[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 124 (Monday, July 21, 2025)]
[House]
[Pages H3491-H3492]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
VETERANS EMPLOYMENT READINESS YIELD ACT OF 2025
Mr. BOST. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill
(H.R. 2625) to amend title 38, United States Code, to update certain
terminology regarding veteran employment.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 2625
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Veterans Employment
Readiness Yield Act of 2025'' or the ``VERY Act of 2025''.
SEC. 2. UPDATE OF CERTAIN TERMINOLOGY REGARDING VETERAN
EMPLOYMENT.
Title 38, United States Code, is amended--
(1) by striking ``employment handicap'' each place it
occurs and inserting ``employment barrier''; and
(2) by striking ``employment handicaps'' each place it
occurs and inserting ``employment barriers''.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Illinois (Mr. Bost) and the gentleman from California (Mr. Takano) each
will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Illinois.
General Leave
Mr. BOST. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may
have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks on
H.R. 2625.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Illinois?
There was no objection.
MR. BOST. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 2625 offered by the
gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Davis), my colleague.
H.R. 2625 would strike the term ``employment handicap'' from the
Veteran Readiness and Employment statute, or VR&E, and replace it with
the term ``employment barrier.''
This bill is simply a fix that would remove the negative implications
of the term ``handicap'' and replace it with the broader term to ensure
service-connected veterans can access the support they might need.
Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to support H.R. 2625, and I
reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 2625, the Veterans Employment
Readiness Yield Act of 2025 introduced by my good friend Representative
Don Davis.
The Veteran Readiness and Employment program, or VR&E, offers vital
services to help veterans and servicemembers with service-connected
disabilities and those determined to have
[[Page H3492]]
an employment handicap prepare for, find, and maintain suitable
employment or live more independently.
This bill would replace the terms ``employment handicap'' and
``serious employment handicap'' with ``employment barrier'' and
``serious employment barrier.''
Historically, the term ``handicap'' has been associated with
disadvantage or burden, which does not accurately reflect our veteran
population.
By making this change, we acknowledge the challenges that veterans
with service-connected disabilities often face in the job market.
Eliminating the stigma associated with these disabilities will
encourage more veterans to participate in the VR&E program, ultimately
assisting them in preparing for and securing meaningful employment.
The Department of Veterans Affairs requested this change, which has
bipartisan support and incurs no cost. I thank Mr. Davis for his work
on veterans' issues during his time in Congress. I am proud of his work
to open doors at the VA for more veterans so they may access the
benefits they have earned through their service.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. BOST. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from
North Carolina (Mr. Davis), my good friend who currently serves on the
House Committee on Armed Services and the House Committee on
Agriculture, the sponsor of H.R. 2625.
Mr. DAVIS of North Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman Bost and
Representative Takano for yielding time.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 2625, the Veterans Employment
Readiness Yield Act of 2025.
On behalf of the more than 56,000 veterans in North Carolina's First
Congressional District, which I am proud to represent, and so many
across our country, I urge my colleagues to vote in favor of this
commonsense legislation.
I thank the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Ciscomani), who co-led the
bill. I also thank the House Committee on Veterans' Affair for marking
it up and moving it forward. Lastly, I thank the Disabled American
Veterans and Paralyzed Veterans of America for endorsing this
legislation.
H.R. 2625 amends terminology in the Veteran Readiness and Employment
program to replace the term ``employment handicap'' with ``employment
barrier'' and the term ``serious employment handicap'' with ``serious
employment barrier,'' while, most importantly, leaving the definitions
unchanged.
The Veteran Readiness and Employment program helps former
servicemembers find jobs and ensure their mental and financial well-
being are intact. Updating the terminology will improve efficiency and
encourage veterans to use the Veteran Readiness and Employment program.
No veteran should have any discomfort advocating for themselves and
seeking help for their service-connected disabilities. We will continue
to stay in this fight until every disabled veteran has what they need
to get the assistance they have earned.
On behalf of a grateful nation, we can honor those who have given
life and limb to serve by passing the VERY Act.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to do exactly that, and I thank the
chair and the ranking member for yielding time.
Mr. BOST. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, we passed this bill in the House last
Congress, only for the Senate to run out of time. I am hopeful that
this year the Senate acts quickly to send this bill directly to the
President's desk.
Mr. Speaker, I support H.R. 2625, the Veterans Employment Readiness
Yield Act of 2025, and I urge all my colleagues to support it, as well.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. BOST. Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to support H.R.
2625, and I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Bost) that the House suspend the rules and
pass the bill, H.R. 2625.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the
rules were suspended and the bill was passed.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
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