II 

Calendar No. 95 

112TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. 951 

To improve the provision of Federal transition, rehabilitation, vocational, 

and unemployment benefits to members of the Armed Forces and veterans, and for other purposes. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

MAY 11, 2011 

Mrs. MURRAY (for herself, Ms. MURKOWSKI, Mr. ROCKEFELLER, Mr. AKAKA, 

Mr. BAUCUS, Mr. BEGICH, Mrs. BOXER, Mr. BROWN of Ohio, Mr. 

CASEY, Mr. COONS, Mr. SANDERS, Mr. TESTER, Mr. LEAHY, Mr. BROWN

of Massachusetts, Mr. CARDIN, Mr. WHITEHOUSE, Mr. SCHUMER, Mr. 

REED, Mrs. MCCASKILL, Mr. DURBIN, Mr. BENNET, Ms. SNOWE, Mr. 

KERRY, Mr. LEVIN, Ms. STABENOW, Mr. UDALL of New Mexico, Mr. 

MENENDEZ, and Mr. KOHL) introduced the following bill; which was read 

twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs 

JULY 7, 2011 

Reported by Mrs. MURRAY, with an amendment 

[Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic] 

A BILL 

To improve the provision of Federal transition, rehabilitation, 

vocational, and unemployment benefits to members of 

the Armed Forces and veterans, 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, 


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1 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

2 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Hiring Heroes Act of 

3 2011’’. 

4 SEC. 2. TWO-YEAR EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY OF SEC5 RETARY OF VETERANS AFFAIRS TO PROVIDE 

6 REHABILITATION AND VOCATIONAL BENE7 FITS TO MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES 

8 WITH SEVERE INJURIES OR ILLNESSES. 

9 Section 1631(b)(2) of the Wounded Warrior Act (title 

10 XVI of Public Law 110–181; 10 U.S.C. 1071 note) is 

11 amended by striking ‘‘December 31, 2012’’ and inserting 

12 ‘‘December 31, 2014’’. 

13 SEC. 3. EXPANSION OF AUTHORITY OF SECRETARY OF VET14 ERANS AFFAIRS TO PAY EMPLOYERS FOR 

15 PROVIDING ON-JOB TRAINING TO VETERANS 

16 WHO HAVE NOT BEEN REHABILITATED TO 

17 POINT OF EMPLOYABILITY. 

18 Section 3116(b)(1) of title 38, United States Code, 

19 is amended by striking ‘‘who have been rehabilitated to 

20 the point of employability’’. 

21 SEC. 4. TRAINING AND REHABILITATION FOR VETERANS 

22 WITH SERVICE-CONNECTED DISABILITIES 

23 WHO HAVE EXHAUSTED RIGHTS TO UNEM24 PLOYMENT BENEFITS UNDER STATE LAW. 

25 (a) ENTITLEMENT TO ADDITIONAL REHABILITATION

26 PROGRAMS.— 


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1 (1) IN GENERAL.—Section 3102 of title 38, 

2 United States Code, is amended— 

3 (A) in the matter before paragraph (1), by 

4 striking ‘‘A person’’ and inserting the following: 

5 ‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—A person’’; and 

6 (B) by adding at the end the following new 

7 paragraph: 

8 ‘‘(b) ADDITIONAL REHABILITATION PROGRAMS FOR

9 PERSONS WHO HAVE EXHAUSTED RIGHTS TO UNEM10 PLOYMENT BENEFITS UNDER STATE LAW.—(1) A person 

11 who has completed a rehabilitation program under this 

12 chapter shall be entitled to an additional rehabilitation 

13 program under the terms and conditions of this chapter 

14 if— 

15 ‘‘(A) the person is described by paragraph (1) 

16 or (2) of subsection (a); and 

17 ‘‘(B) the person— 

18 ‘‘(i) has exhausted all rights to regular 

19 compensation under the State law or under 

20 Federal law with respect to a benefit year; 

21 ‘‘(ii) has no rights to regular compensation 

22 with respect to a week under such State or 

23 Federal law; and 


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1 ‘‘(iii) is not receiving compensation with 

2 respect to such week under the unemployment 

3 compensation law of Canada; and 

4 ‘‘(C) begins such additional rehabilitation pro5 gram within six months of the date of such exhaus6 tion. 

7 ‘‘(2) For purposes of paragraph (1)(B)(i), a person 

8 shall be considered to have exhausted such person’s rights 

9 to regular compensation under a State law when— 

10 ‘‘(A) no payments of regular compensation can 

11 be made under such law because such person has re12 ceived all regular compensation available to such 

13 person based on employment or wages during such 

14 person’s base period; or 

15 ‘‘(B) such person’s rights to such compensation 

16 have been terminated by reason of the expiration of 

17 the benefit year with respect to which such rights 

18 existed. 

19 ‘‘(3) In this subsection, the terms ‘compensation’, 

20 ‘regular compensation’, ‘benefit year’, ‘State’, ‘State law’, 

21 and ‘week’ have the respective meanings given such terms 

22 under section 205 of the Federal-State Extended Unem23 ployment Compensation Act of 1970 (26 U.S.C. 3304 

24 note).’’. 


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1 (2) DURATION OF ADDITIONAL REHABILITA2 TION PROGRAM.—Section 3105(b) of such title is 

3 amended— 

4 (A) by striking ‘‘Except as provided in 

5 subsection (c) of this section,’’ and inserting 

6 ‘‘(1) Except as provided in paragraph (2) and 

7 in subsection (c),’’; and 

8 (B) by adding at the end the following new 

9 paragraph: 

10 ‘‘(2) The period of a vocational rehabilitation pro11 gram pursued by a veteran under section 3102(b) of this 

12 title following a determination of the current reasonable 

13 feasibility of achieving a vocational goal may not exceed 

14 24 months.’’. 

15 (b) EXTENSION OF PERIOD OF ELIGIBILITY.—Sec16 tion 3103 of such title is amended— 

17 (1) in subsection (a), by striking ‘‘in subsection 

18 (b), (c), or (d)’’ and inserting ‘‘in subsection (b), (c), 

19 (d), or (e)’’; 

20 (2) by redesignating subsection (e) as sub21 section (f); and 

22 (3) by inserting after subsection (d) the fol23 lowing new subsection (e): 


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1 ‘‘(e)(1) The limitation in subsection (a) shall not 

2 apply to a rehabilitation program described in paragraph 

3 (2). 

4 ‘‘(2) A rehabilitation program described in this para5 graph is a rehabilitation program pursued by a veteran 

6 under section 3102(b) of this title.’’. 

7 (c) EXCEPTION TO LIMITATION ON RECEIPT OF AS8 SISTANCE UNDER CHAPTER 31 AND ONE OR MORE PRO9 GRAMS.—Section 3695(b) of such title is amended— 

10 (1) by striking ‘‘No person’’ and inserting ‘‘Ex11 cept as provided in paragraph (2), no person’’; and 

12 (2) by adding at the end the following new 

13 paragraph: 

14 ‘‘(2) Paragraph (1) shall not apply with respect to 

15 a rehabilitation program described in section 3103(e)(2) 

16 of this title.’’. 

17 SEC. 5. ASSESSMENT AND FOLLOW-UP ON VETERANS WHO 

18 PARTICIPATE IN DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS 

19 AFFAIRS TRAINING AND REHABILITATION 

20 FOR VETERANS WITH SERVICE-CONNECTED 

21 DISABILITIES. 

22 (a) IN GENERAL.—Section 3106 of title 38, United 

23 States Code, is amended— 

24 (1) by adding at the end the following new sub25 section: 


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1 ‘‘(g) For each rehabilitation program pursued by a 

2 veteran under this chapter, the Secretary shall contact 

3 such veteran not later than 180 days after the date on 

4 which such veteran completes such rehabilitation program 

5 or terminates participation in such rehabilitation program 

6 and not less frequently than once every 180 days there7 after for a period of one year to ascertain the employment 

8 status of the veteran and assess such rehabilitation pro9 gram.’’; and 

10 (2) in the section heading, by adding ‘‘; pro11 gram assessment and follow-up’’ at the end. 

12 (b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sections 

13 at the beginning of chapter 31 of such title is amended 

14 by striking the item relating to section 3106 and inserting 

15 the following new item: 

‘‘3106. Initial and extended evaluations; determinations regarding serious employment handicap; program assessment and follow-up.’’. 

16 SEC. 6. MANDATORY PARTICIPATION OF MEMBERS OF THE 

17 ARMED FORCES IN THE TRANSITIONAL AS18 SISTANCE PROGRAM OF THE DEPARTMENT 

19 OF DEFENSE. 

20 (a) IN GENERAL.—Section 1144(c) of title 10, 

21 United States Code, is amended by striking ‘‘shall encour22 age’’ and all that follows and inserting ‘‘shall require the 

23 participation in the program carried out under this section 


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1 of the members eligible for assistance under the pro2 gram.’’. 

3 (b) REQUIRED USE OF EMPLOYMENT ASSISTANCE, 

4 JOB TRAINING ASSISTANCE, AND OTHER TRANSITIONAL

5 SERVICES IN PRESEPARATION COUNSELING.—Section 

6 1142(a)(2) of such title is amended by striking ‘‘may’’ and 

7 inserting ‘‘shall’’. 

8 SEC. 7. FOLLOW-UP ON EMPLOYMENT STATUS OF MEM9 BERS OF ARMED FORCES WHO RECENTLY 

10 PARTICIPATED IN TRANSITIONAL ASSIST11 ANCE PROGRAM OF DEPARTMENT OF DE12 FENSE. 

13 For each individual who participates in the Transi14 tional Assistance Program (TAP) of the Department of 

15 Defense, the Secretary of Labor shall contact such indi16 vidual not later than 180 days after the date on which 

17 such individual completes such program and not less fre18 quently than once every 90 days thereafter for a period 

19 of 180 days to ascertain the employment status of such 

20 individual. 

21 SEC. 8. COLLABORATIVE VETERANS’ TRAINING, MEN22 TORING, AND PLACEMENT PROGRAM. 

23 (a) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 41 of title 38, United 

24 States Code, is amended by inserting after section 4104 

25 the following new section: 


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1 ‘‘§ 4104A. Collaborative veterans’ training, mentoring, 

2 and placement program 

3 ‘‘(a) GRANTS.—The Secretary shall award grants to 

4 eligible nonprofit organizations to provide training and 

5 mentoring for eligible veterans who seek employment. The 

6 Secretary shall award the grants to not more than 3 orga7 nizations, for periods of 2 years. 

8 ‘‘(b) COLLABORATION AND FACILITATION.—The Sec9 retary shall ensure that the recipients of the grants— 

10 ‘‘(1) collaborate with— 

11 ‘‘(A) the appropriate disabled veterans’ 

12 outreach specialists (in carrying out the func13 tions described in section 4103A(a)) and the 

14 appropriate local veterans’ employment rep15 resentatives (in carrying out the functions de16 scribed in section 4104); and 

17 ‘‘(B) the appropriate State boards and 

18 local boards (as such terms are defined in sec19 tion 101 of the Workforce Investment Act of 

20 1998 (29 U.S.C. 2801)) for the areas to be 

21 served by recipients of the grants; and 

22 ‘‘(2) based on the collaboration, facilitate the 

23 placement of the veterans that complete the training 

24 in meaningful employment that leads to economic 

25 self-sufficiency. 


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1 ‘‘(c) APPLICATION.—To be eligible to receive a grant 

2 under this section, a nonprofit organization shall submit 

3 an application to the Secretary at such time, in such man4 ner, and containing such information as the Secretary may 

5 require. At a minimum, the information shall include— 

6 ‘‘(1) information describing how the organiza7 tion will— 

8 ‘‘(A) collaborate with disabled veterans’ 

9 outreach specialists and local veterans’ employ10 ment representatives and the appropriate State 

11 boards and local boards (as such terms are de12 fined in section 101 of the Workforce Invest13 ment Act of 1998 (29 U.S.C. 2801)); 

14 ‘‘(B) based on the collaboration, provide 

15 training that facilitates the placement described 

16 in subsection (b)(2); and 

17 ‘‘(C) make available, for each veteran re18 ceiving the training, a mentor to provide career 

19 advice to the veteran and assist the veteran in 

20 preparing a resume and developing job inter21 viewing skills; and 

22 ‘‘(2) an assurance that the organization will 

23 provide the information necessary for the Secretary 

24 to prepare the reports described in subsection (d). 


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1 ‘‘(d) REPORTS.—(1) Not later than 6 months after 

2 the date of enactment of the Hiring Heroes Act of 2011, 

3 the Secretary shall prepare and submit to the appropriate 

4 committees of Congress a report that describes the process 

5 for awarding grants under this section, the recipients of 

6 the grants, and the collaboration described in subsections 

7 (b) and (c). 

8 ‘‘(2) Not later than 18 months after the date of en9 actment of the Hiring Heroes Act of 2011, the Secretary 

10 shall— 

11 ‘‘(A) conduct an assessment of the performance 

12 of the grant recipients, disabled veterans’ outreach 

13 specialists, and local veterans’ employment rep14 resentatives in carrying out activities under this sec15 tion, which assessment shall include collecting infor16 mation on the number of— 

17 ‘‘(i) veterans who applied for training 

18 under this section; 

19 ‘‘(ii) veterans who entered the training; 

20 ‘‘(iii) veterans who completed the training; 

21 ‘‘(iv) veterans who were placed in meaning22 ful employment under this section; and 

23 ‘‘(v) veterans who remained in such em24 ployment as of the date of the assessment; and 


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1 ‘‘(B) submit to the appropriate committees of 

2 Congress a report that includes— 

3 ‘‘(i) a description of how the grant recipi4 ents used the funds made available under this 

5 section; 

6 ‘‘(ii) the results of the assessment con7 ducted under subparagraph (A); and 

8 ‘‘(iii) the recommendations of the Sec9 retary as to whether amounts should be appro10 priated to carry out this section for fiscal years 

11 after 2013. 

12 ‘‘(e) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There 

13 is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section 

14 $4,500,000 for the period consisting of fiscal years 2012 

15 and 2013. 

16 ‘‘(f) DEFINITIONS.—In this section— 

17 ‘‘(1) the term ‘appropriate committees of Con18 gress’ means the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of 

19 the Senate and the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs 

20 of the House of Representatives; and 

21 ‘‘(2) the term ‘nonprofit organization’ means an 

22 organization that is described in section 501(c)(3) of 

23 the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and that is ex24 empt from taxation under section 501(a) of such 

25 Code.’’ 


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1 (b) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—Section 4103A of 

2 title 38, United States Code, is amended— 

3 (1) in paragraph (1), by inserting ‘‘and facili4 tate placements’’ after ‘‘intensive services’’; and 

5 (2) by adding at the end the following: 

6 ‘‘(3) In facilitating placement of a veteran under this 

7 program, a disabled veterans’ outreach program specialist 

8 shall help to identify job opportunities that are appro9 priate for the veteran’s employment goals and assist that 

10 veteran in developing a cover letter and resume that are 

11 targeted for those particular jobs.’’. 

12 (c) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sections 

13 at the beginning of chapter 41 of such title is amended 

14 by inserting after the item relating to section 4104 the 

15 following new item: 

‘‘4104A. Collaborative veterans’ training, mentoring, and placement program.’’. 

16 SEC. 9. INDIVIDUALIZED ASSESSMENT FOR MEMBERS OF 

17 THE ARMED FORCES UNDER TRANSITION AS18 SISTANCE ON EQUIVALENCE BETWEEN 

19 SKILLS DEVELOPED IN MILITARY OCCUPA20 TIONAL SPECIALITIES AND QUALIFICATIONS 

21 REQUIRED FOR CIVILIAN EMPLOYMENT 

22 WITH THE PRIVATE SECTOR. 

23 (a) STUDY ON EQUIVALENCE REQUIRED.— 

24 (1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Defense, 

25 the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, and the Secretary 


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1 of Labor shall jointly enter into a contract with a 

2 qualified organization or entity jointly selected by 

3 the Secretaries, to conduct a study to identify any 

4 equivalences between the skills developed by mem5 bers of the Armed Forces through various military 

6 occupational specialties (MOS) and the qualifications 

7 required for various positions of civilian employment 

8 in the private sector. 

9 (2) COOPERATION OF FEDERAL AGENCIES.— 

10 The departments and agencies of the Federal Gov11 ernment, including the Office of Personnel Manage12 ment, the General Services Administration, the Gov13 ernment Accountability Office, and other appropriate 

14 departments and agencies, shall cooperate with the 

15 contractor under paragraph (1) to conduct the study 

16 required under that paragraph. 

17 (3) REPORT.—Upon completion of the study 

18 conducted under paragraph (1), the contractor 

19 under that paragraph shall submit to the Secretary 

20 of Defense, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, and 

21 the Secretary of Labor a report setting forth the re22 sults of the study. The report shall include such in23 formation as the Secretaries shall specify in the con24 tract under paragraph (1) for purposes of this sec25 tion. 


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1 (4) TRANSMITTAL TO CONGRESS.—The Sec2 retary of Defense, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, 

3 and the Secretary of Labor shall jointly transmit to 

4 Congress the report submitted under paragraph (3), 

5 together with such comments on the report as the 

6 Secretaries jointly consider appropriate. 

7 (b) INDIVIDUALIZED ASSESSMENT OF CIVILIAN PO8 SITIONS AVAILABLE THROUGH MOS SKILLS.—The Sec9 retary of Defense shall ensure that each member of the 

10 Armed Forces who is participating in the Transition As11 sistance Program (TAP) of the Department of Defense 

12 receives, as part of such member’s participation in that 

13 program, an individualized assessment of the various posi14 tions of civilian employment in the private sector for which 

15 such member may be qualified as a result of the skills 

16 developed by such member through such member’s mili17 tary occupational specialty. The assessment shall be per18 formed using the results of the study conducted under 

19 subsection (a) and such other information as the Secretary 

20 of Defense, in consultation with the Secretary of Veterans 

21 Affairs and the Secretary of Labor, considers appropriate 

22 for that purpose. 

23 (c) FURTHER USE IN EMPLOYMENT-RELATED

24 TRANSITION ASSISTANCE.— 


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1 (1) TRANSMITTAL OF ASSESSMENT.—The Sec2 retary of Defense shall transmit the individualized 

3 assessment provided a member under subsection (a) 

4 to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs and the Sec5 retary of Labor. 

6 (2) USE IN ASSISTANCE.—The Secretary of 

7 Veterans Affairs and the Secretary of Labor may 

8 use an individualized assessment with respect to an 

9 individual under paragraph (1) for employment-re10 lated assistance in the transition from military serv11 ice to civilian life provided the individual by such 

12 Secretary and to otherwise facilitate and enhance 

13 the transition of the individual from military service 

14 to civilian life. 

15 SEC. 10. APPOINTMENT OF HONORABLY DISCHARGED 

16 MEMBERS AND OTHER EMPLOYMENT ASSIST17 ANCE. 

18 (a) APPOINTMENT OF HONORABLY DISCHARGED

19 MEMBERS OF THE UNIFORMED SERVICES TO CIVIL SERV20 ICE POSITIONS.— 

21 (1) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 33 of title 5, United 

22 States Code, is amended by inserting after section 

23 3330c the following: 


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1 ‘‘§ 3330d. Honorably discharged members of the uni2 formed services 

3 ‘‘The head of an executive agency may appoint a 

4 member of the uniformed services who is honorably dis5 charged to a position in the civil service without regard 

6 to sections 3301 through 3330c during the 180-day period 

7 beginning on the date that the individual is honorably dis8 charged, if that individual is otherwise qualified for the 

9 position.’’. 

10 (2) TECHNICAL AND CONFORMING AMEND11 MENT.—The table of sections for chapter 33 of title 

12 5, United States Code, is amended by adding after 

13 the item relating to section 3330c the following: 

‘‘3330d. Honorably discharged members of the uniformed services.’’. 

14 (b) EMPLOYMENT ASSISTANCE: OTHER FEDERAL

15 AGENCIES.— 

16 (1) DEFINITIONS.—In this subsection— 

17 (A) the term ‘‘agency’’ has the meaning 

18 given the term ‘‘Executive agency’’ in section 

19 105 of title 5, United States Code; and 

20 (B) the term ‘‘veteran’’ has the meaning 

21 given that term in section 101 of title 38, 

22 United States Code. 

23 (2) RESPONSIBILITIES OF OFFICE OF PER24 SONNEL MANAGEMENT.—The Director of the Office 

25 of Personnel Management shall— 


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1 (A) designate agencies that shall establish 

2 a program to provide employment assistance to 

3 members of the armed forces who are being 

4 separated from active duty in accordance with 

5 paragraph (3); and 

6 (B) ensure that the programs established 

7 under this subsection are coordinated with the 

8 Transition Assistance Program (TAP) of the 

9 Department of Defense. 

10 (3) ELEMENTS OF PROGRAM.—The head of 

11 each agency designated under paragraph (2)(A), in 

12 consultation with the Director of the Office of Per13 sonnel Management, and acting through the Vet14 erans Employment Program Office of the agency es15 tablished under Executive Order 13518 (74 Fed. 

16 Reg. 58533; relating to employment of veterans in 

17 the Federal Government), or any successor thereto, 

18 shall— 

19 (A) establish a program to provide employ20 ment assistance to members of the Armed 

21 Forces who are being separated from active 

22 duty, including assisting such members in seek23 ing employment with the agency; 


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1 (B) provide such members with informa2 tion regarding the program of the agency estab3 lished under subparagraph (A); and 

4 (C) promote the recruiting, hiring, training 

5 and development, and retention of such mem6 bers and veterans by the agency. 

7 (4) OTHER OFFICE.—If an agency designated 

8 under paragraph (2)(A) does not have a Veterans 

9 Employment Program Office, the head of the agen10 cy, in consultation with the Director of the Office of 

11 Personnel Management, shall select an appropriate 

12 office of the agency to carry out the responsibilities 

13 of the agency under paragraph (3). 

14 SEC. 11. OUTREACH PROGRAM FOR CERTAIN VETERANS 

15 RECEIVING UNEMPLOYMENT COMPENSA16 TION. 

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

18 carry out a program through the Assistant Secretary of 

19 Labor for Veterans’ Employment and Training, the dis20 abled veterans’ outreach program specialists employed 

21 under section 4103A of title 38, United States Code, and 

22 local veterans’ employment representatives employed 

23 under section 4104 of such title to provide outreach to 

24 covered veterans and provide them with assistance in find25 ing employment. 


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1 (b) COVERED VETERANS.—For purposes of this sec2 tion, a covered veteran is a veteran who— 

3 (1) recently separated from service in the 

4 Armed Forces; and 

5 (2) has been in receipt of assistance under the 

6 Unemployment Compensation for Ex7 servicemembers program under subchapter II of 

8 chapter 85 of title 5 for more than 105 days. 

9 SEC. 12. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE PILOT PROGRAM ON 

10 WORK EXPERIENCE FOR MEMBERS OF THE 

11 ARMED FORCES ON TERMINAL LEAVE. 

12 (a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Defense may es13 tablish a pilot program to assess the feasibility and advis14 ability of providing to covered individuals work experience 

15 with civilian employees and contractors of the Department 

16 of Defense to facilitate the transition of the individuals 

17 from service in the Armed Forces to employment in the 

18 civilian labor market. 

19 (b) COVERED INDIVIDUALS.—For purposes of this 

20 section, a covered individual is any individual who— 

21 (1) is a member of the Armed Forces; 

22 (2) the Secretary expects to be discharged or 

23 separated from service in the Armed Forces and is 

24 on terminal leave; 


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1 (3) the Secretary determines has skills that can 

2 be used to provide services to the Department that 

3 the Secretary considers critical to the success of the 

4 mission of the Department; and 

5 (4) the Secretary determines might benefit from 

6 exposure to the civilian work environment while 

7 working for the Department in order to facilitate a 

8 transition of the individual from service in the 

9 Armed Forces to employment in the civilian labor 

10 market. 

11 (c) DURATION.—The pilot program shall be carried 

12 out during the two-year period beginning on the date of 

13 the commencement of the pilot program. 

14 (d) REPORT.—Not later than 540 days after the date 

15 of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit 

16 to the Committee on Armed Services and the Committee 

17 on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on 

18 Armed Services and the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs 

19 of the House of Representatives a report on the pilot pro20 gram that includes the findings of the Secretary with re21 spect to the feasibility and advisability of providing cov22 ered individuals with work experience as described in sub23 section (a). 


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1 SEC. 13. ENHANCEMENT OF DEMONSTRATION PROGRAM 

2 ON CREDENTIALING AND LICENSING OF VET3 ERANS. 

4 Section 4114 of title 38, United States Code, is 

5 amended— 

6 (1) in subsection (a), by striking ‘‘may’’ and in7 serting ‘‘shall’’; 

8 (2) in subsection (b)(1)— 

9 (A) by striking ‘‘Assistant Secretary shall’’ 

10 and inserting ‘‘Assistant Secretary of Veterans’ 

11 Employment and Training shall, in consultation 

12 with the Assistant Secretary for Employment 

13 and Training,’’; 

14 (B) by striking ‘‘10 military’’ and inserting 

15 ‘‘five military’’; and 

16 (C) by inserting ‘‘of Veterans’ Employment 

17 and Training’’ after ‘‘selected by the Assistant 

18 Secretary’’; and 

19 (3) by striking subsections (d) through (h) and 

20 inserting the following: 

21 ‘‘(d) PERIOD OF PROJECT.—The period during which 

22 the Assistance Secretary shall carry out the demonstration 

23 project under this section shall be the two-year period be24 ginning on the date of the enactment of the Hiring Heroes 

25 Act of 2011.’’. 


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1 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

2 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Hiring Heroes Act of 

3 2011’’. 

4 SEC. 2. TWO-YEAR EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY OF SEC5 RETARY OF VETERANS AFFAIRS TO PROVIDE 

6 REHABILITATION AND VOCATIONAL BENE7 FITS TO MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES 

8 WITH SEVERE INJURIES OR ILLNESSES. 

9 Section 1631(b)(2) of the Wounded Warrior Act (title 

10 XVI of Public Law 110–181; 10 U.S.C. 1071 note) is 

11 amended by striking ‘‘December 31, 2012’’ and inserting 

12 ‘‘December 31, 2014’’. 

13 SEC. 3. EXPANSION OF AUTHORITY OF SECRETARY OF VET14 ERANS AFFAIRS TO PAY EMPLOYERS FOR 

15 PROVIDING ON-JOB TRAINING TO VETERANS 

16 WHO HAVE NOT BEEN REHABILITATED TO 

17 POINT OF EMPLOYABILITY. 

18 Section 3116(b)(1) of title 38, United States Code, is 

19 amended by striking ‘‘who have been rehabilitated to the 

20 point of employability’’. 

21 SEC. 4. TRAINING AND REHABILITATION FOR VETERANS 

22 WITH SERVICE-CONNECTED DISABILITIES 

23 WHO HAVE EXHAUSTED RIGHTS TO UNEM24 PLOYMENT BENEFITS UNDER STATE LAW. 

25 (a) ENTITLEMENT TO ADDITIONAL REHABILITATION

26 PROGRAMS.— 


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1 (1) IN GENERAL.—Section 3102 of title 38, 

2 United States Code, is amended— 

3 (A) in the matter before paragraph (1), by 

4 striking ‘‘A person’’ and inserting the following: 

5 ‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—A person’’; and 

6 (B) by adding at the end the following new 

7 paragraph: 

8 ‘‘(b) ADDITIONAL REHABILITATION PROGRAMS FOR

9 PERSONS WHO HAVE EXHAUSTED RIGHTS TO UNEMPLOY10 MENT BENEFITS UNDER STATE LAW.—(1) A person who 

11 has completed a rehabilitation program under this chapter 

12 shall be entitled to an additional rehabilitation program 

13 under the terms and conditions of this chapter if— 

14 ‘‘(A) the person is described by paragraph (1) or 

15 (2) of subsection (a); and 

16 ‘‘(B) the person— 

17 ‘‘(i) has exhausted all rights to regular com18 pensation under the State law or under Federal 

19 law with respect to a benefit year; 

20 ‘‘(ii) has no rights to regular compensation 

21 with respect to a week under such State or Fed22 eral law; and 

23 ‘‘(iii) is not receiving compensation with re24 spect to such week under the unemployment com25 pensation law of Canada; and 


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1 ‘‘(C) begins such additional rehabilitation pro2 gram within six months of the date of such exhaus3 tion. 

4 ‘‘(2) For purposes of paragraph (1)(B)(i), a person 

5 shall be considered to have exhausted such person’s rights 

6 to regular compensation under a State law when— 

7 ‘‘(A) no payments of regular compensation can 

8 be made under such law because such person has re9 ceived all regular compensation available to such per10 son based on employment or wages during such per11 son’s base period; or 

12 ‘‘(B) such person’s rights to such compensation 

13 have been terminated by reason of the expiration of 

14 the benefit year with respect to which such rights ex15 isted. 

16 ‘‘(3) In this subsection, the terms ‘compensation’, ‘reg17 ular compensation’, ‘benefit year’, ‘State’, ‘State law’, and 

18 ‘week’ have the respective meanings given such terms under 

19 section 205 of the Federal-State Extended Unemployment 

20 Compensation Act of 1970 (26 U.S.C. 3304 note).’’. 

21 (2) DURATION OF ADDITIONAL REHABILITATION

22 PROGRAM.—Section 3105(b) of such title is amend23 ed— 

24 (A) by striking ‘‘Except as provided in sub25 section (c) of this section,’’ and inserting ‘‘(1) 


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1 Except as provided in paragraph (2) and in sub2 section (c),’’; and 

3 (B) by adding at the end the following new 

4 paragraph: 

5 ‘‘(2) The period of a vocational rehabilitation program 

6 pursued by a veteran under section 3102(b) of this title fol7 lowing a determination of the current reasonable feasibility 

8 of achieving a vocational goal may not exceed 24 months.’’. 

9 (b) EXTENSION OF PERIOD OF ELIGIBILITY.—Section 

10 3103 of such title is amended— 

11 (1) in subsection (a), by striking ‘‘in subsection 

12 (b), (c), or (d)’’ and inserting ‘‘in subsection (b), (c), 

13 (d), or (e)’’; 

14 (2) by redesignating subsection (e) as subsection 

15 (f); and 

16 (3) by inserting after subsection (d) the following 

17 new subsection (e): 

18 ‘‘(e)(1) The limitation in subsection (a) shall not 

19 apply to a rehabilitation program described in paragraph 

20 (2). 

21 ‘‘(2) A rehabilitation program described in this para22 graph is a rehabilitation program pursued by a veteran 

23 under section 3102(b) of this title.’’. 


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1 (c) EXCEPTION TO LIMITATION ON RECEIPT OF AS2 SISTANCE UNDER CHAPTER 31 AND ONE OR MORE PRO3 GRAMS.—Section 3695(b) of such title is amended— 

4 (1) by striking ‘‘No person’’ and inserting ‘‘Ex5 cept as provided in paragraph (2), no person’’; and 

6 (2) by adding at the end the following new para7 graph: 

8 ‘‘(2) Paragraph (1) shall not apply with respect to a 

9 rehabilitation program described in section 3103(e)(2) of 

10 this title.’’. 

11 SEC. 5. ASSESSMENT AND FOLLOW-UP ON VETERANS WHO 

12 PARTICIPATE IN DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS 

13 AFFAIRS TRAINING AND REHABILITATION 

14 FOR VETERANS WITH SERVICE-CONNECTED 

15 DISABILITIES. 

16 (a) IN GENERAL.—Section 3106 of title 38, United 

17 States Code, is amended— 

18 (1) by adding at the end the following new sub19 section: 

20 ‘‘(g) For each rehabilitation program pursued by a vet21 eran under this chapter, the Secretary shall contact such 

22 veteran not later than 180 days after the date on which 

23 such veteran completes such rehabilitation program or ter24 minates participation in such rehabilitation program and 

25 not less frequently than once every 180 days thereafter for 


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1 a period of one year to ascertain the employment status 

2 of the veteran and assess such rehabilitation program.’’; and 

3 (2) in the section heading, by adding ‘‘; pro4 gram assessment and follow-up’’ at the end. 

5 (b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sections at 

6 the beginning of chapter 31 of such title is amended by 

7 striking the item relating to section 3106 and inserting the 

8 following new item: 

‘‘3106. Initial and extended evaluations; determinations regarding serious employment handicap; program assessment and follow-up.’’. 

9 SEC. 6. MANDATORY PARTICIPATION OF MEMBERS OF THE 

10 ARMED FORCES IN THE TRANSITIONAL AS11 SISTANCE PROGRAM OF DEPARTMENT OF DE12 FENSE. 

13 (a) IN GENERAL.—Subsection (c) of section 1144 of 

14 title 10, United States Code, is amended to read as follows: 

15 ‘‘(c) PARTICIPATION.—(1) Except as provided in para16 graph (2), the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of 

17 Homeland Security shall require the participation in the 

18 program carried out under this section of the members eligi19 ble for assistance under the program. 

20 ‘‘(2) The Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of 

21 Homeland Security may, under regulations such Secre22 taries shall prescribe, waive the participation requirement 

23 of paragraph (1) with respect to such groups or classifica24 tions of members as the Secretaries consider appropriate 


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1 after consultation with the Secretary of Labor and the Sec2 retary of Veterans Affairs.’’. 

3 (b) REQUIRED USE OF EMPLOYMENT ASSISTANCE, 

4 JOB TRAINING ASSISTANCE, AND OTHER TRANSITIONAL

5 SERVICES IN PRESEPARATION COUNSELING.—Section 

6 1142(a)(2) of such title is amended by striking ‘‘may’’ and 

7 inserting ‘‘shall’’. 

8 SEC. 7. FOLLOW-UP AND AUDITS OF TRANSITIONAL ASSIST9 ANCE PROGRAM. 

10 (a) FOLLOW-UP ON EMPLOYMENT STATUS OF MEM11 BERS OF ARMED FORCES WHO RECENTLY PARTICIPATED

12 IN TRANSITIONAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.—For each indi13 vidual who participates in the Transitional Assistance Pro14 gram (TAP) of the Department of Defense, the Secretary 

15 of Labor shall contact such individual not later than 180 

16 days after the date on which such individual separates from 

17 service in the Armed Forces and not less frequently than 

18 once every 90 days thereafter for a period of 180 days to 

19 ascertain the employment status of such individual. 

20 (b) AUDITS OF THE TRANSITION ASSISTANCE PRO21 GRAM.— 

22 (1) CONTRACT.—The Secretary of Labor shall 

23 enter into a contract for audits of the Transition As24 sistance Program carried out under chapter 58 of title 

25 10, United States Code. The Secretary of Labor shall 


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1 enter into such contract with a private organization 

2 not affiliated with the program, and shall ensure that 

3 the audits are conducted not less often than once every 

4 3 years. 

5 (2) AUDIT.—In conducting such an audit, the 

6 organization shall measure the effectiveness of the 

7 Transition Assistance Program, and identify any 

8 measures needed to improve the effectiveness of the 

9 program. 

10 (3) REPORT.—At the conclusion of each audit, 

11 the organization shall prepare a report containing the 

12 findings resulting from the audit, and recommenda13 tions for improving the effectiveness of the program. 

14 The organization shall submit the report to the Sec15 retary of Labor, the other Secretaries referred to in 

16 section 1144 of title 10, United States Code, the Com17 mittee on Armed Services and the Committee on Vet18 erans’ Affairs of the Senate, and the Committee on 

19 Armed Services and the Committee on Veterans’ Af20 fairs of the House of Representatives. 

21 (4) IMPROVEMENTS.—The Secretary of Labor, in 

22 conjunction with the other Secretaries, shall review 

23 the report and shall implement any measures needed 

24 to improve the effectiveness of the Transition Assist25 ance Program. 


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1 SEC. 8. COLLABORATIVE VETERANS’ TRAINING, MEN2 TORING, AND PLACEMENT PROGRAM. 

3 (a) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 41 of title 38, United 

4 States Code, is amended by inserting after section 4104 the 

5 following new section: 

6 ‘‘§ 4104A. Collaborative veterans’ training, mentoring, 

7 and placement program 

8 ‘‘(a) GRANTS.—The Secretary shall award grants to 

9 eligible nonprofit organizations to provide training and 

10 mentoring for eligible veterans who seek employment. The 

11 Secretary shall award the grants to not more than 3 organi12 zations, for periods of 2 years. 

13 ‘‘(b) COLLABORATION AND FACILITATION.—The Sec14 retary shall ensure that the recipients of the grants— 

15 ‘‘(1) collaborate with— 

16 ‘‘(A) the appropriate disabled veterans’ out17 reach specialists (in carrying out the functions 

18 described in section 4103A(a)) and the appro19 priate local veterans’ employment representatives 

20 (in carrying out the functions described in sec21 tion 4104); and 

22 ‘‘(B) the appropriate State boards and local 

23 boards (as such terms are defined in section 101 

24 of the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (29 

25 U.S.C. 2801)) for the areas to be served by re26 cipients of the grants; and 


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1 ‘‘(2) based on the collaboration, facilitate the 

2 placement of the veterans that complete the training 

3 in meaningful employment that leads to economic 

4 self-sufficiency. 

5 ‘‘(c) APPLICATION.—To be eligible to receive a grant 

6 under this section, a nonprofit organization shall submit 

7 an application to the Secretary at such time, in such man8 ner, and containing such information as the Secretary may 

9 require. At a minimum, the information shall include— 

10 ‘‘(1) information describing how the organiza11 tion will— 

12 ‘‘(A) collaborate with disabled veterans’ out13 reach specialists and local veterans’ employment 

14 representatives and the appropriate State boards 

15 and local boards (as such terms are defined in 

16 section 101 of the Workforce Investment Act of 

17 1998 (29 U.S.C. 2801)); 

18 ‘‘(B) based on the collaboration, provide 

19 training that facilitates the placement described 

20 in subsection (b)(2); and 

21 ‘‘(C) make available, for each veteran re22 ceiving the training, a mentor to provide career 

23 advice to the veteran and assist the veteran in 

24 preparing a resume and developing job inter25 viewing skills; and 


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1 ‘‘(2) an assurance that the organization will pro2 vide the information necessary for the Secretary to 

3 prepare the reports described in subsection (d). 

4 ‘‘(d) REPORTS.—(1) Not later than 6 months after the 

5 date of enactment of the Hiring Heroes Act of 2011, the 

6 Secretary shall prepare and submit to the appropriate com7 mittees of Congress a report that describes the process for 

8 awarding grants under this section, the recipients of the 

9 grants, and the collaboration described in subsections (b) 

10 and (c). 

11 ‘‘(2) Not later than 18 months after the date of enact12 ment of the Hiring Heroes Act of 2011, the Secretary 

13 shall— 

14 ‘‘(A) conduct an assessment of the performance of 

15 the grant recipients, disabled veterans’ outreach spe16 cialists, and local veterans’ employment representa17 tives in carrying out activities under this section, 

18 which assessment shall include collecting information 

19 on the number of— 

20 ‘‘(i) veterans who applied for training 

21 under this section; 

22 ‘‘(ii) veterans who entered the training; 

23 ‘‘(iii) veterans who completed the training; 

24 ‘‘(iv) veterans who were placed in meaning25 ful employment under this section; and 


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1 ‘‘(v) veterans who remained in such employ2 ment as of the date of the assessment; and 

3 ‘‘(B) submit to the appropriate committees of 

4 Congress a report that includes— 

5 ‘‘(i) a description of how the grant recipi6 ents used the funds made available under this 

7 section; 

8 ‘‘(ii) the results of the assessment conducted 

9 under subparagraph (A); and 

10 ‘‘(iii) the recommendations of the Secretary 

11 as to whether amounts should be appropriated to 

12 carry out this section for fiscal years after 2013. 

13 ‘‘(e) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There is 

14 authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section 

15 $4,500,000 for the period consisting of fiscal years 2012 and 

16 2013. 

17 ‘‘(f) DEFINITIONS.—In this section— 

18 ‘‘(1) the term ‘appropriate committees of Con19 gress’ means the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the 

20 Senate and the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the 

21 House of Representatives; and 

22 ‘‘(2) the term ‘nonprofit organization’ means an 

23 organization that is described in section 501(c)(3) of 

24 the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and that is exempt 

25 from taxation under section 501(a) of such Code.’’ 


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1 (b) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—Section 4103A of title 

2 38, United States Code, is amended— 

3 (1) in paragraph (1), by inserting ‘‘and facili4 tate placements’’ after ‘‘intensive services’’; and 

5 (2) by adding at the end the following: 

6 ‘‘(3) In facilitating placement of a veteran under this 

7 program, a disabled veterans’ outreach program specialist 

8 shall help to identify job opportunities that are appropriate 

9 for the veteran’s employment goals and assist that veteran 

10 in developing a cover letter and resume that are targeted 

11 for those particular jobs.’’. 

12 (c) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sections at 

13 the beginning of chapter 41 of such title is amended by in14 serting after the item relating to section 4104 the following 

15 new item: 

‘‘4104A. Collaborative veterans’ training, mentoring, and placement program.’’. 

16 SEC. 9. INDIVIDUALIZED ASSESSMENT FOR MEMBERS OF 

17 THE ARMED FORCES UNDER TRANSITION AS18 SISTANCE ON EQUIVALENCE BETWEEN 

19 SKILLS DEVELOPED IN MILITARY OCCUPA20 TIONAL SPECIALTIES AND QUALIFICATIONS 

21 REQUIRED FOR CIVILIAN EMPLOYMENT WITH 

22 THE PRIVATE SECTOR. 

23 (a) STUDY ON EQUIVALENCE REQUIRED.— 

24 (1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Defense, the 

25 Secretary of Veterans Affairs, and the Secretary of 


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1 Labor shall jointly enter into a contract with a quali2 fied organization or entity jointly selected by the Sec3 retaries, to conduct a study to identify any equiva4 lences between the skills developed by members of the 

5 Armed Forces through various military occupational 

6 specialties (MOS) and the qualifications required for 

7 various positions of civilian employment in the pri8 vate sector. 

9 (2) COOPERATION OF FEDERAL AGENCIES.—The 

10 departments and agencies of the Federal Government, 

11 including the Office of Personnel Management, the 

12 General Services Administration, the Government Ac13 countability Office, and other appropriate depart14 ments and agencies, shall cooperate with the con15 tractor under paragraph (1) to conduct the study re16 quired under that paragraph. 

17 (3) REPORT.—Upon completion of the study con18 ducted under paragraph (1), the contractor under 

19 that paragraph shall submit to the Secretary of De20 fense, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, and the Sec21 retary of Labor a report setting forth the results of the 

22 study. The report shall include such information as 

23 the Secretaries shall specify in the contract under 

24 paragraph (1) for purposes of this section. 


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1 (4) TRANSMITTAL TO CONGRESS.—The Secretary 

2 of Defense, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, and the 

3 Secretary of Labor shall jointly transmit to Congress 

4 the report submitted under paragraph (3), together 

5 with such comments on the report as the Secretaries 

6 jointly consider appropriate. 

7 (b) INDIVIDUALIZED ASSESSMENT OF CIVILIAN POSI8 TIONS AVAILABLE THROUGH MOS SKILLS.—The Secretary 

9 of Defense shall ensure that each member of the Armed 

10 Forces who is participating in the Transition Assistance 

11 Program (TAP) of the Department of Defense receives, as 

12 part of such member’s participation in that program, an 

13 individualized assessment of the various positions of civil14 ian employment in the private sector for which such mem15 ber may be qualified as a result of the skills developed by 

16 such member through such member’s military occupational 

17 specialty. The assessment shall be performed using the re18 sults of the study conducted under subsection (a) and such 

19 other information as the Secretary of Defense, in consulta20 tion with the Secretary of Veterans Affairs and the Sec21 retary of Labor, considers appropriate for that purpose. 

22 (c) FURTHER USE IN EMPLOYMENT-RELATED TRANSI23 TION ASSISTANCE.— 

24 (1) TRANSMITTAL OF ASSESSMENT.—The Sec25 retary of Defense shall transmit the individualized asVerDate Mar 15 2010 22:17 Jul 07, 2011 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00037 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6203 E:\BILLS\S951.RS S951

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1 sessment provided a member under subsection (a) to 

2 the Secretary of Veterans Affairs and the Secretary of 

3 Labor. 

4 (2) USE IN ASSISTANCE.—The Secretary of Vet5 erans Affairs and the Secretary of Labor may use an 

6 individualized assessment with respect to an indi7 vidual under paragraph (1) for employment-related 

8 assistance in the transition from military service to 

9 civilian life provided the individual by such Sec10 retary and to otherwise facilitate and enhance the 

11 transition of the individual from military service to 

12 civilian life. 

13 SEC. 10. APPOINTMENT OF HONORABLY DISCHARGED MEM14 BERS AND OTHER EMPLOYMENT ASSISTANCE. 

15 (a) APPOINTMENT OF HONORABLY DISCHARGED MEM16 BERS OF THE UNIFORMED SERVICES TO CIVIL SERVICE

17 POSITIONS.— 

18 (1) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 33 of title 5, United 

19 States Code, is amended by inserting after section 

20 3330c the following: 

21 ‘‘§ 3330d. Honorably discharged members of the uni22 formed services 

23 ‘‘The head of an Executive agency may appoint a 

24 member of the uniformed services who is honorably dis25 charged to a position in the civil service without regard 


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1 to sections 3301 through 3320, 3322 through 3327, 3329, 

2 and 3330 during the 180-day period beginning on the date 

3 that the individual is honorably discharged, if that indi4 vidual is otherwise qualified for the position.’’. 

5 (2) TECHNICAL AND CONFORMING AMEND6 MENT.—The table of sections for chapter 33 of title 5, 

7 United States Code, is amended by adding after the 

8 item relating to section 3330c the following: 

‘‘3330d. Honorably discharged members of the uniformed services.’’. 

9 (b) EMPLOYMENT ASSISTANCE: OTHER FEDERAL

10 AGENCIES.— 

11 (1) DEFINITIONS.—In this subsection— 

12 (A) the term ‘‘agency’’ has the meaning 

13 given the term ‘‘Executive agency’’ in section 105 

14 of title 5, United States Code; and 

15 (B) the term ‘‘veteran’’ has the meaning 

16 given that term in section 101 of title 38, United 

17 States Code. 

18 (2) RESPONSIBILITIES OF OFFICE OF PER19 SONNEL MANAGEMENT.—The Director of the Office of 

20 Personnel Management shall— 

21 (A) designate agencies that shall establish a 

22 program to provide employment assistance to 

23 members of the armed forces who are being sepa24 rated from active duty in accordance with para25 graph (3); and 


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1 (B) ensure that the programs established 

2 under this subsection are coordinated with the 

3 Transition Assistance Program (TAP) of the De4 partment of Defense. 

5 (3) ELEMENTS OF PROGRAM.—The head of each 

6 agency designated under paragraph (2)(A), in con7 sultation with the Director of the Office of Personnel 

8 Management, and acting through the Veterans Em9 ployment Program Office of the agency established 

10 under Executive Order 13518 (74 Fed. Reg. 58533; 

11 relating to employment of veterans in the Federal 

12 Government), or any successor thereto, shall— 

13 (A) establish a program to provide employ14 ment assistance to members of the Armed Forces 

15 who are being separated from active duty, in16 cluding assisting such members in seeking em17 ployment with the agency; 

18 (B) provide such members with information 

19 regarding the program of the agency established 

20 under subparagraph (A); and 

21 (C) promote the recruiting, hiring, training 

22 and development, and retention of such members 

23 and veterans by the agency. 

24 (4) OTHER OFFICE.—If an agency designated 

25 under paragraph (2)(A) does not have a Veterans 


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1 Employment Program Office, the head of the agency, 

2 in consultation with the Director of the Office of Per3 sonnel Management, shall select an appropriate office 

4 of the agency to carry out the responsibilities of the 

5 agency under paragraph (3). 

6 SEC. 11. OUTREACH PROGRAM FOR CERTAIN VETERANS RE7 CEIVING UNEMPLOYMENT COMPENSATION. 

8 (a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Labor shall carry 

9 out a program through the Assistant Secretary of Labor for 

10 Veterans’ Employment and Training, the disabled veterans’ 

11 outreach program specialists employed under section 4103A 

12 of title 38, United States Code, and local veterans’ employ13 ment representatives employed under section 4104 of such 

14 title to provide outreach to covered veterans and provide 

15 them with assistance in finding employment. 

16 (b) COVERED VETERANS.—For purposes of this sec17 tion, a covered veteran is a veteran who— 

18 (1) recently separated from service in the Armed 

19 Forces; and 

20 (2) has been in receipt of assistance under the 

21 Unemployment Compensation for Ex-servicemembers 

22 program under subchapter II of chapter 85 of title 5 

23 for more than 105 days. 


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1 SEC. 12. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE PILOT PROGRAM ON 

2 WORK EXPERIENCE FOR MEMBERS OF THE 

3 ARMED FORCES ON TERMINAL LEAVE. 

4 (a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Defense may es5 tablish a pilot program to assess the feasibility and advis6 ability of providing to covered individuals work experience 

7 with civilian employees and contractors of the Department 

8 of Defense to facilitate the transition of the individuals from 

9 service in the Armed Forces to employment in the civilian 

10 labor market. 

11 (b) COVERED INDIVIDUALS.—For purposes of this sec12 tion, a covered individual is any individual who— 

13 (1) is a member of the Armed Forces; 

14 (2) the Secretary expects to be discharged or sep15 arated from service in the Armed Forces and is on 

16 terminal leave; 

17 (3) the Secretary determines has skills that can 

18 be used to provide services to the Department that the 

19 Secretary considers critical to the success of the mis20 sion of the Department; and 

21 (4) the Secretary determines might benefit from 

22 exposure to the civilian work environment while 

23 working for the Department in order to facilitate a 

24 transition of the individual from service in the Armed 

25 Forces to employment in the civilian labor market. 


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1 (c) DURATION.—The pilot program shall be carried 

2 out during the two-year period beginning on the date of 

3 the commencement of the pilot program. 

4 (d) REPORT.—Not later than 540 days after the date 

5 of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to 

6 the Committee on Armed Services and the Committee on 

7 Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Armed 

8 Services and the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the 

9 House of Representatives a report on the pilot program that 

10 includes the findings of the Secretary with respect to the 

11 feasibility and advisability of providing covered individ12 uals with work experience as described in subsection (a). 

13 SEC. 13. ENHANCEMENT OF DEMONSTRATION PROGRAM ON 

14 CREDENTIALING AND LICENSING OF VET15 ERANS. 

16 (a) IN GENERAL.—Section 4114 of title 38, United 

17 States Code, is amended— 

18 (1) in subsection (a), by striking ‘‘may’’ and in19 serting ‘‘shall’’; 

20 (2) in subsection (b)(1)— 

21 (A) by striking ‘‘Assistant Secretary shall’’ 

22 and inserting ‘‘Assistant Secretary of Veterans’ 

23 Employment and Training shall, in consultation 

24 with the Assistant Secretary for Employment 

25 and Training,’’; 


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1 (B) by striking ‘‘10 military’’ and inserting 

2 ‘‘five military’’; and 

3 (C) by inserting ‘‘of Veterans’ Employment 

4 and Training’’ after ‘‘selected by the Assistant 

5 Secretary’’; and 

6 (3) by striking subsections (d) through (h) and 

7 inserting the following: 

8 ‘‘(d) PERIOD OF PROJECT.—The period during which 

9 the Assistance Secretary shall carry out the demonstration 

10 project under this section shall be the two-year period begin11 ning on the date of the enactment of the Hiring Heroes Act 

12 of 2011.’’. 

13 (b) STUDY COMPARING COSTS INCURRED BY SEC14 RETARY OF DEFENSE FOR TRAINING FOR MILITARY OCCU15 PATIONAL SPECIALTIES WITHOUT CREDENTIALING OR LI16 CENSING WITH COSTS INCURRED BY SECRETARY OF VET17 ERANS AFFAIRS AND SECRETARY OF LABOR IN PROVIDING

18 EMPLOYMENT-RELATED ASSISTANCE.— 

19 (1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days after 

20 the date of the enactment of this Act, the Assistant 

21 Secretary of Labor of Veterans’ Employment and 

22 Training shall, in consultation with the Secretary of 

23 Defense and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, carry 

24 out a study comparing the costs incurred by the Sec25 retary of Defense in training members of the Armed 


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1 Forces for military occupational specialties with the 

2 costs incurred by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs 

3 and the Secretary of Labor in providing employment4 related assistance to veterans, including— 

5 (A) providing educational assistance under 

6 laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans 

7 Affairs to veterans to obtain credentialing and 

8 licensing for civilian occupations that are simi9 lar to such military occupational specialties; 

10 (B) providing assistance to unemployed vet11 erans who, while serving in the Armed Forces, 

12 were trained in a military occupational spe13 cialty; and 

14 (C) providing vocational training or coun15 seling to veterans described in subparagraph (B). 

16 (2) REPORT.— 

17 (A) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days 

18 after the date of the enactment of this Act, the 

19 Assistant Secretary of Labor of Veterans’ Em20 ployment and Training shall submit to Congress 

21 a report on the study carried out under para22 graph (1). 

23 (B) ELEMENTS.—The report required by 

24 subparagraph (A) shall include the following: 


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1 (i) The findings of the Assistant Sec2 retary with respect to the study required by 

3 paragraph (1). 

4 (ii) An estimate of the savings that 

5 would be realized by the Secretary of Vet6 erans Affairs and the Secretary of Labor if 

7 the Secretary of Defense were to include 

8 credentialing and licensing that is widely 

9 accepted in the civilian private sector in the 

10 training of members of the Armed Forces 

11 for military occupational specialties. 

12 SEC. 14. IMPROVED ACCESS TO APPRENTICESHIP PRO13 GRAMS FOR MEMBERS OF THE ARMED 

14 FORCES WHO ARE BEING SEPARATED FROM 

15 ACTIVE DUTY OR RETIRED. 

16 Section 1144 of title 10, United States Code, is amend17 ed by adding at the end the following new subsection: 

18 ‘‘(e) PARTICIPATION IN APPRENTICESHIP PRO19 GRAMS.—As part of the program carried out under this sec20 tion, the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Home21 land Security may permit a member of the armed forces 

22 eligible for assistance under the program to participate in 

23 an apprenticeship program registered under the Act of Au24 gust 16, 1937 (commonly known as the ‘National Appren25 ticeship Act’; 50 Stat. 664, chapter 663; 29 U.S.C. 50 et 


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1 seq.), or a pre-apprenticeship program that provides credit 

2 toward a program registered under such Act, that provides 

3 members of the armed forces with the education, training, 

4 and services necessary to transition to meaningful employ5 ment that leads to economic self-sufficiency.’’. 

6 SEC. 15. EXTENSION OF LOAN GUARANTY FEE FOR CERTAIN 

7 SUBSEQUENT LOANS. 

8 (a) EXTENSION.—Section 3729(b)(2)(B)(ii) of title 38, 

9 United States Code, is amended— 

10 (1) by striking ‘‘January 1, 2004, and before Oc11 tober 1, 2011’’ and inserting ‘‘October 1, 2011, and 

12 before October 1, 2014’’; and 

13 (2) by striking ‘‘3.30’’ both places it appears and 

14 inserting ‘‘3.00’’. 

15 (b) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.—Section 

16 3729(b)(2)(B) of such title is amended— 

17 (1) in clause (i)— 

18 (A) by striking ‘‘January 1, 2004’’ and in19 serting ‘‘October 1, 2011’’; and 

20 (B) by striking ‘‘3.00’’ both places it ap21 pears and inserting ‘‘3.30’’; 

22 (2) by striking clause (iii) and redesignating 

23 clause (iv) as clause (iii); and 


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48 

•S 951 RS

1 (3) in clause (iii), as redesignated by paragraph 

2 (2), by striking ‘‘October 1, 2013’’ and inserting ‘‘Oc3 tober 1, 2014’’. 

4 (c) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by sub5 sections (a) and (b) shall take effect on the later of October 

6 1, 2011, and the date of the enactment of this Act. 


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srobinson on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
Calendar No. 95 

112TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. 951 

A BILL 

To improve the provision of Federal transition, reerans, and for other purposes. fits to members of the Armed Forces and vet- habilitation, vocational, and unemployment beneJULY 7, 2011 

Reported with an amendment 


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