the
calendar year following receipt of such Award; and
(2) publicly display the HIRE Vets Medallion Award
Certificate issued in conjunction with such Award.
(b) Unlawful Display Prohibited.--It is unlawful for any
employer to publicly display a HIRE Vets Medallion Award, 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 Award through the HIRE Vets Medallion Award
Program, if such employer did not receive such Award through
the HIRE Vets Medallion Award Program; or
(2) for the purpose of conveying, or in a manner reasonably
calculated to convey, a false impression that the employer
received the Award through the HIRE Vets Medallion Award
Program for a year for which such employer did not receive
such Award.
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''. Amounts appropriated to the fund
pursuant to subsection (c) shall remain available until
expended.
(b) Fee Authorized.--The Secretary may assess a reasonable
fee on employers that apply for receipt of a HIRE Vets
Medallion Award 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.
[[Page H1110]]
(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 Award Program.
SEC. 6. INITIAL IMPLEMENTATION.
The HIRE Vets Medallion Program shall begin to solicit
applications on January 31 of the year that is two fiscal
years after the fiscal year during which funds are first
appropriated to carry out this Act.
SEC. 7. REPORT TO CONGRESS.
(a) Reports.--Beginning not later than 2 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
Medallion Awards 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 Award
Program in the prior year;
(3) the number of applications for HIRE Vets Medallion
Awards received in the prior year; and
(4) the HIRE Vets Medallion Awards awarded in the prior
year, including the name of each employer to whom a HIRE Vets
Medallion Award 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. 8. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(a) The term ``employer'' means any person, institution,
organization, or other entity that pays salary or wages for
work performed or that has control over employee
opportunities, except that such term does not include--
(1) the Federal Government; or
(2) any State government, as defined in such section.
(b) The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary of Labor.
(c) 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. Bilirakis) and the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Walz)
each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Florida.
General Leave
Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members
have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and
to add extraneous materials.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Florida?
There was no objection.
Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
H.R. 244, as amended, would require the Department of Labor to
establish a HIRE Vets Medallion Program to recognize and 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 and 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, was at the low rate of 4.5 percent. Again, we
have more work to do. 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 private sectors
deserve a lot of credit, and it is important that we highlight the work
that these companies have done and that we publicly recognize their
commitment to hiring our veterans--hiring our true American heroes. I
commend them so much.
With this idea in mind, H.R. 244, 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 that provide support services to the veterans and their
communities.
Employers would earn either platinum or gold status based on
requirements that are 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 HIRE Vets Medallions, they would be able to
publicly display their awards to illustrate the work they have done on
behalf of our veterans and the priorities they place on hiring veterans
within their workforces.
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 thank the employers who have stepped up and have recognized the
benefits of hiring a veteran, and there are many benefits as their work
ethic is outstanding--their dedication, their integrity. They are
really outstanding people, and I am glad that our employers have
stepped up.
I thank the staff of the Department of Labor and the Trump
administration for working with us to make improvements to the
legislation from what was passed last year.
I also thank Colonel Paul Cook of California for introducing and
advocating for this bill, which, again, has my full support.
I urge all of my colleagues to join me in supporting H.R. 244, as
amended.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. WALZ. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
I rise in support of H.R. 244, as amended, the HIRE Vets Act.
I give a special thank-you to my colleague from California, Colonel
Cook, who, himself, is a Vietnam veteran. Since the first day he got
into Congress, he has been our veterans' stanchest supporter, and I
appreciate that.
Mr. Speaker, this is an innovative, bipartisan piece of legislation.
The HIRE Vets Act directs the Department of Labor, or DOL VETS, to
establish a HIRE Vets Medallion Program. This program solicits
voluntary information from private sector employers, which we know they
want to give--and we know they are out there hiring folks--and allows
these employers to display, with other marketing materials, a
recognized medallion as a symbol of their support and willingness to
make sure we hire veterans. Employers who provide community and
charitable services that support veterans will also be eligible.
Hiring veterans isn't just the right thing to do because it is
morally and ethically right; it makes good business sense, and our
folks know that.
The men and women who have served in our military have received
invaluable training and experience that has proven to help them thrive
in post-military employment. What they need is a foot in the door.
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 January of 2017 was 4.5 percent, which
is lower than the national average. We also know that the unemployment
rate for post-9/11 veterans remains unacceptably high at 8 percent.
We must remain vigilant to make sure that the men and women who
signed up to defend our Nation enjoy opportunities for growth when they
return home. The HIRE Vets Medallion Program represents an additional
incentive for employers to hire and retain veterans, which is something
we can all get behind.
Again, I thank Colonel Cook for offering this bipartisan legislation.
Thank you to the vice chairman for bringing this up and throwing his
support behind it. I am certainly proud to stand in support of this
legislation.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from
California (Mr. Cook), a good friend and a great veterans' advocate. I
thank him for his service.
Mr. COOK. I thank Mr. Bilirakis for yielding.
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 in serving their country, but have acquired
certain skills that make them ideal candidates for employment.
I am not going to go over many of the things that were said about how
the program is an incentive, as I think that has already been covered.
I just want to underscore the fact that this is a problem. It is not a
new problem. You can have the statistics, but one has to ask oneself:
Why do we have a lower percentage of veterans who are getting the jobs?
[[Page H1111]]
As was already mentioned, I am a product of the Vietnam war; and the
veterans who were getting out there, a lot of people were afraid to
hire them. They didn't know whether they would be recalled back into
the service, and they didn't know whether they had post-traumatic
stress disorder. They were not going to take a chance on them, and that
was sad. That was many, many years ago, but the stats don't lie.
I am very, very supportive. I get passionate about these programs
because the bottom line is we have to make sure that we take care of
the troops, and this is a bill that, with the cooperation of private
industry, has those incentives built in there. I am optimistic. We had
bipartisan support the last time. We went all the way up there and were
waiting the last time for the Senate--holding our breath. Everybody
knows you don't always get what you want. I am not going to give up and
neither will the people who have been supporting this bill because we
are all very, very passionate about veterans.
I thank Chairman Roe. I thank Ranking Member Walz for his great
support and military service. I thank Representative Tulsi Gabbard for,
once again, being the original cosponsor of this important legislation
and for always being there for the veterans and the military. I also
thank Congressman Bilirakis for his great support.
Once again, this passed out of the House last November and had
unanimous support. I urge my colleagues to once again vote in favor of
this bill.
Mr. WALZ. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from
Hawaii (Ms. Gabbard), who still serves this Nation in uniform.
Ms. GABBARD. Mr. Speaker, I stand in strong support of H.R. 244, the
HIRE Vets Act, which I am so proud and honored to have worked on with
my colleague and fellow veteran, Colonel Paul Cook from California.
This is personal for us. This is about our brothers and sisters in
uniform--from different generations--who have been honored and thanked
for their service in uniform but who, unfortunately, are often
forgotten about when they lay that uniform down. Most people aren't
aware that every single day roughly 500 veterans are transitioning from
military life to civilian life, joining more than 2.9 million veterans
who have returned home since 9/11 alone. Through their service and
training, these are men and women who are highly trained, who have
experience in leading, in making decisions under pressure, in acting
and working well as members of a team, and in accomplishing the
mission.
Data show that veterans are civic assets in our communities. They
have higher rates of voting, of engaging with local governments and
community organizations, of participating actively in community
service, and more. Together, these qualities make our veterans
especially valuable to employers, whether it be in the private sector,
in the public sector, or in the nonprofit sector.
Unfortunately, for them, returning to a civilian job market is not as
easy as it should be. They often face an unfriendly job market or even
an unfriendly culture that doesn't fully understand them and what they
bring to the table. Many people don't understand that our veterans are
not seeking pity or a handout but are simply looking for an opportunity
to continue to serve--to continue to contribute to our communities and
to our country.
This legislation is focused on encouraging employers to hire more
veterans. We have seen different programs and initiatives in my home
State of Hawaii and in States across the country that focus on
recruiting and retaining veterans, but the fact is that there are still
more than 400,000 unemployed veterans across the country. We need to do
more.
This legislation, the HIRE Vets Act, gets directly at this need by
setting up an incentive system to encourage employers to hire and
retain veterans. It creates a standard of recognition for employers who
go the extra mile to recruit and retain veterans and provide services
that support our veteran community.
We came together at the end of last year and passed this legislation
unanimously. I am hopeful that my colleagues will once again stand and
pass this important legislation and move it along through the Senate
and to the President's desk for his signature.
Mr. WALZ. Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers. I encourage my
colleagues to support H.R. 244, as amended.
I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I urge all Members to support this
legislation.
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. Bilirakis) that the House suspend the rules
and pass the bill, H.R. 244, 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.
Mr. BILIRAKIS. 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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