Hire Veteran Health Heroes Act of 2021

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (S. 894) to identify and refer members of the Armed Forces with a health care occupation who are separating from the Armed Forces for potential employment with the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on S. 894.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of Senator Braun and Senator Hassan's S. 894, the Hire Veteran Health Heroes Act.

We all know that there are many ways for our military personnel to continue to serve after they separate from Active Duty. This bill provides a potential pathway for those servicemembers in healthcare occupations to move into careers with VA.

It couldn't come at a better time because we know VA has significant hiring needs to ensure it can continue providing high-quality, timely care to our veterans.

S. 894 directs VA to consult with the Department of Defense and establish a program for identifying separating servicemembers who are interested in healthcare positions at VA. VA would then refer interested servicemembers to VA recruiters for consideration of open positions in the specialty and geographic locations veterans prefer.

I see this as a win-win situation for veterans and for VA, and exactly the kind of ideal employment warm handoff we all talk about.

Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to support S. 894, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers. I am prepared to close, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I ask all of my colleagues to join me in passing this important piece of legislation, S. 894, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of S. 894, the Hire Veteran Health Heroes Act of 2021. This bill was introduced by Senator Mike Braun of Indiana. The gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Latta) introduced the House companion bill. I thank them both for their efforts on this excellent piece of legislation.

The Hire Veteran Health Heroes Act would help accomplish three important goals:

The first is supporting servicemembers as they transition out of the military.

The second is helping veterans find meaningful work in their civilian lives.

The third is ensuring that VA medical facilities are well staffed to provide timely, high-quality care to veterans.

This bill would require VA to work with DOD to identify separating servicemembers with backgrounds in healthcare, and it would require VA to refer those servicemembers who are interested in working in the VA

healthcare system to recruiters for possible placement in VA medical facilities with open positions.

Mr. Speaker, I am glad to support this bill today. I hope all of my colleagues will do the same on both sides of the aisle.

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

Mr. Speaker, I did have a speaker here that was en route, but I will close.

Mr. Speaker, I appreciate this bill. I appreciate the people who worked on this bill, and I encourage all of my colleagues to support it.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of Calendar No. 85, S. 894.

I ask unanimous consent that the committee-reported amendment be agreed to; that the bill, as amended, be considered read a third time and passed; and that the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table.