S.Amdt. 1574

SA 1574. Mrs. BOXER submitted an amendment intended to be proposed to
amendment SA 1463 proposed by Mr. McCain to the bill H.R. 1735, to
authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2016 for military activities
of the Department of Defense and for military construction, to
prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for
other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

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

SEC. 515. PILOT PROGRAM ON JOB PLACEMENT AND RELATED
EMPLOYMENT ASSISTANCE FOR MEMBERS OF THE
NATIONAL GUARD AND THE RESERVES.

(a) Pilot Program Authorized.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary of Defense may carry out a
pilot program to enhance the efforts of the Department of
Defense to provide job placement assistance and related
employment services directly to members of the National Guard
and the Reserves.
(2) Consultation.--The Secretary shall carry out the pilot
program in consultation with the Chief of the National Guard
Bureau.
(b) Eligible Members.--The members of the National Guard
and the Reserves eligible for job placement assistance and
related employment services under the pilot program are such
categories of members as the Secretary shall specify for
purposes of the pilot program.
(c) Assistance and Services.--The mechanisms assessed under
the pilot program shall include mechanisms as follows:
(1) To identify unemployed and underemployed members of the
National Guard and the Reserves.
(2) To provide job placement assistance and related
employment services to members of the National Guard and the
Reserves on an individualized basis, including--
(A) resume writing and interview preparation assistance and
services;
(B) cost-effective job placement services;
(C) post-employment follow up services; and
(D) such other assistance and services as the Secretary
shall specify for purposes of the pilot program.
(d) Discharge.--
(1) Discharge through adjutants general.--The Secretary
shall provide for the carrying out of the pilot program
through the Adjutants General of the States.
(2) Outreach.--The Adjutants General shall take appropriate
actions to facilitate participation in the pilot program by
eligible members of the National Guard and the Reserves,
including through outreach to unit commanders.
(e) State Matching Share of Funds.--In order for the pilot
program to be carried out in a State, the State shall agree
to contribute to the carrying out of the pilot program an
amount, derived from non-Federal sources, equal to at least
30 percent of the funds provided by the Secretary for
carrying out the pilot program in the State.
(f) Evaluation Metrics.--The Secretary shall establish
metrics for purposes of evaluating the success of the pilot
program.
(g) Annual Report.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary shall submit to the
congressional defense committees on an annual basis a report
on the activities, if any, under the pilot program during the
preceding fiscal year.
(2) Elements.--Each report under this subsection shall
include the following:
(A) A description of the activities under the pilot program
during the fiscal year covered by such report, set forth by
State in which the pilot program was carried out, including--
(i) the number of members of the National Guard and the
Reserves who participated in the pilot program;
(ii) the job placement assistance and related employment
services provided to such members under the pilot program;
and
(iii) the number of members of the National Guard and
Reserves who obtained employment through participation in the
pilot program.
(B) A comparison of the pilot program with other programs
conducted by the Department of Defense during such fiscal
year to provide job placement assistance and related
employment services to unemployed and underemployed members
of the National Guard and the Reserves, including the costs
of services per individual under such programs.
(C) An assessment of the impact of the pilot program, and
increased employment among members of the National Guard and
the Reserves as a result of the pilot program, on the
readiness of the reserve components of the Armed Forces.
(D) Such recommendations for improvement or extension of
the pilot program as the Secretary considers appropriate.
(E) Such other matters relating to the pilot program as the
Secretary considers appropriate.
(h) Limitation on Funding.--The amount obligated by the
Secretary in any fiscal year to carry out the pilot program
may not exceed $20,000,000.
(i) Sunset.--
(1) In general.--Except as provided in paragraph (2), the
authority to carry out the pilot program shall expire on
September 30, 2019.
(2) Two-year extension.--The Secretary may continue to
carry out the pilot program for a period, not in excess of
two years, after September 30, 2019, if the Secretary
considers continuation of the pilot program for such period
to be advisable.
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