[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 159 (2013), Part 5]
[House]
[Pages 7277-7278]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




          IMPROVING JOB OPPORTUNITIES FOR VETERANS ACT OF 2013

  Mr. MILLER of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and 
pass the bill (H.R. 1412) to improve and increase the availability of 
on-job training and apprenticeship programs carried out by the 
Secretary 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. 1412

         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 ``Improving Job 
     Opportunities for Veterans Act of 2013''.

     SEC. 2. AUTHORITY TO INCREASE AVAILABILITY OF PRIVATE SECTOR 
                   ON-JOB TRAINING PROGRAMS.

         During the four-year period beginning on the date that is 
     one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the 
     Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall carry out section 
     3677(b)(1)(A) of title 38, United States Code, by 
     substituting ``75 per centum'' for ``85 per centum''.

     SEC. 3. ON-JOB TRAINING AT FEDERAL DEPARTMENTS AND AGENCIES.

         Beginning on the date that is one year after the date of 
     the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs 
     shall enter into agreements with the heads of other Federal 
     departments and agencies to operate programs of training on 
     the job under section 3677 of title 38, United States Code, 
     to train eligible veterans or persons to perform skills 
     necessary for employment by the department or agency 
     operating the program.

     SEC. 4. EXTENSION OF REDUCED PENSION FOR CERTAIN VETERANS 
                   COVERED BY MEDICAID PLANS FOR SERVICES 
                   FURNISHED BY NURSING FACILITIES.

         Section 5503(d)(7) of title 38, United States Code, is 
     amended by striking ``November 30, 2016'' and inserting 
     ``December 31, 2016''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Florida (Mr. Miller) and the gentleman from Maine (Mr. Michaud) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Florida.
  Mr. MILLER of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I 
might consume.
  H.R. 1412, as amended, is another product of the House Committee on 
Veterans' Affairs' work to improve the effectiveness of GI Bill 
benefits for veterans.
  I want to express my appreciation to the Subcommittee Chairman Bill 
Flores, Ranking Member Mark Takano, and our new full committee Ranking 
Member Mike Michaud for working with us to bring this amended bill to 
the full House.
  In general, H.R. 1412, as amended, responds to concerns about how to 
ensure that veterans make the best use of their hard-earned GI Bill 
benefits. Specifically, H.R. 1412 improves the GI Bill's on-the-job 
training option that offers veterans the opportunity to gain work 
experience and at the same time offers employers a lower cost while the 
veteran undergoes their training.
  The bill, as amended, has two major sections. Section 2 would reduce 
the final required training salary of a veteran engaged with an 
employer's on-the-job training apprenticeship program from the current 
85 percent of the fully trained wage for the job to 75 percent. This 
new requirement would be put in place for a period of 4 years, 
following the effective date of this section. The temporary decrease in 
the wage requirement will provide more employers the flexibility to 
offer OJT programs when they otherwise would not have been able to do 
so.
  Section 3 would direct the Department of Veterans Affairs to conclude 
agreements with other Federal agencies to have them further participate 
in the OJT program. If we're going to ask private employers to offer 
more opportunities to our veterans, the Federal Government ought to 
lead by example.
  Mr. Speaker, this bill is another step in reducing the unemployment 
rate among our veterans and is fully paid for. I greatly appreciate the 
bipartisan manner in which our colleagues have worked to reach an 
accord on the final provisions of this bill, and I encourage all 
Members to support the bill.
  With that, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. MICHAUD. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  First of all, I want to thank the chairman of the full committee for 
all his hard work and for working in a bipartisan manner not only on 
this piece of legislation but all of the bills that we've been dealing 
with in the committee this Congress.
  I rise today in support of H.R. 1412, as amended, the Improving Job 
Opportunities for Veterans Act of 2013. I want to thank Mr. Coffman for 
introducing this legislation. I also want to thank committee Chairman 
Miller and subcommittee Chairman Mr. Flores and Ranking Member Takano 
for their leadership in assisting and bringing this bill before us 
today.
  In these challenging employment markets, we need to use all available 
means to assist our veterans in obtaining the training that they need 
to find a good paying job. H.R. 1412 assists veterans by improving and 
increasing the VA's on-the-job training and apprenticeship programs.
  In these programs, a veteran employee's salary is paid in part by the 
employer and in part by the VA, with not less than 50 percent being 
paid by the program. As a veteran completes the apprenticeship and 
becomes a fully qualified employee, the employer pays an increasing 
percentage of the salary, eventually assuming all of it.
  H.R. 1412 reduces slightly the percentage of the salary the employer 
pays near the end of the training program. This eases the burden on the 
employers and is an incentive to employers to increase the number of 
veterans in the program. The Veterans' Affairs Committee will be 
closely monitoring this program to ensure that more veterans are being 
offered training opportunities as a result.

                              {time}  1240

  Mr. Speaker, we know that on-the-job training and apprenticeship is a 
highly efficient and cost-effective means of connecting veterans with 
meaningful, long-term employment. This is good for both veterans and 
employers. H.R. 1412 enhances the opportunities for both, making it 
easier for companies to employ veterans and for veterans to find new 
jobs and careers.
  Unfortunately, however, too few employers know about this program and 
how to connect to it. As we pass this legislation, I encourage the VA 
to do more to inform employers and veterans about the benefits of this 
program.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. MILLER of Florida. Mr. Speaker, at this time I'm pleased to yield 
such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. 
Coffman), the author of the bill and a stalwart supporter of America's 
veterans.
  Mr. COFFMAN. Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank Chairman Miller and 
Ranking Member Michaud for their leadership on the committee. Their 
efforts to advance this important bill will help veterans who are 
returning from Iraq and Afghanistan find jobs.
  As a member of the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs and as a 
Marine Corps combat veteran myself, it is important to me and to our 
country that we take care of those who have served this Nation after 
they come home from war.
  Our veterans have great skills when it comes to working as a member 
of a team and getting the job done; but, unfortunately, in many 
instances, their technical skills aren't readily transferable to 
civilian occupations. The Bureau of Labor Statistics stated that the 
unemployment rate for Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans between the 
ages of 20 and 24 was 19 percent in April. This is why I am happy to 
have my legislation, H.R. 1412, the Improving Job Opportunities for 
Veterans Act of 2013, on the floor today for a vote.
  This legislation seeks to increase the availability of on-the-job 
training and apprenticeship programs to help veterans make the 
transition into the civilian workforce. This legislation will build on 
an existing, yet little known and underutilized, on-the-job training 
program that allows veterans to use their educational benefits they 
earned through their military service to learn a trade or skill by 
participating in an approved apprenticeship or on-the-job training 
program.

[[Page 7278]]

  There are two pillars of this legislation. The first is it will 
decrease the final percentage of the veteran's salary paid by the 
employer from 85 to 75 percent as a means to further incentivize 
employers to participate. Secondly, the legislation will expand this 
training program by requiring the VA to enter into agreements with 
other Federal agencies to expand on-the-job training opportunities 
throughout the Federal Government.
  This legislation will be a great tool for both private sector and 
Federal employers to hire our veterans who are struggling to make that 
transition from the military to the civilian workforce. Employers in 
Colorado have already explained to me how beneficial this legislation 
can be for their operations because they know that hiring veterans is a 
proven bonus. They know that veterans are hardworking, team-oriented, 
and quick learners who are capable of gaining highly technical skills 
that are prevalent in many industries today.
  For example, the CEO of Tri-State Generation in Colorado, based in my 
home district, told me that the Improving Job Opportunities for 
Veterans Act will add to his company's existing outreach to our 
veterans. Currently, they employ 150 veterans. Now they will do even 
more. I applaud their efforts and of other companies who want to hire 
vets.
  I hope this bill helps employers connect to the great pool of talent 
of those returning from military service.
  Mr. MICHAUD. Mr. Speaker, at this time I yield such time as he may 
consume to the gentleman from California (Mr. Takano).
  Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Maine for 
yielding.
  I rise today to support the increased job opportunities embodied in 
H.R. 1412 and the changes it makes to the on-the-job training and 
apprenticeship programs at the Department of Veterans Affairs. I want 
to thank the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Coffman) for introducing this 
bill and the Veterans' Affairs Committee leadership, Chairman Miller, 
Ranking Member Michaud, and subcommittee Chairman Flores for moving 
this bill through committee.
  This legislation will expand access for veterans to on-the-job 
training and apprenticeships, and assist employers in hiring veterans 
who have shown time and again that their real-world experience, 
leadership, and countless other skills are great resources for American 
companies. By reducing the percentage of salary paid to a veteran 
participating in one of these programs, this bill would make it more 
attractive for companies to hire veterans doing on-the-job training and 
apprenticeships.
  It is our hope that these opportunities will help bridge the 
employment gaps veterans are currently experiencing. Unfortunately, it 
is also clear from our subcommittee work that the Department of 
Veterans Affairs could be doing a better job advertising this great 
benefit. The more veterans and employers know about these benefits, the 
more opportunities veterans can have in the job market.
  I am proud to support this legislation and urge my colleagues from 
both sides of the aisle to support it as well.
  Mr. Speaker, I am very proud of the bipartisan spirit of the 
Veterans' Affairs Committee.
  Mr. MILLER of Florida. Mr. Speaker, we have no more speakers at this 
time, and so if Mr. Michaud is ready to close, we are prepared to 
close.
  Mr. MICHAUD. Mr. Speaker, I, too, have no further Members who wish to 
speak, but I do want to, in closing, emphasize that veterans are an 
asset to any organization, whether it is in the private or public 
sector. They make the organization better, and they improve the bottom 
line. This bill is very timely and is very important for our veterans.
  I also want to thank, once again, Mr. Takano for his leadership on 
this issue. In his life before he became a Member of Congress, he was 
in the community college system, and he knows about training and how 
important apprenticeship programs are. So I encourage my colleagues to 
support this legislation.
  With that, Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. MILLER of Florida. Mr. Speaker, once again I encourage all 
Members to support H.R. 1412, as amended.
  I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mrs. KIRKPATRICK. Mr. Speaker, today, I rise in support of H.R. 1412, 
The Improving Job Opportunities for Veterans Act.
  This bipartisan bill helps our Nation's veterans get the training 
they need to build a stronger future.
  It improves and increases the awareness and availability of on-the-
job training and apprenticeship programs.
  After all they have sacrificed for our country, we should do our part 
to ensure veterans have good training and good job opportunities.
  I thank my colleagues from both sides of the aisle--Mr. Coffman and 
Mr. Takano--for introducing this bill.
  Helping our veterans isn't a partisan issue--it's a national 
responsibility.
  Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 1412, 
the ``Improving Job Opportunities for Veterans Act of 2013.'' There are 
over 800,000 veterans unemployed, or unable to find work in the United 
States, and the number is rising every year. If our brave men and women 
are to serve at home and abroad, it is our moral obligation to help 
ensure they can successfully transition into the workforce. For this 
reason I support the legislation before us.
  H.R. 1412 would extend for one month an expiring provision of law 
that limits pensions paid to certain veterans who are receiving 
Medicaid coverage in Medicaid-approved nursing homes. The bill also 
would modify the conditions for veterans to receive education benefit 
payments from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) for participating 
in on-the-job training and require VA to enter into agreements with 
other federal agencies to promote on-the-job training opportunities for 
veterans.
  The Improving Job Opportunities for Veterans Act will reduce the 
final OJT/Apprenticeship salary requirements that employers pay of the 
normal wage from 85% to 75% to encourage employers to offer more OJT/
Apprenticeship training for an additional 4 years. The bill also 
requires other Federal agencies to enter into agreements with the 
Department of Veterans Affairs to hire veterans using the OJT/
Apprenticeship benefit and extends reduced pension benefits for certain 
veterans in Medicaid funded nursing homes.
  If enacted, CBO estimates that, on net, the bill would decrease 
direct spending by $14 million over the next five years and by $12 
million over the next ten years. Because the bill would affect direct 
spending, pay-as-you-go procedures apply. Enacting H.R. 1412 would not 
affect revenues. In addition, implementing H.R. 1412 would have an 
insignificant effect on discretionary spending.
  Mr. Speaker, instead of returning home to their loving families, 
friends, and loved ones, 12 percent of veterans--about 1 in 8--are 
returning home to find unemployment lines. We owe it to these men and 
women who selflessly served our nation to help them change their 
condition for the better. The legislation before us, H.R. 1412, is a 
step in the right direction for veterans across the country and for 
many of the 35,000 veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan Wars who live 
in the Houston metropolitan area.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge all my colleagues to join with me in supporting 
H.R. 1412, the ``Job Opportunities for Veterans Act of 2013.''
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Florida (Mr. Miller) that the House suspend the rules 
and pass the bill, H.R. 1412, as amended.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds 
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
  Mr. MILLER of Florida. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and 
nays.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, further 
proceedings on this motion will be postponed.

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