[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 138 (Monday, August 20, 2018)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5722-S5723]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
SA 3743. Mr. MENENDEZ submitted an amendment intended to be proposed
by him to the bill H.R. 6157, making appropriations for the Department
of Defense for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2019, and for other
purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:
At the appropriate place in title VIII of division A,
insert the following:
Sec. ___. (a) Pilot Program Required.--The Secretary of
Defense, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, and the Secretary
of Labor shall jointly carry out a pilot program to assess
the feasibility and advisability of an online portal for the
Transition Assistance Program (TAP) under section 1144 of
title 10, United States Code, to assist members of the Armed
Forces participating in the Program in the transition from
military life to civilian life.
(b) Locations.--The Secretaries shall carry out the pilot
program for members of the Armed Forces stationed at the
military installations as follows:
(1) Camp Pendleton, California.
(2) MacDill Air Force Base, Florida.
(3) Fort Benning, Georgia.
(4) Scott Air Force Base, Illinois.
(5) Fort Campbell, Kentucky.
(6) Joint Base McGurie-Dix-Lakehurst, New Jersey.
(7) Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.
(8) Fort Bragg, North Carolina.
(9) Fort Hood, Texas.
(10) Naval Station Norfolk, Virginia.
(11) Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington.
(c) Elements for Members.--The online portal under the
pilot program shall meet the following requirements:
(1) The online portal shall be accessible through mobile
app technology, and shall be mobile-ready with responsive
design and available through so-called ``app stores''.
(2) The version of the online portal accessible through a
desktop computer shall be compatible with various Internet
browsers, including Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, and
Internet Explorer version 9.0 or later.
(3) The online portal shall include a map of all current
Military Occupation Specialties (MOS), and their codes, that
are, to the extent practicable, aligned with current
industries and jobs.
(4) The online portal shall permit the generation, for each
member of the Armed Forces who uses the portal, of a
personalized transition data dashboard that includes the
information as follows:
(A) A current list of employment opportunities in the
geographic area in which such member intends to reside after
military service that are available from employers that
employ not fewer than 1,000 employers nationwide.
(B) A current list of educational opportunities in such
geographic area.
(C) A list of the benefits available to such member under
the laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs,
including educational assistance benefits, and of the
Department of Veterans Affairs facilities in such geographic
area.
(5) The personalized transition data dashboard for a member
under paragraph (4) shall continuously notify the member of
any time remaining before the expiration of the following:
(A) Any career certification waiver based on the member's
Military Occupational Specialty.
(B) Any active security clearance.
(C) Any other benefits to which the member is entitled.
(6) The online portal shall permit job searches based on
Military Occupational Specialty and career interest, and
shall have the capability to maintain a history of job
searches and submitted job applications and provide
electronic mail alerts about job opportunities based on
particularized military backgrounds, job interests, and
search criteria.
(7) The online portal shall include a resume generator that
is compliant with industry-standard Applicant Tracking
Systems (ATS).
(8) The online portal shall provide for career training
through the use of Learning Management Software, including
training courses with a minimum of 100 soft skills and
business courses.
(9) The online portal shall include a career mentorship
system, using the ability to communicate online through text
chat, video calling, and electronic mail, which system shall
permit mentors to store information on the jobs mentees have
applied for, the training mentees have undertaken, and any
other appropriate mentorship matters.
(d) Elements for Employers.--The online portal under the
pilot program shall meet the following requirements:
(1) The online portal shall include a mechanism (to be
known as a ``military skills translator'') for use by
employers that connects Military Occupational Specialty codes
to job titles.
(2) The online portal shall include a mechanism for use by
employers to search for members seeking employment by
Military Occupational Specialty code, other keyword, civilian
career category, and location.
(3) The online portal shall provide online training for
employers on military life and on specific military job
descriptions related to particular industries.
(e) Assessments.--
(1) Interim assessments.--Not later than each of one year
and two years after the date of the commencement of the pilot
program, the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of Veterans
Affairs, and the Secretary of Labor shall jointly carry out
an interim assessment of the pilot program.
(2) Final assessment.--Not later than three years after the
date of the enactment of the pilot program, the Secretaries
shall jointly carry out a final assessment of the pilot
program.
(3) Elements.--
(A) In general.--The general objective of each assessment
under this subsection shall be to determine if the online
portal under the pilot program assists participants in the
Transition Program in the accomplishing the goals of the
Program in a manner that takes into account the individual
profiles of participants, including military experience and
geographic location.
(B) Particular matters.--In meeting the general objective
under this paragraph, each assessment shall include a
determination of the following:
(i) The aggregate number of profiles created on the online
portal by members of the Armed Forces and veterans since the
commencement of the pilot program.
(ii) Demographic information on such members and veterans.
(iii) The average amount time logged into the online portal
of members, veterans, employers, and community-based services
providers, by month, since the commencement of the pilot
program.
(iv) A current ranking of most frequently-used features of
the online portal.
[[Page S5723]]
(v) The current satisfaction of members and veterans with
the online portal as of each of 30 days and 180 days after
separation from military service.
(vi) The number of connections made through the online
portal between employers and applicants for employment.
(vii) The number of individuals hired as a result of
applications or identifications through the online portal.
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