[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 124 (Tuesday, July 24, 2018)]
[House]
[Pages H7134-H7140]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




NAVY SEAL CHIEF PETTY OFFICER WILLIAM ``BILL'' MULDER (RET.) TRANSITION 
                        IMPROVEMENTS ACT OF 2018

  Mr. ROE of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and 
pass the

[[Page H7135]]

bill (H.R. 5649) to amend titles 10 and 38, United States Code, to 
amend the Social Security Act, and to direct the Secretaries of 
Veterans Affairs, Defense, Labor, and Homeland Security, and the 
Administrator of the Small Business Administration, to take certain 
actions to improve transition assistance to members of the Armed Forces 
who separate, retire, or are discharged from the Armed Forces, and for 
other purposes, as amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 5649

       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 ``Navy SEAL Chief Petty 
     Officer William `Bill' Mulder (Ret.) Transition Improvement 
     Act of 2018''.

     SEC. 2. TABLE OF CONTENTS.

       The table of contents for this Act is as follows:

Sec. 1. Short title.
Sec. 2. Table of contents.
Sec. 3. Definitions.

             TITLE I--IMPROVEMENTS TO TRANSITION ASSISTANCE

Sec. 101. Access for the Secretaries of Labor and Veterans Affairs to 
              the Federal directory of new hires.
Sec. 102. Pilot program for off-base transition training for veterans 
              and spouses.
Sec. 103. Grants for provision of transition assistance to members of 
              the Armed Forces after separation, retirement, or 
              discharge.
Sec. 104. Study of community-based transition assistance programs for 
              members of the Armed Forces after separation, retirement, 
              or discharge.
Sec. 105. One-year independent assessment of the effectiveness of TAP.
Sec. 106. Longitudinal study on changes to TAP.

                    TITLE II--EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE

Sec. 201. Improvements to assistance for certain flight training and 
              other programs of education.
Sec. 202. Elimination of the period of eligibility for the Vocational 
              Rehabilitation and Employment program of the Department 
              of Veterans Affairs.
Sec. 203. Educational assistance during extended school closures due to 
              natural disasters.

     SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.

       In this Act:
       (1) The term ``TAP'' means the Transition Assistance 
     Program under sections 1142 and 1144 of title 10, United 
     States Code.
       (2) The term ``military departments'' has the meaning given 
     that term in section 101 of title 10, United States Code.

             TITLE I--IMPROVEMENTS TO TRANSITION ASSISTANCE

     SEC. 101. ACCESS FOR THE SECRETARIES OF LABOR AND VETERANS 
                   AFFAIRS TO THE FEDERAL DIRECTORY OF NEW HIRES.

       Section 453A(h) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 
     653a(h)) is amended by adding at the end the following new 
     paragraph:
       ``(4) Veteran employment.--The Secretaries of Labor and of 
     Veterans Affairs shall have access to information reported by 
     employers pursuant to subsection (b) of this section for 
     purposes of tracking employment of veterans.''.

     SEC. 102. PILOT PROGRAM FOR OFF-BASE TRANSITION TRAINING FOR 
                   VETERANS AND SPOUSES.

       (a) Extension of Pilot Program.--Subsection (a) of section 
     301 of the Dignified Burial and Other Veterans' Benefits 
     Improvement Act of 2012 (Public Law 112-260; 10 U.S.C. 1144 
     note) is amended--
       (1) by striking ``During the two-year period beginning on 
     the date of the enactment of this Act, the'' and inserting 
     ``During the five-year period beginning on the date of the 
     enactment of the Navy SEAL Chief Petty Officer William `Bill' 
     Mulder (Ret.) Transition Improvement Act of 2018, the''; and
       (2) by striking ``to assess the feasibility and 
     advisability of providing such program to eligible 
     individuals at locations other than military installations''.
       (b) Locations.--Subsection (c) of such section is amended--
       (1) in paragraph (1), by striking ``not less than three and 
     not more than five States'' and inserting ``not less than 50 
     locations in States (as defined in section 101(20) of title 
     38, United States Code)''; and
       (2) in paragraph (2), by striking ``at least two'' and 
     inserting ``at least 20''.
       (c) Conforming Repeal.--Subsection (f) of such section is 
     repealed.

     SEC. 103. GRANTS FOR PROVISION OF TRANSITION ASSISTANCE TO 
                   MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES AFTER SEPARATION, 
                   RETIREMENT, OR DISCHARGE.

       (a) In General.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall 
     make grants to eligible organizations for the provision of 
     transition assistance to members of the Armed Forces who are 
     separated, retired, or discharged from the Armed Forces, and 
     spouses of such members.
       (b) Use of Funds.--The recipient of a grant under this 
     section shall use the grant to provide to members of the 
     Armed Forces and spouses described in subsection (a) resume 
     assistance, interview training, job recruitment training, and 
     related services leading directly to successful transition, 
     as determined by the Secretary.
       (c) Eligible Organizations.--To be eligible for a grant 
     under this section, an organization shall submit to the 
     Secretary an application containing such information and 
     assurances as the Secretary, in consultation with the 
     Secretary of Labor, may require.
       (d) Priority for Hubs of Services.--In making grants under 
     this section, the Secretary shall give priority to an 
     organization that provides multiple forms of services 
     described in subsection (b).
       (e) Amount of Grant.--A grant under this section shall be 
     in an amount that does not exceed 50 percent of the amount 
     required by the organization to provide the services 
     described in subsection (b).
       (f) Deadline.--The Secretary shall carry out this section 
     not later than six months after the effective date of this 
     Act.
       (g) Termination.--The authority to provide a grant under 
     this section shall terminate on the date that is five years 
     after the date on which the Secretary implements the grant 
     program under this section.
       (h) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized 
     to be appropriated $10,000,000 to carry out this section.

     SEC. 104. STUDY OF COMMUNITY-BASED TRANSITION ASSISTANCE 
                   PROGRAMS FOR MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES AFTER 
                   SEPARATION, RETIREMENT, OR DISCHARGE.

       (a) Study.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs, in 
     consultation with State entities that serve members of the 
     Armed Forces who are retired, separated, or discharged from 
     the Armed Forces, shall enter into an agreement with an 
     appropriate non-Federal entity to carry out a study to 
     identify community-based programs--
       (1) that provide transition assistance to such members; and
       (2) operated by nonprofit entities.
       (b) Transmission to Members.--The Secretary of Veterans 
     Affairs shall transmit the list of programs identified under 
     this section to the Secretary of Defense so the Secretaries 
     of the military departments may provide information in the 
     list to members of the Armed Forces who participate in TAP.
       (c) Online Publication.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs 
     shall publish the most recent version of the list of programs 
     identified under this section on a public website of the 
     Department of Veterans Affairs.

     SEC. 105. ONE-YEAR INDEPENDENT ASSESSMENT OF THE 
                   EFFECTIVENESS OF TAP.

       (a) Independent Assessment.--Not later than 90 days after 
     the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of 
     Veterans Affairs, in consultation with the covered officials, 
     shall enter into an agreement with an appropriate entity with 
     experience in adult education to carry out a one-year 
     independent assessment of TAP, including--
       (1) the effectiveness of TAP for members of each military 
     department during the entire military life cycle;
       (2) the appropriateness of the TAP career readiness 
     standards;
       (3) a review of information that is provided to the 
     Department of Veterans Affairs under TAP, including mental 
     health data;
       (4) whether TAP effectively addresses the challenges 
     veterans face entering the civilian workforce and in 
     translating experience and skills from military service to 
     the job market;
       (5) whether TAP effectively addresses the challenges faced 
     by the families of veterans making the transition to civilian 
     life;
       (6) appropriate metrics regarding TAP outcomes for members 
     of the Armed Forces one year after separation, retirement, or 
     discharge from the Armed Forces;
       (7) what the Secretary, in consultation with the covered 
     officials, veterans service organizations, and organizations 
     described in section 203(a) of this Act, determine to be 
     successful outcomes for TAP;
       (8) whether members of the Armed Forces achieve successful 
     outcomes for TAP, as determined under paragraph (7);
       (9) how the Secretary and the covered officials provide 
     feedback to each other regarding such outcomes;
       (10) recommendations for the Secretaries of the military 
     departments regarding how to improve outcomes for members of 
     the Armed Forces after separation, retirement, and discharge; 
     and
       (11) other topics the Secretary and the covered officials 
     determine would aid members of the Armed Forces as they 
     transition to civilian life.
       (b) Report.--Not later than 90 days after the completion of 
     the independent assessment under subsection (a), the 
     Secretary and the covered officials, shall submit to the 
     Committees on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and House of 
     Representatives and the Committees on Armed Services of the 
     Senate and House of Representatives--
       (1) the findings and recommendations (including recommended 
     legislation) of the independent assessment prepared by the 
     entity described in subsection (a); and
       (2) responses of the Secretary and the covered officials to 
     the findings and recommendations described in paragraph (1).
       (c) Covered Officials Defined.--In this section, the term 
     ``covered officials'' is comprised of--
       (1) the Secretary of Defense;
       (2) the Secretary of Labor;
       (3) the Administrator of the Small Business Administration; 
     and
       (4) the Secretaries of the military departments.

     SEC. 106. LONGITUDINAL STUDY ON CHANGES TO TAP.

       (a) Study.--Not later than 90 days after the date of the 
     enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, in 
     consultation with the Secretaries of Defense and Labor and 
     the Administrator of the Small Business Administration, shall 
     conduct a five-year longitudinal study regarding TAP on three 
     separate cohorts

[[Page H7136]]

     of members of the Armed Forces who have separated from the 
     Armed Forces, including--
       (1) a cohort that has attended TAP counseling as 
     implemented on the date of the enactment of this Act;
       (2) a cohort that attends TAP counseling after the 
     Secretaries of Defense and Labor implement changes 
     recommended in the report under section 205(b) of this Act; 
     and
       (3) a cohort that has not attended TAP counseling.
       (b) Progress Reports.--Not later than 90 days after the day 
     that is one year after the date of the initiation of the 
     study under subsection (a) and annually thereafter for the 
     three subsequent years, the Secretaries of Veterans Affairs, 
     Defense, and Labor, and the Administrator of the Small 
     Business Administration, shall submit to the Committees on 
     Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and House of Representatives 
     and the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and House 
     of Representatives a progress report of activities under the 
     study during the immediately preceding year.
       (c) Final Report.--Not later than 180 days after the 
     completion of the study under subsection (a), the Secretaries 
     of Veterans Affairs, Defense, and Labor, and the 
     Administrator of the Small Business Administration, shall 
     submit to the Committees on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate 
     and House of Representatives and the Committees on Armed 
     Services of the Senate and House of Representatives a report 
     of final findings and recommendations based on the study.
       (d) Elements.--The final report under subsection (c) shall 
     include information regarding the following:
       (1) The percentage of each cohort that received 
     unemployment benefits during the study.
       (2) The numbers of months members of each cohort were 
     employed during the study.
       (3) Annual starting and ending salaries of members of each 
     cohort who were employed during the study.
       (4) How many members of each cohort enrolled in an 
     institution of higher learning, as that term is defined in 
     section 3452(f) of title 38, United States Code.
       (5) The academic credit hours, degrees, and certificates 
     obtained by members of each cohort during the study.
       (6) The annual income of members of each cohort.
       (7) The total household income of members of each cohort.
       (8) How many members of each cohort own their principal 
     residences.
       (9) How many dependents that members of each cohort have.
       (10) The percentage of each cohort that achieves a 
     successful outcome for TAP, as determined under section 
     205(a)(6) of this Act.
       (11) Other criteria the Secretaries and the Administrator 
     of the Small Business Administration determine appropriate.

                    TITLE II--EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE

     SEC. 201. IMPROVEMENTS TO ASSISTANCE FOR CERTAIN FLIGHT 
                   TRAINING AND OTHER PROGRAMS OF EDUCATION.

       (a) Use of Entitlement for Private Pilot's Licenses.--
     Section 3034(d) of title 38, United States Code, is amended--
       (1) in paragraph (1) by striking the semicolon and 
     inserting the following: ``and is required for the course of 
     education being pursued (including with respect to a dual 
     major, concentration, or other element of a degree); and'';
       (2) by striking paragraph (2); and
       (3) by redesignating paragraph (3) as paragraph (2).
       (b) Accelerated Payments for Flight Training.--Section 3313 
     of such title is amended by adding at the end the following 
     new subsection:
       ``(k) Accelerated Payments for Certain Flight Training.--
       ``(1) Payments.--An individual enrolled in a program of 
     education pursued at a vocational school or institution of 
     higher learning in which flight training is required to earn 
     the degree being pursued (including with respect to a dual 
     major, concentration, or other element of such a degree) may 
     elect to receive accelerated payments of amounts for tuition 
     and fees determined under subsection (c). The amount of each 
     accelerated payment shall be an amount equal to twice the 
     amount for tuition and fee so determined under such 
     subsection, but the total amount of such payments may not 
     exceed the total amount of tuition and fees for the program 
     of education. The amount of monthly stipends shall be 
     determined in accordance with such subsection (c) and may not 
     be accelerated under this paragraph.
       ``(2) Educational counseling.--An individual may make an 
     election under paragraph (1) only if the individual receives 
     educational counseling under section 3697A(a) of this title.
       ``(3) Charge against entitlement.--The number of months of 
     entitlement charged an individual for accelerated payments 
     made pursuant to paragraph (1) shall be determined at the 
     rate of two months for each month in which such an 
     accelerated payment is made.''.
       (c) Flight Training at Public Institutions.--Subsection 
     (c)(1)(A) of such section 3313 is amended--
       (1) in clause (i)--
       (A) by redesignating subclauses (I) and (II) as items (aa) 
     and (bb), respectively;
       (B) by striking ``In the case of a program of education 
     pursued at a public institution of higher learning'' and 
     inserting ``(I) Subject to subclause (II), in the case of a 
     program of education pursued at a public institution of 
     higher learning not described in clause (ii)(II)(bb)''; and
       (C) by adding at the end the following new subclause:
       ``(II) In determining the actual net cost for in-State 
     tuition and fees pursuant to subclause (I), the Secretary may 
     not pay for tuition and fees relating to flight training.''; 
     and
       (2) in clause (ii)--
       (A) in subclause (I), by redesignating items (aa) and (bb) 
     as subitems (AA) and (BB), respectively;
       (B) in subclause (II), by redesignating items (aa) and (bb) 
     as subitems (AA) and (BB), respectively;
       (C) by redesignating subclauses (I) and (II) as items (aa) 
     and (bb), respectively;
       (D) by striking ``In the case of a program of education 
     pursued at a non-public or foreign institution of higher 
     learning'' and inserting ``(I) In the case of a program of 
     education described in subclause (II)''; and
       (E) by adding at the end the following new subclause:
       ``(II) A program of education described in this subclause 
     is any of the following:

       ``(aa) A program of education pursued at a non-public or 
     foreign institution of higher learning.
       ``(bb) A program of education pursued at a public 
     institution of higher learning in which flight training is 
     required to earn the degree being pursued (including with 
     respect to a dual major, concentration, or other element of 
     such a degree).''.

       (d) Certain Programs of Education Carried Out Under 
     Contract.--Section 3313(c)(1)(A)(ii)(II) of title 38, United 
     States Code, as added by subsection (c)(2)(E), is amended by 
     adding at the end the following new item:

       ``(cc) A program of education pursued at a public 
     institution of higher learning in which the public 
     institution of higher learning enters into a contract or 
     agreement with an entity (other than another public 
     institution of higher learning) to provide such program of 
     education or a portion of such program of education.''.

       (e) Application.--
       (1) In general.--Except as provided by paragraph (2), the 
     amendments made by this section shall apply with respect to a 
     quarter, semester, or term, as applicable, commencing on or 
     after the date of the enactment of this Act.
       (2) Special rule for current students.--In the case of an 
     individual who, as of the date of the enactment of this Act, 
     is using educational assistance under chapter 33 of title 38, 
     United States Code, to pursue a course of education that 
     includes a program of education described in item (bb) or 
     (cc) of section 3313(c)(1)(A)(ii)(II) of title 38, United 
     States Code, as added by subsections (c) and (d), 
     respectively, the amendment made by such subsection shall 
     apply with respect to a quarter, semester, or term, as 
     applicable, commencing on or after the date that is two years 
     after the date of the enactment of this Act.

     SEC. 202. ELIMINATION OF THE PERIOD OF ELIGIBILITY FOR THE 
                   VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION AND EMPLOYMENT 
                   PROGRAM OF THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.

       (a) In General.--Section 3103 of title 38, United States 
     Code, is repealed.
       (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the 
     beginning of chapter 31 of such title is amended by striking 
     the item relating to section 3103.

     SEC. 203. EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE DURING EXTENDED SCHOOL 
                   CLOSURES DUE TO NATURAL DISASTERS.

       Section 3680 of title 38, United States Code, is amended by 
     adding at the end the following new subsection:
       ``(h) School Closure During Natural Disasters.--
       ``(1) In general.--An individual described in paragraph (2) 
     shall be entitled to a monthly stipend in the amount to which 
     the individual would be entitled were the individual pursuing 
     a course of education at an institution of higher education 
     through resident training but for a school closure described 
     under paragraph (4).
       ``(2) Individual described.--An individual described in 
     this paragraph is an individual pursuing a course of 
     education at an institution of higher education using 
     educational assistance under chapter 32, 33, 34, or 35 of 
     this title, who--
       ``(A) is forced to discontinue pursuing such course at such 
     institution by reason of a school closure described under 
     paragraph (4); and
       ``(B) opts to--
       ``(i) pursue that course of education solely by distance 
     learning; or
       ``(ii) pursue an alternative course of education solely by 
     distance learning.
       ``(3) Duration.--The duration of the monthly stipends 
     payable to an individual under paragraph (1) shall be the 
     shorter of the following:
       ``(A) The period of time necessary to complete the quarter, 
     semester, term or academic period during which the school 
     closure described in paragraph (4) occurs.
       ``(B) Four months.
       ``(4) School closure.--A school closure described in this 
     paragraph is the closure of an institution of higher 
     education--
       ``(A) by reason of a natural disaster;
       ``(B) for a period of time that--
       ``(i) the institution confirms will last for four weeks or 
     longer; or
       ``(ii) the institution describes as indefinite and that 
     endures for a period of four weeks or longer; and
       ``(C) that the Secretary confirms is covered for purposes 
     of this subsection.
       ``(5) Natural disaster defined.--In this subsection, the 
     term `natural disaster' means a specific weather event or 
     earth process, including a hurricane, tornado, wildfire or 
     forest fire, earthquake, avalanche, mudslide, hailstorm, 
     thunderstorm, lightning storm, freeze, blizzard, sinkhole, or 
     other disastrous event that occurs as a result of such an 
     event or process, that the President or the governor of a 
     State declares a natural disaster.
       ``(6) No charge to entitlement.--No charge shall be made to 
     the entitlement of any individual to educational assistance 
     under chapter

[[Page H7137]]

     32, 33, 34, or 35 of this title by reason of a payment under 
     this subsection.''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Tennessee (Mr. Roe) and the gentleman from California (Mr. Takano) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Tennessee.


                             General Leave

  Mr. ROE of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all 
Members have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their 
remarks and insert extraneous material.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Tennessee?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. ROE of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 5649, as amended, the 
Navy SEAL Chief Petty Officer William ``Bill'' Mulder (Ret.) Transition 
Improvements Act of 2018.
  One of the most important things our government can do to help our 
Nation's servicemembers is to ensure that their transition from 
military to civilian life is as smooth and seamless as possible. We all 
know that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, and I know 
that so many of the problems that veterans encounter later in life 
could have been mitigated if they had a more supportive and successful 
transition.
  I know that the goal of this bill, and of provisions that are aimed 
at improving the transition period in the House version of the National 
Defense Authorization Act, are to help servicemembers have as smooth a 
transition as possible to civilian life.
  I will allow Congressman Jodey Arrington of Texas, who is the sponsor 
of this bill, to go into the specifics of it in a moment. But before I 
do, I want to thank him, Congressman Beto O'Rourke of Texas, and all of 
the members of the Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity for taking the 
time earlier this session to sit down with stakeholders and really 
examine the transition process from the very beginning and look at the 
need for improvements.
  While this bill is a culmination of bipartisan review and work, it is 
only a step in the process to ensure a successful transition for all 
servicemembers. I know we will remain dedicated to making improvements 
to this process to reach this goal.
  Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman Brady for helping to expedite the 
consideration of the bill today, and I thank Congressman Arrington for 
his work.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
                                         House of Representatives,


                               Committee on Veterans' Affairs,

                                    Washington, DC, July 16, 2018.
     Hon. Kevin Brady,
     Chairman, House Ways and Means Committee,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Mr. Chairman: On July 12, 2018, the Committee on 
     Veterans' Affairs ordered reported H.R. 5649, as amended, the 
     Navy SEAL Chief Petty Officer William ``Bill'' Mulder (Ret.) 
     Transition Improvement Act of 2018. The bill was referred to 
     the House Veterans' Affairs Committee with additional 
     referrals to the House Ways and Means Committee and the House 
     Armed Services Committee. Based on our previous consultation, 
     we intend to request H.R. 5649, as amended, be scheduled for 
     floor consideration.
       To expedite floor consideration, I ask that you forego 
     further consideration of H.R. 5649, as amended. This in no 
     way affects your jurisdiction over the subject matter of the 
     bill, and it will not serve as precedent for future 
     referrals. In addition, should a conference on the bill be 
     necessary, I would support your request to have the House 
     Ways and Means Committee represented on the conference 
     committee. Finally, I would be pleased to include this letter 
     and any response in the bill report filed by the Committee on 
     H.R. 5649, as amended, as well as in the Congressional Record 
     during floor consideration to memorialize our understanding.
       Thank you for your consideration of my request.
           Sincerely,
                                               David P. Roe, M.D.,
     Chairman.
                                  ____

                                         House of Representatives,


                                  Committee on Ways and Means,

                                    Washington, DC, July 17, 2018.
     Hon. David P. Roe, M.D.,
     Chairman, Committee on Veterans' Affairs,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Chairman Roe: Thank you for your July 16, 2018 letter 
     regarding H.R. 5649, the ``Navy SEAL Chief Petty Officer 
     William ``Bill'' Mulder (Ret.) Transition Improvement Act of 
     2018'' which was ordered favorably reported to the House on 
     July 12, 2018.
       As a result of your having consulted with us on provisions 
     in H.R. 5649 that fall within the Rule X jurisdiction of the 
     Committee on Ways and Means, I agree to waive formal 
     consideration of this bill so that it may move expeditiously 
     to the floor. The Committee on Ways and Means takes this 
     action with the mutual understanding that we do not waive any 
     jurisdiction over the subject matter contained in this or 
     similar legislation, and the Committee will be appropriately 
     consulted and involved as the bill or similar legislation 
     moves forward so that we may address any remaining issues 
     that fall within our jurisdiction. The Committee also 
     reserves the right to seek appointment of an appropriate 
     number of conferees to any House-Senate conference involving 
     this or similar legislation, and requests your support for 
     such request.
       Finally, would ask that a copy of our exchange of letters 
     on this matter be included in the Congressional Record during 
     floor consideration of H.R. 5649.
           Sincerely,
                                                      Kevin Brady,
                                                         Chairman.

  Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 5649, as amended, the Navy 
SEAL Chief Petty Officer William ``Bill'' Mulder (Ret.) Transition 
Improvements Act of 2018.
  Mr. Speaker, I thank the Economic Opportunity Subcommittee chairman, 
Mr. Arrington, and ranking member, Mr. O'Rourke, for their bipartisan 
focus on this issue and the bipartisan way they have crafted this piece 
of legislation and have moved it forward.
  This bill was generated out of feedback from our veteran service 
organization partners, rigorous oversight, and many, many hearings. It 
includes a number of curriculum changes, expansion of services, as well 
as first steps to making TAP a part of a larger transition effort.
  It also includes Ms. Brownley's Reduce Unemployment for Veterans of 
All Ages Act, which eliminates the period of eligibility for vocational 
rehabilitation services. Currently, veterans have only 12 years after 
their military service to utilize vocational rehabilitation services. 
This removes that deadline and allows anyone who qualifies for 
vocational rehabilitation to access those services in perpetuity.
  It also includes Mr. Poe's Veterans Education Disaster Act that 
provides continued educational assistance to students impacted by 
natural disasters. This is similar to the benefits that are provided 
for veterans whose schools suddenly close their doors, in order to 
ensure that veterans are not struggling while they seek to restart 
their education. This would also allow veterans to continue collecting 
their housing benefits even though their schools closed from natural 
disasters, and allow them to stop and restart their tuition benefits 
once their schools reopen.
  We also pay for this bill by closing a loophole in flight school 
costs, while also making modifications to law that allows for the 
unique nature of flight schools.
  All of these provisions have been crafted to fix issues we have seen 
in the field, and they will make life a little bit easier for our 
veterans.
  Mr. Speaker, again, I thank Mr. O'Rourke and Mr. Arrington for these 
necessary improvements to the Transition Assistance Program. A 
testament to their work is the broad support they have received from 
committee members for this bill, including Ms. Kuster, Mr. Peters, and 
Ms. Esty. I look forward to their future work on this as they continue 
to focus on and refine the program.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. ROE of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentleman 
from Texas (Mr. Arrington), chairman of the Economic Opportunity 
Subcommittee on the House Veterans' Affairs Committee, and my good 
friend.
  Mr. ARRINGTON. Mr. Speaker, I can't thank the chairman enough for the 
opportunity to serve with him, Mr. Takano, and Mr. Wenstrup. I am 
looking out and seeing colleagues on both sides of the aisle who have 
worked in a bipartisan way to solve problems so that we can better 
serve our veterans. I have to say, it has to be the most productive 
bipartisan committee in all of the United States Congress, and that is 
refreshing. And there is no worthier customer to serve than those who 
wore the uniform, those who sacrificed their today so that we could 
have our tomorrow.

[[Page H7138]]

  I think it is notable to remind my colleagues of the work under his 
leadership to produce more than 70 pieces of reform legislation. 
Seventy bills that have passed the House of Representatives is no small 
task. More than 20 bills have become law of the land.
  Again, I thank Mr. Takano for his leadership, Mr. Walz, and my 
friends on the other side of the aisle. This is truly a bipartisan 
committee and effort altogether.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today to encourage my colleagues to support my 
bill, H.R. 5649. It is really not my bill; it is our bill. It is the 
bill of the committee, and it is the bill of the Subcommittee on 
Economic Opportunity. This is a bill that was amended as the Navy SEAL 
Chief Petty Officer William ``Bill'' Mulder (Ret.) Transition 
Improvements Act of 2018.
  Mr. Speaker, again, there is no greater honor for me than to serve 
the men and women who served our country with honor and distinction. I 
am pleased to be here today to debate the legislation I introduced, 
which I believe will significantly improve the lives of our servicemen 
and -women who are in transition from Active Duty to civilian life.
  When our soldiers come home from war, it doesn't mean that the 
conflict necessarily is over for them. There is often a battle that 
continues to rage on inside of them. I think that is a big reason that 
we see, unfortunately, 20 veterans commit suicide every day in this 
country.
  One of those veterans was my good friend and fellow Plainview 
Bulldog, Bill Mulder, after whom this bill was named. I am so proud 
that this is named after Bill, and I am grateful to Sydney and their 
family for allowing us to do so.

                              {time}  1845

  Bill was a true American hero who served his country with honor and 
distinction. However, again, like many of our veterans, Bill returned 
home from service with an internal struggle, with scars that you 
couldn't see with the naked eye, and he was working through his 
transition to civilian life after 20 years as a combat Navy SEAL. That 
is tough. I can't imagine, to think about redefining your purpose and 
your mission after 20 years of fighting for our freedom in combat as a 
Navy SEAL.
  Our country makes a tremendous investment, as Chairman Roe said, in 
preparing our citizens to be freedom fighters, to be part of the 
greatest fighting machine in the world, but we only invest a fraction 
of that helping soldiers in their transition back to civilian life.
  I have often said, like the gentleman has stated, that an ounce of 
prevention is better than a pound of cure. And if we do a better job on 
the front end in their transition, and especially identifying the 
highest-risk individuals, I think that we can reduce the number of 
veterans who struggle with unemployment, with homelessness, suicide, et 
cetera.
  This bill is the result, again, of Mr. Takano, Mr. O'Rourke, my 
ranking member, my friend and fellow Texan, and it will make the 
following improvements: It will improve in the sense that we will 
engage our Active Duty personnel earlier in the process. We will have a 
more comprehensive assessment, including mental health. We will 
customize support for them.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The time of the gentleman has expired.
  Mr. ROE of Tennessee. I yield the gentleman from Texas an additional 
1 minute.
  Mr. ARRINGTON. It will not just be a one-size-fits-all, I think, like 
we have seen in the past. We will also connect them back to community 
organizations and we will track and we will measure the success and the 
outcomes so we will know what is working, where we can continue to make 
those investments.
  Again, I want to thank my friend and fellow Texan, Mr. O'Rourke, for 
working with me on this package, and Chairman Roe, and Mr. Walz for 
helping bring this forward and to a vote here on the House floor.
  I am proud to say that this bill is fully offset. It is budget 
neutral, and I believe it will have a positive impact; in fact, I pray 
it will actually save lives of our American veterans.
  I urge all Members to support H.R. 5649, as amended.
  Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  The work of this subcommittee is the work of great heart, and I 
appreciate the heartfelt work that the chairman, Mr. Arrington, has put 
forward.
  I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. O'Rourke), my good 
friend, the ranking member of the Economic Opportunity Subcommittee, a 
gentleman with great heart for veterans.
  Mr. O'ROURKE. Mr. Speaker, I thank the vice-ranking member of the 
full committee, Mr. Takano, for this time to speak in favor of this 
bill.
  As my colleague from Texas, and the chairman of the subcommittee 
pointed out, by the best estimate of the VA, which many believe is a 
conservative estimate, every single day in this country, 20 veterans 
will have taken their lives.
  The purpose and the function and the dignity that they found as a 
member of the armed services, as a contributing member of their 
military unit, where the decisions that they made, the actions that 
they took, would literally save and determine the outcomes of the lives 
of their fellow servicemembers, to return that level of function and 
purpose to their lives when they come back to this country and 
reintegrate within our communities, that is the purpose of this 
legislation.
  I want to thank my colleague, the chairman of the subcommittee, for 
his diligent work on this, by convening stakeholders, veterans service 
organizations, veteran student service organizations, members of the 
VA, the Department of Labor, other colleagues from the committee to 
make sure that we got this right and that we help those servicemembers 
transition into a life that allows them to give to their full potential 
once back in their home community, once back in their country.
  I want to make sure that we do everything we can to ensure the 
success of this legislation; that we follow the outcome assessments 
that are provided for in the legislation; that we meet the intention 
and the purpose that is described here, so that it is not a boxes 
checked at the end of a servicemember's career, but something that is 
pursued with thought, so that when that servicemember reintegrates, 
they are ready to hit the ground running.
  Lastly, I want to thank the chairman of the full committee. Some will 
say that without Tennessee, there would be no Texas. Without Chairman 
Roe, there would be no H.R. 5649. The fact that you elevated this and 
that you spent so much of your time personally listening to these 
veteran service organizations and your colleagues on the committee, I 
think, helped to make it a much better bill than it would have been 
otherwise, and for that I am grateful.
  Mr. ROE of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman 
from Ohio (Mr. Wenstrup), my good friend, a former member of the 
committee, and chair of the Subcommittee on Health, also a member of 
the House Armed Services Committee and the Intelligence Committee.
  Mr. WENSTRUP. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 5649.
  As a member of the Army Reserve who served in Iraq, I know how 
difficult the transition to civilian life can be after service for so 
many of our servicemembers. I still remember the eerie feeling of the 
quiet and serenity of home life after returning from the battlefield.
  For those servicemembers who don't have a clear cut path upon their 
return to civilian life, there is often a struggle for what I like to 
refer to as post-necessary stress.
  When you go from being completely necessary, part of a team, part of 
something big, and you come home and you don't have that same feeling, 
it takes its toll on you. It is hard for many servicemembers to 
actually settle back into civilian life when they get back. This is 
what this is about.

  We can combat this problem by encouraging servicemembers to focus on 
transition earlier. Even when they first join the armed services, 
imagine if you were being recruited and you are talking to a recruiter 
about what you plan to do when you enter the military, and if they also 
said to you, and what do you plan to do afterwards? If we were plotting 
a course for your life when in uniform and after.

[[Page H7139]]

  So this gives us a chance to modernize our curriculum for those going 
through the Transition Assistance Program to ensure that the 
information they have is timely and specific to the servicemember.
  I think this legislation is an important first step to better equip 
servicemembers with the skills needed to successfully transition into 
civilian life.
  I encourage my colleagues to support this legislation. I want to 
thank the committee, all the members on the committee, and the staff, 
for pushing this along and doing such a great job of that.
  Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from 
Connecticut (Ms. Esty), my good friend, and the ranking member of the 
Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs.
  Ms. ESTY of Connecticut. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 5649, 
the Navy SEAL Chief Petty Officer William ``Bill'' Mulder Transition 
Improvement Act of 2018, a bill that will improve the transition 
process for servicemembers returning to civilian life to a life of 
purpose and meaning.
  I want to thank my colleagues, the gentlemen from Texas, Mr. 
Arrington and Mr. O'Rourke, for introducing this important bill; and 
for including my own bill, the Job TOOLS for Veterans Act, as a 
provision within this larger legislation.
  The Job TOOLS Act for veterans would ensure that veterans of all eras 
have access to transition assistance classes. The Transition Assistance 
Program, commonly known as TAP, was established to help current 
servicemembers transition to civilian life with job search and training 
information.
  Prior to the establishment of TAP, very few servicemembers received 
any job training assistance during their transition at all.
  We know that access to job training is essential to our mission of 
ensuring that all our servicemembers land on their feet when they 
return home from protecting our freedom. And given the transitions that 
veterans face over the years, especially in a changing economy, these 
job training programs are especially valuable throughout life; and that 
is why our bill would allow veterans, no matter when they served, to 
get access to this crucial assistance.
  Additionally, it will allow veterans from any service era access to 
all TAP programs and will expand the TAP program to at least 50 
locations across the United States.
  The men and women who have admirably served our great Nation must 
know that we stand behind them when transitioning from military to 
civilian life, and that we stand behind them for life.
  I want to thank Chairman Roe, Ranking Member Walz, and Vice Ranking 
Member Takano for their work in getting this important bill to the 
floor today, for the outstanding bipartisan work of this committee, 
which I am so proud to serve on, and for our excellent staff.
  I fully support H.R. 5649, and I urge all of my colleagues to support 
this legislation, and to stand behind the veterans who will be assisted 
by this across the Nation.
  Mr. ROE of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman 
from Florida (Mr. Rutherford) a former, very active member on the 
Veterans Affairs Committee, and a good friend.
  Mr. RUTHERFORD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 
5649, the Navy SEAL Chief Petty Officer William Mulder Transition 
Improvement Act.
  In my time on the House Veterans Affairs Subcommittee on Economic 
Opportunity, my colleagues and I heard from countless constituents, 
including Active Duty and separated servicemembers about how 
ineffective the Federal Government's comprehensive Transition 
Assistance Program was at placing our veterans in long-term, stable 
employment.
  Under the leadership of Chairman Roe and Subcommittee Chairman 
Arrington, the subcommittee held a number of roundtables, hearings, 
meetings to receive feedback from all the stakeholders. We heard from 
DOD, the Department of Labor, Veterans Affairs, community providers 
and, of course, veterans themselves.
  One section of this bill that I would like to highlight and thank 
Chairman Arrington for including is section 203, which is bill language 
I introduced last year called the Veterans Armed for Success Act.

  This section makes grants available to organizations that provide 
servicemembers transition assistance of their knowledge, skills, and 
abilities to private industry through such means as resume building and 
interview training, and it is mirrored off an organization called 
Operation New Uniform that does just that in my district in Florida. 
This group has a 97 percent success rate in placing veterans in long-
term employment.
  As we learned through the information gathering process, a successful 
transition often relies on the community supporting our veterans and 
connecting with the resources that they need. We should help this and 
other similar organizations around the country use this model to help 
our veterans succeed.
  I strongly commend Chairman Roe, Chairman Arrington, Ranking Member 
Walz, and all the members of the committee for their incredible work on 
this important piece of legislation. You all, along with the committee 
staff and other groups that worked so hard on this, should be proud of 
the real world impact that this legislation will have.
  As I now serve as a member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee 
on Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, I look forward to 
building on this important work with my colleagues to ensure our 
veterans are set up to succeed.
  Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.
  Mr. Speaker, this is a very special piece of legislation to me. I was 
once the ranking member of this very subcommittee, and I applaud the 
work of Ranking Member Beto O'Rourke and Chairman Arrington. This is a 
work of great heart, of great compassion, and we all know that we need 
to improve the transition from military service to civilian life for 
our servicemembers.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in passing H.R. 5649, as 
amended, and I yield back the balance of my time.

                              {time}  1900

  Mr. ROE of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I want to close by thanking Mr. 
Arrington and Mr. O'Rourke for bringing this great piece of legislation 
to the floor.
  As I was listening to the debate and conversation, it sort of took me 
back a few years. I recall 53 years ago, when I was a college student, 
and I buried a very good friend of mine, who was my Scoutmaster, First 
Sergeant Thomas E. Thayer, who was killed in Vietnam. He won the Silver 
Star there. He had four children and a family at home. His life was 
worth, I think, $10,000. I think that is what it was worth. I thought 
about what it did to his family and how little our country did for our 
Nation's heroes at that time, and I fast-forward to what we are doing 
now. We are making some things right.
  I know Mr. Arrington spoke very warmly of his friend, Chief Petty 
Officer Bill Mulder, a true American hero, who died.
  I know when I separated from the military at the end of 1974, got 
back from Southeast Asia, separated from the Army, there was no 
transition. It was basically just out the front gate you went, and no 
one called, checked, whatever.
  We are much better as a country, and we are much better now, Mr. 
Speaker, for what we are doing in this bill.
  I agree with Mr. O'Rourke and Mr. Arrington. I really believe if you 
put these young men and women back in a job, in school, which we just 
passed the Forever GI Bill from this committee and the President has 
signed it into law, all of these things, I think, will make a huge 
difference in the future not only of these young people who have served 
our Nation so honorably, but it will also help this country, this 
Nation.
  I know, as a veteran and as a person who did not benefit from this, I 
certainly am more than happy to support this. I think this is a great 
piece of legislation.
  Mr. Speaker, again, I want to thank Mr. Walz, Mr. Takano, and others 
who have helped push this through, and I again encourage all Members to 
support H.R. 5649, as amended.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

[[Page H7140]]

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Roe) that the House suspend the rules and 
pass the bill, H.R. 5649, 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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