[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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