[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Printing Office]
[H.R. 3889 Referred in Senate (RFS)]
2d Session
H. R. 3889
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
May 21, 2008
Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs
_______________________________________________________________________
AN ACT
To amend title 38, United States Code, to require the Secretary of
Veterans Affairs to conduct a longitudinal study of the vocational
rehabilitation programs administered by the Secretary.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. LONGITUDINAL STUDY OF DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS
VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION PROGRAMS.
(a) Study Required.--Chapter 31 of title 38, United States Code, is
amended by adding at the end the following new section:
``Sec. 3122. Longitudinal study of vocational rehabilitation programs
``(a) Study Required.--(1) Subject to the availabilty of
appropriated funds, the Secretary shall conduct a longitudinal study of
a statistically valid sample of each of the groups of individuals
described in paragraph (2). The Secretary shall study each such group
over a period of at least 20 years.
``(2) The groups of individuals described in this paragraph are the
following:
``(A) Individuals who begin participating in a vocational
rehabilitation program under this chapter during fiscal year
2009.
``(B) Individuals who begin participating in such a program
during fiscal year 2011.
``(C) Individuals who begin participating in such a program
during fiscal year 2014.
``(b) Annual Reports.--By not later than July 1 of each year
covered by the study required under subsection (a), the Secretary shall
submit to the Committees on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and House
of Representatives a report on the study during the preceding year.
``(c) Contents of Report.--The Secretary shall include in the
report required under subsection (b) any data the Secretary determines
is necessary to determine the long-term outcomes of the individuals
participating in the vocational rehabilitation programs under this
chapter. The Secretary may add data elements from time to time as
necessary. In addition, each such report shall contain the following
information:
``(1) The number of individuals participating in vocational
rehabilitation programs under this chapter who suspended
participation in such a program during the year covered by the
report.
``(2) The average number of months such individuals served
on active duty.
``(3) The distribution of disability rating of such
individuals.
``(4) The types of other benefits administered by the
Secretary received by such individuals.
``(5) The types of social security benefits received by
such individuals.
``(6) Any unemployment benefits received by such
individuals.
``(7) The average number of months such individuals were
employed during the year covered by the report.
``(8) The average annual starting and ending salaries such
individuals who were employed during the year covered by the
report.
``(9) The number of such individuals enrolled in an
institution of higher learning, as that term is defined in
section 3452(f) of this title.
``(10) The average number of academic credit hours,
degrees, and certificates obtained by such individuals during
the year covered by the report.
``(11) The average number of visits such individuals made
to Department medical facilities during the year covered by the
report.
``(12) The average number of visits such individuals made
to non-Department medical facilities during the year covered by
the report.
``(13) The average annual income of such individuals.
``(14) The average total household income of such
individuals for the year covered by the report.
``(15) The percentage of such individuals who own their
principal residences.
``(16) The average number of dependents of each such
veteran.''.
(b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the beginning of
such chapter is amended by adding at the end the following new item:
``3122. Longitudinal study of vocational rehabilitation programs.''.
Passed the House of Representatives May 20, 2008.
Attest:
LORRAINE C. MILLER,
Clerk.