PUBLIC LAW 114–68—OCT. 16, 2015 129 STAT. 555 

Public Law 114–68 

114th Congress 

An Act 

To actively recruit members of the Armed Forces who are separating from military 

service to serve as Customs and Border Protection officers. 

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 

the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Border Jobs for Veterans Act 

of 2015’’. 

SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 

Congress finds the following: 

(1) Customs and Border Protection officers at United States 

ports of entry carry out critical law enforcement duties associated with screening foreign visitors, returning United States 

citizens, and imported cargo entering the United States. 

(2) It is in the national interest for United States ports 

of entry to be adequately staffed with Customs and Border 

Protection officers in a timely fashion, including meeting the 

congressionally funded staffing target of 23,775 officers for fiscal 

year 2015. 

(3) An estimated 250,000 to 300,000 members of the Armed 

Forces separate from military service every year. 

(4) Recruiting efforts and expedited hiring procedures must 

be enhanced to ensure that individuals separating from military 

service are aware of, and partake in, opportunities to fill vacant 

Customs and Border Protection officer positions. 

SEC. 3. EXPEDITED HIRING OF APPROPRIATE SEPARATING SERVICE 

MEMBERS. 

The Secretary of Homeland Security shall consider the expedited hiring of qualified candidates who have the ability to perform 

the essential functions of the position of a Customs and Border 

Protection officer and who are eligible for a veterans recruitment 

appointment authorized under section 4214 of title 38, United States 

Code. 

SEC. 4. ENHANCEMENTS TO EXISTING PROGRAMS TO RECRUIT 

SERVICE MEMBERS SEPARATING FROM MILITARY SERVICE 

FOR CUSTOMS AND BORDER PROTECTION OFFICER VACANCIES. 

(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Homeland Security, in consultation with the Secretary of Defense, and acting through existing 

programs, authorities, and agreements, where applicable, shall 

enhance the efforts of the Department of Homeland Security to 

Consultation. 

Border Jobs for 

Veterans Act 

of 2015. 

6 USC 211 note. 

Oct. 16, 2015 

[H.R. 2835] 


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129 STAT. 556 PUBLIC LAW 114–68—OCT. 16, 2015 

recruit members of the Armed Forces who are separating from 

military service to serve as Customs and Border Protection officers. 

(b) ELEMENTS.—The enhanced recruiting efforts under subsection (a) shall— 

(1) include Customs and Border Protection officer 

opportunities in relevant job assistance efforts under the 

Transition Assistance Program; 

(2) place U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials or 

other relevant Department of Homeland Security officials at 

recruiting events and jobs fairs involving members of the Armed 

Forces who are separating from military service; 

(3) provide opportunities for local U.S. Customs and Border 

Protection field offices to partner with military bases in the 

region; 

(4) include outreach efforts to educate members of the 

Armed Forces with Military Occupational Specialty Codes and 

Officer Branches, Air Force Specialty Codes, Naval Enlisted 

Classifications and Officer Designators, and Coast Guard competencies that are transferable to the requirements, qualifications, and duties assigned to Customs and Border Protection 

officers of available hiring opportunities to become Customs 

and Border Protection officers; 

(5) identify shared activities and opportunities for reciprocity related to steps in hiring Customs and Border Protection 

officers with the goal of minimizing the time required to hire 

qualified applicants; 

(6) ensure the streamlined interagency transfer of relevant 

background investigations and security clearances; and 

(7) include such other elements as may be necessary to 

ensure that members of the Armed Forces who are separating 

from military service are aware of opportunities to fill vacant 

Customs and Border Protection officer positions. 

SEC. 5. REPORT TO CONGRESS. 

(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days after the date of 

the enactment of this Act, and by December 31 of each of the 

next 3 years thereafter, the Secretary of Homeland Security, in 

consultation with the Secretary of Defense, shall submit a report 

to the Committee on Homeland Security and the Committee on 

Armed Services of the House of Representatives and the Committee 

on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs and the Committee on Armed Services of the Senate that includes a description 

and assessment of the efforts of the Department of Homeland 

Security to hire members of the Armed Forces who are separating 

from military service as Customs and Border Protection officers 

under section 4. 

(b) CONTENT.—The report required under subsection (a) shall 

include— 

(1) a detailed description of the efforts to implement section 

4, including— 

(A) elements of the enhanced recruiting efforts and 

the goals associated with such elements; and 

(B) a description of how the elements and goals referred 

to in subparagraph (A) will assist in meeting statutorily 

mandated staffing levels and agency hiring benchmarks; 

(2) a detailed description of the efforts that have been 

undertaken under section 4; 


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PUBLIC LAW 114–68—OCT. 16, 2015 129 STAT. 557 

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—H.R. 2835: 

CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 161 (2015): 

Sept. 28, considered and passed House. 

Oct. 1, considered and passed Senate. 

Æ 

(3) the estimated number of separating service members 

made aware of Customs and Border Protection officer vacancies; 

(4) the number of Customs and Border Protection officer 

vacancies filled with separating service members; and 

(5) the number of Customs and Border Protection officer 

vacancies filled with separating service members under Veterans Recruitment Appointment authorized under section 4214 

of title 38, United States Code. 

SEC. 6. RULES OF CONSTRUCTION. 

Nothing in this Act may be construed— 

(1) as superseding, altering, or amending existing Federal 

veterans’ hiring preferences or Federal hiring authorities; or 

(2) to authorize the appropriation of additional amounts 

to carry out this Act. 

Approved October 16, 2015. 


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