[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 156 (2010), Part 12]
[House]
[Pages 16774-16775]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




         CHANGING CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS FOR VA COUNSELORS

  Mr. FILNER. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 5630) to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for 
qualifications for vocational rehabilitation counselors and vocational 
rehabilitation employment coordinators employed by the Department of 
Veterans Affairs.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 5630

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

     SECTION 1. QUALIFICATIONS FOR VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION 
                   COUNSELORS AND VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION 
                   EMPLOYMENT COORDINATORS EMPLOYED BY THE 
                   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. Qualifications for vocational rehabilitation 
       counselors and vocational rehabilitation employment 
       coordinators

       ``(a) Vocational Rehabilitation Counselors.--Each 
     individual employed by the Department as a vocational 
     rehabilitation counselor shall--
       ``(1) have completed a masters degree in vocational 
     rehabilitation counseling before being so employed;
       ``(2) by not later than five years after the individual is 
     first so employed, obtain certification by an accredited 
     certifying body recognized by the National Commission for 
     Certifying Agencies; and
       ``(3) as a condition of continued employment, maintain such 
     certification.
       ``(b) Vocational Rehabilitation Employment Coordinators.--
     Each individual employed by the Department as a vocational 
     rehabilitation employment coordinator shall--
       ``(1) have completed a bachelors degree in the relevant 
     field, as designated by the Secretary, before being so 
     employed;
       ``(2) by not later than five years after the individual is 
     first so employed, obtain certification by an accredited 
     certifying body recognized by the National Commission for 
     Certifying Agencies; and
       ``(3) as a condition of continued employment, maintain such 
     certification.
       ``(c) Remediation Plan.--If an individual employed by the 
     Department as a vocational rehabilitation counselor or a 
     vocational rehabilitation employment coordinator fails to 
     meet a condition of employment applicable to such individual 
     under subsection (a) or (b), the Director of the Vocational 
     Rehabilitation and Employment Service shall develop a 
     remediation plan for such individual. If the individual fails 
     to complete the remediation plan, such failure shall be cause 
     for termination.''.
       (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. Qualifications for vocational rehabilitation counselors and 
              vocational rehabilitation employment coordinators.''.

       (c) Applicability.--
       (1) Individuals hired after date of enactment.--Section 
     3123 of title 38, United States Code, as added by subsection 
     (a), shall apply with respect to an individual hired by the 
     Department of Veterans Affairs after the date of the 
     enactment of this Act.
       (2) Individuals hired before date of enactment.--In the 
     case of an individual hired as a vocational rehabilitation 
     counselor or a vocational rehabilitation employment 
     coordinator by the Department of Veterans Affairs before the 
     date of the enactment of this Act, such individual is 
     required to have the qualifications described in section 3123 
     of title 38, United States Code, as added by subsection (a), 
     for the position held by the individual by not later than 
     five years after the date of the enactment of this Act.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
California (Mr. Filner) and the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Buyer) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from California.


                             General Leave

  Mr. FILNER. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may 
have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and 
to include extraneous material on H.R. 5630.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from California?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. FILNER. I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I would like to commend the gentleman from Arkansas, 
Representative John Boozman, for introducing this bill, which seeks to 
set minimum educational and training standards for certain employees of 
the Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment program operated by the 
Department of Veterans Affairs. This would, of course, help veterans 
while they set their employment goals.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. BUYER. I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 5630, a bill which 
would set certain requirements for professional level jobs at the 
Department of Veterans Affairs' Vocational Rehabilitation and 
Employment program.
  In 2009, the Government Accountability Office reported that one-third 
of the VA's regional offices reported that their VRE staffs did not 
have the skills needed to properly serve the disabled veterans who come 
to them for help. Although it is our understanding the VA currently 
hires counselors with at least a master's degree in vocational 
rehabilitation counseling, it does not require counselors to obtain and 
maintain certification in their field from a national certifying 
organization. There are also no educational qualifications for VRE 
employment coordinators.
  To ensure that the VA rehabilitation counselors are the best 
qualified in their field, H.R. 5630 would set a minimum hiring standard 
at a master's degree and would require counselors to obtain national 
certification within 5 years of hiring and to maintain these 
qualifications. Employment coordinators would be required to have a 
relevant bachelor's degree, to obtain certification within 5 years, and 
to maintain these qualifications. Counselors and coordinators who fail 
to comply with these standards will be subject to termination.
  Mr. Speaker, these are commonsense provisions which are designed to 
ensure that our disabled veterans are receiving the best vocational 
rehabilitation and employment services possible.
  I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 5630, and I yield back the 
balance of my time.
  Mr. FILNER. I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from California (Mr. Filner) that the House suspend the rules 
and pass the bill, H.R. 5630.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the

[[Page 16775]]

rules were suspended and the bill was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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