S.Amdt. 3743Senate115th Congress (2017-2019)
S.Amdt. 3743
Sponsored by
Sen. Robert Menendez (D-NJ)
Submitted August 20, 2018
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Senate amendment submitted
August 20, 2018
Text
Submitted
SA 3743. Mr. MENENDEZ submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by him to the bill H.R. 6157, making appropriations for the Department of Defense for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2019, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows: At the appropriate place in title VIII of division A, insert the following: Sec. ___. (a) Pilot Program Required.--The Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, and the Secretary of Labor shall jointly carry out a pilot program to assess the feasibility and advisability of an online portal for the Transition Assistance Program (TAP) under section 1144 of title 10, United States Code, to assist members of the Armed Forces participating in the Program in the transition from military life to civilian life. (b) Locations.--The Secretaries shall carry out the pilot program for members of the Armed Forces stationed at the military installations as follows: (1) Camp Pendleton, California. (2) MacDill Air Force Base, Florida. (3) Fort Benning, Georgia. (4) Scott Air Force Base, Illinois. (5) Fort Campbell, Kentucky. (6) Joint Base McGurie-Dix-Lakehurst, New Jersey. (7) Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. (8) Fort Bragg, North Carolina. (9) Fort Hood, Texas. (10) Naval Station Norfolk, Virginia. (11) Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington. (c) Elements for Members.--The online portal under the pilot program shall meet the following requirements: (1) The online portal shall be accessible through mobile app technology, and shall be mobile-ready with responsive design and available through so-called ``app stores''. (2) The version of the online portal accessible through a desktop computer shall be compatible with various Internet browsers, including Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, and Internet Explorer version 9.0 or later. (3) The online portal shall include a map of all current Military Occupation Specialties (MOS), and their codes, that are, to the extent practicable, aligned with current industries and jobs. (4) The online portal shall permit the generation, for each member of the Armed Forces who uses the portal, of a personalized transition data dashboard that includes the information as follows: (A) A current list of employment opportunities in the geographic area in which such member intends to reside after military service that are available from employers that employ not fewer than 1,000 employers nationwide. (B) A current list of educational opportunities in such geographic area. (C) A list of the benefits available to such member under the laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, including educational assistance benefits, and of the Department of Veterans Affairs facilities in such geographic area. (5) The personalized transition data dashboard for a member under paragraph (4) shall continuously notify the member of any time remaining before the expiration of the following: (A) Any career certification waiver based on the member's Military Occupational Specialty. (B) Any active security clearance. (C) Any other benefits to which the member is entitled. (6) The online portal shall permit job searches based on Military Occupational Specialty and career interest, and shall have the capability to maintain a history of job searches and submitted job applications and provide electronic mail alerts about job opportunities based on particularized military backgrounds, job interests, and search criteria. (7) The online portal shall include a resume generator that is compliant with industry-standard Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS). (8) The online portal shall provide for career training through the use of Learning Management Software, including training courses with a minimum of 100 soft skills and business courses. (9) The online portal shall include a career mentorship system, using the ability to communicate online through text chat, video calling, and electronic mail, which system shall permit mentors to store information on the jobs mentees have applied for, the training mentees have undertaken, and any other appropriate mentorship matters. (d) Elements for Employers.--The online portal under the pilot program shall meet the following requirements: (1) The online portal shall include a mechanism (to be known as a ``military skills translator'') for use by employers that connects Military Occupational Specialty codes to job titles. (2) The online portal shall include a mechanism for use by employers to search for members seeking employment by Military Occupational Specialty code, other keyword, civilian career category, and location. (3) The online portal shall provide online training for employers on military life and on specific military job descriptions related to particular industries. (e) Assessments.-- (1) Interim assessments.--Not later than each of one year and two years after the date of the commencement of the pilot program, the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, and the Secretary of Labor shall jointly carry out an interim assessment of the pilot program. (2) Final assessment.--Not later than three years after the date of the enactment of the pilot program, the Secretaries shall jointly carry out a final assessment of the pilot program. (3) Elements.-- (A) In general.--The general objective of each assessment under this subsection shall be to determine if the online portal under the pilot program assists participants in the Transition Program in the accomplishing the goals of the Program in a manner that takes into account the individual profiles of participants, including military experience and geographic location. (B) Particular matters.--In meeting the general objective under this paragraph, each assessment shall include a determination of the following: (i) The aggregate number of profiles created on the online portal by members of the Armed Forces and veterans since the commencement of the pilot program. (ii) Demographic information on such members and veterans. (iii) The average amount time logged into the online portal of members, veterans, employers, and community-based services providers, by month, since the commencement of the pilot program. (iv) A current ranking of most frequently-used features of the online portal. [[Page S5723]] (v) The current satisfaction of members and veterans with the online portal as of each of 30 days and 180 days after separation from military service. (vi) The number of connections made through the online portal between employers and applicants for employment. (vii) The number of individuals hired as a result of applications or identifications through the online portal. ______