[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 85 (Tuesday, May 21, 2019)]
[House]
[Pages H4035-H4039]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




NAVY SEAL CHIEF PETTY OFFICER WILLIAM ``BILL'' MULDER (RET.) TRANSITION 
                        IMPROVEMENT ACT OF 2019

  Mr. TAKANO. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 2326) to amend the Social Security Act, to amend the 
Dignified Burial and Other Veterans' Benefits Improvement Act of 2012, 
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. 2326

       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 2019''.

     SEC. 2. TAP DEFINED.

       In this Act, the term ``TAP'' means the Transition 
     Assistance Program under sections 1142 and 1144 of title 10, 
     United States Code.

     SEC. 3. 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. 4. 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'' 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 2019''; 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 fewer than 50 
     locations in States (as defined in section 101 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. 5. 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. 6. 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--

[[Page H4036]]

       (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 and veterans service organizations 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) Definitions.--In this section:
       (1) The term ``covered officials'' is comprised of--
       (A) the Secretary of Defense;
       (B) the Secretary of Labor;
       (C) the Administrator of the Small Business Administration; 
     and
       (D) the Secretaries of the military departments.
       (2) The term ``military department'' has the meaning given 
     that term in section 101 of title 10, United States Code.

     SEC. 7. 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 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 6(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 
     6(a)(7) of this Act.
       (11) Other criteria the Secretaries and the Administrator 
     of the Small Business Administration determine appropriate.

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


                             General Leave

  Mr. TAKANO. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks 
and include extraneous material on H.R. 2326.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from California?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. TAKANO. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 2326, as amended, the Navy 
SEAL Chief Petty Officer William ``Bill'' Mulder (Ret.) Transition 
Improvement Act of 2019.
  I would like to recognize the Economic Opportunity Subcommittee 
chairman and ranking member, Mr. Levin and Mr. Bilirakis, for their 
bipartisan focus on this issue, and the bipartisan way in which they 
have crafted this piece of legislation and have moved it forward.
  Almost 30 years ago, the National Defense Authorization Act created 
the first transition policy to assist servicemembers entering civilian 
life. This law provides that those who are being separated from Active 
Duty are provided services for counseling, training opportunities, 
finding employment, and other related information and services.
  These services, more commonly known as the Transition Assistance 
Program, or TAP, were amended recently by the VOW to Hire Heroes Act of 
2011. This legislation called for mandatory participation of all 
servicemembers and improved transition resources by lengthening the 
process and lowering the class sizes.
  While our veterans have found the TAP program to be highly 
beneficial, they find the sheer amount of information too overwhelming 
to absorb. Today, I ask my colleagues to support H.R. 2326, as amended, 
which aims to solve this problem.
  This legislation would do several things to make TAP more effective.
  First, this act would create a pilot program offering transition 
training off military bases, making the transition process easier to 
access for veterans and spouses. A review by the Government 
Accountability Office concluded that a program held off base would be 
beneficial, and the committee believes that such a program is worth 
examining in further detail.
  In my own visits to TAP classes, I heard from servicemembers who felt 
they needed to attend TAP multiple times before they transition to 
civilian life because the resources aren't available off base. The 
legislation would create a grant program for organizations to provide 
multiple transition assistance services such as resume assistance, 
interview training, and job recruitment training from one program, 
location, and source.
  Next, this act would give the Department of Labor's Veterans' 
Employment and Training Service and VA access to the Social Security 
Administration's resources to track in real time when a participant 
receives a new job. This is going to help improve programs and provide 
a better accountability of services provided by the VA.
  Lastly, this bill would require a 1-year independent assessment of 
the effectiveness of TAP, as well as a 5-year longitudinal study of TAP 
which compares the effectiveness of using the program.
  The 1-year independent assessment of the Transition Assistance 
Program's effectiveness shall be conducted not later than 90 days after 
the enactment of this act. The legislation requires the VA enter into 
an agreement with an entity with experience in adult education to carry 
out an independent assessment of TAP.
  It also requires the Secretary of Labor, Secretary of Veterans 
Affairs, and the Small Business Administration to conduct a 5-year 
longitudinal study of TAP to determine the need for TAP off base and 
determine if this program

[[Page H4037]]

would ease the process of participation for servicemembers, veterans, 
and spouses who may have had difficulty attending classes on bases.
  Upon completion of the respective 1-year and 5-year studies, the 
Secretary of the VA shall submit the findings to Congress, where we 
can, again, assess the quality of transition resources provided to 
veterans and servicemembers.
  Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. DAVID P. ROE of Tennessee. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such 
time as I may consume.
  Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 2326, as amended, the 
Navy SEAL Chief Petty Officer William ``Bill'' Mulder (Ret.) Transition 
Improvement Act of 2019.
  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 seamless as possible. We all know that 
an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, and I believe 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 is to help servicemembers have as 
smooth a transition as possible to civilian life.
  I will allow Congressman Jodey Arrington from Texas, who is an 
original cosponsor of the bill, to go into the specifics in a moment. 
Before I do that, I want to thank him, as the former chairman of the 
Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity, for taking the time last Congress 
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 was a culmination of a bipartisan review and work, it 
is only one step in the process to ensure a successful transition for 
all servicemembers. I know that we all remain dedicated to making 
improvements to this process to reach this goal. We were unable to 
persuade the Senate to act on this bill last Congress, and I want to 
thank Mr. Arrington, Chairman Takano, and subcommittee Chairman Levin 
for picking up where we left off in pushing this bill through yet 
again. I am confident, with their continued support, we can ensure it 
is on President Trump's desk very soon.

  Madam Speaker, I want to just say from a point of privilege, when I 
separated from the military, the U.S. Army in 1974, a long time ago, my 
transition: Was how quick can I get to the front gate? We have made 
huge improvements since the end of the Vietnam war. There really was no 
program for veterans then. It was a mistake then. I appreciate the 
efforts of my colleague to rectify this mistake.
  Madam Speaker, I encourage all Members to support H.R. 2326, as 
amended, and I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. TAKANO. Madam Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from 
California (Mr. Levin), my good friend, the chairman of the Economic 
Opportunity Subcommittee, and also the author of H.R. 2326.
  Mr. LEVIN of California. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of 
H.R. 2326, the Navy SEAL Chief Petty Officer William ``Bill'' Mulder 
(Ret.) Transition Improvement Act of 2019.
  Madam Speaker, I was proud to introduce this bipartisan legislation 
with my friend from Texas, Mr. Jodey Arrington. Mr. Arrington was a 
friend of Mr. Mulder and represents his hometown of Plainview, Texas.
  William Mulder, or Bill as his friends knew him, passed away nearly 2 
years ago on June 9, 2017. He was a decorated Navy SEAL of 20 years 
whose awards included three Bronze Stars with Valor. He was also a 
father, husband, brother, and friend.
  This legislation honors him by better equipping servicemembers for 
the challenges and opportunities they will face as they transition from 
Active Duty military service to civilian life. Far too often, the men 
and women of our Armed Forces lack the support and coordinated 
resources they need to return to civilian life and we cannot leave them 
behind. We owe it to those who have served and their families to ensure 
that they have everything they need to connect with community 
organizations, to pursue educational opportunities, to launch new 
careers, or to start their own businesses. That is why we must improve 
the Transition Assistance Program.
  This bill would extend a pilot program for off-base transition 
training, allowing veterans and their spouses more time and convenience 
to digest and access resources.
  It would also create a grant program for organizations to provide 
multiple transition assistance services such as resume assistance, 
interview training, and job recruitment training from a central source.
  We can also improve the program by expanding access to better 
employment data at the Departments of Labor and Veterans Affairs, which 
this bill does.
  And, finally, it is important that we are constantly evaluating the 
effectiveness of the Transition Assistance Program, which is why this 
bill would require a 1-year independent assessment and a 5-year study 
of the program.

                              {time}  1600

  We have a solemn duty to ensure that our Nation's heroes are able to 
readily access the best possible services when it comes time to 
transition back to civilian life.
  I do not believe that we are living up to that duty right now, but 
this bipartisan bill will help change that. I strongly encourage my 
colleagues to vote in support today.
  Madam Speaker, again, I thank the gentleman from Texas (Mr. 
Arrington), my friend, and our original cosponsors: Mr. Cisneros; 
ranking member of the Economic Opportunity Subcommittee, Mr. Bilirakis; 
Mr. Cunningham; and Mrs. Lee.
  Together, we can do more than pay lip service to our veterans. We can 
give them the support and the resources they have earned and deserve.
  Mr. DAVID P. ROE of Tennessee. Madam Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to 
the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Bilirakis), my good friend.
  This is my sixth term in Congress, and I have served each one with 
Gus. I can assure you, there is nobody in this body, of the 435 of us, 
who is more supportive of our Nation's veterans than Gus Bilirakis of 
Florida 12.
  Mr. BILIRAKIS. Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 2326, 
the Navy SEAL Chief Petty Officer William ``Bill'' Mulder (Ret.) 
Transition Improvement Act of 2019.
  As ranking member of the Economic Opportunity Subcommittee, I am 
proud of the work we have done in the subcommittee so far this year on 
a bipartisan basis and through regular order.
  Last Congress, we worked together to make reforms to the Transition 
Assistance Program at the Department of Defense, enacting a portion of 
this bill in the National Defense Authorization Act. We created a more 
individualized process for servicemembers to undergo counseling and 
training for civilian life well before their discharge. I think that is 
the key.
  The bill was formed as a result of multiple roundtables and hearings, 
which included stakeholders from my district who discussed the 
importance of community involvement in their transition process and 
stakeholders from all over the country, Madam Speaker. And yet, despite 
all the progress we have made, there is still more work to be done. I 
am grateful that we are revisiting this issue today.
  H.R. 2326 will provide access to veteran employment tracking 
information to the VA and to the Department of Labor. It will also 
reestablish a pilot program for an off-base TAP program for veterans 
and their spouses, made available at locations such as local high 
schools and community centers. Madam Speaker, I think it is so 
important to include the spouses.
  H.R. 2326 would also create a 5-year grant program at the VA for 
qualified community organizations that provide innovative transition 
assistance services to veterans.
  I know we have many of these organizations in my district in Florida 
and all over the country. One example of this is Veterans Alternative 
in Holiday, Florida. I am grateful for the great work that they do.
  Finally, this bill would require the VA, DOD, DOL, and SBA to 
coordinate their efforts to conduct a 2-year independent assessment and 
curriculum review of TAP and the transition process, as well as a 5-
year longitudinal study on the effectiveness of these TAP changes.
  I am glad to see the bill being taken up today by my friend and the 
subcommittee chairman,   Mike Levin,

[[Page H4038]]

whom I have gotten the pleasure to know this year.
  I think I don't have much more time, but I want to give him so much 
credit for doing a great job as chairman of the Economic Opportunity 
Committee, as well as Chairman Takano and my good friend, Republican 
Ranking Member Roe. I also commend Representative Arrington for doing a 
great job. We are helping our veterans.
  Let's pass this good bill and get it to the Senate and to the 
President so it can become law.
  Mr. TAKANO. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from 
South Carolina (Mr. Cunningham), my good friend and member of the 
Economic Opportunity Subcommittee and cosponsor of H.R. 2326.
  Mr. CUNNINGHAM. Madam Speaker, today, I rise in support of H.R. 2326, 
the Navy SEAL Chief Petty Officer William ``Bill'' Mulder (Ret.) 
Transition Improvement Act.
  First, I thank my colleagues, Congressmen Levin and Bilirakis, for 
all their hard work on this bipartisan bill and for their leadership on 
the Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity.
  I am honored to have helped introduce this important legislation, 
which will improve the military's Transition Assistance Program and 
help to ensure that our men and women in uniform can successfully 
transition to life in the civilian world at the end of their service.
  H.R. 2326 will streamline the transition process and allow the VA to 
partner with third-party organizations that teach veterans critical 
job-seeking skills. By creating a pilot program for transition training 
off-base, this bill will also make that stressful transition process 
more convenient and accessible for servicemembers and their families.
  Finally, this legislation will allow policymakers to more effectively 
adjust the program to the needs of our veterans by directing an 
independent assessment of its effectiveness and by expanding the VA's 
access to Federal employment data.
  The bottom line is, we have a responsibility to our servicemembers to 
make sure that they are equipped with the tools to succeed both on the 
battlefield and when they return.
  Madam Speaker, I urge all my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to 
join me in supporting this legislation and ensuring every veteran has 
access to the support that they have earned.
  Mr. DAVID P. ROE of Tennessee. Madam Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to 
the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Arrington), my good friend who was a 
previous chairman of the Economic Opportunity Subcommittee on the 
Veterans' Affairs Committee, and have him tell you about this 
bill because this was his friend.

  Mr. ARRINGTON. Madam Speaker, what a joy and a pleasure and an honor 
to serve under the ranking member's leadership in the 115th Congress, 
my first term. I thank him for letting me lead the subcommittee and 
initiate the legislation that will have an impact--I believe a 
tremendous impact--on the lives of folks like my friend Bill, so I 
thank him.
  Madam Speaker, I enjoyed working with Chairman Takano, and I 
congratulate him on his chairmanship. I thank him for being a great 
colleague and for being a friend to the veterans, most importantly.
  Madam Speaker, I thank Chairman Levin for being such a gracious 
gentleman and statesman, to come up to me on the floor of the House and 
tell me he was going to pick up this ball and he was going to run it 
all the way down the field and into the end zone so that we can score 
points, not politically for Democrats or Republicans, but for the 
American people who expect that we take care of our veterans and, most 
of all, for our military men and women who are transitioning and have 
unique challenges in that regard, as Bill had. It meant so much to me.
  If I don't say anything else here, I want to say thank you. I say 
that on behalf of Bill's family because I know it means a lot to them.
  He is worthy. Bill Mulder is worthy to be on this legislation. Don't 
ask me, ask his teammates, his fellow Navy SEALs.
  I mean, just look at him. He is Captain America. I am so jealous. I 
was always jealous. He was tough. He was strong. He was courageous.
  Madam Speaker, I promise you this, that when he stood between you and 
me and the enemy, we were safe, and the enemy was scared, as they 
should be.
  Thank God for Bill Mulder, and thank God for our men and women who 
wear the uniform.
  Our country makes a tremendous investment in preparing our citizen 
soldiers to be freedom fighters, to be part of the greatest fighting 
force in all the world, but then we invest a fraction of that in their 
transition back to civilian life.
  This is an investment in prevention, as has been said. If we can do a 
better job on the front end, then we can prevent folks from struggling 
with addiction, unemployment, homelessness, suicide, and a number of 
challenges that disproportionately affect our veterans.
  Next Monday, we will celebrate Memorial Day and take time to pay 
tribute to those who not only served but made the ultimate sacrifice, 
those American heroes who never made it home.
  However, even when our soldiers do return home from war, it doesn't 
always mean that the conflict is over for them. There is often a battle 
that continues to rage on. It is a big reason that we see so many 
soldiers take their own lives.
  One of those veterans, sadly enough, was my friend Bill, my fellow 
Plainview Bulldog for whom this bill was named. I am so proud that this 
legislation bears his name, and I am so grateful that you guys kept it 
that way.
  Bill was a warrior's warrior. He served this country with honor and 
distinction.
  Like many veterans, Bill's greatest fight wasn't on the battlefield. 
It was the struggle that often ensues from the mental, emotional, and 
physical wear and tear of military service.
  After 20 years as a combat Navy SEAL, Bill bore scars you couldn't 
see, and he struggled to make that transition from Active Duty to 
civilian life.
  For a lot of these folks, it is not the skills gap that is important. 
It is not always the education gap. It is not even redefining your 
mission and purpose after such a sacred calling as to wear the United 
States uniform. Sometimes, it is a mental health issue.
  I am grateful that we have included that in that comprehensive 
assessment and in this legislation because that was the case for Mr. 
Mulder.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The time of the gentleman has expired.
  Mr. DAVID P. ROE of Tennessee. Madam Speaker, I yield an additional 1 
minute to the gentleman from Texas.
  Mr. ARRINGTON. Madam Speaker, I am sorry for going on a little long.
  Let me just say, we owe this to the likes of Bill Mulder.
  I really believe, Ranking Member, Chairman Takano, and Chairman 
Levin, of all the things I worked on, on the Veterans' Affairs 
Committee--and it was a tremendous honor; I didn't serve our country in 
the military, so this was my way of serving those who served--I don't 
believe anything is going to have a greater impact. And it may just 
save lives. I believe it will. I really do.
  Madam Speaker, I am proud to be a small part of it. God bless our 
veterans. God bless those guardian angels that keep guard over us every 
day. God bless the United States of America.
  Mr. DAVID P. ROE of Tennessee. Madam Speaker, I have no further 
speakers. I am prepared to close, and I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. TAKANO. Madam Speaker, let me say that I extend my commendations 
to the work of my colleague from Texas (Mr. Arrington). I thank him 
also for naming the bill after such a distinguished warrior and someone 
who exemplifies the need for this legislation. We certainly wish Chief 
Petty Officer Navy SEAL Bill Mulder all the success in the world.
  Madam Speaker, I have no further speakers, and I am prepared to 
close, so I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. DAVID P. ROE of Tennessee. Madam Speaker, I think it is 
appropriate, as we approach this Memorial Day, as many families go on 
picnics, to remember what it means. We not only memorialize those whom 
we lost in combat, but I think we also memorialize those who are lost 
because of the invisible wounds of combat.
  I can't think of a more fitting time to pass this bill for Navy SEAL 
Chief

[[Page H4039]]

Petty Officer Bill Mulder. It is a small consolation for his family, 
but I think they know his memory can live on by helping other veterans. 
I encourage all Members to support this legislation.
  Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. TAKANO. Madam Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.
  Madam Speaker, before I begin my closing comments, I want to correct 
my remarks. I misunderstood. Chief Petty Officer Bill Mulder is 
deceased, and so I mean no disrespect to his family. We certainly are 
honored to have this piece of legislation carry his name in the hopes 
that it is going to serve many more veterans.
  In his memory, I am most honored and privileged to make sure that 
this legislation passes.

                              {time}  1615

  Madam Speaker, I want to thank Mr. Levin and Mr. Bilirakis for these 
necessary improvements to the Transition Assistance Program. A 
testament to their work is the broad support they received from 
committee members on this bill, and I look forward to their future work 
on this as they continue to focus on and redefine the program.
  Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in passing H.R. 2326, 
as amended, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mrs. Beatty). The question is on the motion 
offered by the gentleman from California (Mr. Takano) that the House 
suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 2326, 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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