[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 165 (Wednesday, September 23, 2020)]
[House]
[Pages H4754-H4763]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
DEPENDABLE EMPLOYMENT AND LIVING IMPROVEMENTS FOR VETERANS ECONOMIC
RECOVERY ACT
Mr. TAKANO. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the
bill (H.R. 7105) to provide flexibility for the Secretary of Veterans
Affairs in caring for homeless veterans during a covered public health
emergency, and for other purposes, as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 7105
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.
(a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Dependable
Employment and Living Improvements for Veterans Economic
Recovery Act'' or the ``DELIVER Act''.
(b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act
is as follows:
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
TITLE I--ASSISTANCE FOR HOMELESS VETERANS
Sec. 101. Flexibility for the Secretary of Veterans Affairs in caring
for homeless veterans during a covered public health
emergency.
Sec. 102. Expansion of eligibility for HUD-VASH.
Sec. 103. Legal services for homeless veterans and veterans at risk for
homelessness.
Sec. 104. Gap analysis of Department of Veterans Affairs Programs that
provide assistance to women veterans who are homeless.
Sec. 105. Improvements to grants and agreements between the Secretary
of Veterans Affairs and entities that provide services to
homeless veterans.
Sec. 106. Repeal of sunset on authority to carry out program of
referral and counseling services for veterans at risk for
homelessness who are transitioning from certain
institutions.
Sec. 107. Coordination of case management services for veterans
receiving housing vouchers under Tribal HUD-VASH program.
Sec. 108. Contracting for HUD-VASH case managers.
Sec. 109. Report on HUD-VASH staffing, training, and data systems.
TITLE II--RETRAINING ASSISTANCE FOR VETERANS
Sec. 201. COVID-19 Veteran Rapid Retraining Assistance Program.
[[Page H4755]]
Sec. 202. Access for the Secretaries of Labor and Veterans Affairs to
the Federal directory of new hires.
Sec. 203. Expansion of eligible class of providers of high technology
programs of education for veterans.
Sec. 204. Pilot program for off-base transition training for veterans
and spouses.
Sec. 205. Grants for provision of transition assistance to members of
the Armed Forces after separation, retirement, or
discharge.
Sec. 206. One-year independent assessment of the effectiveness of
Transition Assistance Program.
Sec. 207. Longitudinal study on changes to TAP.
Sec. 208. Department of Veterans Affairs loan fees.
TITLE I--ASSISTANCE FOR HOMELESS VETERANS
SEC. 101. FLEXIBILITY FOR THE SECRETARY OF VETERANS AFFAIRS
IN CARING FOR HOMELESS VETERANS DURING A
COVERED PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY.
(a) General Support.--
(1) Use of funds.--During a covered public health
emergency, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs may use amounts
appropriated or otherwise made available to the Department of
Veterans Affairs to carry out sections 2011, 2012, 2031, and
2061 of title 38, United States Code, to provide to homeless
veterans and veterans participating in the program carried
out under section 8(o)(19) of the United States Housing Act
of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437f(o)(19)) (commonly referred to as
``HUD-VASH''), as the Secretary determines is needed, the
following:
(A) Assistance required for safety and survival (such as
food, shelter, clothing, blankets, and hygiene items).
(B) Transportation required to support stability and health
(such as for appointments with service providers, conducting
housing searches, and obtaining food and supplies).
(C) Communications equipment and services (such as tablets,
smartphones, disposable phones, and related service plans)
required to support stability and health (such as maintaining
contact with service providers, prospective landlords, and
family).
(D) Such other assistance as the Secretary determines is
needed.
(2) Homeless veterans on land of the department.--
(A) Collaboration.--During a covered public health
emergency, to the extent possible, the Secretary may
collaborate with one or more organizations to manage use of
land of the Department for homeless veterans for living and
sleeping.
(B) Elements.--Collaboration under subparagraph (A) may
include the provision by either the Secretary or the
organization of food services and security for property,
buildings, and other facilities owned or controlled by the
Department.
(b) Grant and Per Diem Program.--
(1) Limits on rates for per diem payments.--Section
20013(b) of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic
Security Act (Public Law 116-136) is amended--
(A) by redesignating paragraphs (1) and (2) as
subparagraphs (A) and (B), respectively;
(B) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), as so
redesignated, by inserting ``(1)'' before ``In the case'';
and
(C) by adding at the end the following:
``(2) If the Secretary waives any limit on grant amounts or
rates for per diem payments under paragraph (1),
notwithstanding section 2012(a)(2)(B) of such title, the
maximum rate for per diem payments described in paragraph
(1)(B) shall be three times the rate authorized for State
homes for domiciliary care under section 1741 of such
title.''.
(2) Use of per diem payments.--During a covered public
health emergency, a recipient of a grant or an eligible
entity under the grant and per diem program of the Department
(in this subsection referred to as the ``program'') may use
per diem payments under sections 2012 and 2061 of title 38,
United States Code, to provide assistance required for safety
and survival (such as food, shelter, clothing, blankets, and
hygiene items) for--
(A) homeless veterans; and
(B) formerly homeless veterans residing in a facility
operated wholly or in part by such a recipient or eligible
entity receiving per diem payments under section 2012 of such
title.
(3) Additional transitional housing.--
(A) In general.--During a covered public health emergency,
under the program, the Secretary may provide amounts for
additional transitional housing beds to facilitate access to
housing and services provided to homeless veterans.
(B) Notice; competition; period of performance.--The
Secretary may provide amounts under subparagraph (A)--
(i) without notice or competition; and
(ii) for a period of performance determined by the
Secretary.
(4) Inspections and life safety code requirements.--
(A) In general.--During a covered public health emergency,
the Secretary may waive any requirement under subsection (b)
or (c) of section 2012 of title 38, United States Code, in
order to allow the recipient of a grant or an eligible entity
under the program--
(i) to quickly identify temporary alternate sites of care
for homeless veterans that are suitable for habitation;
(ii) to facilitate social distancing or isolation needs; or
(iii) to facilitate activation or continuation of a program
for which a grant has been awarded.
(B) Limitation.--The Secretary may waive a requirement
pursuant to the authority provided by subparagraph (A) with
respect to a facility of a recipient of a grant or an
eligible entity under the program only if the facility meets
applicable local safety requirements, including fire safety
requirements.
(c) Inspection and Life Safety Code Requirements for
Therapeutic Housing.--
(1) In general.--During a covered public health emergency,
the Secretary may waive any inspection or life safety code
requirement under subsection (c) of section 2032 of title 38,
United States Code--
(A) to allow quick identification of temporary alternate
sites of care for homeless veterans that are suitable for
habitation;
(B) to facilitate social distancing or isolation needs; or
(C) to facilitate the operation of housing under such
section.
(2) Limitation.--The Secretary may waive a requirement
pursuant to the authority provided by paragraph (1) with
respect to a residence or facility referred to in such
section 2032 only if the residence or facility, as the case
may be, meets applicable local safety requirements, including
fire safety requirements.
(d) Access to Department of Veterans Affairs Telehealth
Services.--To the extent practicable, during a covered public
health emergency, the Secretary shall ensure that veterans
participating in or receiving services from a program under
chapter 20 of title 38, United States Code, have access to
telehealth services to which such veterans are eligible under
the laws administered by the Secretary, including by ensuring
that telehealth capabilities are available to--
(1) such veterans;
(2) case managers of the Department of programs for
homeless veterans authorized under such chapter; and
(3) community-based service providers for homeless veterans
receiving funds from the Department through grants or
contracts.
(e) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Covered public health emergency.--The term ``covered
public health emergency'' means an emergency with respect to
COVID-19 declared by a Federal, State, or local authority.
(2) Homeless veteran; veteran.--The terms ``homeless
veteran'' and ``veteran'' have the meanings given those terms
in section 2002 of title 38, United States Code.
(3) Telehealth.--
(A) In general.--The term ``telehealth'' means the use of
electronic information and telecommunications technologies to
support and promote long-distance clinical health care,
patient and professional health-related education, public
health, and health administration.
(B) Technologies.--For purposes of subparagraph (A),
``telecommunications technologies'' include video
conferencing, the internet, streaming media, and terrestrial
and wireless communications.
(f) Emergency Designations.--
(1) In general.--This section is designated as an emergency
requirement pursuant to section 4(g) of the Statutory Pay-As-
You-Go Act of 2010 (2 U.S.C. 933(g)).
(2) Designation in senate.--In the Senate, this section is
designated as an emergency requirement pursuant to section
4112(a) of H. Con. Res. 71 (115th Congress), the concurrent
resolution on the budget for fiscal year 2018.
SEC. 102. EXPANSION OF ELIGIBILITY FOR HUD-VASH.
(a) HUD Provisions.--Section 8(o)(19) of the United States
Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437f(o)(19)) is amended by
adding at the end the following new subparagraph:
``(D) Veteran defined.--In this paragraph, the term
`veteran' has the meaning given that term in section 2002(b)
of title 38, United States Code.''.
(b) VHA Case Managers.--Subsection (b) of section 2003 of
title 38, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end
the following: ``In the case of vouchers provided under the
HUD-VASH program under section 8(o)(19) of such Act, for
purposes of the preceding sentence, the term `veteran' shall
have the meaning given such term in section 2002(b) of this
title.''.
(c) Annual Report.--
(1) In general.--Not less frequently than once each year,
the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit to the
Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and the
Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the House of
Representatives a report on the homelessness services
provided under programs of the Department of Veterans
Affairs, including services under the program carried out
under section 8(o)(19) of the United States Housing Act of
1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437f(o)(19)) (commonly referred to as ``HUD-
VASH'').
(2) Included information.--Each such annual report shall
include, with respect to the year preceding the submittal of
the report--
(A) a statement of the number of eligible individuals who
were furnished such homelessness services;
(B) the number of individuals furnished such services under
each such program, disaggregated by the number of men who
received such services and the number of women who received
such services; and
(C) such other information the Secretary determines
appropriate.
[[Page H4756]]
SEC. 103. LEGAL SERVICES FOR HOMELESS VETERANS AND VETERANS
AT RISK FOR HOMELESSNESS.
(a) In General.--Chapter 20 of title 38, United States
Code, is amended by inserting after section 2022 the
following new section:
``Sec. 2022A. Legal services for homeless veterans and
veterans at risk for homelessness
``(a) Grants.--Subject to the availability of
appropriations provided for such purpose, the Secretary of
Veterans Affairs shall make grants to eligible entities that
provide legal services to homeless veterans and veterans at
risk for homelessness.
``(b) Criteria.--(1) The Secretary shall--
``(A) establish criteria and requirements for grants under
this section, including criteria for entities eligible to
receive such grants; and
``(B) publish such criteria and requirements in the Federal
Register.
``(2) In establishing criteria and requirements under
paragraph (1), the Secretary shall--
``(A) take into consideration any criteria and requirements
needed with respect to carrying out this section in rural
communities, Tribal lands, and the territories and
possessions of the United States; and
``(B) consult with organizations that have experience in
providing services to homeless veterans, including veterans
service organizations, the Equal Justice Works AmeriCorps
Veterans Legal Corps, and other organizations the Secretary
determines appropriate.
``(c) Eligible Entities.--The Secretary may make a grant
under this section to an entity applying for such a grant
only if the applicant for the grant--
``(1) is a public or nonprofit private entity with the
capacity (as determined by the Secretary) to effectively
administer a grant under this section;
``(2) demonstrates that adequate financial support will be
available to carry out the services for which the grant is
sought consistent with the application;
``(3) agrees to meet the applicable criteria and
requirements established under subsection (b)(1); and
``(4) has, as determined by the Secretary, demonstrated the
capacity to meet such criteria and requirements.
``(d) Use of Funds.--Grants under this section shall be
used to provide homeless veterans and veterans at risk for
homelessness the following legal services:
``(1) Legal services related to housing, including eviction
defense, representation in landlord-tenant cases, and
representation in foreclosure cases.
``(2) Legal services related to family law, including
assistance in court proceedings for child support, divorce,
estate planning, and family reconciliation.
``(3) Legal services related to income support, including
assistance in obtaining public benefits.
``(4) Legal services related to criminal defense, including
defense in matters symptomatic of homelessness, such as
outstanding warrants, fines, and driver's license revocation,
to reduce recidivism and facilitate the overcoming of reentry
obstacles in employment or housing.
``(5) Legal services related to requests to upgrade the
characterization of a discharge or dismissal of a former
member of the Armed Forces under section 1553 of title 10.
``(6) Such other legal services as the Secretary determines
appropriate.
``(e) Funds for Women Veterans.--For any fiscal year, not
less than 10 percent of the amount authorized to be
appropriated for grants under this section shall be used to
provide legal services described in subsection (d) to women
veterans.
``(f) Locations.--To the extent practicable, the Secretary
shall make grants under this section to eligible entities in
a manner that is equitably distributed across the geographic
regions of the United States, including with respect to--
``(1) rural communities;
``(2) Tribal lands;
``(3) Native Americans; and
``(4) Tribal organizations.
``(g) Reports.--On a biennial basis, the Secretary shall
submit to the Committees on Veterans' Affairs of the House of
Representatives and the Senate a report on grants under this
section. To the extent feasible, each such report shall
include the following with respect to the year covered by the
report:
``(1) The number of homeless veterans and veterans at risk
for homelessness assisted.
``(2) A description of the legal services provided.
``(3) A description of the legal matters addressed.
``(4) An analysis by the Secretary with respect to the
operational effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of the
services provided.''.
(b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the
beginning of such chapter is amended by inserting after the
item relating to section 2022 the following new item:
``2022A. Legal services for homeless veterans and veterans at risk for
homelessness.''.
(c) Criteria.--Not later than 180 days after the date of
the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs
shall establish the criteria and requirements in the Federal
Register pursuant to subsection (b)(1) of section 2022A of
title 38, United States Code, as added by subsection (a).
SEC. 104. GAP ANALYSIS OF DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS
PROGRAMS THAT PROVIDE ASSISTANCE TO WOMEN
VETERANS WHO ARE HOMELESS.
(a) In General.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall
complete an analysis of programs of the Department of
Veterans Affairs that provide assistance to women veterans
who are homeless or precariously housed to identify the areas
in which such programs are failing to meet the needs of such
women.
(b) Report.--Not later than 270 days after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the
Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and the
Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the House of
Representatives a report on the analysis completed under
subsection (a).
SEC. 105. IMPROVEMENTS TO GRANTS AND AGREEMENTS BETWEEN THE
SECRETARY OF VETERANS AFFAIRS AND ENTITIES THAT
PROVIDE SERVICES TO HOMELESS VETERANS.
(a) Increase in Per Diem Payments.--Subsection (a)(2)(B) of
section 2012 of title 38, United States Code, is amended--
(1) by striking clause (i) and inserting the following:
``(i) Except as provided in clause (ii) or (iii) and
subject to the availability of appropriations, the Secretary
shall determine the rate under this paragraph, which--
``(I) may not--
``(aa) be lower than the amount in effect under this clause
as in effect immediately preceding the enactment of the
Dependable Employment and Living Improvements for Veterans
Economic Recovery Act; or
``(bb) exceed the amount that is 115 percent of the rate
authorized for State homes for domiciliary care under
subsection (a)(1)(A) of section 1741 of this title, as the
Secretary may increase from time to time under subsection (c)
of that section; and
``(II) may be determined on the basis of locality.''; and
(2) by adding at the end the following new clause:
``(iii) With respect to a homeless veteran who has care of
a minor dependent while receiving services from the grant
recipient or eligible entity, the daily cost of care shall be
the sum of the daily cost of care determined under
subparagraph (A) plus, for each such minor dependent, an
amount that equals 50 percent of such daily cost of care.''.
(b) Reimbursement of Certain Fees.--Such section is further
amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:
``(e) Reimbursement of Entities for Certain Fees.--The
Secretary may reimburse the recipient of a grant under
section 2011, 2012, 2013, or 2061 of this title for fees
charged to that grant recipient for the use of the homeless
management information system described in section 402 of the
McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (Public Law 100-77; 42
U.S.C. 11630a)--
``(1) in amounts the Secretary determines to be reasonable;
and
``(2) if the Secretary determines that the grant recipient
is unable to obtain information contained in such system
through other means and at no cost to the grant recipient.''.
SEC. 106. REPEAL OF SUNSET ON AUTHORITY TO CARRY OUT PROGRAM
OF REFERRAL AND COUNSELING SERVICES FOR
VETERANS AT RISK FOR HOMELESSNESS WHO ARE
TRANSITIONING FROM CERTAIN INSTITUTIONS.
Section 2023 of title 38, United States Code, is amended--
(1) by striking subsection (d); and
(2) by redesignating subsection (e) as subsection (d).
SECTION 107. COORDINATION OF CASE MANAGEMENT SERVICES FOR
VETERANS RECEIVING HOUSING VOUCHERS UNDER
TRIBAL HUD-VASH PROGRAM.
Section 2003 of title 38, United States Code, is amended by
adding at the end the following new subsection:
``(c) MOU on IHS Assistance.--The Secretary may enter into
a memorandum of understanding with the Secretary of Health
and Human Services under which case managers of the Indian
Health Service may provide case management assistance to
veterans who receive housing vouchers under the Tribal HUD-
VASH program of the Department of Housing and Urban
Development.''.
SEC. 108. CONTRACTING FOR HUD-VASH CASE MANAGERS.
(a) In General.--Section 304 of the Honoring America's
Veterans and Caring for Camp Lejeune Families Act of 2012
(Public Law 112-154; 38 U.S.C. 2041 note) is amended--
(1) in subsection (a)--
(A) by inserting ``(1)'' before ``The Secretary'';
(B) by adding at the end the following new paragraphs:
``(2)(A) Subject to subparagraphs (B) and (C), the director
of a covered medical center shall seek to enter into a
contract or agreement described in paragraph (1).
``(B) A contract or agreement under subparagraph (A) may
require that a case manager employed by an eligible entity
have credentials equivalent to those of a case manager of the
Department.
``(C) The Secretary may waive the requirement under
subparagraph (A) if the Secretary determines that fulfilling
such requirement is infeasible. If the Secretary grants such
a waiver, the Secretary shall submit, not later than 90 days
after granting such waiver, to the Committees on Veterans'
Affairs of the Senate and House of Representatives, a report
containing--
``(i) an explanation of that determination;
``(ii) a plan to increase the number of case managers of
the Department; and
[[Page H4757]]
``(iii) a plan for the covered medical center to increase
use of such vouchers.
``(D) In this paragraph, the term `covered medical center'
means a medical center of the Department that the Secretary
determines--
``(i) had more than 15 percent of all vouchers allocated to
that medical center under the program described in paragraph
(1) through the fiscal year preceding such determination go
unused due to a lack of case management services provided by
the Secretary; and
``(ii) has a case manager position that has been vacant for
at least nine consecutive months immediately preceding the
date of such determination.''; and
(2) in subsection (b)(2)--
(A) in the matter before subparagraph (A), by striking ``,
including because--'' and inserting a period; and
(B) by striking subparagraphs (A), (B), and (C).
(b) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section
shall take effect on the first day of the first fiscal year
to begin on or after the date of the enactment of this Act.
SEC. 109. REPORT ON HUD-VASH STAFFING, TRAINING, AND DATA
SYSTEMS.
Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of
this Act, and every three years thereafter, the Secretary of
Veterans Affairs shall submit to the Committees on Veterans'
Affairs of the House of Representatives and the Senate a
report that includes the following:
(1) An assessment of the hiring needs of the program
carried out under section 8(o)(19) of the United States
Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437f(o)(19)) (commonly
referred to as ``HUD-VASH''), including--
(A) identification of the number of HUD-VASH case managers
as of the date of the report including--
(i) the total number of vacancies; and
(ii) the vacancies at each medical center of the Department
of Veterans Affairs;
(B) the number of HUD-VASH case managers that the
Secretaries of Veterans Affairs and Housing and Urban
Development determine necessary to meet the needs of the
Department and program; and
(C) the amount of turnover among HUD-VASH case managers and
whether the turnover was planned or unexpected.
(2) An assessment of how compensation, including
recruitment and retention incentives, for HUD-VASH case
managers affects turnover, and what percentage of retention
compensation is provided to case managers at each medical
center of the Department of Veterans Affairs (compared to
other positions).
(3) A comparison of compensation described in paragraph (2)
with the compensation provided to State, local, and
nongovernmental housing employees at comparable training and
experience levels.
(4) Examples of how the Departments have worked with non-
Federal partners (such as local governments, nongovernmental
organizations, veterans service organizations, and employee
unions) to meet the staffing needs of the HUD-VASH program.
(5) Examples of how medical centers of the Department of
Veterans Affairs with high retention rates for HUD-VASH case
managers have been able to maintain their staffing levels.
TITLE II--RETRAINING ASSISTANCE FOR VETERANS
SEC. 201. COVID-19 VETERAN RAPID RETRAINING ASSISTANCE
PROGRAM.
(a) In General.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall
carry out a program under which the Secretary shall provide
up to 12 months of retraining assistance to an eligible
veteran for the pursuit of a covered program of education.
Such retraining assistance shall be in addition to any other
entitlement to educational assistance or benefits for which a
veteran is, or has been, eligible.
(b) Eligible Veterans.--
(1) In general.--For purposes of this section, the term
``eligible veteran'' means a veteran who--
(A) as of the date of the receipt by the Department of
Veterans Affairs of the application for assistance under this
section, is at least 22 years of age but not more than 66
years of age;
(B) as of such date, is unemployed by reason of the covered
public health emergency, as certified by the veteran;
(C) as of such date, is not eligible to receive educational
assistance under chapter 30, 31, 32, 33, or 35 of title 38,
United States Code, or chapter 1606 of title 10, United
States Code;
(D) is not enrolled in any Federal or State jobs program;
(E) is not in receipt of compensation for a service-
connected disability rated totally disabling by reason of
unemployability; and
(F) will not be in receipt of unemployment compensation (as
defined in section 85(b) of the Internal Revenue Code of
1986), including any cash benefit received pursuant to
subtitle A of title II of division A of the CARES Act (Public
Law 116-136), as of the first day on which the veteran would
receive a housing stipend payment under this section.
(2) Treatment of veterans who transfer entitlement.--For
purposes of paragraph (1)(C), a veteran who has transferred
all of the veteran's entitlement to educational assistance
under section 3319 of title 38, United States Code, shall be
considered to be a veteran who is not eligible to receive
educational assistance under chapter 33 of such title.
(3) Failure to complete.--A veteran who receives retraining
assistance under this section to pursue a program of
education and who fails to complete the program of education
shall not be eligible to receive additional assistance under
this section.
(c) Covered Programs of Education.--
(1) In general.--For purposes of this section, a covered
program of education is a program of education (as such term
is defined in section 3452(b) of title 38, United States
Code) for training, pursued on a full-time or part-time
basis--
(A) that--
(i) is approved under chapter 36 of such title;
(ii) does not lead to a bachelors or graduate degree; and
(iii) is designed to provide training for a high-demand
occupation, as determined under paragraph (3); or
(B) that is a high technology program of education offered
by a qualified provider, under the meaning given such terms
in section 116 of the Harry W. Colmery Veterans Educational
Assistance Act of 2017 (Public Law 115-48; 38 U.S.C. 3001
note).
(2) Accredited programs.--In the case of an accredited
program of education, the program of education shall not be
considered a covered program of education under this section
if the program has received a show cause order from the
accreditor of the program during the five-year period
preceding the date of the enactment of this Act.
(3) Determination of high-demand occupations.--
(A) Initial implementation.--In carrying out this section,
the Secretary shall use the list of high-demand occupations
compiled by the Commissioner of Labor Statistics until the
final list under subparagraph (C) is complete.
(B) Study required.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs
shall enter into an agreement with a federally funded
research and development corporation or another appropriate
non-Department entity for the conduct of a study to determine
which occupations are high-demand occupations. Such study
shall be completed not later than 90 days after the date of
the enactment of this Act.
(C) Final list.--The Secretary--
(i) may add or remove occupation from the list in use
pursuant to subparagraph (A) during the 90-day period
following the completion of the study required by
subparagraph (B);
(ii) shall issue a final list of high-demand occupations
for use under this section by not later than 90 days after
the date of the completion of the study; and
(iii) shall make such final list publicly available on a
website of the Department.
(D) Use of list.--The Secretary shall use the list
developed under this paragraph in order to apply the
requirement that retraining assistance under this section is
used for training for a high-demand occupation, but the
Secretary may remove occupations from the list as the
Secretary determines appropriate.
(4) Full-time defined.--For purposes of this subsection,
the term ``full-time'' has the meaning given such term under
section 3688 of title 38, United States Code.
(d) Amount of Assistance.--
(1) Retraining assistance.--The Secretary of Veterans
Affairs shall provide to an eligible veteran pursuing a
covered program of education under the retraining assistance
program under this section an amount equal to the amount of
educational assistance payable under section 3313(c)(1)(A) of
title 38, United States Code, for each month the veteran
pursues the covered program of education. Such amount shall
be payable directly to the educational institution offering
the covered program of education pursued by the veteran as
follows:
(A) 50 percent of the total amount payable shall be paid
when the eligible veteran begins the program of education.
(B) 25 percent of the total amount payable shall be paid
when the eligible veteran completes the program of education.
(C) 25 percent of the total amount payable shall be paid
when the eligible veteran finds employment in a field related
to the program of education.
(2) Failure to complete.--
(A) Pro-rated payments.--In the case of a veteran who
pursues a covered program of education under the retraining
assistance program under this section, but who does not
complete the program of education, the Secretary shall pay to
the educational institution offering such program of
education a pro-rated amount based on the number of months
the veteran pursued the program of education in accordance
with this paragraph.
(B) Payment otherwise due upon completion of program.--The
Secretary shall pay to the educational institution a pro-
rated amount under paragraph (1)(B) when the veteran provides
notice to the educational institution that the veteran no
longer intends to pursue the program of education.
(C) Nonrecovery from veteran.--In the case of a veteran
referred to in subparagraph (A), the educational institution
may not seek payment from the veteran for any amount that
would have been payable under paragraph (1)(B) had the
veteran completed the program of education.
(D) Payment due upon employment.--
[[Page H4758]]
(i) Veterans who find employment.--In the case of a veteran
referred to in subparagraph (A) who finds employment in a
field related to the program of education during the 180-day
period beginning on the date on which the veteran withdraws
from the program of education, the Secretary shall pay to the
educational institution a pro-rated amount under paragraph
(1)(C) when the veteran finds such employment.
(ii) Veterans who do not find employment.--In the case of a
veteran referred to in subparagraph (A) who does not find
employment in a field related to the program of education
during the 180-day period beginning on the date on which the
veteran withdraws from the program of education--
(I) the Secretary shall not make a payment to the
educational institution under paragraph (1)(C); and
(II) the educational institution may not seek payment from
the veteran for any amount that would have been payable under
paragraph (1)(C) had the veteran found employment during such
180-day period.
(3) Housing stipend.--For each month that an eligible
veteran pursues a covered program of education under the
retraining assistance program under this section, the
Secretary shall pay to the veteran a monthly housing stipend
in an amount equal to--
(A) in the case of a covered program of education leading
to a degree, or a covered program of education not leading to
a degree, at an institution of higher learning (as that term
is defined in section 3452(f) of title 38, United States
Code) pursued on more than a half-time basis, the amount
specified under subsection (c)(1)(B) of section 3313 of title
38, United States Code;
(B) in the case of a covered program of education other
than a program of education leading to a degree at an
institution other than an institution of higher learning
pursued on more than a half-time basis, the amount specified
under subsection (g)(3)(A)(ii) of such section; or
(C) in the case of a covered program of education pursued
on less than a half-time basis, or a covered program of
education pursued solely through distance learning on more
than a half-time basis, the amount specified under subsection
(c)(1)(B)(iii) of such section.
(4) Failure to find employment.--The Secretary shall not
make a payment under paragraph (1)(C) with respect to an
eligible veteran who completes or fails to complete a program
of education under the retraining assistance program under
this section if the veteran fails to find employment in a
field related to the program of education within the 180-
period beginning on the date on which the veteran withdraws
from or completes the program.
(e) No Transferability.--Retraining assistance provided
under this section may not be transferred to another
individual.
(f) Employment Assistance.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary of Labor shall contact each
veteran who pursues a covered program of education under this
section--
(A) not later than 30 days after the date on which the
veteran begins the program of education to notify the veteran
of the availability of employment placement services upon
completion of the program; and
(B) not later than 14 days after the date on which the
veteran completes, or terminates participation in, such
program to facilitate the provision of employment placement
services to such veteran.
(2) Provision of information.--The Secretary of Veterans
Affairs shall provide to the Secretary of Labor such
information as may be necessary to carry out paragraph (1).
(g) Nonprofit Organization.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall
seek to enter into a memorandum of understanding with one or
more qualified nonprofit organizations for the purpose of
facilitating the employment of veterans who participate in
the retraining assistance program under this section.
(2) Qualified nonprofit organization.--For purposes of this
subsection, a qualified nonprofit organization is a nonprofit
organization that--
(A) is an association of businesses; and
(B) has at least two years of experience providing job
placement services for veterans.
(h) Follow up Outreach.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs,
in coordination with the Secretary of Labor shall contact
each veteran who completes a covered program of education
under the retraining assistance program under this section
30, 60, 90, and 180 days after the veteran completes such
program of education to ask the veteran about the experience
of the veteran in the retraining assistance program and the
veteran's employment status.
(i) Quarterly Reports.--Not later than the date that is one
year after the date of the enactment of this Act, and
quarterly thereafter, the Secretary of Labor shall submit to
the Committees on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and House
of Representatives a report containing the following
information about veterans who participate in the retraining
assistance program under this section:
(1) The percentage of such veterans who found employment
before the end of the second calendar quarter after exiting
the program.
(2) The percentage of such veterans who found employment
before the end of the fourth calendar quarter after exiting
the program.
(3) The median earnings of all such veterans for the second
quarter after exiting the program.
(4) The percentage of such veterans who attain a recognized
postsecondary credential during the 12-month period after
exiting the program.
(j) Limitation.--Not more than 17,250 eligible veterans may
receive retraining assistance under this section.
(k) Termination.--No retraining assistance may be paid
under this section after the date that is 21 months after the
date of the enactment of this Act.
(l) GAO Report.--Not later than 180 days after the
termination of the retraining assistance program under
subsection (k), the Comptroller General shall submit to the
Committees on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and House of
Representatives a report on the outcomes and effectiveness of
the program.
(m) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) The term ``covered public health emergency'' means the
declaration--
(A) of a public health emergency, based on an outbreak of
COVID-19 by the Secretary of Health and Human Services under
section 319 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C.
247d); or
(B) of a domestic emergency, based on an outbreak of COVID-
19 by the President, the Secretary of Homeland Security, or
State, or local authority.
(2) The term ``veteran'' means--
(A) a person who served in the active military, naval, or
air service, and who was discharged or released therefrom
under conditions other than dishonorable; or
(B) a member of a reserve component of the Armed Forces who
performs active service for a period of 30 days or longer by
reason of the covered public health emergency.
(3) The term ``active service'' has the meaning given such
term in section 101 of title 10, United States Code.
(n) Funding.--
(1) In general.--For each fiscal year for which the
Secretary provides retraining assistance under this section,
such sums as may be necessary shall be made available for
such assistance from funds appropriated to, or otherwise made
available to, the Department for the payment of readjustment
benefits.
(2) Administrative costs.--There is authorized to be
appropriated $15,000,000 to carry out administrative
functions of this section.
(o) Initiation of Payments.--The Secretary may begin
providing retraining assistance under this section on the
date that is 180 days after the date of the enactment of this
Act.
SEC. 202. 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. 203. EXPANSION OF ELIGIBLE CLASS OF PROVIDERS OF HIGH
TECHNOLOGY PROGRAMS OF EDUCATION FOR VETERANS.
Section 116 of the Harry W. Colmery Veterans Educational
Assistance Act of 2017 (Public Law 115-48; 38 U.S.C. 3001
note) is amended--
(1) in subsection (b), by adding at the end the following:
``The Secretary shall treat an individual as an eligible
veteran if the Secretary determines that the individual shall
become an eligible veteran fewer than 180 days after the date
of such determination. If an individual treated as an
eligible veteran by reason of the preceding sentence does
anything to make the veteran ineligible during the 180-day
period referred to in such sentence, the Secretary may
require the veteran to repay any benefits received by such
veteran by reason of such sentence.'';
(2) in subsection (c)--
(A) in paragraph (3)(A), by striking ``has been operational
for at least 2 years'' and inserting ``employs instructors
whom the Secretary determines are experts in their respective
fields in accordance with paragraph (6)''; and
(B) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
``(6) Experts.--The Secretary shall determine whether
instructors are experts under paragraph (3)(A) based on
evidence furnished to the Secretary by the provider regarding
the ability of the instructors to--
``(A) identify professions in need of new employees to
hire, tailor the programs to meet market needs, and identify
the employers likely to hire graduates;
``(B) effectively teach the skills offered to eligible
veterans;
``(C) provide relevant industry experience in the fields of
programs offered to incoming eligible veterans; and
``(D) demonstrate relevant industry experience in such
fields of programs.'';
(3) in subsection (d), in the matter preceding paragraph
(1)--
(A) by inserting ``(not including an individual described
in the second sentence of subsection (b))'' after ``each
eligible veteran''; and
(B) by inserting ``or part-time'' after ``full-time'';
[[Page H4759]]
(4) in subsection (g), by striking ``$15,000,000'' and
inserting ``$45,000,000''; and
(5) by adding at the end the following new subsection (i):
``(i) Prohibition on Certain Accounting of Assistance.--The
Secretary may not consider enrollment in a high technology
program of education under this section to be assistance
under a provision of law referred to in section 3695 of title
38, United States Code.''.
SEC. 204. 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 5-year period beginning on the date of the
enactment of the Dependable Employment and Living
Improvements for Veterans Economic Recovery Act''; 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)'';
(2) in paragraph (2), by striking ``at least two'' and
inserting ``at least 20''; and
(3) by adding at the end the following new paragraphs:
``(5) Preferences.--In selecting States for participation
in the pilot program, the Secretary shall provide a
preference for any State with--
``(A) a high rate of usage of unemployment benefits for
recently separated members of the Armed Forces; or
``(B) a labor force or economy that has been significantly
impacted by the covered public health emergency.
``(6) Covered public health emergency.--In this subsection,
the term `covered public health emergency' means the
declaration--
``(A) of a public health emergency, based on an outbreak of
COVID-19 by the Secretary of Health and Human Services under
section 319 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C.
247d); or
``(B) of a domestic emergency, based on an outbreak of
COVID-19 by the President, the Secretary of Homeland
Security, or State, or local authority.''.
(c) Annual Report.--Subsection (e) of such section is
amended by adding at the end the following new sentence:
``Each such report shall include information about the
employment outcomes of the eligible individuals who received
such training during the year covered by the report.''.
(d) Conforming Repeal.--Subsection (f) of such section is
repealed.
SEC. 205. 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.--In making grants under this section, the
Secretary shall give priority to an organization that--
(1) provides multiple forms of services described in
subsection (b); or
(2) is located in a State with--
(A) a high rate of veteran unemployment;
(B) a high rate of usage of unemployment benefits for
recently separated members of the Armed Forces; or
(C) a labor force or economy that has been significantly
impacted by the covered public health emergency (as such term
is defined in section 201(l)(1)).
(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. 206. ONE-YEAR INDEPENDENT ASSESSMENT OF THE
EFFECTIVENESS OF TRANSITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.
(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 the Transition Assistance Program
under sections 1142 and 1144 of title 10, United States Code
(in this section referred to as ``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 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'' means--
(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. 207. 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 the
Transition Assistance Program under sections 1142 and 1144 of
title 10, United States Code (in this section referred to as
``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 206(b); and
(3) a cohort that has not attended TAP counseling.
(b) Progress Reports.--Not later than 90 days after the
date 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.
[[Page H4760]]
(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
206(a)(7).
(11) Other criteria the Secretaries and the Administrator
of the Small Business Administration determine appropriate.
SEC. 208. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS LOAN FEES.
The loan fee table in section 3729(b)(2) of title 38,
United States Code, is amended by striking subparagraph (E)
and inserting the following:
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(E)(i) Interest rate reduction refinancing 0.50 0.50 NA
loan issued before January 1, 2021
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(E)(ii) Interest rate reduction 0.85 0.85 NA
refinancing loan issued on or after
January 1, 2021, and before January 15,
2027
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(E)(iii) Interest rate reduction 0.50 0.50 NA
refinancing loan issued on or after
January 15, 2027
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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 to insert extraneous material on H.R. 7105, 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, I rise in support of H.R. 7105, as amended, the
DELIVER Act.
H.R. 7105, as amended, was introduced by Representative Mike Levin,
chairman of the Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity, in June of this
year. But the package before us encompasses many of the issues his
subcommittee has worked on to reduce homelessness and improve
employment opportunities for veterans.
This bipartisan package encompasses seven bipartisan, bicameral
pieces of legislation to improve the lives of veterans experiencing
hardships.
First, section 101 of this package includes Chairman Levin's Homeless
Veterans Coronavirus Response Act. This section includes temporary
authorities for the Department of Veterans Affairs to effectively
assist veterans during this difficult time.
Madam Speaker, that means giving VA the ability to serve more meals
and providing blankets, clothing, basic hygiene products, and permanent
and temporary shelter to veterans experiencing homelessness.
The section also allows VA flexibility to more quickly pay out grant
and per diem payments. This means housing more veterans more quickly.
Finally, Mr. Levin's bill authorizes VA to use resources to contract
healthcare services for veterans in the Health Care for Homeless
Veterans, or HCHV, program during a public health emergency.
{time} 1315
These are crucial improvements that VA has asked for, and we stand
with them to deliver this assistance.
Now, section 102 of this legislation represents H.R. 2398 from
Representative Scott Peters. His Veteran HOUSE Act would finally expand
HUD-VASH to cover veterans with other-than-honorable discharges.
Veterans with other-than-honorable discharges make up 3 percent of
the population, but they compose 15 percent of the homeless veteran
population. There is no question that this commonsense expansion of the
program would mean fewer homeless veterans, and I thank Representative
Peters for his tireless work on this section.
Now, included in section 103 of the bill is H.R. 3749, Representative
Panetta's Legal Services for Homeless Veterans Act. This would
authorize VA to provide grants or enter into cooperative agreements
with eligible entities that provide legal services to homeless veterans
and veterans at risk for homelessness.
Madam Speaker, according to community organizations, legal services
are one of the top unmet needs for homeless veterans. Under this
section, VA would be required to consult with organizations that have
experience providing services to homeless veterans when establishing
these criteria and requirements, and these grants or cooperative
agreements would only be available to highly rated public or nonprofit
entities.
Additionally, Representative Wild has included legislation to ensure
that at least 10 percent of the funds made available each fiscal year
for this grant program must be reserved for providing legal services to
homeless women veterans.
As we know, women veterans are the fastest growing population of
homeless veterans, and I thank Representative Panetta and
Representative Wild for their work on this section.
Section 104 of the underlying bill includes Representative Beatty's
legislation to carry out a gap analysis study to determine if VA
programs are properly serving homeless women veterans.
Section 105 of the legislation represents bipartisan legislation just
introduced by Minority Leader McCarthy and Chairman Levin. Their
legislation, the Reducing Veteran Homelessness Act, would encourage VA
to contract out vacant HUD-VASH caseworker positions, increase the
grant per diem rates, and allow grant per diem participants to gain
access to the homeless management information systems. This will make
our community providers more effective at delivering for their
communities.
Section 105 also includes Representative Brownley's Homeless Veteran
Families Act.
Many homeless veterans with children are unable to obtain
transitional housing and support assistance through the program because
providers only receive payments from the VA for the veteran, not their
minor dependents. This section would authorize VA to pay a partial per
diem to GPD providers supporting our Nation's homeless veterans with
children.
Finally, this legislation would also have VA more accurately track
HUD-
[[Page H4761]]
VASH case manager vacancies and help Congress determine how to more
effectively keep the program staffed so that it may most effectively
serve our Nation's veterans.
Sections 201 through 203 represent Ranking Member Roe and Chairman
Levin's Rapid Retraining Assistance Program for Veterans. Now, this
program will train 7,500 veterans who have been economically impacted
by COVID-19, putting their skills and knowledge back to work in our
economy.
We have a commitment to our Nation's veterans to support them
regardless of the challenges they face. COVID-19 is no different, and I
am pleased that we were able to find a way to pass concrete employment
measures for our Nation's veterans.
Last but certainly not least, sections 204 through 207 represent
Chairman Levin's Navy SEAL Chief Petty Officer William ``Bill'' Mulder,
Retired, Transition Improvement Act.
This section would make much-needed improvements to our
servicemembers' transition process, including more accessible
transition sites and providing grants for organizations to assist with
resume assistance, interview training, and job recruitment training.
All told, this is one of the most meaningful pieces of legislation
dealing with economic hardship we will have a chance to consider, and I
am grateful to the countless Members of Congress for their hard work to
make it a reality.
Our time here is short, so we call on our colleagues in the Senate,
who have also worked on many of these provisions, to send this bill to
the President before we finish our work this year.
Madam Speaker, I encourage all my colleagues to join me in voting for
H.R. 7105, as amended.
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. 7105, as amended, the
Dependable Employment and Living Improvements for Veterans Economic
Recovery, or DELIVER, Act.
This bill would help veterans who are homeless, provide needed job
training and education benefits to veterans who are unemployed, and
support veterans who are transitioning out of the military and into
civilian life.
It would contain provisions that help homeless veteran service
providers meet the increasing demands associated with the COVID-19
pandemic, provide additional flexibility to fund services for homeless
veterans with children, authorize grant funding for legal services for
homeless veterans, and assist incarcerated veterans who are leaving the
criminal justice system.
This bill also contains the text of numerous other bills that have
been sponsored by Members on both sides of the aisle to better support
those who have served.
It contains the text of H.R. 8275, the Reducing Veteran Homeless Act
of 2020, which is sponsored by Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy of
California and Congressman Mike Levin of California, the chairman of
the Subcommittee of Economic Opportunity, to increase funding for
transitional housing providers and improve case management in the
Department of Housing and Urban Development--Department of Veterans
Affairs Supportive Housing, or the HUD-VASH program, which we have used
in my district numerous times. These efforts would help connect
homeless veterans with stable housing and get them back on their own
two feet.
Madam Speaker, I am grateful to Leader McCarthy and Congressman Levin
for bringing these important issues to our attention and working to
address them.
The DELIVER Act also contains another bill that was introduced by
Republican Leader McCarthy, H.R. 5766, the VET TEC Expansion Act.
The VET TEC program was created by Leader McCarthy in the Forever GI
Bill in 2017 to support veterans pursuing careers in the technology
sector by providing them with tuition and a living stipend as they
complete their training.
The VET TEC program is very popular among veterans, with over 1,100
of them completing the program and many already finding jobs with an
average starting salary of $60,000 per year. That is money well
invested when you have veterans getting those kinds of jobs.
The VET TEC Expansion Act would help streamline processes and
authorize additional funding for the VET TEC program so that even more
veterans can benefit from it.
Madam Speaker, I once again thank Republican Leader McCarthy, who is
a champion for our Nation's servicemembers and veterans and never fails
to support efforts for them to succeed, for his work on this bill.
Madam Speaker, the DELIVER Act also contains two provisions that are
named for Navy SEAL Chief Petty Officer William ``Bill'' Mulder, who
tragically died by suicide in 2017 after years of honorable service to
our country.
The first is H.R. 7111, which I was pleased to introduce this summer
with Congressman Levin and Senators Jerry Moran of Kansas and Jon
Tester of Montana, the chairman and ranking member of the Senate
Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
As we work to restore the record-breaking economy we had in place
before COVID-19, we must do all we can to prepare unemployed veterans
for success in the new post-pandemic economy. My bill would do that by
authorizing a rapid retraining program for veterans who find themselves
unemployed as a result of COVID-19.
Last month, it was estimated that there are 560,000 unemployed
veterans in this country. The retraining program my bill would create
would put those veterans back on track to compete for gainful, long-
term employment opportunities.
The second provision named after Navy SEAL Chief Petty Officer
William ``Bill'' Mulder is H.R. 2326, as amended, which was introduced
by my friend Congressman Levin and my friends Congressman Bilirakis
from Florida and Congressman Jodey Arrington from Texas, who are,
respectively, the current and former Republican leaders of the
Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity.
Their bill, which passed the House earlier this summer, would improve
servicemembers' transition to civilian life by authorizing a review of
the curriculum of the Transition Assistance Program, or TAP program,
and authorizing TAP at off-base locations and providing grant funds to
community organizations that help servicemembers as they transition.
This bill is a culmination of the work the Subcommittee on Economic
Opportunity started last Congress to improve TAP.
Madam Speaker, I am grateful to Congressmen Levin, Bilirakis, and
Arrington for their continued work to support those transitioning out
of the military and for including their bill in the DELIVER Act today.
Madam Speaker, I also thank the National Coalition for Homeless
Veterans for their help in crafting the homeless veteran provisions in
this bill and the numerous military and veteran service organizations
that helped advocate for the employment, education, and transition
provisions in the bill. Their steadfast advocacy is critical to getting
veterans into safe, stable homes and back to work, and I am grateful to
them for their strong partnership that we have fostered in my nearly 12
years in Congress.
Madam Speaker, I encourage all Members to support the DELIVER Act
today, and I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. TAKANO. Madam Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from
California (Mr. Levin), my good friend and the chairman of the
Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity, who is also the author of this
impressive, comprehensive H.R. 7105.
Mr. LEVIN of California. Madam Speaker, I thank Chairman Takano for
yielding.
As chair of the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs' Subcommittee on
Economic Opportunity, and as a Representative for tens of thousands of
veterans around Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, I strongly believe
that we have got to do more to support those who have served our
country. We can't allow men and women who have served to fall into
homelessness, end up without a job, or go without the basic services
that they deserve.
Today, we are taking a significant step in making sure veterans are
no
[[Page H4762]]
longer left behind. I am so proud to lead the DELIVER Act, a robust,
action-forward package to help get our veterans back on their feet. The
legislation includes six of my bipartisan bills to help get veterans
the housing and employment opportunities they deserve.
It includes the Homeless Veteran Coronavirus Response Act, a bill I
introduced with my friend, Representative Gus Bilirakis--I don't see
Gus here, but I am grateful to him--to expand and strengthen VA
services to homeless veterans during the COVID-19 pandemic.
It includes the Veteran HOUSE Act, a bill I co-led with my friend
Representative Scott Peters, also from San Diego, to expand the HUD-
VASH program to homeless veterans discharged under conditions other
than honorable.
It includes the Reducing Veteran Homelessness Act, a bill I
introduced with Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy to ensure that
homeless veterans and their families receive the resources and services
they deserve by filling gaps in the HUD-VASH case management system.
It includes the Housing for Women Veterans Act, a bill I introduced
with Representative Fitzpatrick to require the VA to complete an
analysis of its programs that provide assistance to women veterans who
are homeless to identify the areas in which such programs are failing
to meet their needs.
It includes the Veterans Economic Recovery Act, a bill I introduced
with Ranking Member Roe.
And we are all going to miss Dr. Roe. We are grateful for all that he
does.
That bill will, as Dr. Roe just said, create a rapid retraining
program for unemployed veterans and reservists.
And it includes the Chief Petty Officer William ``Bill'' Mulder
Transition Improvement Act, a bill I introduced with my friend
Representative Arrington to make the transition process easier for
servicemembers returning to civilian life.
I have said it before, and I will say it again: Even one homeless
veteran is one too many.
{time} 1330
We have a moral obligation to make robust Federal investments in
programs to help get veterans off the street, and we have got to do a
better job of ensuring that our Nation's heroes have the housing
assistance and services they need. Each of the bills that we have
talked about today will make a real difference for the veterans I serve
and countless others across the country.
You hear a lot about how things in Washington are broken and how we
can't get a lot done around here, but I am very proud of the bipartisan
progress we have made today for our veterans. I am hopeful the Senate
will take the bill up quickly and get it on the President's desk.
I am just so grateful to everybody that has been involved, both the
Members and their staff. It was really a wonderful, bipartisan,
bicameral effort.
I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. DAVID P. ROE of Tennessee. Madam Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to
the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Arrington), a former member of the
Veterans' Affairs Committee who I had the privilege of visiting in his
district and I know his commitment to our veterans.
Mr. ARRINGTON. Madam Speaker, for the record, it is my friend, Phil
Roe, who likes to say that there would be no Texas if there weren't a
Tennessee. I have to say that in his honor, and then I will have to
defend my honor now when I go back to Texas. That is my gift to the
gentleman as he departs.
He is a distinguished gentleman and statesman and an effective leader
for our Nation and for our veterans. I thank the gentleman for that
from the bottom of my heart.
I thank Chairman Takano for his camaraderie and our common cause of
serving the veterans. We served together when I was in my first term on
the VA Committee, and he has a passion for our veterans. While we may
disagree about things from time to time, I respect that about the
gentleman and I wish him all the best success as we try to do right by
those men and women who gave up their today so we could have our
tomorrow.
Now, to Chairman Levin, nothing would honor me more than to honor the
Mulder family and my friend Bill Mulder. And for the gentleman to allow
us to carry his name forward, representative of the men and women who
have served and who have returned with honor but with wounds that you
can't see and that end up taking their lives and taking so much from
this country because they have so much more to offer, I thank the
gentleman.
We need to recognize when things are working around here, and I will
say that any time we can govern for this great country and we can do
the right thing and put our country first, I will commend anybody any
day and all day.
So God bless you gentlemen for your leadership.
Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 7105, a package that
includes legislation that I, along with Chairman Levin, introduced to
honor Navy SEAL Chief Petty Officer Bill Mulder. This legislation aims
to improve the VA's transition assistance program to help our Nation's
servicemembers successfully reintegrate back into civilian life when
they return home from serving our Nation.
Bill Mulder was a friend, a leader, and an American hero who, as I
mentioned, due to the invisible wounds that often plague our soldiers
when they return, tragically ended his own life just a few months after
retiring from serving our Nation with distinction.
Our veterans face unique challenges when they return home and if we
can do a better job on the front end, engaging them earlier and
providing them the education, training, equipping them to reintegrate
so that we can, on the back end, prevent the struggles with addiction,
unemployment, homelessness, suicide, that is the goal here. Those are
things that disproportionately affect our veterans and we can do
something about it, and I believe this legislation will address that in
a meaningful way.
As we recognize September as National Suicide Prevention Awareness
Month, I can think of no other cause more worthy for our support in
this great body than helping our veterans transition to a more
productive and healthy and fulfilling civilian life after they
sacrificed so much for our country.
By the way, I can't think of a better way to honor Bill Mulder and
those just like him. So I stand in support.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The time of the gentleman has expired.
Mr. DAVID P. ROE of Tennessee. Madam Speaker, I yield the gentleman
from Texas an additional 1 minute.
Mr. ARRINGTON. Madam Speaker, I almost rushed the most important
part. This is not only a cause worthy of our support as a Congress, but
it will honor men and women just like Bill Mulder. I believe if we do
it right, and if the VA and the Defense Department actually implement
it right--that is the next big hurdle--then we will save lives.
And that is why we got into this gig, right? We want to make a
difference. We want to help our fellow Americans. We want to save
lives.
Mr. TAKANO. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Texas for his
kind words and comments, and I appreciate his passion for our veterans.
And I am very pleased that we can honor his friend by the naming of the
bill.
Madam Speaker, I have no further speakers, and I am prepared to
close. I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. DAVID P. ROE of Tennessee. Madam Speaker, I am prepared to close,
and I yield myself the balance of my time.
This is a bill that contains a lot of effort, as you can see, from
both sides of the aisle, both Republicans and Democrats, and as Mr.
Arrington said, trying to do the right thing for our Nation's heroes.
I remember in 2008 when I was a candidate for Congress, the HUD-VASH
voucher program was rolled out. I didn't really understand it. It is a
program that helps homeless veterans.
And when I got into Congress, I remember General Shinseki, who was
the Secretary at that time, stated that during the housing crisis there
were over 100,000 homeless veterans in America, the wealthiest country
in the world. I found that shameful.
His goal was to eliminate homelessness among veterans in the next 6
[[Page H4763]]
years. He didn't achieve that goal, but it was a worthy goal. That
number now is under 40,000, less than that. And, hopefully, with this
bill that has help for families and children in it, that we can get
these veterans off the street, and into productive lives.
You can see in part of the bill that Congressman Levin, myself, and
leader McCarthy supported, it takes veterans who have lost their jobs
and gets them skills that they can transition into this new economy
post-pandemic, and has money to take care of their families.
I know the transition assistance program that was mentioned. I know
when I got out of the military, the only thing I was worried about was
the gate of the fort I was in hitting me on the backside on the way
out. That is how much help I got at the end of Vietnam. Nobody really
said: What are you going to do next?
They just said: You are out of here.
We had this little helmet, I remember, when I was in service, with
two feet coming out from under it. And that meant you were short. You
had less than 100 days left in-country.
Well, today, we are doing a much better job with our transitioning,
and we are starting to think, when these young people go into the
military to serve our country and our Nation and protect us, what are
you going to do when you transition out?
In other words, when you go in, start thinking about what you are
going to do when your military career is over. This bill will help us
get to that. I am very proud to encourage all of my colleagues to
support this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. TAKANO. Madam Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.
Madam Speaker, I just want to say that this is a tremendously
comprehensive bill. It represents the tremendous work of Members from
both sides of the aisle.
I have to say that I am recalling at this very moment a woman veteran
who drove all the way from Los Angeles into my district to a townhall
meeting where she first made me aware of the issue of veterans with
children not having enough money, not enough benefits to be able to get
into homeless housing, and I am so pleased that the bill by Ms.
Brownley to address that issue is in this piece of legislation.
I just urge all of my colleagues to pass H.R. 7105, as amended, and I
yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. McCARTHY. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of the DELIVER
Act, a bipartisan veterans legislative package that includes two bills
that I have introduced this Congress, the VET TEC Expansion Act and the
Reducing Veteran Homelessness Act of 2020.
I believe that a nation's character can be judged by how well it
treats its veterans when they complete their service and return home.
Providing veterans with flexible education benefits to meet current
workforce needs and protecting our most vulnerable veterans from
homelessness is the least that we can do as a country to repay our debt
of gratitude.
The VET TEC Expansion Act, which I introduced with my colleague from
California, Ro Khanna, builds upon the success of the existing VET TEC
pilot program, which was created by the original VET TEC Act that I
introduced and which President Trump signed into law in 2017 as part of
a broader bipartisan veterans bill. Upon realizing the potential that
non-traditional, ``nanodegree'' educational programs have for our
veterans after visiting such a program in 2017, I discovered that GI
Bill benefits did not cover the cost of enrolling in these types of
programs, which is why I introduced the VET TEC Act.
The VET TEC pilot program began accepting veteran applications in May
2019, and in seeking to keep the program aligned with its mission to
provide veterans with access to technology-oriented and industry-
responsive educational courses, I introduced the VET TEC Expansion Act
just under one year after the pilot's official launch. This bill would
allow the VA to accept more course providers into the VET TEC pilot
program, expand VET TEC pilot program eligibility to include certain
servicemembers who are starting the transition to civilian life--so
they may get a jumpstart on obtaining new skills that can help them
secure a job--and would allow the VA to accept education providers that
offer part-time courses, such as night classes, into the pilot program.
All of these provisions were developed in consultation with feedback
from veteran organizations and I am confident that these changes will
allow the VA to provide even more veterans with access to the most up-
to-date, non-traditional educational courses possible. The VET TEC
pilot program is incredibly popular, so I am pleased that the DELIVER
Act also authorizes $30 million in additional annual funding for this
pilot program until its expiration in Fiscal Year 2023. This funding
increase appropriately responds to the current overwhelming demand from
veterans who are seeking to participate in non-traditional educational
courses that prepare them for employment in our dynamic, technology-
centric economy. An August 2020 VA report to Congress recently found
that thousands of veterans who applied to participate in a VET TEC-
approved course received a ``Certificate of Eligibility'' to
participate beginning on October 1, 2020, the start of the 2021 Fiscal
Year, as VET TEC's popularity caused it to run out of funding in its
first pilot year. To me, this is a strong testament to the demand for
flexible educational benefits from our nation's student veterans.
The Reducing Veteran Homelessness Act of 2020, which I introduced
with my colleague from California, Mike Levin, just last week, provides
solutions to address issues that homeless providers have raised with me
in recent years. The successful HUD-VA Supportive Housing Program (or
HUD-VASH Program) has long been plagued by understaffing of case
managers, which prevents supportive housing vouchers allocated through
the program from reaching veterans in need.
My legislation requires the VA to contract out HUD-VASH case manager
services to community experts when these VA case manager positions
remain unfilled for a long period of time and HUD-VASH housing vouchers
in the region remain unutilized. It also modernizes the VA's Grant and
Per Diem program so that homeless providers that participate in this
program receive pay that is based on local or regional conditions
rather than a standard across-the-board rate, in order to prevent
providers operating in parts of the country with higher living costs
from having to reduce services.
I would like to thank Subcommittee Chairman Levin, Committee Ranking
Member Phil Roe and the members of the House Veterans Affairs Committee
for ensuring that our nation's veterans receive the supportive services
that they deserve by including these two pieces of legislation in the
DELIVER Act. Accordingly, I ask my colleagues on both sides of the
aisle to join me in supporting this bill so that we may better serve
the veterans who have so valiantly served our country.
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. 7105, 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 provide
flexibility for the Secretary of Veterans Affairs in caring for
homeless veterans during a covered public health emergency, to direct
the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out a retraining assistance
program for unemployed veterans, and for other purposes.''.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
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