II

104TH CONGRESS

2D SESSION S. 1711

To establish a commission to evaluate the programs of the Federal Government that assist members of the Armed Forces and veterans in readjusting to civilian life, and for other purposes.

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

APRIL 29, 1996

Mr. DOLE introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to

the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs

A BILL

To establish a commission to evaluate the programs of the

Federal Government that assist members of the Armed

Forces and veterans in readjusting to civilian life, and

for other purposes.

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

3 SECTION 1. ESTABLISHMENT OF COMMISSION.

4 (a) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is established a com5 mission to be known as the Commission on Service Mem6 bers and Veterans Transition Assistance (hereafter in this

7 Act referred to as the ‘‘Commission’’).

8 (b) MEMBERSHIP.—
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1 (1) IN GENERAL.—The Commission shall be

2 composed of 12 members appointed from among pri3 vate United States citizens with appropriate and di4 verse veterans, military, organizational, and manage5 ment experiences and historical perspectives, of

6 whom—

7 (A) four shall be appointed by the Chair8 man of the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of

9 the Senate, in consultation with the Ranking

10 Member of that committee;

11 (B) four shall be appointed by the Chair12 man of the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of

13 the House of Representatives, in consultation

14 with the Ranking Member of that committee;

15 (C) two shall be appointed by the Chair16 man of the Committee on Armed Services of

17 the Senate, in consultation with the Ranking

18 Member of that committee; and

19 (D) two shall be appointed by the Chair20 man of the Committee on National Security of

21 the House of Representatives, in consultation

22 with the Ranking Member of that committee.

23 (2) VSO MEMBERS.—One member of the Com24 mission appointed under each of subparagraphs (A)
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1 and (B) of paragraph (1) shall be a representative

2 of a veterans service organization.

3 (3) DATE.—The appointments of the members

4 of the Commission shall be made not later than 45

5 days after the date of enactment of this Act.

6 (c) PERIOD OF APPOINTMENT; VACANCIES.—Mem7 bers shall be appointed for the life of the Commission. Any

8 vacancy in the Commission shall not affect its powers, but

9 shall be filled in the same manner as the original appoint10 ment.

11 (d) INITIAL MEETING.—Not later than 30 days after

12 the date on which all members of the Commission have

13 been appointed, the Commission shall hold its first meet14 ing.

15 (e) QUORUM.—A majority of the members of the

16 Commission shall constitute a quorum, but a lesser num17 ber may hold hearings.

18 (f) CHAIRMAN AND VICE CHAIRMAN.—The Commis19 sion shall select a Chairman and Vice Chairman from

20 among its members.

21 (g) MEETINGS.—The Commission shall meet at the

22 call of the Chairman.

23 (h) PANELS.—The Commission may establish panels

24 composed of less than the full membership of the Commis25 sion for the purpose of carrying out the Commission’s du-
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1 ties under this Act. The actions of such panels shall be

2 subject to the review and control of the Commission. Any

3 findings and determinations made by such a panel shall

4 not be considered the findings and determinations of the

5 Commission unless approved by the Commission.

6 (i) AUTHORITY OF INDIVIDUALS TO ACT FOR COM7 MISSION.—Any member or agent of the Commission may,

8 if authorized by the Commission, take any action which

9 the Commission is authorized to take under this Act.

10 SEC. 2. DUTIES OF COMMISSION.

11 (a) IN GENERAL.—The Commission shall—

12 (1) review the efficacy and appropriateness of

13 veterans transition and assistance programs in pro14 viding assistance to members of the Armed Forces

15 in making the transition and adjustment to civilian

16 life upon their separation from the Armed Forces

17 and in providing assistance to veterans in adjusting

18 to civilian life;

19 (2) evaluate proposals for improving such pro20 grams, including proposals to consolidate, stream21 line, and enhance the provision of such assistance

22 and proposals for alternative means of providing

23 such assistance; and

24 (3) make recommendations to Congress regard25 ing means of ensuring the continuing utility of such
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1 programs and assistance and of otherwise improving

2 such programs and the provision of such assistance.

3 (b) REVIEW OF PROGRAMS TO ASSIST MEMBERS OF

4 THE ARMED FORCES AT SEPARATION.—

5 (1) IN GENERAL.—While carrying out the gen6 eral duties specified in subsection (a), the members

7 of the Commission appointed under subparagraphs

8 (C) and (D) of section 1(b)(1) shall review primarily

9 programs intended to assist members of the Armed

10 Forces at the time of their separation from service

11 in the Armed Forces, including programs designed

12 to assist families of such members in preparing for

13 the transition of such members from military life to

14 civilian life and to facilitate that transition.

15 (2) SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS.—In carrying out

16 the review, such members of the Commission shall

17 determine—

18 (A) the adequacy of the programs referred

19 to in paragraph (1) for their purposes;

20 (B) the adequacy of the support of the

21 Armed Forces for such programs;

22 (C) the effect, if any, of the existence of

23 such programs on combat readiness;
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1 (D) the extent to which such programs

2 provide members of the Armed Forces with job3 search skills;

4 (E) the extent to which such programs

5 prepare such members for employment in the

6 private sector and in the public sector;

7 (F) the effectiveness of such programs in

8 assisting such members in finding employment

9 in the public sector; and

10 (G) the means by which such programs

11 could be improved in order to assist such mem12 bers in securing meaningful employment in the

13 private sector upon their separation from serv14 ice.

15 (c) REVIEW OF PROGRAMS TO ASSIST VETERANS.—

16 (1) IN GENERAL.—While carrying out the gen17 eral duties specified in subsection (a), the members

18 of the Commission appointed under subparagraphs

19 (A) and (B) of section 1(b)(1) shall review primarily

20 the adequacy of programs intended to assist veter21 ans (including disabled veterans, homeless veterans,

22 and economically disadvantaged veterans), including

23 the programs referred to in paragraph (2).

24 (2) COVERED PROGRAMS.—The programs re25 ferred to in paragraph (1) are the following:
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1 (A) Educational assistance programs.

2 (B) Job counseling, job training, and job

3 placement services programs.

4 (C) Rehabilitation and training programs.

5 (D) Housing loan programs.

6 (E) Small business loan and small business

7 assistance programs.

8 (F) Employment and employment training

9 programs for employment in the public sector

10 and the private sector.

11 (G) Federal Government personnel policies

12 (including veterans’ preference policies) and the

13 enforcement of such policies.

14 (H) Programs that prepare the families of

15 veterans for their transition from military life

16 to civilian life and facilitate that transition.

17 (d) REPORTS.—

18 (1) IMPLEMENTING PLAN.—Not later than 90

19 days after the date on which all members of the

20 Commission have been appointed, the Commission

21 shall submit to the Committees on Veterans’ Affairs

22 and Armed Services of the Senate and the Commit23 tees on Veterans’ Affairs and National Security of

24 the House of Representatives a report setting forth

25 a plan for the work of the Commission. The Com-
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1 mission shall develop the plan in consultation with

2 the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of Veterans

3 Affairs, and the heads of other appropriate depart4 ments and agencies of the Federal Government.

5 (2) FINAL REPORT.—

6 (A) REQUIREMENT.—Not later than one

7 year after the date of the first meeting of the

8 Commission, the Commission shall submit to

9 the committees referred to in paragraph (1),

10 and to the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary

11 of Veterans Affairs, the Secretary of Labor,

12 and the Secretary of Education, a report set13 ting forth the activities, findings, and rec14 ommendations of the Commission, including

15 any recommendations for legislative action and

16 administrative action as the Commission consid17 ers appropriate.

18 (B) EXECUTIVE COMMENT.—Not later

19 than 90 days after receiving the report referred

20 to in subparagraph (A), the Secretary of De21 fense and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs

22 shall jointly submit to Congress a report setting

23 forth the comments of such Secretaries with re24 spect to the report.
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1 SEC. 3. POWERS OF COMMISSION.

2 (a) HEARINGS.—The Commission may hold such

3 hearings, sit and act at such times and places, take such

4 testimony, and receive such evidence as the Commission

5 considers advisable to carry out the purposes of this Act.

6 (b) INFORMATION FROM FEDERAL AGENCIES.—The

7 Commission may secure directly from the Department of

8 Defense, the Department of Veterans Affairs, and any

9 other department or agency of the Federal Government

10 such information as the Commission considers necessary

11 to carry out its duties under this Act. Upon request of

12 the Chairman of the Commission, the head of such depart13 ment or agency shall furnish such information expedi14 tiously to the Commission.

15 SEC. 4. MISCELLANEOUS ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS.

16 (a) POSTAL SERVICES.—The Commission may use

17 the United States mails in the same manner and under

18 the same conditions as other departments and agencies of

19 the Federal Government.

20 (b) GIFTS.—The Commission may accept, use and

21 dispose of gifts or donations of services or property.

22 (c) MISCELLANEOUS ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT.—

23 The Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Veterans

24 Affairs shall, upon the request of the Chairman of the

25 Commission, furnish the Commission, on a reimbursable
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1 basis, any administrative and support services as the Com2 mission may require.

3 SEC. 5. COMMISSION PERSONNEL MATTERS.

4 (a) COMPENSATION OF MEMBERS.—Each member of

5 the Commission who is not an officer or employee of the

6 Federal Government shall be compensated at a rate equal

7 to the daily equivalent of the annual rate of basic pay pre8 scribed for level IV of the Executive Schedule under sec9 tion 5315 of title 5, United States Code, for each day (in10 cluding travel time) during which such member is engaged

11 in performing the duties of the Commission. All members

12 of the Commission who are officers or employees of the

13 United States shall serve without compensation in addi14 tion to that received for their services as officers or em15 ployees of the United States.

16 (b) TRAVEL AND TRAVEL EXPENSES.—

17 (1) TRAVEL.—Members and personnel of the

18 Commission may travel on military aircraft, military

19 vehicles, or other military conveyances when travel is

20 necessary in the performance of a responsibility of

21 the Commission except when the cost of commercial

22 transportation is less expensive.

23 (2) EXPENSES.—The members of the Commis24 sion shall be allowed travel expenses, including per

25 diem in lieu of subsistence, at rates authorized for
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1 employees of agencies under subchapter I of chapter

2 57 of title 5, United States Code, while away from

3 their homes or regular places of business in the per4 formance of services for the Commission.

5 (c) STAFF.—

6 (1) IN GENERAL.—The Chairman of the Com7 mission may, without regard to civil service laws and

8 regulations, appoint and terminate an executive di9 rector and such other additional personnel as may be

10 necessary to enable the Commission to perform its

11 duties. In appointing an individual as executive di12 rector, the Chairman shall, to the maximum extent

13 practicable, attempt to appoint an individual who is

14 a veteran. The employment of an executive director

15 shall be subject to confirmation by the Commission.

16 (2) COMPENSATION.—The Chairman of the

17 Commission may fix the compensation of the execu18 tive director and other personnel without regard to

19 the provisions of chapter 51 and subchapter III of

20 chapter 53 of title 5, United States Code, relating

21 to classification of positions and General Schedule

22 pay rates, except that the rate of pay for the execu23 tive director and other personnel may not exceed the

24 rate payable for level V of the Executive Schedule

25 under section 5316 of such title.
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1 (d) DETAIL OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES.—Upon

2 request of the Chairman of the Commission, the head of

3 any department or agency of the Federal Government may

4 detail, on a nonreimbursable basis, any personnel of the

5 department or agency to the Commission to assist the

6 Commission in carrying out its duties.

7 (e) PROCUREMENT OF TEMPORARY AND INTERMIT8 TENT SERVICES.—The Chairman of the Commission may

9 procure temporary and intermittent services under section

10 3109(b) of title 5, United States Code, at rates for individ11 uals which do not exceed the daily equivalent of the annual

12 rate of basic pay prescribed for level IV of the Executive

13 Schedule under section 5316 of such title.

14 SEC. 6. TERMINATION OF COMMISSION.

15 The Commission shall terminate 90 days after the

16 date on which the Commission submits its report under

17 section 2(d)(2).

18 SEC. 7. DEFINITIONS.

19 For the purposes of this Act—

20 (1) The term ‘‘veterans transition and assist21 ance program’’ means any program of the Federal

22 Government, including the Department of Defense,

23 the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Department

24 of Labor, and the Department of Education, the

25 purpose of which is—
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1 (A) to assist, by rehabilitation or other

2 means, members of the Armed Forces in read3 justing or otherwise making the transition to ci4 vilian life upon their separation from service in

5 the Armed Forces; or

6 (B) to assist veterans in civilian life.

7 (2) The term ‘‘members of the Armed Forces’’

8 includes individuals serving in the reserve compo9 nents of the Armed Forces.

10 (3) The term ‘‘veteran’’ has the meaning given

11 such term in section 101(2) of title 38, United

12 States Code.

13 (4) The term ‘‘veterans service organization’’

14 means any organization covered by section 5902(a)

15 of title 38, United States Code.

16 SEC. 8. FUNDING.

17 (a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Defense shall,

18 upon the request of the Chairman of the Commission,

19 make available to the Commission such amounts as the

20 Commission may require to carry out its duties under this

21 Act. The Secretary shall make such amounts available

22 from amounts appropriated for the Department of De23 fense.

24 (b) AVAILABILITY.—Any sums made available to the

25 Commission under subsection (a) shall remain available,
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1 without fiscal year limitation, until the termination of the

2 Commission.

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