Veterans Readiness and Employment Program Integrity Act

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3579) to amend title 38, United States Code, to make certain improvements to the Veterans Readiness and Employment program of Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks on H.R. 3579, as amended.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 3579 offered by my friend and colleague, Representative Ciscomani of Arizona. This bill would make needed modernizations to the VA's Veterans Readiness and Employment program, the VR&E program.

Over the last 2 years, our committee has uncovered disastrous wait times, fraud, waste, and abuse in the VA's VR&E program. This bill would steer the ship in the right direction by establishing more oversight of the program.

It is the duty of Congress to make sure that veterans who complete this workforce program are earning more and are in a better spot than they were before entering the program. VR&E currently does not track those results.

At a recent hearing, VA told the committee that 45 percent of veterans who successfully complete the program reenter it later. This does not show that the program is working for veterans. In fact, Mr. Speaker, it shows that the VR&E needs an overhaul. It is time to reform VR&E so that veterans can receive the training they need to find a meaningful career field that is fit for them.

This bill would also implement better practices for transparency on wait times to allow veterans to better plan for their future.

Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend, Representative Ciscomani, for sponsoring this bill to improve job training access for veterans. My committee will continue to seek ways to level the playing field for veterans seeking employment so that every veteran has access to the opportunity they want all the while protecting the taxpayers' investment in these programs.

Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to support H.R. 3579, as amended, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from the great State of Arizona (Mr. Ciscomani).

Mr. Speaker, in closing, I, once again, encourage all Members to support this legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise to express my support for H.R. 3579, as amended, the Veterans Readiness and Employment Program Integrity Act.

The VA Veteran Readiness and Employment program, otherwise known as VR&E, is also known as Chapter 31. It is a comprehensive benefits program designed to help veterans with service-connected disabilities find and maintain suitable employment. It offers personalized assistance, including career counseling, vocational training, and educational support to help veterans overcome employment barriers.

The program's ultimate goal is to empower disabled veterans to achieve independence and a successful career in the civilian workforce.

I take great pride in my work on the Honoring our PACT Act that resulted in hundreds of thousands of veterans finally having their disability recognized, making them eligible for the VR&E program. However, that massive influx of new applicants has brought to light improvements that are needed for the VR&E program.

This legislation seeks to add some good-governance steps to the program, to make sure veterans are aware of how the benefit works upon sign up and ensures that veterans are actively seeking employment as they are prepared to exit the VR&E program.

This legislation also includes data reporting for Congress and veterans so wait times and wage data are public.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues in the House, and Senate as well, to support this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from Florida (Mrs. Cherfilus-McCormick), who serves on our Subcommittee on Health and our Technology Modernization Subcommittee.

Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers, and I yield myself the balance of my time to close.

Mr. Speaker, I ask all of my colleagues to join me in passing H.R. 3579, as amended, the Veterans Readiness and Employment Program Integrity Act, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of my bill, H.R. 3579, the Veterans Readiness and Employment Program Integrity Act. This bipartisan bill ensures that veterans have the tools and resources they need to successfully transition to civilian life.

This legislation does so by providing much-needed oversight over the VA's Veteran Readiness and Employment program, which offers specific job training and counseling to veterans with a service-connected disability. This bill requires the VA to track employment outcomes and wait times for participants in order for us to know if this program is fulfilling its core mission, and it enables better evaluation of all tracks in the VR&E so that we can do a better job in understanding what is working and also what is not working.

Far too many veterans wait for months just to meet with a program counselor. I have heard this over and over again in my district. Far too many leave programs without confidence that they have the skills to have a stable civilian career. This bill fixes that.

It is not about giveaways, it is about getting return on our investment in veterans, in dignity, in opportunity, in real jobs. It is about ensuring our veterans transition with the resources that they need, not just to survive, but to thrive.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to vote in support of H.R. 3579. Stand behind our veterans not just with words but with this important oversight, with accountability, and especially with action.

Mr. Speaker, I am proud to co-lead H.R. 3579 the Veterans Readiness and Employment Program Integrity Act alongside Congressman Ciscomani.

This bipartisan bill expands economic opportunities for our veterans and brings much-needed transparency for the Veterans Readiness and Employment Program which helps veterans with service-connected disabilities transition to civilian careers.

Serving over 125,000 veterans each year, the VR&E program is critical, especially for veterans in Florida and nationwide, helping them gain the skills and opportunities needed to build successful and dignified lives after service.

To ensure veterans receive the support they deserve, the Department of Veterans Affairs must provide timely and accurate data on program outcomes. Veterans should not have to endure excessive wait times before accessing their critical services. This requires the VA to report on employment rates, wages, and average wait times, guaranteeing that veterans receive prompt and effective assistance.

These measures will improve program effectiveness and ensure veterans benefit from high quality and timely support.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill, and I encourage the Senate to act quickly.