S.Amdt. 1305

1. Adds SEC. 586. CONTINUATION AND EXPANSION OF WOUNDED WARRIOR CAREERS DEMONSTRATION PROGRAM at the end of subtitle I of title V

   Adds a section

   In S. 1867 · Placed on Calendar Senate

   (2) by striking "members of the uniformed services" and inserting "uniformed services voters or overseas voters".

   Inserted: SEC. 586. CONTINUATION AND EXPANSION OF WOUNDED WARRIOR CAREERS DEMONSTRATION PROGRAM.

   Inserted: (a) Continuation and Expansion of Program.--

   Inserted: (1) In general.--The Secretary of Defense shall continue the program known as the Wounded Warrior Careers Demonstration program (in this section referred to as the "Program"), being conducted in collaboration with the Army Wounded Warrior program, as expanded in accordance with the provisions of this section.

   Inserted: (2) Additional purposes of program.--The Program as expanded under this section shall have the additional purposes as follows:

   Inserted: (A) To identify, demonstrate, and disseminate best practices in employment counseling, job placement, and enrollment in high-quality education programs of wounded, ill, or injured members of the Armed Forces (in this section referred to as "wounded warriors") who are assigned to the wounded warrior programs of the Armed Forces and other individuals participating in the Program.

   Inserted: (B) To assist wounded warriors in transitioning into employment with the Federal Government, or into civilian life and careers.

   Inserted: (C) To otherwise assess the feasibility and advisability of various additional means to support the transition and reintegration of wounded warriors into civilian life and careers.

   Inserted: (3) Particular emphasis on severely wounded warriors.--In conducting the Program as expanded under this section, the Secretary shall pay special attention to wounded warriors who are severely or catastrophically wounded, ill, or injured (in this section referred to as "severely wounded warriors").

   Inserted: (b) Additional Locations for Program.--

   Inserted: (1) In general.--The Secretary of Defense shall expand the Program under this section to not less than 10 locations nationwide by not later than September 30, 2012, and to an additional 10 locations nationwide by not later than September 30, 2013.

   Inserted: (2) Locations.--

   Inserted: (A) In general.--In selecting locations under this subsection, the Secretary shall select from among locations in which there are high concentrations of wounded warriors (including from the regular components and the reserve components) who served in Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Iraqi Freedom, or Operation New Dawn who are ready for career and employment counseling.

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   Inserted: (B) Special emphasis for locations with high unemployment.--In selecting locations under this subsection, the Secretary shall give special emphasis to locations described in subparagraph (A) that also have an unemployment rate that is higher than the national average unemployment rate.

   Inserted: (C) Data for identification of locations.--In identifying locations for purposes of subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall utilize applicable data of the military departments and of the National Center for Veterans Analysis and Statistics.

   Inserted: (c) Utilization of Other Federal Programs and Resources.--

   Inserted: (1) In general.--In expanding the Program under this section, the Secretary of Defense shall, with the cooperation of the heads of the departments and agencies concerned, utilize other programs and resources of the Federal Government (including programs and resources having objectives similar to the Program), including the following:

   Inserted: (A) Programs and resources of the Department of Labor, including the Recovery and Employment Assistance Lifelines (REALifelines) initiative carried out by the Department and the Bethesda Naval Medical Center and Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Maryland.

   Inserted: (B) Programs and resources of the Department of Veterans Affairs, including the program of vocational rehabilitation carried out under chapter 31 of title 38, United States Code.

   Inserted: (C) Programs and resources of other departments and agencies of the Federal Government relating to education and employment of wounded warriors.

   Inserted: (2) Designation.--Activities carried out under this subsection as part of the expansion of the Program shall be known as the "Wounded Warrior Education and Employment Initiative".

   Inserted: (d) Services To Be Provided Under Program.--

   Inserted: (1) In general.--The services provided under the Program as expanded under this section shall include all possible career-development and education preparation services for wounded warriors (and their spouses, if appropriate) that are consistent with their needs and are provided utilizing a proactive, intensive, extended case-management model that includes individualized counseling.

   Inserted: (2) Services.--The services provided under this subsection shall include, but not be limited to, assistance relating to the following:

   Inserted: (A) Engaging with prospective employers and educators, when appropriate.

   Inserted: (B) Entering into various kinds of occupations (whether full-time, part-time, paid, or volunteer, or self-employment as entrepreneurs or otherwise).

   Inserted: (C) Acquiring additional education and training, including through internships and mentorship programs.

   Inserted: (e) Availability of Services Under Program to Wounded Warriors of All Armed Forces.--

   Inserted: (1) In general.--The services provided under the Program as expanded under this section shall be provided to wounded warriors of all of the Armed Forces pursuant to policies established by the Secretary of Defense.

   Inserted: (2) Coordination.--The Secretary of Defense shall ensure coordination between the Secretary of the Army, the Secretary of the Navy, and the Secretary of the Air Force regarding the participation of members of the Armed Forces in the Program under this subsection, including actions to encourage and facilitate the participation of such members in the Program when appropriate.

   Inserted: (f) Cost-benefit Analysis.--In identifying services to be provided under the Program as expanded under this section, and in identifying lessons learned and best practices developed for purposes of subsection (g), the Secretary of Defense shall undertake cost-benefit and other appropriate analyses of such services and the results of the provision of such services.

   Inserted: (g) Dissemination of Lessons Learned.--

   Inserted: (1) In general.--The Secretary of Defense shall provide for the dissemination to other departments and agencies of the Federal Government, State and local governments, and appropriate nonprofit organizations of information on lessons learned and best practices developed under the Program on the provision of benefits, services, and support to severely wounded warriors and other wounded warriors.

   Inserted: (2) Dissemination to relevant agencies.--As part of the dissemination of information under paragraph (1), the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, the Secretary of Labor, the Secretary of Education, and the Director of the Office of Personnel Management shall undertake such joint programs, activities, and initiatives as such Secretaries and the Director consider appropriate to facilitate and further the dissemination of such lessons and best practices as will be of particular use to their respective departments and agencies in providing benefits, services, and support to severely wounded warriors and other wounded warriors.

   Inserted: (h) Reports.--

   Inserted: (1) Preliminary report.--

   Inserted: (A) In general.--Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress, a report on the Program as expanded under this section.

   Inserted: (B) Elements.--The report under this paragraph shall include the following:

   Inserted: (i) A current description of the Program as expanded under this section.

   Inserted: (ii) A statement of the actions, if any, proposed to be undertaken to further expand the Program.

   Inserted: (iii) In consultation with the heads of other appropriate departments and agencies of the Federal Government, such recommendations for legislative or administration action (including legislative or administration action with respect to or by departments and agencies of the Federal Government other than the Department of Defense) for expanding, improving, or otherwise enhancing the Program.

   Inserted: (C) Publication.--The report shall be published in the Federal Register.

   Inserted: (D) Public comment.--The Secretary shall accept comments from the public on the report, including on any recommendations pursuant to subparagraph (B)(iii), including comments from military service organizations and veterans service organizations.

   Inserted: (2) Assessment report.--

   Inserted: (A) In general.--Not later than five years after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the appropriate committee of Congress a report on the Program.

   Inserted: (B) Elements.--The report required by this paragraph shall include the following:

   Inserted: (i) A comprehensive description of the Program, including the following:

   Inserted: (I) Information on job placement and retention of wounded warriors who participated in the Program.

   Inserted: (II) A description and assessment of the career services provided under the Program to wounded warriors, with particular focus on those experiencing Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) or Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI).

   Inserted: (ii) An assessment of the financial costs resulting from the failure of wounded warriors to gain employment or achieve self-sufficiency after service in the Armed Forces.

   Inserted: (iii) An assessment of the efficacy of the Program in preparing wounded warriors to meet the challenges of employment after service in the Armed Forces.

   Inserted: (iv) Such recommendations as the Secretary considers appropriate, including recommendations for the further continuation or enhancement of the services provided under the Program.

   Inserted: (3) Dissemination to other departments and agencies.--The Secretary of Defense shall share the information contained in the reports required by paragraphs (1) and (2) with the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, the Secretary of Labor, the Secretary of Education, the Director of the Office of Personnel Management, and the heads of such other departments and agencies of the Federal Government as the Secretary of Defense considers appropriate.

   Inserted: (i) Appropriate Committees of Congress Defined.--In this section, the term "appropriate committees of Congress" means--

   Inserted: (1) the Committee on Armed Services and the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate; and

   Inserted: (2) the Committee on Armed Services and the Committee on Ways and Means of the House of Representatives.

   Original wording

   At the end of subtitle I of title V, add the following:

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As printed