[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 150 (Monday, September 15, 2025)]
[House]
[Pages H4288-H4289]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
VETERANS READINESS AND EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM INTEGRITY ACT
Mr. BOST. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill
(H.R. 3579) to amend title 38, United States Code, to make certain
improvements to the Veterans Readiness and Employment program of
Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes, as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 3579
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 Readiness and
Employment Program Integrity Act''.
SEC. 2. APPLICATION REQUIREMENT UNDER VETERANS READINESS AND
EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM OF DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS
AFFAIRS.
Section 3106(a) of title 38, United States Code, is
amended--
(1) by striking ``necessary (1) to determine'' and
inserting ``necessary to determine'';
(2) by striking ``and (2) in the case'' and inserting
``and, in the case'';
(3) by inserting ``(1)'' before ``The Secretary''; and
(4) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
``(2) The Secretary may not provide an initial evaluation
of a veteran under paragraph (1) before the veteran submits
to the Secretary an application containing the substantive
work record and educational transcripts of the veteran that
the Secretary determines appropriate.''.
SEC. 3. MAXIMUM DURATION OF EMPLOYMENT ASSISTANCE UNDER
VETERANS READINESS AND EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM OF
DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.
Section 3117(a) of title 38, United States Code, is amended
by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
``(3)(A) Subject to subparagraph (B), a veteran may not
receive assistance under this subsection for more than 365
days.
``(B) A veteran may receive an additional 180 days of such
assistance if an individual who provides counseling under
this chapter to such veteran certifies that the veteran is
actively seeking employment.''.
SEC. 4. REPORTING AND DATA COLLECTION REQUIREMENTS UNDER
VETERANS READINESS AND EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM OF
DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.
(a) In General.--Chapter 31 of title 38, United States
Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new
section:
``Sec. 3123. Requirements for data collection and reporting
``(a) Data Collection.--The Secretary shall submit to the
Committees on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and House of
Representatives a report regarding the employment of veterans
who participate in a vocational rehabilitation program under
this chapter. Such information shall include, for each such
veteran--
``(1) the regional office responsible for the provision of
the program; and
``(2) the annual wages of the veteran before and after the
completion of the program.
``(b) Publication of Wait Times.--On an annual basis, the
Secretary shall make publicly available, on an appropriate
website of the Department, the average time between the date
on which a veteran requests a vocational rehabilitation
program under this chapter and the date on which the veteran
first meets with a counselor as part of the veteran's
program.''.
(b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the
beginning of such chapter is amended by adding at the end the
following new item:
``3123. Requirements for data collection and reporting.''.
(c) Independent Review of Program.--
(1) Review required.--Not later than one year after the
date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans
Affairs shall seek to enter into a contract, with a non-
Department entity that has expertise in vocational
rehabilitation, pursuant to which the entity shall conduct a
review of rehabilitation programs (as such term is defined in
section 3101 of such title) under such chapter.
(2) Report.--Not later than one year after the date of such
a contract, the entity shall submit to the Secretary a report
containing recommendations regarding how to improve and
modernize such rehabilitation programs.
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 have
5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks on H.R. 3579, as
amended.
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. 3579 offered by my
friend and colleague, Representative Ciscomani of Arizona. This bill
would make needed modernizations to the VA's Veterans Readiness and
Employment program, the VR&E program.
Over the last 2 years, our committee has uncovered disastrous wait
times, fraud, waste, and abuse in the VA's VR&E program. This bill
would steer the ship in the right direction by establishing more
oversight of the program.
It is the duty of Congress to make sure that veterans who complete
this workforce program are earning more and are in a better spot than
they were before entering the program. VR&E currently does not track
those results.
At a recent hearing, VA told the committee that 45 percent of
veterans who successfully complete the program reenter it later. This
does not show that the program is working for veterans. In fact, Mr.
Speaker, it shows that the VR&E needs an overhaul. It is time to reform
VR&E so that veterans can receive the training they need to find a
meaningful career field that is fit for them.
This bill would also implement better practices for transparency on
wait times to allow veterans to better plan for their future.
Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend, Representative Ciscomani, for
sponsoring this bill to improve job training access for veterans. My
committee will continue to seek ways to level the playing field for
veterans seeking employment so that every veteran has access to the
opportunity they want all the while protecting the taxpayers'
investment in these programs.
Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to support H.R. 3579, as
amended, 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 to express my support for H.R. 3579, as amended,
the Veterans Readiness and Employment Program Integrity Act.
The VA Veteran Readiness and Employment program, otherwise known as
VR&E, is also known as Chapter 31. It is a comprehensive benefits
program designed to help veterans with service-connected disabilities
find and maintain suitable employment. It offers personalized
assistance, including career counseling, vocational training, and
educational support to help veterans overcome employment barriers.
The program's ultimate goal is to empower disabled veterans to
achieve independence and a successful career in the civilian workforce.
I take great pride in my work on the Honoring our PACT Act that
resulted in hundreds of thousands of veterans finally having their
disability recognized, making them eligible for the VR&E program.
However, that massive influx of new applicants has brought to light
improvements that are needed for the VR&E program.
This legislation seeks to add some good-governance steps to the
program, to make sure veterans are aware of how the benefit works upon
sign up and ensures that veterans are actively seeking employment as
they are prepared to exit the VR&E program.
This legislation also includes data reporting for Congress and
veterans so wait times and wage data are public.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues in the House, and Senate as well,
to support this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.
[[Page H4289]]
Mr. BOST. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the
gentleman from the great State of Arizona (Mr. Ciscomani).
Mr. CISCOMANI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of my bill, H.R.
3579, the Veterans Readiness and Employment Program Integrity Act. This
bipartisan bill ensures that veterans have the tools and resources they
need to successfully transition to civilian life.
This legislation does so by providing much-needed oversight over the
VA's Veteran Readiness and Employment program, which offers specific
job training and counseling to veterans with a service-connected
disability. This bill requires the VA to track employment outcomes and
wait times for participants in order for us to know if this program is
fulfilling its core mission, and it enables better evaluation of all
tracks in the VR&E so that we can do a better job in understanding what
is working and also what is not working.
Far too many veterans wait for months just to meet with a program
counselor. I have heard this over and over again in my district. Far
too many leave programs without confidence that they have the skills to
have a stable civilian career. This bill fixes that.
It is not about giveaways, it is about getting return on our
investment in veterans, in dignity, in opportunity, in real jobs. It is
about ensuring our veterans transition with the resources that they
need, not just to survive, but to thrive.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to vote
in support of H.R. 3579. Stand behind our veterans not just with words
but with this important oversight, with accountability, and especially
with action.
Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from
Florida (Mrs. Cherfilus-McCormick), who serves on our Subcommittee on
Health and our Technology Modernization Subcommittee.
Mrs. CHERFILUS-McCORMICK. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to co-lead H.R.
3579 the Veterans Readiness and Employment Program Integrity Act
alongside Congressman Ciscomani.
This bipartisan bill expands economic opportunities for our veterans
and brings much-needed transparency for the Veterans Readiness and
Employment Program which helps veterans with service-connected
disabilities transition to civilian careers.
Serving over 125,000 veterans each year, the VR&E program is
critical, especially for veterans in Florida and nationwide, helping
them gain the skills and opportunities needed to build successful and
dignified lives after service.
To ensure veterans receive the support they deserve, the Department
of Veterans Affairs must provide timely and accurate data on program
outcomes. Veterans should not have to endure excessive wait times
before accessing their critical services. This requires the VA to
report on employment rates, wages, and average wait times, guaranteeing
that veterans receive prompt and effective assistance.
These measures will improve program effectiveness and ensure veterans
benefit from high quality and timely support.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill, and I
encourage the Senate to act quickly.
Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers, and I yield
myself the balance of my time to close.
Mr. Speaker, I ask all of my colleagues to join me in passing H.R.
3579, as amended, the Veterans Readiness and Employment Program
Integrity Act, and I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. BOST. Mr. Speaker, in closing, I, once again, encourage all
Members to support this legislation, and I yield back the balance of my
time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Williams of Texas). 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. 3579, as amended.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the
rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
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