[House Report 119-262]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
119th Congress } { Report
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
1st Session } { 119-262
======================================================================
VETERANS READINESS AND EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM INTEGRITY ACT
_______
September 9, 2025.--Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on
the State of the Union and ordered to be printed
_______
Mr. Bost, from the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, submitted the
following
R E P O R T
[To accompany H.R. 3579]
[Including cost estimate of the Congressional Budget Office]
The Committee on Veterans' Affairs, to whom was referred
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, having considered the same, reports favorably
thereon with an amendment and recommends that the bill as
amended do pass.
CONTENTS
Page
Purpose and Summary.............................................. 2
Background and Need for Legislation.............................. 3
Hearings......................................................... 4
Subcommittee Consideration....................................... 5
Committee Consideration.......................................... 5
Committee Votes.................................................. 5
Committee Correspondence.........................................
Committee Oversight Findings..................................... 5
Statement of General Performance Goals and Objectives............ 6
New Budget Authority, Entitlement Authority, and Tax Expenditures 6
Earmarks and Tax and Tariff Benefits............................. 6
Committee Cost Estimate.......................................... 6
Congressional Budget Office Estimate............................. 6
Federal Mandates Statement....................................... 7
Advisory Committee Statement..................................... 7
Constitutional Authority Statement............................... 8
Applicability to Legislative Branch.............................. 8
Statement on Duplication of Federal Programs..................... 8
Disclosure of Directed Rulemaking................................ 8
Section-by-Section Analysis of the Legislation................... 8
Changes in Existing Law Made by the Bill, as Reported............ 9
The amendment is as follows:
Strike all after the enacting clause and insert the
following:
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.
Purpose and Summary
H.R. 3579, the ``Veterans Readiness and Employment Program
Integrity Act,'' was introduced by Representative Juan
Ciscomani of Arizona on May 23, 2025. The bill, as amended,
would improve reporting requirements in the Department of
Veterans Affairs (VA) Veterans Readiness and Employment (VR&E)
program to collect information such as the average earnings
after veterans complete the program, require a third-party
review of the program, and would also require VA to publish
VR&E wait times for each regional office. Finally, the bill, as
amended, would change the materials a veteran is required to
bring to their initial VR&E appointment and would allow up to
18 months of employment assistance if the veteran is actively
seeking employment as verified by a counselor.
Background and Need for Legislation
Section 1: Short Title
This Act may be cited as the ``Veterans Readiness and
Employment Program Integrity Act.''
Section 2: Application Requirement Under Veterans Readiness and
Employment Program of Department of Veterans Affairs
VA operates the VR&E program, which helps service-connected
disabled veterans to find and maintain gainful employment.
Veterans are assigned a counselor to assist them in pursuing:
education, employment, independent living, or entrepreneurship.
In 2024, over 180,000 veterans utilized this program. Due to
the high volume of veterans in the program, counselors are
often overburdened and may not be able to provide the necessary
assistance to veterans in need. This section would change the
materials a veteran is required to bring to their initial VR&E
appointment. The goal would be to have the veteran come
prepared to the initial meeting to reduce the burden on
counselors by ensuring that the veteran has provided their
transcripts and work records. The Committee believes this would
reduce the time for the initial meeting for counselors and
allow them to spend more time focusing on veterans already
enrolled in the program. The Committee also believes that
requiring a veteran to fill out the application before an
appointment would put some responsibility for success in the
program on the veteran.
Section 3: Maximum Duration of Employment Assistance Under Veterans
Readiness and Employment Program of Department of Veterans
Affairs
The purpose of this section is to reduce the time a veteran
in VR&E spends looking for a job to ensure counselors have
ample time to help additional veterans with the goal of
lowering their caseload. This section would limit the amount of
time a veteran can use counselor services for assistance with
finding a job after completion of their degree or program to up
to 12 months currently a veteran has 18 months to find
employment. While a veteran is in job ready status, they have
to routinely meet with the counselor, even if they have no
intention of getting a job post VR&E. This section would ensure
that a veteran verify that they are searching for employment
while they are in job ready status, if they are still in this
status past the 12-month mark. The Committee believes that by
decreasing the amount of time veterans are allotted for
assistance, counselors would be more inclined to prioritize
veterans in the program who are truly focused on getting
employment. If the veteran can prove they are still actively
looking for a job, they will be eligible to receive 18 total
months of employment assistance. The justification for this
section is that several other job programs, including the
Veterans Technology Education Courses (VET TEC) and the Jobs
for Veterans State Grant (JVSG) program, have a 6-month time
period to help a veteran find employment, and they are
assisting a similar population of veterans. With 18 months
total, VR&E is able to artificially inflate their performance
metrics by having an additional 6 months more than any other
program, which has allowed the benefits program to function
without proper guardrails in place.
Section 4: Reporting and Data Collection Requirements Under Veterans
Readiness and Employment Program of Department of Veterans
Affairs.
This section would bring the VR&E program in line with
other VA programs by requiring additional reporting
requirements. Currently, the VR&E program does not track
veteran's wages or meaningful employment outcomes after
completion of the program. Additionally, VR&E has not had a
third-party review of the efficacy of the program in many
years. The Committee believes that VR&E lacks meaningful
performance measures and adequate tracking for employment
outcomes. Without adequate information, it is difficult to
develop methods to improve the program on behalf of the
veterans it is intended to serve.
This section would add additional reporting requirements to
increase oversight of the VR&E program. This bill, as amended,
would also require tracking of the employment numbers of VR&E
participants by regional office and the average annual wages of
veterans. Additionally, this section, as amended, would require
VA to publish the average wait time between a veteran's
application submission and first visit with a counselor. This
section would also require a third-party review of each
individual VR&E track, identifying areas for improvement and
modernization. The Committee believes these changes are crucial
to ensure the program is providing veterans with meaningful
employment after going through the program. The Committee
believes that these changes would drastically improve the
Committee's oversight of the VR&E program and allow us to
determine what should be changed in the future.
Hearings
On June 11, 2025, the Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity
conducted a legislative hearing on a number of bills including
H.R. 3579.
The following witnesses testified:
Dr. Liz Clark, Acting Director, Defense Support
Services, U.S. Department of Defense, Mr. Nick
Pamperin, Executive Director, Veterans Readiness and
Employment, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, who
was accompanied by Mr. Thomas Alphonso, Assistant
Director of Policy and Implementation, Education
Service, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Mr.
Andrew Petrie, Senior Policy Analyst, Veterans
Education and Employment Division, The American Legion,
Mr. Blaze Smith, Director, Veterans Education and
Transition Center, The University of Arizona, Mr.
Matthew Schwartzman, Director, Legislation and Military
Policy, Reserve Organization of America, Ms. Ashlynne
Haycock-Lohmann, Director, Government and Legislative
Affairs, Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors
(TAPS).
Statements for the record were submitted by:
Dr. Joseph W. Wescott, National Legislative Liaison,
National Association of State Approving Agencies
(NASAA), Mr. Will Hubbard, Vice President for Veterans
and Military Policy, Veterans Education Success (VES),
Ms. Julie Howell, Associate Legislative Director for
Governmental Relations, Paralyzed Veterans of America
(PVA), Mr. Jake Fales, Senior Policy Fellow, and Hannah
Miller, Policy and Communications Fellow, Reserve
Organization of America (ROA), Ms. Tammy Barlet, Vice
President of Government Affairs, Student Veterans of
America (SVA), Ms. Kristina Keenan, Director, National
Legislative Service, Veterans of Foreign Wars of the
United States (VFW).
Subcommittee Consideration
On July 3, 2025, the Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity
was discharged from further consideration of this legislation.
Committee Consideration
On July 23, 2025, the full Committee met in open markup
session, a quorum being present, and ordered H.R. 3579, as
amended, to be reported favorably to the House of
Representatives by voice vote. During consideration of the
bill, the following amendment was considered and agreed to by
voice vote:
An amendment in the nature of a substitute offered by
Chairman Bost of Illinois, which would change materials
needed for initial appointment and would allow up to 18
months of employment assistance, if the veteran is
actively seeking employment. This amendment in the
nature of a substitute was agreed to by voice vote.
A motion by Ranking Member Takano of California to
report H.R. 3579, as amended, favorably to the House of
Representatives was adopted by voice vote.
Committee Votes
In compliance with clause 3(b) of rule XIII of the Rules of
the House of Representatives, there were no recorded votes
taken on amendments or in connection with ordering H.R. 3579 as
amended, reported to the House.
Committee Oversight Findings
In compliance with clause 3(c)(1) of rule XIII and clause
(2)(b)(1) of rule X of the Rules of the House of
Representatives, the Committee's oversight findings and
recommendations are reflected in the descriptive portions of
this report.
Statement of General Performance Goals and Objectives
In accordance with clause 3(c)(4) of rule XIII of the Rules
of the House of Representatives, the Committee's performance
goals and objectives to improve the counselors' experience for
VR&E while also providing oversight to ensure the program is
working effectively for the veterans who are eligible.
New Budget Authority, Entitlement Authority, and Tax Expenditures
In compliance with clause 3(c)(2) of rule XIII of the Rules
of the House of Representatives, the Committee adopts as its
own the estimate of new budget authority, entitlement
authority, or tax expenditures or revenues contained in the
cost estimate prepared by the Director of the Congressional
Budget Office pursuant to section 402 of the Congressional
Budget Act of 1974.
Earmarks and Tax and Tariff Benefits
H.R. 3579, as amended, does not contain any Congressional
earmarks, limited tax benefits, or limited tariff benefits as
defined in clause 9 of rule XXI of the Rules of the House of
Representatives.
Committee Cost Estimate
The Committee adopts as its own the cost estimate on H.R.
3579 as amended, prepared by the Director of the Congressional
Budget Office pursuant to section 402 of the Congressional
Budget Act of 1974.
Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate
Pursuant to clause 3(c)(3) of rule XIII of the Rules of the
House of Representatives, the following is the cost estimate
for H.R. 3579, as amended, provided by the Director of the
Congressional Budget Office pursuant to section 402 of the
Congressional Budget Act of 1974:
H.R. 3579 would make several changes to the Veteran
Readiness and Employment (VR&E) program, which is administered
by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). CBO estimates that,
in total, implementing those changes would cost less than
$500,000 over the 2025-2030 period. Such spending would be
subject to the availability of appropriated funds.
Under the VR&E program, veterans with service-connected
disabilities that limit their ability to find employment are
eligible to receive vocational rehabilitation services such as
educational assistance, job training, skills counseling, and
independent-living services. For veterans pursuing education or
training programs, VA provides a housing allowance and pays
their tuition, fees, and related costs.
Section 2 of the bill would require veterans to submit a
complete application package before VA evaluates their
eligibility and suitability for VR&E services. VA currently
requires the submission of the required application materials
before it provides an initial evaluation, according to
department testimony. Thus, CBO estimates that including the
requirement in law would not affect the cost of the program.
VA helps participants in the VR&E program find employment.
Such assistance includes job development and placement services
provided by VA, the Department of Labor, and other public and
private entities. Section 3 of the bill would limit the
duration of that employment assistance to 18 months. VA
indicates that few veterans receive more than 18 months of
employment assistance; thus, CBO estimates that limiting that
assistance would decrease costs by less than $500,000 over the
2025-2030 period.
Section 4 would require VA to report on veterans'
participation in the VR&E program and on the average length of
time veterans wait to meet with a counselor after applying to
the program. Additionally, the bill would require VA to
contract with an outside entity to conduct a one-time review of
the VR&E program and make recommendations to improve the
program. On the basis of the costs for similar requirements,
CBO estimates that implementing section 4 would cost less than
$500,000 over the 2025-2030 period.
The CBO staff contact for this estimate is Paul B.A.
Holland. The estimate was reviewed by Christina Hawley Anthony,
Deputy Director of Budget Analysis.
Phillip L. Swagel,
Director, Congressional Budget Office.
Federal Mandates Statement
The Committee adopts as its own the estimate of Federal
mandates regarding H.R 3579, as amended, prepared by the
Director of the Congressional Budget Office pursuant to section
423 of the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act.
Advisory Committee Statement
No advisory committees within the meaning of section 5(b)
of the Federal Advisory Committee Act would be created by H.R.
3579, as amended.
Statement of Constitutional Authority
Pursuant to Article I, section 8 of the United States
Constitution, H.R. 3579, as amended, is authorized by Congress'
power to ``provide for the common Defense and general Welfare
of the United States.''
Applicability to Legislative Branch
The Committee finds that H.R. 3579, as amended, does not
relate to the terms and conditions of employment or access to
public services or accommodations within the meaning of section
102(b)(3) of the Congressional Accountability Act.
Statement on Duplication of Federal Programs
Pursuant to clause 3(c)(5) of rule XIII of the Rules of the
House of Representatives, the Committee finds that no provision
of H.R. 3579, as amended, establishes or reauthorizes a program
of the Federal Government known to be duplicative of another
Federal program, a program that was included in any report from
the Government Accountability Office to Congress pursuant to
section 21 of Public Law 111-139, or a program related to a
program identified in the most recent Catalog of Federal
Domestic Assistance.
Disclosure of Directed Rulemaking
Pursuant to section 3(i) of H. Res. 5, 115th Cong. (2017),
the Committee estimates that H.R. 3579, as amended, contains no
directed rulemaking that would require the Secretary to
prescribe regulations.
Section-by-Section Analysis of the Legislation
Section 1: Short title
This section would establish the short title of the bill as
the ``Veterans Readiness and Employment Program Integrity
Act.''
Section 2: Application requirement under Veterans Readiness and
Employment Program of Department of Veterans Affairs
This section would amend 38 U.S.C. Sec. 3106(a), to
require a veteran to bring any transcripts and work records to
an initial counseling appointment for enrollment in the VR&E
program to ensure proper placement in the program.
Section 3: Maximum duration of employment assistance under Veterans
Readiness and Employment Program of Department of Veterans
Affairs
This section would amend 38 U.S.C. Sec. 3117(a) of title
38, United States Code by limiting the amount of time a veteran
can use counselor services for a job to 12 months after
completion of their degree. If the veteran can prove they are
still actively looking for a job and it is verified by the VR&E
counselor, the veteran would be eligible for up to 18 months of
post education assistance in VR&E.
Section 4: Reporting and data collection requirements under Veterans
Readiness and Employment Program of Department of Veterans
Affairs
This section would amend Chapter 31 of title 38 United
States Code to add a new section of reporting requirements to
the VR&E program on average earnings after completing the
program, ensuring that veterans have any transcripts or work
records when they apply. This section would also require a
third-party review of the program and require VA to publish
VR&E wait times for each regional office on its website.
Changes in Existing Law Made by the Bill, as Reported
In compliance with clause 3(e) of rule XIII of the Rules of
the House of Representatives, changes in existing law made by
the bill, as reported, are shown as follows (existing law
proposed to be omitted is enclosed in black brackets, new
matter is printed in italic, and existing law in which no
change is proposed is shown in roman):
Changes in Existing Law Made by the Bill, as Reported
In compliance with clause 3(e) of rule XIII of the Rules of
the House of Representatives, changes in existing law made by
the bill, as reported, are shown as follows (existing law
proposed to be omitted is enclosed in black brackets, new
matter is printed in italics, and existing law in which no
change is proposed is shown in roman):
TITLE 38, UNITED STATES CODE
* * * * * * *
PART III--READJUSTMENT AND RELATED BENEFITS
* * * * * * *
CHAPTER 31--TRAINING AND REHABILITATION FOR VETERANS WITH SERVICE-
CONNECTED DISABILITIES
Sec.
3100. Purposes.
* * * * * * *
3123. Requirements for data collection and reporting.
* * * * * * *
Sec. 3106. Initial and extended evaluations; determinations regarding
serious employment handicap
(a)(1) The Secretary shall provide any veteran who has a
service-connected disability rated at 10 percent or more and
who applies for benefits under this chapter with an initial
evaluation consisting of such services described in section
3104(a)(1) of this title as are [necessary (1) to determine]
necessary to determine whether such veteran is entitled to and
eligible for benefits under this chapter, [and (2) in the case]
and, in the case of a veteran who is determined to be entitled
to and eligible for such benefits, to determine--
(A) whether such veteran has a serious employment
handicap, and
(B) whether the achievement of a vocational goal
currently is reasonably feasible for such veteran if it
is reasonably feasible to make such determination
without extended evaluation.
(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.
(b) In any case in which the Secretary has determined that a
veteran has a serious employment handicap and that the
achievement of a vocational goal currently is reasonably
feasible for such veteran, such veteran shall be provided an
individualized written plan of vocational rehabilitation
developed under section 3107(a) of this title.
(c) In any case in which the Secretary has determined that a
veteran has a serious employment handicap but the Secretary is
unable to determine, in an initial evaluation pursuant to
subsection (a) of this section, whether or not the achievement
of a vocational goal currently is reasonably feasible, such
veteran shall be provided with an extended evaluation
consisting of the services described in section 3104(a)(1) of
this title, such services under this chapter as the Secretary
determines necessary to improve such veteran's potential for
participation in a program of services designed to achieve a
vocational goal and enable such veteran to achieve maximum
independence in daily living, and assistance as authorized by
section 3108 of this title.
(d) In any case in which the Secretary has determined that a
veteran has a serious employment handicap and also determines,
following such initial and any such extended evaluation, that
achievement of a vocational goal currently is not reasonably
feasible, the Secretary shall determine whether the veteran is
capable of participating in a program of independent living
services and assistance under section 3120 of this title.
(e) The Secretary shall in all cases determine as
expeditiously as possible whether the achievement of a
vocational goal by a veteran currently is reasonably feasible.
In the case of a veteran provided extended evaluation under
subsection (c) of this section (including any periods of
extensions under section 3105(a) of this title), the Secretary
shall make such determination not later than the end of such
extended evaluation or period of extension, as the case may be.
In determining whether the achievement of a vocational goal
currently is reasonably feasible, the Secretary shall resolve
any reasonable doubt in favor of determining that such
achievement currently is reasonably feasible.
(f) In connection with each period of extended evaluation of
a veteran and each rehabilitation program for a veteran who is
determined to have a serious employment handicap, the Secretary
shall assign a Department of Veterans Affairs employee to be
responsible for the management and followup of the provision of
all services (including appropriate coordination of employment
assistance under section 3117 of this title) and assistance
under this chapter to such veteran.
* * * * * * *
Sec. 3117. Employment assistance
(a)(1) A veteran with a service-connected disability rated at
10 percent or more who has participated in a vocational
rehabilitation program under this chapter or a similar program
under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. 701 et seq.)
and who the Secretary has determined to be employable shall be
furnished assistance in obtaining employment consistent with
such veteran's abilities, aptitudes, interests, and employment
handicap, including assistance necessary to insure that such
veteran receives the benefit of any applicable provisions of
law or regulation providing for special consideration or
emphasis or preference for such veteran in employment or
training.
(2) Assistance provided under this subsection may include--
(A) direct placement of such veteran in employment;
(B) utilization of employment, training, and
placement services under chapter 41 of this title; and
(C) utilization of the job development and placement
services of (i) programs under the Rehabilitation Act
of 1973, (ii) the State employment service and the
Veterans' Employment Service of the Department of
Labor, (iii) the Office of Personnel Management, (iv)
any other public or nonprofit organization having
placement services available, and (v) any for-profit
entity in a case in which the Secretary has determined
that services necessary to provide such assistance are
available from such entity and that comparably
effective services are not available, or cannot be
obtained cost-effectively, from the entities described
in subclauses (i) through (iv) of this subparagraph.
(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.
(b)(1) In any case in which a veteran has completed a
vocational rehabilitation program for self-employment in a
small business enterprise under this chapter, the Secretary
shall assist such veteran in securing, as appropriate, a loan
under subchapter IV of chapter 37 of this title and shall
cooperate with the Small Business Administration to assist such
veteran to secure a loan for the purchase of equipment needed
to establish such veteran's own business and to ensure that
such veteran receives the special consideration provided for in
section 4(b)(1) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C.
633(b)(1)).
(2) In the case of a veteran described in paragraph (12) of
section 3104(a) of this title who has trained under a State
rehabilitation program with the objective of self-employment in
a small business enterprise, the Secretary may, subject to the
limitations and criteria provided for in such paragraph,
provide such veteran with such supplementary equipment and
initial stocks and supplies as are determined to be needed by
such veteran if such supplementary equipment and initial stocks
and supplies, or assistance in acquiring them, are not
available through the State program or other sources.
* * * * * * *
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.
* * * * * * *