[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 97 (Tuesday, June 12, 2018)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3767-S3768]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

  SA 2785. Ms. HARRIS (for herself and Mr. Tester) submitted an 
amendment intended to be proposed to amendment SA 2282 proposed by Mr. 
Inhofe (for himself and Mr. McCain) to the bill H.R. 5515, to authorize 
appropriations for fiscal year 2019 for military activities of the 
Department of Defense, for military construction, and for defense 
activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe military personnel 
strengths for such fiscal year, and for other purposes; which was 
ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

       At the end of subtitle E of title V, add the following:

     SEC. 558. DIRECT EMPLOYMENT PILOT PROGRAM FOR MEMBERS OF THE 
                   RESERVE COMPONENTS AND VETERANS.

       (a) Authority.--The Secretary of Defense may enter into 
     agreements with the chief executives of the States to carry 
     out pilot programs to enhance the efforts of the Department 
     of Defense to provide job placement assistance and related 
     employment services directly to unemployed or underemployed 
     members of the reserve components of the Armed Forces and 
     veterans.
       (b) Administration.--The pilot program in a State shall be 
     administered by the adjutant general in that State appointed 
     under section 314 of title 32, United States Code. If the 
     adjutant general is unavailable or unable to administer a 
     pilot program, the Secretary, after consulting with the chief 
     executive of the State, shall designate an official of that 
     State to administer that pilot program.
       (c) Program Model.--A pilot program under this section--
       (1) shall use a job placement program model that focuses on 
     working one-on-one with individuals described in subsection 
     (a) to provide cost-effective job placement services, 
     including--
       (A) job matching services;
       (B) resume editing;
       (C) interview preparation; and
       (D) post-employment follow up; and
       (2) shall incorporate best practices of State-operated 
     direct employment programs for members of the reserve 
     components of the Armed Forces and veterans, such as the 
     programs conducted in California and South Carolina.
       (d) SkillBridge Training Opportunities.--A pilot program 
     under this section shall utilize civilian training 
     opportunities through the SkillBridge transition training 
     program administered by the Department of Defense.
       (e) State Costs.--Any costs of a State in carrying out a 
     pilot program under this section shall be borne by the State.
       (f) Evaluation.--The Secretary shall develop outcome 
     measurements to evaluate the success of any pilot program 
     established under this section.
       (g) Reporting.--
       (1) Report required.--Not later than March 1, 2021, the 
     Secretary, in coordination with the Secretary of Veterans 
     Affairs and Chief of the National Guard Bureau, shall submit 
     to the congressional defense committees a report describing 
     the results of any pilot program established under this 
     section.
       (2) Elements.--A report under paragraph (1) shall include 
     the following elements:
       (A) A description and assessment of the effectiveness and 
     achievements of the pilot program, including--
       (i) the number of members of the reserve components of the 
     Armed Forces and veterans hired; and
       (ii) the cost-per-placement of participating members and 
     veterans.
       (B) An assessment of the impact of the pilot program and 
     increased reserve component employment levels on--
       (i) the readiness of members of the reserve components of 
     the Armed Forces; and
       (ii) retention of service members.
       (C) A comparison of the pilot program to other programs 
     conducted by the Department of Defense or Department of 
     Veterans Affairs to provide unemployment and underemployment 
     support to members of the reserve components of the Armed 
     Forces or veterans, including best practices the improved the 
     effectiveness of such programs.
       (D) Any other matter the Secretary determines to be 
     appropriate.
       (h) Duration of Authority.--
       (1) In general.--Subject to paragraph (2), the authority to 
     carry out a pilot program under this section expires on 
     September 30, 2023.
       (2) Extension.--The Secretary may extend a pilot program 
     under this section beyond the date in paragraph (1) by not 
     more than two years.

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