[House Report 119-266]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
119th Congress } { Report
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
1st Session } { 119-266
======================================================================
FOCUSED ASSISTANCE AND SKILLS TRAINING FOR VETERANS'
EMPLOYMENT AND TRANSITION SUCCESS ACT
_______
September 10, 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. 4446]
[Including cost estimate of the Congressional Budget Office]
The Committee on Veterans' Affairs, to whom was referred
the bill (H.R. 4446) to amend title 38, United States Code, to
modify the conditions under which the Secretary of Veterans
Affairs is required to redevelop the individualized vocational
rehabilitation plan for a veteran, and for other purposes,
having considered the same, reports favorably thereon without
amendment and recommends that the bill do pass.
CONTENTS
Page
Purpose and Summary.............................................. 2
Background and Need for Legislation.............................. 2
Hearings......................................................... 3
Subcommittee Consideration....................................... 3
Committee Consideration.......................................... 3
Committee Votes.................................................. 3
Committee Correspondence.........................................
Committee Oversight Findings..................................... 3
Statement of General Performance Goals and Objectives............ 4
New Budget Authority, Entitlement Authority, and Tax Expenditures 4
Earmarks and Tax and Tariff Benefits............................. 4
Committee Cost Estimate.......................................... 4
Congressional Budget Office Estimate............................. 4
Federal Mandates Statement....................................... 5
Advisory Committee Statement..................................... 5
Constitutional Authority Statement............................... 5
Applicability to Legislative Branch.............................. 5
Statement on Duplication of Federal Programs..................... 5
Disclosure of Directed Rulemaking................................ 6
Section-by-Section Analysis of the Legislation................... 6
Changes in Existing Law Made by the Bill, as Reported............ 6
Purpose and Summary
H.R. 4446, the ``FAST VETS Act'' was introduced by
Representative Maxine Dexter of Oregon on July 16, 2025. The
bill would allow a veteran who has a change in their disability
rating to apply for changes to their Department of Veterans
Affairs (VA) Veterans Readiness and Employment (VR&E) plan
instead of being forced to complete their current
rehabilitation plan. The bill would prioritize outcome-focused
planning and would help ensure every veteran can succeed in the
VA VR&E program and move into the workforce more efficiently.
Background and Need for Legislation
Section 1: Short Title
This section establishes the title of the bill as the
``Focused Assistance and Skills Training for Veterans''
Employment and Transition Success Act'' or ``FAST VETS Act.''
Section 2: Conditions Under which Secretary of Veterans Affairs Shall
Redevelop Individualized Rehabilitation Plan
Following passage of the PACT Act [P.L. 117-168] and the
expansion of eligibility for VA's VR&E program that resulted
from this law, student veterans in VR&E have experienced delays
in enrolling, attending, and graduating. These delays have
placed additional burdens on VR&E counselors, affecting their
ability to provide each student veteran with adequate attention
to their employment training needs.
Veterans in the VR&E program currently can request changes
in their vocational goal solely based on their interests, which
is costly to the program and results in further delays in the
program. Currently, there is nothing in the statute that
prohibits this. For example, a veteran could use VR&E to pay
for law school and then decide to start their own business,
keeping them in the VR&E program longer and utilizing more
resources. Furthermore, these decisions are made at each
regional office and there is little consistency in decisions
related to plan redevelopment.
This section would modify the VR&E program to allow
redevelopment of the plan for a disabled veteran if the VR&E
counselor determines that a veteran is unlikely to meet the
goals of the original plan. The Committee believes that this
section would help veterans progress through the VR&E program
faster by enabling counselors to focus on the program's core
purpose: supporting meaningful employment for America's
veterans. The Committee expects that this change would also
improve outcomes for all veterans in the program by reducing
wait times resulting from providing additional assistance for
veterans who may be struggling to complete the program.
The Committee believes that the changes that would be made
to the program under this section would allow for better
consistency in decision-making. Moreover, the Committee
believes that there would be less frustration among veterans
since the process for changes to the plan would be more clearly
outlined and easier for the counselors to administer.
Finally, the Committee believes this section would provide
a disabled veteran with more opportunities to pursue a
meaningful career by allowing them to change their path as
their disability changes.
Hearings
On March 11, 2025, the Committee on Veterans' Affairs
Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity held a legislative hearing
on a discussion draft of this legislation and other bills
pending before the subcommittee.
The following witnesses testified:
Mr. John Bell, Executive Director of Loan Guaranty
Service, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; Mr. Nick
Pamperin, Executive Director, Veterans Readiness and
Employment, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; Mr.
Thomas J. Alphonso, Assistant Director, Policy and
Implementation, Veterans Benefits Administration, U.S.
Department of Veterans Affairs; Ms. Jill Albanese,
Director of Clinical Operations, U.S. Department of
Veterans Affairs; Ms. Kristina Keenan, Deputy Director,
National Legislative Service, Veterans of Foreign Wars;
Ms. Julie Howell, Associate Legislative Director for
Governmental Relations, Paralyzed Veterans of America;
Ms. Elizabeth Balce, Executive Vice President of
Servicing at Carrington Mortgage, Mortgage Bankers
Association; Mr. Tobias Peter, Co-Director of the
Housing Center, Senior Fellow, American Enterprise
Institute; and Mr. Will Hubbard, Vice President for
Veterans and Military Policy, Veterans Education
Success.
The following individuals and organizations submitted
statements for the record:
Freedom Mortgage; Student Veterans of America; the
Veterans Education Project, National Association of
Veterans Program Administrators; National Consumer Law
Center, BraunAbility; National Mobility Equipment
Dealers Association; and the National Alliance to End
Homelessness.
Subcommittee Consideration
There was no subcommittee consideration of H.R. 4446.
Committee Consideration
On July 23, 2025, the full Committee met in open markup
session, a quorum being present, and ordered H.R. 4446 to be
reported favorably to the House of Representatives by voice
vote.
A motion by Ranking Member Takano of California to report
H.R. 4446 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. 4446
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 are to allow a VR&E counselor to modify a
plan for a disabled veteran if their disability changes.
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. 4446 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.
4446 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. 4446 provided by the Director of the Congressional
Budget Office pursuant to section 402 of the Congressional
Budget Act of 1974:
H.R. 4446 would modify the process the Department of
Veterans Affairs (VA) follows to amend individualized plans for
veterans' vocational rehabilitation. Under the bill, those
plans could be amended only when changes in the barriers to a
veteran's employment make an existing plan infeasible and when
a different plan will make it more likely that the veteran's
vocational goals can be met.
Under the Veteran Readiness and Employment program, VA
collaborates with veterans to tailor their rehabilitation plans
to achieve long-range goals. Veterans whose service-connected
disabilities present barriers to employment are eligible for
services that could include educational assistance, job
training, skills counseling, and independent-living services.
Those benefits are paid from mandatory appropriations and thus
are reflected in the budget as direct spending. VA periodically
reviews each plan and may amend it, in collaboration with the
veteran, if the veteran's long-range goals are no longer
feasible or if, because of new circumstances or information,
rehabilitation is more likely for a different goal.
CBO expects that the effects of the modified process would
be minor and that amended individualized plans could cost more
or less than previous plans. Thus, enacting H.R. 4446 would
change direct spending by less than $500,000 over the 2025-2035
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. 4446 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.
4446.
Statement of Constitutional Authority
Pursuant to Article I, section 8 of the United States
Constitution, H.R. 4446 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. 4446, 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. 4446 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. 4446 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 as the
``Focused Assistance and Skills Training for Veterans''
Employment and Transition Success Act'' or the ``FAST VETS
Act''.
Section 2: Conditions under which Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall
redevelop individualized rehabilitation plan
This section would amend 38 USC Sec. 3107 to require
redevelopment of the plans for VR&E must not be solely based on
interests alone. Redevelopment must only occur when the
achievement of the current goal is no longer reasonably
feasible due to changes in the disabilities or changes in the
veteran's circumstances that would make rehabilitation more
likely with a different goal.
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. 3107. Individualized vocational rehabilitation plan
(a) The Secretary shall formulate an individualized written
plan of vocational rehabilitation for a veteran described in
section 3106(b) of this title. Such plan shall be developed
with such veteran and shall include, but not be limited to (1)
a statement of long-range rehabilitation goals for such veteran
and intermediate rehabilitation objectives related to achieving
such goals, (2) a statement of the specific services (which
shall include counseling in all cases) and assistance to be
provided under this chapter, (3) the projected date for the
initiation and the anticipated duration of each such service,
and (4) objective criteria and an evaluation procedure and
schedule for determining whether such objectives and goals are
being achieved.
(b) [The Secretary shall review] (1) The Secretary shall
review at least annually the plan formulated under subsection
(a) of this section for a veteran and shall afford such veteran
the opportunity to participate in each such review. [On the
basis of such review, the Secretary shall (1) redevelop such
plan with such veteran if the Secretary determines, under
regulations which the Secretary shall prescribe, that
redevelopment of such plan is appropriate, or (2) disapprove
redevelopment of such plan if the Secretary determines, under
such regulations, that redevelopment of such plan is not
appropriate.]
(2) On the basis of such review, the Secretary shall--
(A) redevelop such plan with such veteran if the
Secretary determines the achievement of the long-range
rehabilitation goals for such veteran is--
(i) no longer feasible due to changes in the
employment handicap of the veteran; and
(ii) likelier under a different plan
formulated under subsection (a); or
(B) disapprove redevelopment of such plan if the
Secretary determines such redevelopment is not
appropriate.
(c)(1) Each veteran for whom a plan has been developed or
redeveloped under subsection (a) or (b)(1), respectively, of
this section or in whose case redevelopment of a plan has been
disapproved under subsection (b)(2) of this section, shall be
informed of such veteran's opportunity for a review as provided
in paragraph (2) of this subsection.
(2) In any case in which a veteran does not agree to such
plan as proposed, to such plan as redeveloped, or to the
disapproval of redevelopment of such plan, such veteran may
submit to the person described in section 3106(f) of this title
a written statement containing such veteran's objections and
request a review of such plan as proposed or redeveloped, or a
review of the disapproval of redevelopment of such plan, as the
case may be.
(3) The Secretary shall review the statement submitted under
paragraph (2) of this subsection and the plan as proposed or as
redeveloped, and, if applicable, the disapproval of
redevelopment of the plan, and render a decision on such review
not later than ninety days after the date on which such veteran
submits such statement, unless the case is one for which a
longer period for review, not to exceed 150 days after such
veteran submits such statement, is allowed under regulations
prescribed by the Secretary, in which case the Secretary shall
render a decision no later than the last day of the period
prescribed in such regulations.
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