[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 85 (Tuesday, May 21, 2019)]
[House]
[Pages H4045-H4048]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       ESTABLISHING VETERANS ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY AND TRANSITION 
                             ADMINISTRATION

  Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 2045) to amend title 38, United States Code, to establish 
the Veterans Economic Opportunity and Transition Administration and the 
Under Secretary for Veterans Economic Opportunity and Transition of the 
Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes, as amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 2045

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. ESTABLISHMENT OF VETERANS ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY AND 
                   TRANSITION ADMINISTRATION.

       (a) Veterans Economic Opportunity and Transition 
     Administration.--
       (1) In general.--Part V of title 38, United States Code, is 
     amended by adding at the end the following new chapter:

      ``CHAPTER 80--VETERANS ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY AND TRANSITION 
                             ADMINISTRATION

``Sec.
``8001. Organization of Administration.
``8002. Functions of Administration.
``8003. Annual report to Congress.

     ``Sec. 8001. Organization of Administration

       ``(a) Veterans Economic Opportunity and Transition 
     Administration.--There is in the Department of Veterans 
     Affairs a Veterans Economic Opportunity and Transition 
     Administration. The primary function of the Veterans Economic 
     Opportunity and Transition Administration is the 
     administration of the programs of the Department that provide 
     assistance related to economic opportunity to veterans and 
     their dependents and survivors.
       ``(b) Under Secretary for Economic Opportunity and 
     Transition.--The Veterans Economic Opportunity and Transition 
     Administration is under the Under Secretary for Veterans 
     Economic Opportunity and Transition, who is directly 
     responsible to the Secretary for the operations of the 
     Administration.

     ``Sec. 8002. Functions of Administration

       ``The Veterans Economic Opportunity and Transition 
     Administration is responsible for the administration of the 
     following programs of the Department:
       ``(1) Vocational rehabilitation and employment programs.
       ``(2) Educational assistance programs.
       ``(3) Veterans' housing loan and related programs.
       ``(4) The verification of small businesses owned and 
     controlled by veterans pursuant to subsection (f) of section 
     8127 of this title, including the administration of the 
     database of veteran-owned businesses described in such 
     subsection.
       ``(5) The Transition Assistance Program under section 1144 
     of title 10.
       ``(6) Any other program of the Department that the 
     Secretary determines appropriate.

     ``Sec. 8003. Annual report to Congress

       ``The Secretary shall include in the annual report to the 
     Congress required by section 529 of this title a report on 
     the programs administered by the Under Secretary for Veterans 
     Economic Opportunity and Transition. Each such report shall 
     include the following with respect to each such program 
     during the fiscal year covered by that report:
       ``(1) The number of claims received.
       ``(2) The number of claims decided.
       ``(3) The average processing time for a claim.
       ``(4) The number of successful outcomes (as determined by 
     the Secretary).
       ``(5) The number of full-time equivalent employees.
       ``(6) The amounts expended for information technology.''.
       (2) Clerical amendments.--The tables of chapters at the 
     beginning of title 38, United States Code, and of part V of 
     title 38, United States Code, are each amended by inserting 
     after the item relating to chapter 79 the following new item:

``80.  Veterans Economic Opportunity and Transition Administ8001''.....

       (b) Effective Date.--Chapter 80 of title 38, United States 
     Code, as added by subsection (a), shall take effect on 
     October 1, 2020.
       (c) Authorization for Appropriations for Veterans Benefits 
     Administrations.--There is authorized to be appropriated for 
     fiscal year 2020 for the General Operating Expenses account 
     of the Veterans Benefits Administration $3,025,000,000.
       (d) Labor Rights.--Any labor rights, inclusion in the 
     bargaining unit, and collective bargaining agreement that 
     affects an employee of the Department of Veterans Affairs who 
     is transferred to the Veterans Economic Opportunity and 
     Transition Administration, as established under chapter 80 of 
     title 38, United States Code, as added by subsection (a), 
     shall apply in the same manner to such employee after such 
     transfer.

     SEC. 2. UNDER SECRETARY FOR VETERANS ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY AND 
                   TRANSITION.

       (a) Under Secretary.--
       (1) In general.--Chapter 3 of title 38, United States Code, 
     is amended by inserting after section 306 the following new 
     section:

     ``Sec. 306A. Under Secretary for Veterans Economic 
       Opportunity and Transition

       ``(a) Under Secretary.--There is in the Department an Under 
     Secretary for Veterans Economic Opportunity and Transition, 
     who is appointed by the President, by and with the advice and 
     consent of the Senate. The Under Secretary for Veterans 
     Economic Opportunity and Transition shall be appointed 
     without regard to political affiliation or activity and 
     solely on the basis of demonstrated ability in--
       ``(1) information technology; and
       ``(2) the administration of programs within the Veterans 
     Economic Opportunity and Transition Administration or 
     programs of similar content and scope.
       ``(b) Responsibilities.--The Under Secretary for Veterans 
     Economic Opportunity and Transition is the head of, and is 
     directly responsible to the Secretary for the operations of, 
     the Veterans Economic Opportunity and Transition 
     Administration.
       ``(c) Vacancies.--(1) Whenever a vacancy in the position of 
     Under Secretary for Veterans Economic Opportunity and 
     Transition occurs or is anticipated, the Secretary shall 
     establish a commission to recommend individuals to the 
     President for appointment to the position.
       ``(2) A commission established under this subsection shall 
     be composed of the following members appointed by the 
     Secretary:
       ``(A) Three persons representing education and training, 
     vocational rehabilitation, employment, real estate, mortgage 
     finance and related industries, and survivor benefits 
     activities affected by the Veterans Economic Opportunity and 
     Transition Administration.
       ``(B) Two persons representing veterans served by the 
     Veterans Economic Opportunity and Transition Administration.
       ``(C) Two persons who have experience in the management of 
     private sector benefits programs of similar content and scope 
     to the economic opportunity and transition programs of the 
     Department.
       ``(D) The Deputy Secretary of Veterans Affairs.
       ``(E) The chairman of the Veterans' Advisory Committee on 
     Education formed under section 3692 of this title.
       ``(F) One person who has held the position of Under 
     Secretary for Veterans Economic Opportunity and Transition, 
     if the Secretary determines that it is desirable for such 
     person to be a member of the commission.

[[Page H4046]]

       ``(3) A commission established under this subsection shall 
     recommend at least three individuals for appointment to the 
     position of Under Secretary for Veterans Economic Opportunity 
     and Transition. The commission shall submit all 
     recommendations to the Secretary. The Secretary shall forward 
     the recommendations to the President and the Committees on 
     Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and House of Representatives 
     with any comments the Secretary considers appropriate. 
     Thereafter, the President may request the commission to 
     recommend additional individuals for appointment.
       ``(4) The Assistant Secretary or Deputy Assistant Secretary 
     of Veterans Affairs who performs personnel management and 
     labor relations functions shall serve as the executive 
     secretary of a commission established under this 
     subsection.''.
       (2) Clerical amendment.--The table of sections at the 
     beginning of such chapter is amended by inserting after the 
     item relating to section 306 the following new item:

``306A. Under Secretary for Veterans Economic Opportunity and 
              Transition.''.

       (b) Conforming Amendments.--Title 38, United States Code, 
     is further amended--
       (1) in section 306(c)(2), by striking subparagraphs (A) and 
     (E) and redesignating subparagraphs (B), (C), (D), and (F), 
     as subparagraphs (A) through (D), respectively;
       (2) in section 317(d)(2), by inserting after ``Under 
     Secretary for Benefits,'' the following: ``the Under 
     Secretary for Veterans Economic Opportunity and 
     Transition,'';
       (3) in section 318(d)(2), by inserting after ``Under 
     Secretary for Benefits,'' the following: ``the Under 
     Secretary for Veterans Economic Opportunity and 
     Transition,'';
       (4) in section 516(e)(2)(C), by striking ``Health and the 
     Under Secretary for Benefits'' and inserting ``Health, the 
     Under Secretary for Benefits, and the Under Secretary for 
     Veterans Economic Opportunity and Transition'';
       (5) in section 541(a)(2)(B), by striking ``Health and the 
     Under Secretary for Benefits'' and inserting ``Health, the 
     Under Secretary for Benefits, and the Under Secretary for 
     Veterans Economic Opportunity and Transition'';
       (6) in section 542(a)(2)(B)(iii), by striking ``Health and 
     the Under Secretary for Benefits'' and inserting ``Health, 
     the Under Secretary for Benefits, and the Under Secretary for 
     Veterans Economic Opportunity and Transition'';
       (7) in section 544(a)(2)(B)(vi), by striking ``Health and 
     the Under Secretary for Benefits'' and inserting ``Health, 
     the Under Secretary for Benefits, and the Under Secretary for 
     Veterans Economic Opportunity and Transition'';
       (8) in section 709(c)(2)(A), by inserting after ``Under 
     Secretary for Benefits,'' the following: ``the Under 
     Secretary for Veterans Economic Opportunity and 
     Transition,'';
       (9) in section 7701(a), by inserting after ``assistance'' 
     the following: ``, other than assistance related to Economic 
     Opportunity and Transition,''; and
       (10) in section 7703, by striking paragraphs (2) and (3) 
     and redesignating paragraphs (4) and (5) as paragraphs (2) 
     and (3), respectively.
       (c) Effective Date.--Section 306A of title 38, United 
     States Code, as added by subsection (a), and the amendments 
     made by this section, shall take effect on October 1, 2020.

     SEC. 3. TRANSFER OF SERVICES.

       (a) Report to Congress.--Not later than 180 days after the 
     date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans 
     Affairs shall submit to the Committees' on Veterans Affairs 
     of the Senate and House of Representatives a report on the 
     progress toward establishing the Veterans Economic 
     Opportunity and Transition Administration, as established 
     under section 8001 of title 38, United States Code, as added 
     by section 4, and the transition of the provision of services 
     to veterans by such Administration.
       (b) Certification.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs may 
     not transfer the function of providing any services to 
     veterans to the Veterans Economic Opportunity and Transition 
     Administration, as established under section 8001 of title 
     38, United States Code, as added by section 4 until the 
     Secretary submits to the Committees' Veterans Affairs of the 
     Senate and House of Representatives certification that--
       (1) the transition of the provision of services to such 
     Administration will not negatively affect the provision of 
     such services to veterans;
       (2) such services are ready to be transferred.
       (c) Deadline for Certification.--The Secretary shall submit 
     to the Committees' on Veterans Affairs of the Senate and 
     House of Representatives the certification required by 
     subsection (b)--
       (1) no earlier than April 1, 2020; and
       (2) no later than September 1, 2020.
       (d) Failure to Certify.--If the Secretary fails to submit 
     the certification required by subsection (b) by the date 
     specified in subsection (c)(2), the Secretary shall submit to 
     the Committees on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and House 
     of Representatives a report that includes--
       (1) the reason why the certification was not made by such 
     date; and
       (2) the estimated date when the certification will be made.

  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. 2045, as amended.
  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, when our servicemembers conclude their military 
service, they are taxed with returning to civilian life after putting 
their lives on hold for years. This is the sacrifice they make for our 
security.
  In exchange, we owe them more than a thank you and well wishes. We 
owe them a commitment that their transition to civilian life will go 
smoothly, and a VA that responds to their needs.
  That is why we passed the first GI Bill nearly 75 years ago, and why 
we continue today to make improvements to provide veterans with the 
benefits they have earned.
  Unfortunately, VA has struggled to track the effectiveness of 
education and employment programs and, consequently, Congress has 
struggled to determine the Department's resource needs. We have 
identified a contributing factor through hearings and discussions with 
our Veterans Service Organizations that the Veterans Benefits 
Administration is simply asked to do too much.
  With the focus on managing countless compensation claims, the 
responsibility of managing transition education, and housing benefits 
often takes a back seat.
  To put it in perspective, the Veterans Benefit Administration's 
structure has not significantly changed since the creation of the 
Department of Veterans Affairs in 1930.
  During the last 89 years, the services needed by veterans have 
drastically changed, and that is why our committee has an Economic 
Opportunity Subcommittee. It is time for the VA to understand this as 
well.
  The VET OPP Act, as amended, would create a new administration within 
the department to manage educational assistance, vocational 
rehabilitation and employment, education and career counseling 
programs, and broadly defined transition assistance programs that are 
shared across agencies.
  Now, that means veterans' education, housing, and economic programs 
will have a dedicated Under Secretary for Veterans Economic Opportunity 
and Transition. The Veterans Economic Opportunity and Transition 
Administration will solely focus on fulfilling these promises to 
veterans, so that they get the education that that they want, the 
housing they need, and the careers they deserve.
  During our April 9 Economic Opportunity legislative hearing, this 
proposal received support from the Veterans of Foreign Wars, American 
Enterprise Institute, and the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors.
  Now these organizations know firsthand how hard it is to navigate the 
process of using benefits, so I want to thank the hard work of our 
Economic Opportunity Subcommittee for holding hearings on H.R. 2045, as 
amended, where this legislation received universal acclaim from our VSO 
community.
  I also want to thank our VSO community, and the American Federation 
of Government Employees, who worked with us to make this legislation 
work for all veterans and all employees currently employed at the VA.
  This is a bipartisan bill because we are not trying to make a 
political point or attack the VA. Instead, we simply want to make the 
VA run more effectively for the veterans it serves.
  Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. DAVID P. ROE of Tennessee. Madam Speaker, I yield myself as much 
time as I may consume.
  Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 2045, as amended, the 
Veterans' Education Transition and Opportunity Prioritization Plan Act, 
or the VET OPP Act.
  Madam Speaker, investing in education and employment opportunities 
for our Nation's veterans is one of the Department of Veterans Affairs' 
most important but least recognized missions.
  Today, programs concerning education and employment are embedded 
within the Veterans Benefit Administration which, understandably, 
devotes

[[Page H4047]]

most of its time, attention, and resources to disability compensation-
related issues and backlogs that rise and fall with time.
  The focus on compensation programs creates programs when other VBA 
programs need attention. An example of this was the implementation last 
fall of the Forever GI Bill which was, to say the least, rocky, the 
start was.
  While I know that the VA has many dedicated employees who tried their 
best to prevent the delays that occurred, I do believe that if the 
implementation of this law had received more attention from senior 
leaders at VA, things could have been better.
  The VET OPP Act is a means to mitigate these problems in the future. 
The bill would create a new, fourth administration at VA which would be 
called the Veterans Economic Opportunity and Transition Administration 
and led by a new Under Secretary for Veterans Economic Opportunity and 
Transition.
  The new Under Secretary would oversee education benefits like the GI 
Bill, the Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment Program, VA's home 
loan program, the Transition Assistance Program, or TAP program, and 
the small business programs. Creating a new administration within VA to 
house education and employment programs will ensure that those programs 
receive the focused leadership time and attention that they deserve.
  I appreciate my friend and colleague, Congressman Wenstrup from Ohio, 
for championing this legislation. It has my full support.
  Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. TAKANO. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from 
California (Mr. Levin), my good friend, chairman of the Economic 
Opportunity Subcommittee, and also a cosponsor of H.R. 2045.

  Mr. LEVIN of California. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of 
H.R. 2045, the Veterans' Education Transition and Opportunity 
Prioritization Plan, or VET OPP Act of 2019.
  Madam Speaker, I was proud to introduce this bipartisan legislation 
with my friend from Ohio, Mr. Wenstrup. We have a responsibility to 
provide America's servicemembers with the best possible resources and 
opportunities as they transition back to civilian life, and we must do 
more to meet that responsibility.
  Education, employment, housing, and transition assistance programs 
are critical to veterans' economic success. But many veterans aren't 
receiving these opportunities because of bureaucratic red tape at the 
VA. These programs are currently lumped with compensation programs 
under the Veterans Benefits Administration.
  As chairman of the House Veterans' Affairs Economic Opportunity 
Subcommittee, one of my top priorities is ensuring that veterans are 
receiving their benefits as efficiently as possible, and it is clear 
that the current structure at the VA isn't meeting this need.
  This bipartisan bill will allow us to deliver economic resources more 
effectively by creating a new Economic Opportunity and Transition 
Administration at the VA and bringing more oversight and accountability 
to economic programs for veterans.
  I strongly urge my colleagues to support this bipartisan legislation.
  Mr. DAVID P. ROE of Tennessee. Madam Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to 
the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Bilirakis), my good friend, and a 
Member I have served with on the Veterans' Affairs Committee the entire 
time I have been in Congress. As I have said previously, there is no 
one in this body, in this House that I have seen that cares for 
veterans more than Congressman Bilirakis does, and he is the ranking 
member on the Economic Opportunity Subcommittee.
  Mr. BILIRAKIS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to strongly support H.R. 
2045, the Veterans' Education, Transition, and Opportunity 
Prioritization Plan, or the VET OPP Act of 2019, which would create a 
significant structural change at the Department of Veterans Affairs to 
better align and specialize economic opportunity for our veterans, our 
true heroes.
  As ranking member of the VA Economic Opportunity Subcommittee, I know 
this committee understands the importance of prioritizing veterans' 
education, workforce training, transition, and vocational 
rehabilitation programs.
  However, the way the VA is structured, under the current system, it 
puts all benefit programs under one roof at the Veterans Benefits 
Administration. While I certainly understand that the VBA focuses a 
significant amount of time on processing disability claims and working 
to decrease its backlog of appeals, as the doctor stated, my colleagues 
and I on the committee have concerns that this has led to an imbalanced 
amount of attention away from other benefit programs, like the GI Bill 
education benefit and the employment programs, such as the vocational 
rehabilitation and employment, which is so very important as well.
  I fear that this lack of attention was fully realized last year, 
again, as the doctor stated, as VBA failed to properly implement 
sections 107 and 501 of the Forever GI Bill.
  This failure by the VA to update their IT systems caused massive 
delays in processing GI Bill claims for thousands of student veterans 
last fall, many of whom rely on their payments as the only source of 
income. And sadly, it was not the first time that the VA has failed to 
provide GI Bill payments on time. Hopefully, it's going to be the last 
time.
  To help solve this inequity, H.R. 2045, the VET OPP Act, would create 
a fourth administration at VA called the Economic Opportunity and 
Transition Administration, led by the new VA Under Secretary appointed 
by the President of the United States. This new Under Secretary would 
be tasked with managing all education, home loans, small business 
certification, transition assistance, and vocational rehabilitation and 
employment benefits within the VA.
  This bill is a smart, commonsense policy that will allow VA to 
improve outcomes for our Nation's veterans seeking better economic 
opportunities.
  Finally, the bill will allow Congress to provide significantly better 
oversight and accountability of those running these programs.
  I want to thank the sponsor of H.R. 2045, Dr. Brad Wenstrup, for 
introducing this legislation this Congress.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mrs. Axne). The time of the gentleman has 
expired.
  Mr. DAVID P. ROE of Tennessee. Madam Speaker, I yield the gentleman 
from Florida an additional 30 seconds.
  Mr. BILIRAKIS. Madam Speaker, I also want to thank the chairman of 
the subcommittee, my good friend,   Mike Levin, who is doing an 
outstanding job for co-leading the bill with us.
  I urge my colleagues to pass H.R. 2045, as amended.
  Mr. TAKANO. Madam Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from 
Texas (Ms. Jackson Lee), my good friend.
  Ms. JACKSON LEE. Madam Speaker, I thank the sponsor of this 
legislation for really tapping into something that every single Member 
must face with their veterans, and certainly those who have been out of 
the military for a period of time, and then all of our new veterans who 
are coming in from some of the more recent conflicts that we have had, 
and wars that we have had.
  Just about a week or so ago, I was meeting with veterans from a 
certain battalion that had flown into Houston to share with us their 
concerns about the state of mind and the increasing amount of suicides 
among veterans, but, in addition to those conversations and ones that I 
have had, the idea of a Veterans Economic Opportunity and Transition 
Administration and the Under Secretary of Veterans Economic Opportunity 
and Transition of the Department of Veterans Affairs to oversee 
vocational rehabilitation employment, educational assistance, veterans 
housing loans, and the verification of small businesses.

                              {time}  1715

  I think this is important because veterans want to know that they can 
fully integrate into society when they return home.
  One of the initiatives that I had was to ensure that their service-
related professions, whatever their assignments were in the military, 
would equate in civilian life and that they would be respected for 
their hierarchy of rank and also responsibility.
  Having an office like this one helps those veterans with creative 
minds who want to start small businesses.

[[Page H4048]]

When we had the impact of Hurricane Harvey, one of the hardest hit 
groups were small businesses. We carved out dollars to help small 
businesses by grants and not loans because that is the economic engine 
of this Nation.
  With respect to veterans, they are very creative. They see solutions 
where there are problems. To have an office that would focus on their 
vocational rehabilitation, employment, and giving them educational 
assistance, that is also very important.
  I have gone to my college campuses and met many, many, many veterans 
who are using some of the dollars that this House provided for them 
back during the first time Speaker Pelosi was Speaker, when we voted on 
major reformation of the process of giving dollars to veterans for 
their educational assistance, a great bill dealing with Iraq and 
Afghanistan veterans that has helped them a lot.
  I see the impact that getting a home has on veterans as well, and I 
have been involved in projects where organizations are in the business 
of donating homes to disabled vets. What a difference it makes in their 
lives.
  Madam Speaker, I applaud the author of this legislation and the 
Veterans' Affairs Committee as well because you are now looking 
holistically at these veterans and giving them a hand up, as they want, 
and not a handout.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The time of the gentlewoman has expired.
  Mr. TAKANO. Madam Speaker, I yield the gentlewoman an additional 30 
seconds.
  Ms. JACKSON LEE. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman for his 
courtesies.
  Madam Speaker, I rise to support this bill, H.R. 2045, because, as I 
have said, whether it is a homeless vet, whether it is a vet who has 
been a veteran for a long period of time or those in the recent 
conflicts or those coming home today, this is a package that they need.
  This is what Members of Congress try to help them with, in their 
offices. If we knew that we had an office in the Veterans Affairs 
Department that deals with education, vocational rehabilitation, and 
small business, and it is a one-stop shop, I think that our veterans 
will appreciate that very much.
  Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding, and I ask my 
colleagues to support H.R. 2045.
  Mr. DAVID P. ROE of Tennessee. Madam Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to 
the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Wenstrup), my good friend, a Congressman, 
doctor, colonel, Iraq war veteran, and in the previous Congress, chair 
of the Health Subcommittee on the Veterans Affairs' Committee, and 
currently a member of the House Committee on Armed Services and the 
House Select Committee on Intelligence.
  Mr. WENSTRUP. Madam Speaker, I thank Dr. Roe for yielding. I 
appreciate his leadership on the Veterans Affairs' Committee for the 
many years that he has been here and has always been a leader.
  As an Iraq war vet and an Army reservist, I know how important it is 
to help our warfighters succeed in their transition from Active Duty to 
civilian life. We should prepare our warfighters for success outside 
the military from the day they take their oath of enlistment to the day 
they begin their civilian careers. I think we have ignored this for too 
long.
  Leaving the military with a plan and a purpose is key to the long-
term well-being of all of our servicemembers.
  I know when I came back from Iraq as a reservist, they said, ``You 
have 90 days before you have to go back to work.'' I said, ``I am going 
next week. What am I going to do, sit around my house and just look at 
the walls?''
  You go from having a job in the military, where you have a purpose 
and a meaning, and it is important that when you get out that you have 
the same. That makes the transition and your life that much better.
  Economic opportunity and transition programs are critical support for 
veterans when they complete their service. The current structure of the 
VA allows economic opportunity and transition programs for our veterans 
to fall by the wayside. These programs should be treated with the same 
importance as health, compensation, and other benefits.
  The Veterans' Education, Transition, and Opportunity Prioritization 
Plan Act, known as the VET OPP Act, aligns transition, education, and 
employment programs in a fourth administration within the VA. This 
ensures that these opportunity-focused programs get the high priority 
they deserve and the oversight they need to better serve our veterans.
  The VET OPP Act would streamline services and help the VA empower 
veterans and set them on a path to a successful civilian life.
  Mr. DAVID P. ROE of Tennessee. Madam Speaker, I yield myself as much 
time as I may consume. I have no further speakers, and I am prepared to 
close.
  Madam Speaker, I strongly encourage my colleagues to support this 
bill. When I first got here to Congress in 2009, the Veterans Benefit 
Administration had 1 million backlogged disability claims. It is hard 
to focus on something else when you have that much on your plate.
  I think we have recognized that over the last several years, and I 
commend Dr. Wenstrup and others for bringing this up.
  Madam Speaker, I strongly encourage all Members to support this, and 
I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. TAKANO. Madam Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I might 
consume.
  Madam Speaker, if anyone thinks that business as usual is working at 
the VA, I would only ask you to look at the implementation of the 
Forever GI Bill. My good friend the ranking member knows that there 
were definite issues with the implementation. It did not go well. We 
are still months away from implementation, which should have happened 
last year.
  When the IG and others evaluated what went wrong, one thing was very 
clear: There was no accountable leader.
  That is what happens when programs are buried in layers of 
bureaucracy, and that is why I urge my colleagues to join me in passing 
H.R. 2045, as amended, the VET OPP Act, which will establish an 
accountable leader at VA for all of those programs that we have under 
the purview of our Economic Opportunity Subcommittee.
  Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. 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. 2045, as amended.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
  The title of the bill was amended so as to read: ``A bill to amend 
title 38, United States Code, to establish in the Department the 
Veterans Economic Opportunity and Transition Administration, and for 
other purposes.''.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

                          ____________________