[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.
____________________