H.R. 3579: Veterans Readiness and Employment Program Integrity Act

This bill, known as the Veterans Readiness and Employment Program Integrity Act, seeks to improve the Veterans Readiness and Employment (VR&E) program operated by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). The key provisions of the bill are outlined below:

Application Requirements

The bill specifies that veterans must submit an application with certain information before the VA can conduct an initial evaluation for the VR&E program. This aims to streamline the process and ensure that the VA has necessary details to assist veterans effectively.

Employment Assistance Duration

Under the proposed changes, veterans would be limited to receiving employment assistance for a maximum duration of 365 days. This aims to provide structured support within a defined timeframe, possibly encouraging a quicker transition to employment.

Data Collection and Reporting Requirements

The bill introduces new requirements for reporting and data collection related to veterans in the VR&E program:

• The Secretary of Veterans Affairs must submit a report to Congress regarding the employment outcomes of veterans who participate in vocational rehabilitation programs. This report will include:
  • The regional office overseeing each program.
  • The annual wages of veterans before and after completing the program.
• On an annual basis, the Secretary must publicly disclose the average wait times for veterans from the request for a vocational rehabilitation program to the first meeting with a counselor.

Independent Review of the Program

Within one year of the bill's enactment, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs is required to contract with an independent entity that specializes in vocational rehabilitation. This entity will conduct a review of the existing rehabilitation programs and provide recommendations for improvements and modernization within one year of their review.

Clerical Amendments

The bill also includes clerical amendments, such as updating the table of sections within the relevant part of the U.S. Code to reflect the new requirements for data collection and reporting.

Summary

Overall, this bill aims to enhance the integrity and effectiveness of the VR&E program by establishing clearer application protocols, limiting the duration of assistance, improving data collection and transparency, and ensuring that the program is evaluated by external experts.

Relevant Companies

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