To amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for qualifications for vocational rehabilitation counselors and vocational rehabilitation employment coordinators employed by the Department of Veterans Affairs.

I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 5630, a bill which would set certain requirements for professional level jobs at the Department of Veterans Affairs' Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment program.

In 2009, the Government Accountability Office reported that one-third of the VA's regional offices reported that their VRE staffs did not have the skills needed to properly serve the disabled veterans who come to them for help. Although it is our understanding the VA currently hires counselors with at least a master's degree in vocational rehabilitation counseling, it does not require counselors to obtain and maintain certification in their field from a national certifying organization. There are also no educational qualifications for VRE employment coordinators.

To ensure that the VA rehabilitation counselors are the best qualified in their field, H.R. 5630 would set a minimum hiring standard at a master's degree and would require counselors to obtain national certification within 5 years of hiring and to maintain these qualifications. Employment coordinators would be required to have a relevant bachelor's degree, to obtain certification within 5 years, and to maintain these qualifications. Counselors and coordinators who fail to comply with these standards will be subject to termination.

Mr. Speaker, these are commonsense provisions which are designed to ensure that our disabled veterans are receiving the best vocational rehabilitation and employment services possible.

I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 5630, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 5630) to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for qualifications for vocational rehabilitation

counselors and vocational rehabilitation employment coordinators employed by the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous material on H.R. 5630.

I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to commend the gentleman from Arkansas, Representative John Boozman, for introducing this bill, which seeks to set minimum educational and training standards for certain employees of the Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment program operated by the Department of Veterans Affairs. This would, of course, help veterans while they set their employment goals.

I reserve the balance of my time.

I yield back the balance of my time.