To amend title 38, United States Code, to reestablish the Professional Certification and Licensure Advisory Committee of the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of my bill, H.R. 2942, and I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 2942, a bill that will help transitioning servicemembers find employers who want to make a smart investment hiring a veteran.

This bill, to reestablish the Professional Certification and Licensure Advisory Committee of the Department of Veterans Affairs, will allow subject-matter experts to review State licenses and credentialing to certify that military men and women in specific career fields are able to transfer their skills to the private sector.

By the time most of our servicemen and -women leave the military, they have gained a wealth of experience that can translate into civilian career fields. In addition to teamwork, perseverance, loyalty, and leadership, our military servicemembers possess technical skills that are available to employers.

Unfortunately, many of our military servicemen and -women have difficulty finding jobs after leaving the military because they don't have a civilian license or certification.

They possess the same skills and have the same training, but can't obtain employment in their career field because they need a license.

In a tough job market, this creates one more barrier for our transitioning military men and women that can mean the difference between finding and not finding a job.

This bill addresses some of these barriers for our newest veterans. Under this bill, the VA's advisory committee on professional certification and licensure, which ended in 2006, will be reestablished through December 2019.

In addition to helping veterans transfer their skills toward civilian licenses, these subject-matter experts will advise the VA to recognize new licensing and certification programs, so that veterans can use their GI Bill benefits to pay for the cost of these training programs and licensing exams.

This advisory committee will also make it easier for veterans to comply with State licensing requirements that may differ from State to State. This will give veterans more options in their choice of training and certification programs, since veterans cannot use their GI Bill benefits toward programs that are not VA-approved, even though completion of many of these programs would give veterans the licenses they need.

When veterans are able to put their skills to work, they are able to support their families, businesses profit, and communities benefit.

Again, I urge your support for these men and women as they return home and ask you to ensure their valuable time in the military is not lost.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from California (Mr. Takano).

Mr. Speaker, in closing, I just want to thank Chairman Miller, Ranking Member Michaud, and the committee staff for working with me on this legislation.

I urge my colleagues to pass this. Earlier this year, I had the opportunity to visit some military bases, talking to our men and women who will soon transition out of the military and become veterans, and the number one concern they had was: Where am I going to find a job? How am I going to find a job?

So this bill is critically important to our veterans. They deserve to know that they are going to find meaningful work when they come back and especially in the areas that they have been trained in the military.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the committee and the staff for helping me with this.

I urge my colleagues to support this bill.

Mr. Speaker, I don't have any further speakers, so I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 2942) to amend title 38, United States Code, to reestablish the Professional Certification and Licensure Advisory Committee of the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members would have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks on H.R. 2942.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I do rise today in support of H.R. 2942, that amends title 38 of the United States Code, reestablishing the Professional Certification and Licensure Advisory Committee at the Department of Veterans Affairs.

I know my colleague who introduced this bill, Mrs. Kirkpatrick, will go into greater detail as to the importance of this legislation, but I do believe that this bill is another step in the right direction to assist our veterans as they look for work in the civilian sector following their service to our great Nation.

The reestablishment of the Professional Certification and Licensure Advisory Committee would improve the quality of both the Department of Veterans Affairs' and State approving agencies' licensing and certification process and will ultimately benefit our servicemembers, as well as employers, and ease the process of placing veterans in civilian careers that match their skills.

Mr. Speaker, although the unemployment rate for veterans is lower than the national average for nonveterans, getting veterans into a job must remain an issue of national importance. Reestablishing this advisory committee will be yet another tool to help veterans get into a career in a timely fashion.

We have already made the investment to train our veterans during their military service for careers in the civilian sector, and by getting advice from industry experts on how to streamline and improve licensing and credentialing, we will make it easier for veterans to find meaningful and timely employment.

So with that, Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to support H.R. 2942, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers at this time, so I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers. I continue to reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I congratulate the gentlelady for her fine work, and I urge all of my colleagues to support H.R. 2942.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from Arizona (Mrs. Kirkpatrick) for introducing H.R. 2942, which will have an important impact on the lives of our servicemen and -women separating from the military.

I also want to extend my thanks to Chairman Miller for the bipartisan way in which he leads our committee.

During my time as ranking member of the Economic Opportunity Subcommittee, I have seen how transitioning servicemembers can struggle to find employment. Life beyond the military can be complicated, as we found out from employers who attended a March veterans employment roundtable hosted by myself and our committee's ranking member, the gentleman from Maine (Mr. Michaud).

These are men and woman who have real work experience, but are still struggling to find steady, meaningful employment. Meanwhile, when they return to their communities, people are shaking their hands and thanking them for their service, when what they really need is a job.

Many employers have recognized the skills veterans bring to the table, but there is still so much more work to be done. By passing this legislation, we will be sending a clear message of our respect for military members' service and their experience as professionals.

Reestablishing the advisory committee on professional certification and licensure will ensure veterans get the broadest and most comprehensive support to acknowledge the skills they have earned and the experience they have gained while in the military.

By supporting this legislation, we will help ensure these men and women can be our next nurse, electrician, or plumber or engineer or any other professional they are qualified to be.

Please, I urge my colleagues to support this legislation.