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[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 3234 Reported in Senate (RS)]

                                                       Calendar No. 556
111th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                S. 3234

                          [Report No. 111-285]

 To improve employment, training, and placement services furnished to 
   veterans, especially those serving in Operation Iraqi Freedom and 
          Operation Enduring Freedom, and for other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             April 20, 2010

Mrs. Murray (for herself, Mrs. Lincoln, Mr. Begich, Ms. Klobuchar, Mr. 
 Reid, Mr. Durbin, Ms. Murkowski, Mr. Wyden, Mrs. Boxer, Mr. Brown of 
  Ohio, Mrs. Gillibrand, Ms. Snowe, Mr. Lautenberg, and Ms. Cantwell) 
introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the 
                     Committee on Veterans' Affairs

                           September 2, 2010

Reported under authority of the order of the Senate of August 5, 2010, 
                    by Mr. Akaka, with an amendment
 [Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed 
                               in italic]

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL

 
 To improve employment, training, and placement services furnished to 
   veterans, especially those serving in Operation Iraqi Freedom and 
          Operation Enduring Freedom, and for other purposes.

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

<DELETED>SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    This Act may be cited as the ``Veteran Employment 
Assistance Act of 2010''.</DELETED>

<DELETED>SEC. 2. FINDINGS.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    Congress makes the following findings:</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) In 2008, the unemployment rate of veterans 
        between the ages of 18 and 24 was 14.1 percent.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) In 2009, the unemployment rate of male 
        veterans between the ages of 18 and 24 was 21.6 percent and the 
        unemployment rate of female veterans in the same age group was 
        19.2 percent.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (3) The unemployment rate of veterans in all age 
        groups is expected to increase as a result of the economic 
        downturn that began in 2008.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (4) In 2004, approximately 22 percent of veterans 
        were either purchasing or starting a new business, or 
        considering doing so.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (5) One of the most critical problems identified 
        by veteran small business owners is a lack of knowledge about 
        programs of assistance available to small businesses.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (6) Members of the Armed Forces learn a wide range 
        of technical skills during their time in the Armed Forces, but 
        often find it difficult to transfer these skills into civilian 
        professions.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (7) The Commissioner of Labor Statistics estimates 
        that career opportunities in the fields of health care and 
        information technology will expand significantly in the coming 
        decade.</DELETED>

<DELETED>SEC. 3. VETERANS BUSINESS CENTER PROGRAM.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    (a) In General.--Section 32 of the Small Business Act (15 
U.S.C. 657b) is amended--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) in subsection (f), by inserting ``subsections 
        (a) through (e) of'' before ``this section''; and</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) by adding at the end the following:</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(g) Veterans Business Center Program.--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(1) Establishment.--The Administrator, in 
        consultation with the Secretary of Labor, shall establish a 
        veterans business center program to provide entrepreneurial 
        training and counseling to veterans in accordance with this 
        subsection.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(2) Director.--The Administrator shall appoint a 
        Director of the veterans business center program, who shall--
        </DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(A) implement and oversee the veterans 
                business center program; and</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(B) report directly to the Associate 
                Administrator.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(3) Designation of veterans business centers.--
        The Director shall--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(A) by regulation establish an 
                application, review, and notification process under 
                which the Director may designate entities as veterans 
                business centers for purposes of this section; 
                and</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(B) publicize the designation of an 
                entity as a veterans business center and the award of a 
                grant to a veterans business center under this 
                subsection.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(4) Funding for veterans business centers.--
        </DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(A) Initial grants.--The Director may 
                make a grant to each veterans business center each year 
                in the amount of $150,000. The Director may not make 
                more than 5 grants under this subparagraph to a 
                veterans business center.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(B) Growth funding grants.--If a 
                veterans business center has received 5 initial grants, 
                the Director may make a grant to the veterans business 
                center each year in the amount of $100,000. The 
                Director may not make more than 3 grants under this 
                subparagraph to a veterans business center.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(5) Accountability.--Each veterans business 
        center receiving an initial grant or a growth funding grant 
        shall--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(A) meet performance benchmarks (which 
                shall be established by the Director for the veterans 
                business center and reflect the purposes of this 
                subsection) to be eligible for an initial grant or 
                growth funding grant in a subsequent year; 
                and</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(B) submit to the Director an annual 
                report on the performance of the veterans business 
                center, which shall include--</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(i) a description of the use of 
                        the grant under this subsection and matching 
                        funds to carry out the activities of the 
                        veterans business center; and</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(ii) a description of the 
                        progress of the veterans business center in 
                        meeting the performance benchmarks described in 
                        subparagraph (A).</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(6) Center responsibilities.--Each veterans 
        business center receiving an initial grant or a growth funding 
        grant shall use the funds received under the grant for--
        </DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(A) veteran entrepreneurial 
                development;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(B) counseling of veterans who own small 
                business concerns or who are seeking to own a small 
                business concern through one-on-one instruction and 
                classes, including counseling relating to financial 
                literacy;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(C) education about services available 
                through one-stop centers referred to in section 134(c) 
                of the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (29 U.S.C. 
                2864(c)), including veterans employment assistance and 
                job announcement services;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(D) education about tax provisions 
                relating to first time owners of business concerns, 
                owners of small business concerns, and 
                veterans;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(E) information on the availability of 
                mentoring services and referrals, as appropriate; 
                and</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(F) information on government 
                procurement assistance available to veterans.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(7) Matching funds.--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(A) In general.--A veterans business 
                center receiving an initial grant or a growth funding 
                grant shall provide a contribution, in cash or in-kind, 
                that is not less than 50 percent of the amount of the 
                grant.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(B) Source of contribution.--Not more 
                than 25 percent of a contribution under subparagraph 
                (A) may be provided from other Federal funds. The 
                contribution may be provided from funds made available 
                by a State, local government, or private 
                person.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(C) Waiver.--</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(i) In general.--The Director 
                        may, upon request, waive a portion of the 
                        matching contribution under this paragraph upon 
                        a determination of hardship to the veterans 
                        business center.</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(ii) Considerations.--In 
                        determining whether a veterans business center 
                        is experiencing a hardship, the Director shall 
                        consider--</DELETED>
                                <DELETED>    ``(I) whether the veterans 
                                business center is operating at an 
                                economic loss;</DELETED>
                                <DELETED>    ``(II) whether the 
                                veterans business center would continue 
                                to operate without a waiver; 
                                and</DELETED>
                                <DELETED>    ``(III) other factors the 
                                Director considers 
                                appropriate.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(8) Targeted areas.--The Director shall give 
        priority to applications to be designated a veterans business 
        center and for initial grants and growth funding grants under 
        this subsection that will establish a veterans business center 
        in a geographic area, as determined by the Director--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(A) that is not currently served by a 
                veterans business center; and</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(B) in which--</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(i) the number of veterans per 
                        capita exceeds the national median of the 
                        number of veterans per capita;</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(ii) the number of veterans of 
                        Operation Iraqi Freedom or Operation Enduring 
                        Freedom per capita exceeds the national median 
                        of the number of veterans of Operation Iraqi 
                        Freedom or Operation Enduring Freedom per 
                        capita; or</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(iii) the expected number of 
                        veterans of Operation Iraqi Freedom or 
                        Operation Enduring Freedom per capita, as 
                        determined by the Secretary of Defense, will 
                        exceed the national median of the number of 
                        veterans of Operation Iraqi Freedom or 
                        Operation Enduring Freedom per 
                        capita.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(9) Training program.--The Director shall 
        develop and implement, directly or by contract, an annual 
        training program for the employees of veterans business centers 
        to provide education, support, and information on best 
        practices with respect to the establishment and operation of a 
        veterans business center. The Director shall develop the 
        training program under this paragraph in consultation with 
        veterans business centers, the task force, the Employment and 
        Training Administration and the Veterans' Employment and 
        Training Service of the Department of Labor, and veterans 
        service organizations.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(10) Inclusion of other organizations in 
        program.--The Director shall designate as a veterans business 
        center, and may make a initial grant to--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(A) a Veterans Business Outreach Center 
                established by the Administrator under section 8(b)(17) 
                on or before the date of enactment of this subsection; 
                and</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(B) each person or entity that--
                </DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(i) received funds during fiscal 
                        year 2006 from the National Veterans Business 
                        Development Corporation established under 
                        section 33; and</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(ii) is in operation on the date 
                        of enactment of this subsection.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(11) Annual report on effectiveness of veteran 
        business centers.--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(A) In general.--Not later than 1 year 
                after the date of enactment of this subsection, and 
                every year thereafter, the Administrator shall submit a 
                report on the performance of the veterans business 
                center program to--</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(i) the Committee on Veterans' 
                        Affairs, the Committee on Appropriations, the 
                        Committee on Small Business and 
                        Entrepreneurship, and the Committee on Health, 
                        Education, Labor, and Pensions of the 
                        Senate;</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(ii) the Committee on Veterans' 
                        Affairs, the Committee on Appropriations, and 
                        the Committee on Small Business of the House of 
                        Representatives; and</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(iii) relevant Federal agencies, 
                        including the Department of Veterans Affairs 
                        and the Department of Labor.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(B) Contents.--Each report under 
                subparagraph (A) shall include, for the 1-year period 
                ending on the date of the report--</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(i) an assessment of the 
                        compliance of each veterans business center 
                        receiving an initial grant or growth funding 
                        grant with the performance benchmarks 
                        established for the veterans business center 
                        under paragraph (5)(A);</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(ii) the number of veterans 
                        assisted by a veterans business center 
                        receiving an initial grant or growth funding 
                        grant;</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(iii) comments, if any, from 
                        veterans who sought the assistance of a 
                        veterans business center;</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(iv) the success rate, as 
                        determined by the Administrator, of small 
                        business concerns owned and controlled by 
                        veterans who sought assistance from a veterans 
                        business center; and</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(v) any other performance 
                        indicators and information the Administrator 
                        determines appropriate.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(C) Public availability.--The Director 
                shall disseminate the findings of each report under 
                subparagraph (A) online and to the veteran, small 
                business, and workforce development 
                communities.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(12) Authorization of appropriations.--There are 
        authorized to be appropriated to carry out this subsection--
        </DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(A) $10,000,000 for fiscal year 2011; 
                and</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(B) $12,000,000 for fiscal year 
                2012.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(h) Additional Grants Available to Veterans Business 
Centers.--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(1) Access to capital grant program.--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(A) In general.--The Director shall 
                establish a grant program under which the Director may 
                make grants to veterans business centers to--</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(i) develop specialized programs 
                        to assist small business concerns owned and 
                        controlled by veterans in securing capital and 
                        repairing damaged credit;</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(ii) provide informational 
                        seminars on financial literacy, securing loans, 
                        and Federal, State and local tax provisions and 
                        incentives for small business concerns owned 
                        and controlled by veterans;</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(iii) provide one-on-one 
                        counseling to small business concerns owned and 
                        controlled by veterans to improve the financial 
                        presentations of the small business concern to 
                        lenders;</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(iv) facilitate the access of 
                        small business concerns owned and controlled by 
                        veterans to traditional and non-traditional 
                        financing sources; and</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(v) establish links to and 
                        partnerships with local workforce boards and 
                        business mentoring organizations.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(B) Award size.--The Director may not 
                make grants under this paragraph to a veterans business 
                center in a total amount of more than $75,000 during 
                any 1-year period.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(C) Authorization of appropriations.--
                There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out 
                this paragraph $1,500,000 for each of fiscal years 2011 
                and 2012.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(2) Procurement assistance grant program.--
        </DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(A) In general.--The Director shall 
                establish a grant program under which the Director may 
                make grants to veterans business centers to--</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(i) assist small business 
                        concerns owned and controlled by veterans in 
                        identifying contracts that are suitable for the 
                        small business concern;</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(ii) prepare small business 
                        concerns owned and controlled by veterans to 
                        act as subcontractors and prime contractors for 
                        contracts made available under the American 
                        Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Public 
                        Law 111-5; 123 Stat. 115) through training and 
                        business advice, particularly with respect to 
                        the construction trades; and</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(iii) provide technical 
                        assistance to small business concerns owned and 
                        controlled by veterans relating to the Federal 
                        procurement process, including assisting in 
                        compliance with Federal regulations and bonding 
                        requirements.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(B) Award size.--The Director may not 
                make grants under this paragraph to a veterans business 
                center in a total amount of more than $75,000 during 
                any 1-year period.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(C) Authorization of appropriations.--
                There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out 
                this paragraph $1,500,000 for each of fiscal years 2011 
                and 2012.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(3) Service-disabled veteran-owned small 
        business grant program.--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(A) In general.--The Director shall 
                establish a grant program under which the Director may 
                make grants to veterans business centers to--</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(i) develop outreach programs 
                        for service-disabled veterans with respect to 
                        the benefits of self-employment;</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(ii) provide tailored training 
                        to service-disabled veterans with respect to 
                        business plan development, marketing, 
                        budgeting, accounting, and 
                        merchandising;</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(iii) assist small business 
                        concerns owned and controlled by service-
                        disabled veterans in locating and securing 
                        business opportunities; and</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(iv) link service-disabled 
                        veterans to services provided through one-stop 
                        centers referred to in section 134(c) of the 
                        Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (29 U.S.C. 
                        2864(c)), including information on labor market 
                        trends, entrepreneurial and related training 
                        and training providers, student financial aid, 
                        and specialized services for 
                        veterans.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(B) Award size.--The Director may not 
                make grants under this paragraph to a veterans business 
                center in a total amount of more than $75,000 during 
                any 1-year period.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(C) Authorization of appropriations.--
                There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out 
                this paragraph $1,500,000 for each of fiscal years 2011 
                and 2012.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(i) Veterans Entrepreneurial Development Summit.--
</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(1) In general.--The Director of the veterans 
        business center program established under subsection (g) may 
        hold an event, once every 2 years, to provide networking 
        opportunities, outreach, education, training, and support to 
        veterans business centers designated under subsection (g), 
        small business concerns owned and controlled by veterans, 
        veterans service organizations, workforce investment boards of 
        State and local governments, the Employment and Training 
        Administration and the Veterans' Employment and Training 
        Service of the Department of Labor, and other entities as 
        determined appropriate by the Director.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(2) Presentation of report.--The findings of the 
        most recently submitted report under subsection (g)(12) shall 
        be presented at an event held under this subsection.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(3) Authorization of appropriations.--There is 
        authorized to be appropriated to carry out this subsection 
        $450,000 for each of fiscal years 2011 and 2012.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(j) Definitions.--In this section--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(1) the term `Associate Administrator' means the 
        Associate Administrator for Veterans Business Development 
        appointed under section 4(b)(1);</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(2) the term `Director' means the Director of 
        the veterans business center program;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(3) the term `growth funding grant' means a 
        grant under subsection (g)(5)(B);</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(4) the term `initial grant' means a grant under 
        subsection (g)(5)(A);</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(5) the term `task force' means the interagency 
        task force established under subsection (c)(1);</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(6) the term `veterans business center' means an 
        entity designated as a veterans business center under 
        subsection (g)(4)(A); and</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(7) the term `veterans business center program' 
        means the veterans business center program established under 
        subsection (g)(2).''.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (b) Report Regarding Direct Loan Program.--The 
Administrator of the Small Business Administration, the Secretary of 
Veterans Affairs, and the Assistant Secretary for Veterans' Employment 
and Training shall jointly--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) assess the efficacy of establishing a Federal 
        direct loan program for small business concerns owned and 
        controlled by veterans (as defined in section 3 of the Small 
        Business Act (15 U.S.C. 632)); and</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) not later than 180 days after the date of 
        enactment of this Act, submit a report regarding the assessment 
        under paragraph (1) to--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (A) the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, 
                the Committee on Appropriations, the Committee on Small 
                Business and Entrepreneurship, and the Committee on 
                Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate; 
                and</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (B) the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, 
                the Committee on Appropriations, and the Committee on 
                Small Business of the House of 
                Representatives.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (c) Technical and Conforming Amendments.--Section 32 of 
the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 657b) is amended--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) in subsection (a), by striking ``by the 
        Associate Administrator for Veterans Business Development'' and 
        all that follows and inserting ``by the Associate 
        Administrator.''; and</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) in subsection (c)(1), by striking ``(in this 
        section referred to as the `task force')''.</DELETED>

<DELETED>SEC. 4. REPORTING REQUIREMENT FOR INTERAGENCY TASK 
              FORCE.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    Section 32(c) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 
657b(c)) is amended by adding at the end the following:</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(4) Report.--Not later than 6 months after the 
        date of enactment of this paragraph, and every 6 months 
        thereafter, the Administrator shall submit to Congress a report 
        on the appointments made to and activities of the task 
        force.''.</DELETED>

<DELETED>SEC. 5. PERIOD FOR COMPLETION OF TRAINING OF NEW DISABLED 
              VETERANS' OUTREACH PROGRAM SPECIALISTS AND LOCAL 
              VETERANS' EMPLOYMENT REPRESENTATIVES BY NATIONAL 
              VETERANS' EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING SERVICES 
              INSTITUTE.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    (a) In General.--Section 4102A(c)(8)(A) of title 38, 
United States Code, is amended by striking ``three-year period'' and 
inserting ``one-year period''.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (b) Effective Date.--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) Applicability to new employees.--The amendment 
        made by subsection (a) shall apply with respect to a State 
        employee assigned to perform the duties of a disabled veterans' 
        outreach program specialist or a local veterans' employment 
        representative under chapter 41 of such title who is so 
        assigned on or after the date of the enactment of this 
        Act.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) Applicability to previously hired employees.--
        In the case of such a State employee who is so assigned on or 
        after January 1, 2006, and before the date of the enactment of 
        this Act, the Secretary of Labor shall require the State to 
        require, as a condition of a grant or contract under which 
        funds are made available to the State in order to carry out 
        section 4103A or 4104 of title 38, United States Code, each 
        such employee to complete satisfactorily the training described 
        in section 4102A(c)(8)(A) of such title by not later than the 
        date that is one year after the date of the enactment of this 
        Act.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (c) Cross-Training.--The Secretary of Labor shall require 
State employees described by subsection (b) in the performance of 
duties described in that subsection--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) to educate staff of one-stop centers about the 
        services such State employees provide and the programs of 
        assistance available to veterans; and</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) in order to strengthen coordination and 
        enhance services to veterans, to learn about the employment and 
        training and related information and services made available 
        through the one-stop delivery system.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (d) Definitions.--In this section:</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) One-stop center.--The term ``one-stop center'' 
        means a one-stop center described in section 134(c) of the 
        Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (29 U.S.C. 2864(c)).</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) One-stop delivery system.--The term ``one-stop 
        delivery system'' means a one-stop delivery system described in 
        such section 134(c).</DELETED>

<DELETED>SEC. 6. EMPLOYMENT TRAINING ASSISTANCE.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    (a) In General.--Chapter 42 of title 38, United States 
Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new 
section:</DELETED>
<DELETED>``Sec. 4216. Employment training assistance for unemployed 
              veterans</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(a) Subsistence Allowance.--(1) The Secretary of Labor 
shall, acting through the Assistant Secretary for Veterans' Employment 
and Training, pay to each covered veteran a monthly training 
subsistence allowance under this section for each month that a covered 
veteran is enrolled in a full time employment and training program 
that--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(A) is offered by an eligible provider of 
        training services under section 122 of the Workforce Investment 
        Act of 1998 (29 U.S.C. 2842); and</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(B) teaches a skill that is connected to a 
        career in an in-demand industry, as determined by the Secretary 
        of Labor.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(2) The amount of the monthly training subsistence 
allowance paid to a covered veteran under this subsection shall be 
equal to the monthly amount of the basic allowance for housing payable 
under section 403 of title 37 for a member of the Armed Forces with 
dependents in pay grade E-5 residing in the military housing area that 
encompasses all or the majority portion of the ZIP code area in which 
the covered veteran resides.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(3) A covered veteran is entitled to training 
subsistence allowance under this subsection for not more than six 
months during each 10-year period beginning on the date in which the 
covered veteran first receives training subsistence allowance under 
this section.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(b) Relocation Stipend.--(1) In addition to the training 
subsistence allowance payable to a covered veteran under subsection 
(a), the Secretary of Labor shall, acting through the Assistant 
Secretary for Veterans' Employment and Training, pay to each covered 
veteran a relocation stipend for expenses incurred by the veteran for 
one relocation--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(A) related to the veteran's participation in an 
        employment and training program described in subsection (a)(1); 
        or</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(B) to an employment opportunity related to the 
        field or subject matter in which the veteran was trained in an 
        employment and training program described in subsection 
        (a)(1).</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(2) The amount of relocation stipend paid to a covered 
veteran under paragraph (1) may not exceed the lesser of--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(A) $5,000; and</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(B) the actual amount of expenses incurred by 
        the veteran.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(c) Covered Veteran.--For purposes of this section, a 
covered veteran is a veteran who is--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(1) unemployed for a period of not less than 
        four consecutive months at the time of applying for training 
        subsistence allowance under subsection (a);</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(2) able to complete successfully the employment 
        and training program described in subsection (a)(1), as 
        determined by the Secretary of Labor; and</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(3) except as provided under this section, 
        ineligible for education or training assistance under this 
        title.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(d) Annual Report.--The Secretary of Labor shall submit 
to Congress each year a report on the effectiveness of the training 
subsistence allowance under subsection (a) and the relocation stipend 
under subsection (b) during the preceding year. Each report shall 
include, for the year concerned by such report, the 
following:</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(1) The number of veterans who received the 
        subsistence allowance.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(2) The number of veterans who received the 
        relocation stipend.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(3) The percentage of veterans who received the 
        subsistence allowance or relocation stipend and completed an 
        employment and training program described in subsection 
        (a)(1).</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(4) The percentage of veterans who received the 
        subsistence allowance or relocation stipend and were employed 
        and retained upon completion of an employment and training 
        program described in subsection (a)(1), as measured by the 
        Secretary of Labor.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(5) The percentage of veterans who--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(A) received the subsistence allowance 
                or relocation stipend; and</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(B) were employed in the fourth calendar 
                quarter of such year following graduation from an 
                employment and training program described in subsection 
                (a)(1).</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(6) The average earnings of veterans, as 
        measured by the Secretary of Labor, who--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(A) received the subsistence allowance 
                or relocation stipend; and</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(B) completed an employment and training 
                program described in subsection (a)(1).</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(7) Such other matters relating to the 
        effectiveness of the subsistence allowance and the relocation 
        stipend as the Secretary of Labor considers 
        appropriate.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(e) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are 
authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of Labor to carry out 
this section $100,000,000 for each fiscal year.''.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the 
beginning of such chapter 42 is amended by adding at the end the 
following:</DELETED>

<DELETED>``4216. Employment training assistance for unemployed 
                            veterans.''.

<DELETED>SEC. 7. USE OF ENTITLEMENT UNDER POST-9/11 EDUCATIONAL 
              ASSISTANCE FOR APPRENTICESHIPS AND ON-JOB 
              TRAINING.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    (a) Entitlement.--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) In general.--Subchapter II of chapter 33 of 
        title 38, United States Code, is amended by inserting after 
        section 3319 the following new section:</DELETED>
<DELETED>``Sec. 3319A. Apprenticeships and on-job training</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(a) Monthly Benefit.--Except as provided in subsections 
(b) and (c), the amount of the monthly benefit payment to an individual 
pursuing a full-time program of apprenticeship or other on-job training 
under this chapter is--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(1) for each of the first six months of the 
        individual's pursuit of such program, 75 percent of the monthly 
        benefit payment otherwise payable to such individual under this 
        chapter;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(2) for each of the second six months of the 
        individual's pursuit of such program, 55 percent of such 
        monthly benefit payment; and</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(3) for each of the months following the first 
        12 months of the individual's pursuit of such program, 35 
        percent of such monthly benefit payment.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(b) Reduction.--In any month in which an individual 
pursuing a program of education consisting of a program of 
apprenticeship or other on-job training fails to complete 120 hours of 
training, the amount of the monthly benefit payment payable under this 
chapter to the individual shall be limited to the same proportion of 
the applicable rate determined under subsection (a) as the number of 
hours worked during such month, rounded to the nearest eight hours, 
bears to 120 hours.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(c) Housing Allowance.--An individual receiving a 
monthly benefit pursuant to this section shall receive a monthly 
housing stipend amount equal to the monthly amount of the basic 
allowance for housing payable under section 403 of title 37 for a 
member with dependents in pay grade E-5 residing in the military 
housing area that encompasses all or the majority portion of the ZIP 
code area in which the individual resides.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(d) Charge to Entitlement.--For each month that an 
individual is paid a monthly benefit payment under this chapter, the 
individual's entitlement under this chapter shall be charged at the 
rate of--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(1) 75 percent of a month in the case of 
        payments made in accordance with subsection (a)(1);</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(2) 55 percent of a month in the case of 
        payments made in accordance with subsection (a)(2); 
        and</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(3) 35 percent of a month in the case of 
        payments made in accordance with subsection (a)(3).</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(e) Reduced Charge to Entitlement.--For any month in 
which an individual fails to complete 120 hours of training, the 
entitlement otherwise chargeable under subsection (d) shall be reduced 
in the same proportion as the monthly benefit payment payable is 
reduced under subsection (b).</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(f) Program of Apprenticeship Defined.--In this section, 
the term `program of apprenticeship' means a program of apprenticeship 
registered under the Act of August 16, 1937 (commonly known as the 
`National Apprenticeship Act'; 50 Stat. 664; chapter 663; 29 U.S.C. 50 
et seq.).''.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) Clerical amendment.--The table of sections at 
        the beginning of such chapter is amended by inserting after the 
        item relating to section 3319 the following new item:</DELETED>

<DELETED>``3319A. Apprenticeships and on-job training.''.
<DELETED>    (b) Conforming Amendments.--Section 3313 of such title is 
amended--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) in subsection (a), by inserting ``or section 
        3319A of this title'' after ``subsections (e) and (f)''; 
        and</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) by amending subsection (b) to read as 
        follows:</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(b) Approved Programs of Education.--A program of 
education is an approved program of education for purposes of this 
chapter if the program of education--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(1) is--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(A) offered by an institution of higher 
                learning (as that term is defined in section 3452(f) of 
                this title); and</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(B) approved for purposes of chapter 30 
                of this title (including approval by the State 
                approving agency concerned); or</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(2) in the case of an individual who is not 
        serving on active duty, includes a program of apprenticeship or 
        of other on-job training approved as provided in paragraph (1) 
        or (2), as appropriate, of section 3687(a) of this 
        title.''.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (c) Technical Correction.--Section 3002(3)(C) of such 
title is amended by striking ``clause'' and inserting 
``paragraph''.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (d) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section 
shall take effect as if included in the enactment of the Post-9/11 
Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2008 (title V of Public Law 110-
252).</DELETED>

<DELETED>SEC. 8. VETERANS CONSERVATION CORPS GRANT PROGRAM.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    (a) Grant Program Required.--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) In general.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs 
        shall, in consultation with the Secretary of Labor and the 
        Secretary of the Interior, establish a program to award grants 
        to States to establish veterans conservation corps.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) Maximum amount.--The amount of a grant awarded 
        to a State under this section in any year may not exceed 
        $250,000.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (b) Veterans Conservation Corps.--For purposes of this 
section, a veterans conservation corps is a corps that--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) is established by a State--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (A) within the veterans agency of the 
                State; or</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (B) in affiliation with the veterans 
                agency of the State; and</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) provides veterans with volunteer and 
        employment opportunities with respect to conservation projects 
        for one or more of the following:</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (A) To restore natural habitat.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (B) To maintain Federal, State, or local--
                </DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    (i) forest lands;</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    (ii) parks and reserves; 
                        and</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    (iii) other reservations, water, 
                        and outdoor lands.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (C) To maintain and improve urban and 
                suburban storm water management facilities and other 
                water management facilities.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (D) To carry out hazardous materials and 
                spills response, energy efficiency and other 
                environmental maintenance, stewardship, and restoration 
                projects.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (c) Training, Education, and Certification.--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) In general.--A State receiving a grant under 
        this section to establish a veterans conservation corps shall 
        ensure that such corps incorporates into the volunteer and 
        employment opportunities provided by such corps training, 
        education, and certification in environmental restoration and 
        management fields.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) Consultation.--Such State shall ensure that, 
        in incorporating training, education, and certification into 
        volunteer and employment opportunities under paragraph (1), the 
        veterans conservation corps consults with the 
        following:</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (A) State and local workforce investment 
                boards.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (B) Local institutions of higher 
                education, including community colleges.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (C) Private schools.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (D) State or local agencies, including 
                State employment agencies and State forest 
                services.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (E) Labor organizations.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (F) Business involved in the environmental 
                industry.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (G) Such other entities as the Secretary 
                of Veterans Affairs considers appropriate.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (d) Employment Assistance.--A State receiving a grant 
under this section to establish a veterans conservation corps shall 
ensure that such corps partners with one-stop centers, State and local 
workforce investment boards, and other State agencies to assist 
veterans enrolled in such corps in obtaining employment in the fields 
of environmental restoration and management, and other related 
fields.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (e) Services.--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) In general.--A State receiving a grant under 
        this section to establish a veterans conservation corps shall 
        ensure that such corps--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (A) assesses of the veterans participating 
                in the Corps the skills to help such veterans identify 
                appropriate employment opportunities in their local 
                communities that utilize the skills they developed 
                while in the Armed Forces;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (B) assists with or provides referrals for 
                obtaining benefits available to veterans;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (C) facilitates internships or job 
                shadowing for veterans; and</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (D) matches veterans with conservation 
                projects that are aligned with the goals of the 
                veterans.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) Partnership with state and local workforce 
        investment boards.--In carrying out subparagraph (A) and (C) of 
        paragraph (1), the State shall partner with State and local 
        workforce investment boards.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (f) Reports.--Each State receiving a grant under this 
section shall submit to the Secretary and the appropriate committees of 
Congress a report on the performance of the veterans conservation corps 
of such State, including the following:</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) A description of how the grant amount was 
        used.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) An assessment of the performance of such 
        corps, including a description of the current veterans labor 
        market in such State and the veterans labor market in such 
        State in the previous year.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (g) Definitions.--In this section:</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) Appropriate committees of congress.--The term 
        ``appropriate committees of Congress'' means--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (A) the Committee on Appropriations and 
                the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate; 
                and</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (B) the Committee on Appropriations and 
                the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the House of 
                Representatives.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) Institution of higher education.--The term 
        ``institution of higher education'' has the meaning given the 
        term in section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 
        U.S.C. 1001).</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (3) One-stop center.--The term ``one-stop center'' 
        means a one-stop center described in section 134(c) of the 
        Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (29 U.S.C. 2864(c)).</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (4) State and local workforce investment boards.--
        The term ``State and local workforce investment boards'' means 
        a State workforce investment board and a local workforce 
        investment board as such terms are defined in section 101 of 
        the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (29 U.S.C. 
        2801).</DELETED>

<DELETED>SEC. 9. CENTER OF EXCELLENCE IN REFORMING HIGHER EDUCATION TO 
              AFFORD ACADEMIC CREDIT FOR MILITARY EXPERIENCE AND 
              TRAINING.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    (a) Establishment.--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) In general.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs 
        shall, in consultation with the Assistant Secretary of Labor 
        for Veterans' Employment and Training, establish a center of 
        excellence for the purpose described in paragraph 
        (2).</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) Purpose.--The purpose described in this 
        paragraph is the support of research, development, planning, 
        implementation, and evaluation of methods for educational 
        institutions to afford academic credit for military experience 
        and training to--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (A) veterans who were discharged or 
                released from service in the Armed Forces not more than 
                48 months before applying for admission to a program of 
                education at such institutions; or</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (B) members of the reserve components of 
                the Armed Forces.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (b) Grants and Contracts.--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) In general.--The Secretary may, acting through 
        the center of excellence, award grants to or enter into 
        contracts with eligible institutions for the purpose described 
        in subsection (a)(2).</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) Minimum and maximum amounts.--The Secretary 
        may not award a grant or contract under this section in an 
        amount that is less than $2,000,000 or more than 
        $5,000,000.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (c) Eligible Institutions.--For purposes of this section, 
an eligible institution is any partnership that--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) meets such requirements as the Secretary may 
        specify for purposes of this section; and</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) consists of an institution of higher education 
        and one or more of the following:</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (A) A community college.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (B) A university teaching 
                hospital.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (C) A military installation, including a 
                facility of the National Guard.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (D) A Department of Veterans Affairs 
                medical center.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (E) A military medical treatment 
                facility.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (d) Selection of Grant and Contract Recipients.--
</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) Application.--An eligible institution seeking 
        a grant or contract under this section shall submit to the 
        Secretary an application therefor in such form and in such 
        manner as the Secretary considers appropriate.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) Priority for certain applications.--In 
        selecting applicants for a grant or contract under this 
        section, the Secretary shall give priority to applicants who 
        include as a partner an institution of higher education or 
        other educational institution that--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (A) affords appropriate recognition to 
                military experience and training in screening 
                candidates for admission to such institution;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (B) has an established practice of, or 
                proposes to establish a practice of, affording 
                appropriate academic credit for military experience and 
                training;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (C) if the applicant proposes to establish 
                a practice as described in subparagraph (B), includes 
                with the application submitted by the applicant under 
                paragraph (1) a review of such plan by a professional 
                organization;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (D) has established a professional 
                development and delivery system using evidence-based 
                practices; or</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (E) has demonstrated experience working 
                with the Department of Defense or the Department of 
                Veterans Affairs;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (3) Standards, procedures, and distribution 
        criteria.--The Secretary shall, by regulation, establish 
        application and evaluation standards and procedures and such 
        other forms, standards, definitions, and procedures as the 
        Secretary determines to be appropriate for purposes of this 
        section.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (e) Use of Grants and Contract Funds.--Each eligible 
institution receiving a grant or contract under this section shall use 
the grant or contract for one or more of the following:</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) To develop or implement a plan to modify 
        programs of education and admissions programs at institutions 
        of higher education to afford academic credit to veterans and 
        members described in subsection (a)(2).</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) To develop standards for the identification of 
        military experience and training in individuals applying for 
        enrollment at institutions of higher education.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (3) To train professors, educators, and 
        instructors at institutions of higher education on means of 
        best teaching students at such institutions with military 
        experience and training.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (4) To develop curriculum for institutions of 
        higher education that are appropriately tailored to individuals 
        with military experience and training.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (5) To develop admissions and recruitment 
        guidelines for institutions of higher education to attract 
        veterans and members described in subsection (a)(2) and afford 
        them appropriate recognition for military experience and 
        training in their admissions processes.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (6) To establish a program, method, or standards 
        to be utilized by institutions of higher education for 
        assessing the education and training of veterans and members 
        described in subsection (a)(2) during the pursuit of a program 
        of education and at the completion of such program.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (f) Institution of Higher Education Defined.--In this 
section, the term ``institution of higher education'' has the meaning 
given such term in section 101(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 
(20 U.S.C. 1001(a)).</DELETED>

<DELETED>SEC. 10. PUBLICATION OF DATA ON EMPLOYMENT OF CERTAIN VETERANS 
              BY FEDERAL CONTRACTORS.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    Section 4212(d) of title 38, United States Code, is 
amended by adding at the end the following:</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(3) The Secretary of Labor shall establish and maintain 
an Internet website that publicly discloses the information reported by 
contractors to the Secretary of Labor under paragraph (1).''.</DELETED>

<DELETED>SEC. 11. MILITARY PATHWAYS DEMONSTRATION PROGRAMS.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    (a) Military Pathways Demonstration Programs.--Section 171 
of the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (29 U.S.C. 2916) is amended by 
adding at the end the following:</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(f) Information Technology Military Pathways 
Demonstration Program.--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(1) In general.--The Secretary of Labor, after 
        consultation with the Secretary of Veterans Affairs and the 
        Secretary of Defense, shall establish a demonstration program 
        and carry out the program by making grants, on a competitive 
        basis, to not more than 5 entities for demonstration projects. 
        The projects shall be designed to test the feasibility of 
        methods of enabling transitioning military members to build on 
        the technical skills learned in many military jobs, to enter 
        the information technology workforce or continue their skills 
        development in the information technology disciplines to meet 
        the demand for information technology workforce readiness in 
        computer specialist and related information technology 
        jobs.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(2) Issues to be examined.--In carrying out the 
        program, the Secretary may examine the feasibility of methods 
        such as the following:</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(A) Methods to improve the transitions, 
                skills development, and employment of transitioning 
                military members for and in information technology 
                occupations with wages sufficient to support 
                families.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(B) Methods to align the information 
                technology skills acquired in military occupations with 
                skills required in civilian information technology 
                occupations in new, emerging, or viable industries, 
                including aligning the skills--</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(i) using guidelines for 
                        assessments and credentials that employers 
                        value in the hiring process, and credentials 
                        that are industry-recognized and approved by 
                        the Secretary; and</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(ii) by means that may include 
                        the use of a modified or enhanced Department of 
                        Defense transition program or a Department of 
                        Labor transition program, such as the program 
                        carried out under chapter 41 of title 38, 
                        United States Code.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(C) Methods to ensure that military 
                members receive education and training, including 
                training through apprenticeship programs registered 
                under the Act of August 16, 1937 (commonly known as the 
                `National Apprenticeship Act'; 50 Stat. 664, chapter 
                663; 29 U.S.C. 50 et seq.) (referred to individually in 
                this subsection as an `apprenticeship program'), and 
                necessary support services, that are flexible, 
                available (including available for deployed military 
                members), adequate for individuals seeking to make the 
                transition to civilian information technology 
                occupations, and consistent with academic requirements 
                of the institution involved.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(D) Methods to enable military members 
                to accelerate application for admission, acceptance, 
                and graduation as students in computer science, 
                engineering, and related disciplines at 2-year and 4-
                year institutions of higher education, based on 
                military credentials and experience.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(E) Methods to help military members 
                obtain information technology credentials that are 
                industry-recognized, are approved by the Secretary, and 
                satisfy both military requirements and civilian 
                requirements, prior to release of the members from the 
                military.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(3) Eligibility.--To be eligible to receive a 
        grant under this subsection, an entity shall submit an 
        application to the Secretary at such time, in such manner, and 
        containing such information as the Secretary may require, 
        including each of the following:</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(A) An assurance that the entity agrees 
                that, in carrying out the project, the entity will work 
                in conjunction with a local board and enter into a 
                partnership that includes, as principal partners, 
                employers, labor organizations, postsecondary education 
                institutions including institutions of higher 
                education, veterans service organizations, and other 
                community organizations.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(B) Information--</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(i) demonstrating the capability 
                        of the entity in working with transitioning 
                        military members;</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(ii) demonstrating that the 
                        entity has a history of effective collaboration 
                        with--</DELETED>
                                <DELETED>    ``(I) the information 
                                technology industry or an industry with 
                                significant information technology 
                                jobs;</DELETED>
                                <DELETED>    ``(II) State boards or 
                                local boards, as appropriate; 
                                and</DELETED>
                                <DELETED>    ``(III) institutions of 
                                higher education and other information 
                                technology educators or trainers; 
                                and</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(iii) demonstrating knowledge of 
                        training and best practices of the information 
                        technology industry.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(C) An assurance that the entity will 
                participate in the Secretary's evaluation plan for the 
                demonstration program, including participating in 
                required reporting for the plan.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(4) Selection criteria.--In order to select 
        entities to receive grants for projects under this subsection, 
        the Secretary shall establish selection criteria consistent 
        with this subsection and shall ensure that the criteria give 
        priority to each of the following types of entities:</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(A) Entities that demonstrate the 
                ability to leverage public or private funds to sustain 
                such a project after the grant period.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(B) Entities that have relationships 
                with institutions of higher education or with qualified 
                community-based organizations that provide 
                training.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(C) Entities that have relationships 
                with employers, labor organizations, and other entities 
                that will provide earn and learn opportunities to 
                veterans.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(D) Entities that have experience 
                working with veterans and facilitating transitions from 
                military to civilian work environments.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(E) Entities that have experience 
                designing contextualized learning programs that 
                integrate basic adult education with skills 
                training.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(5) Program evaluation and technical 
        assistance.--Using not more than 10 percent of the amount made 
        available to carry out this subsection, the Secretary may--
        </DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(A) conduct an evaluation to determine 
                promising methods of increasing the number of highly 
                skilled transitioning military members who enter 
                civilian information technology occupations and earn 
                wages sufficient to support families; and</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(B) provide technical assistance to 
                entities receiving grants under this subsection, 
                relating to the promising methods.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(6) Report.--The Secretary shall prepare and 
        submit to the appropriate committees of Congress and Federal 
        agencies a final report on the findings and outcomes of the 
        demonstration program carried out under this subsection. The 
        Secretary shall broadly distribute the report through the 
        veterans service organizations, State boards, and local 
        boards.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(7) Definitions.--In this subsection:</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(A) Information technology.--The term 
                `information technology' means any equipment or 
                interconnected system or subsystem of equipment--
                </DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(i) used in the automatic 
                        acquisition, storage, analysis, evaluation, 
                        manipulation, management, movement, control, 
                        display, switching, interchange, transmission, 
                        or reception of data or information; 
                        and</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(ii) includes the 
                        following:</DELETED>
                                <DELETED>    ``(I) Computers.</DELETED>
                                <DELETED>    ``(II) Ancillary equipment 
                                for computers (including imaging 
                                peripherals, and input, output, and 
                                storage devices necessary for security 
                                and surveillance).</DELETED>
                                <DELETED>    ``(III) Peripheral 
                                equipment designed to be controlled by 
                                the central processing unit of a 
                                computer.</DELETED>
                                <DELETED>    ``(IV) Software.</DELETED>
                                <DELETED>    ``(V) Computer services 
                                (including support services).</DELETED>
                                <DELETED>    ``(VI) Other computer-
                                related resources.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(B) Institution of higher education.--
                The term `institution of higher education' has the 
                meaning given the term in section 101 of the Higher 
                Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001).</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(C) Postsecondary education.--The term 
                `postsecondary education' means--</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(i) a 4-year program of 
                        instruction, or not less than a 1-year program 
                        of instruction that is acceptable for credit 
                        toward a baccalaureate degree or an associate 
                        degree, offered by an institution of higher 
                        education; or</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(ii) a certificate or 
                        apprenticeship program at the postsecondary 
                        level offered by an institution of higher 
                        education, a nonprofit educational institution, 
                        or a labor-management partnership.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(8) Authorization of appropriations.--There is 
        authorized to be appropriated to carry out this subsection 
        $10,000,000 for each fiscal year.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(g) Nursing, Public Health and Allied Health 
Professional, and Physician Assistant Military Pathways Demonstration 
Program.--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(1) In general.--The Secretary of Labor, after 
        consultation with the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, Secretary 
        of Defense, and Secretary of Health and Human Services, shall 
        establish a demonstration program and carry out the program by 
        making grants, on a competitive basis, to not more than 5 
        entities for demonstration projects. The projects shall be 
        designed to test the feasibility of methods of enabling 
        transitioning military members to build on the technical skills 
        learned in many military jobs, to enter the nursing, public 
        health and allied health professional, and physician assistant 
        workforces or continue their skills development in disciplines 
        related to those workforces to meet the demand for nurses, 
        public health and allied health professionals, and physician 
        assistants.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(2) Issues to be examined.--In carrying out the 
        program, the Secretary may examine the feasibility of methods 
        such as the following:</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(A) Methods to improve the transitions, 
                skills development, and employment of transitioning 
                military members for and in nursing, public health and 
                allied health professional, and physician assistant 
                occupations with wages sufficient to support 
                families.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(B) Methods to align nursing, public 
                health and allied health professional, and physician 
                assistant skills acquired in military occupations with 
                skills required in related civilian health occupations, 
                including aligning the skills--</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(i) using guidelines for 
                        assessments and credentials that employers 
                        value in the hiring process, and credentials 
                        that are industry-recognized and approved by 
                        the Secretary; and</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(ii) by means that may include 
                        the use of a modified or enhanced Department of 
                        Defense transition program or a Department of 
                        Labor transition program, such as the program 
                        carried out under chapter 41 of title 38, 
                        United States Code.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(C) Methods to ensure that military 
                members receive education and training, including 
                training through apprenticeship programs, and necessary 
                support services, that are flexible, available 
                (including available for deployed military members), 
                adequate for individuals seeking to make the transition 
                to civilian nursing, public health and allied health, 
                and physician assistant occupations, and consistent 
                with academic requirements of the institution 
                involved.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(D) Methods to align education and 
                training programs, including apprenticeship programs, 
                for veterans in nursing, public health and allied 
                health professional, and physician assistant 
                occupations with education and training programs for 
                those occupations that are provided for the 
                public.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(E) Methods to enable military members 
                to accelerate application for admission, acceptance, 
                and graduation as students in nursing, public health 
                and allied health, and physician assistant disciplines 
                at 2-year and 4-year institutions of higher education, 
                based on military credentials and experience.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(F) Methods to help military members 
                obtain credentials related to those health care 
                occupations that are industry-recognized, are approved 
                by the Secretary, and satisfy both military 
                requirements and civilian requirements, prior to 
                release of the members from the military.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(3) Eligibility.--To be eligible to receive a 
        grant under this subsection, an entity shall submit an 
        application to the Secretary of such time, in such manner, and 
        containing such information as the Secretary may require 
        including each of the following:</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(A) An assurance that the entity agrees 
                that, in carrying out the project, the entity will work 
                in conjunction with a local board and enter into a 
                partnership that includes, as principal partners, 
                employers, labor organizations, postsecondary education 
                institutions including institutions of higher 
                education, veterans service organizations, and other 
                community organizations.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(B) Information--</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(i) in demonstrating the 
                        capability of the entity in working with 
                        transitioning military members;</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(ii) demonstrating that the 
                        entity has a history of effective collaboration 
                        with--</DELETED>
                                <DELETED>    ``(I) health care 
                                employers;</DELETED>
                                <DELETED>    ``(II) State boards or 
                                local boards, as appropriate; 
                                and</DELETED>
                                <DELETED>    ``(III) institutions of 
                                higher education and other nursing, 
                                public health and allied health 
                                professional, and physician assistant 
                                educators or trainers; and</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(iii) demonstrating knowledge of 
                        training and best practices of the health care 
                        industry.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(C) An assurance that the entity will 
                participate in the Secretary's evaluation plan for the 
                demonstration program, including participating in 
                required reporting for the plan.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(4) Selection criteria.--In order to select 
        entities to receive grants for projects under this subsection, 
        the Secretary shall establish selection criteria consistent 
        with this subsection and shall ensure that the criteria give 
        priority to entities that demonstrate the ability to leverage 
        of public or private funds to sustain such a project after the 
        grant period.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(5) Program evaluation and technical 
        assistance.--Using not more than 10 percent of the amount made 
        available to carry out this subsection, the Secretary may--
        </DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(A) conduct an evaluation to determine 
                promising methods of increasing the number of highly 
                skilled transitioning military members who enter 
                civilian nursing, public health and allied health, or 
                physician assistant occupations and earn wages 
                sufficient to support families; and</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(B) provide technical assistance to 
                entities receiving grants under this subsection, 
                relating to the promising methods.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(6) Report.--The Secretary shall prepare and 
        submit to the appropriate committees of Congress and Federal 
        agencies a final report on the findings and outcomes of the 
        demonstration program carried out under this subsection. The 
        Secretary shall broadly distribute the report through the 
        veterans service organizations, State boards, and local 
        boards.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(7) Definitions.--In this subsection:</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(A) Allied health professional.--The 
                term `allied health professional' means a health 
                professional (other than a registered nurse or 
                physician assistant) who--</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(i) has received a certificate, 
                        an associate degree, a baccalaureate degree, a 
                        master's degree, a doctoral degree, or 
                        postbaccalaureate training, in a science 
                        relating to health care;</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(ii) shares in the 
                        responsibility for the delivery of health care 
                        services or related services, including--
                        </DELETED>
                                <DELETED>    ``(I) services relating to 
                                the identification, evaluation, and 
                                prevention of disease and 
                                disorders;</DELETED>
                                <DELETED>    ``(II) dietary and 
                                nutrition services;</DELETED>
                                <DELETED>    ``(III) health promotion 
                                services;</DELETED>
                                <DELETED>    ``(IV) rehabilitation 
                                services; or</DELETED>
                                <DELETED>    ``(V) health systems 
                                management services; and</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(iii) has not received--
                        </DELETED>
                                <DELETED>    ``(I) a degree of doctor 
                                of medicine;</DELETED>
                                <DELETED>    ``(II) a degree of doctor 
                                of osteopathy;</DELETED>
                                <DELETED>    ``(III) a degree of doctor 
                                of dentistry or an equivalent 
                                degree;</DELETED>
                                <DELETED>    ``(IV) a degree of doctor 
                                of veterinary medicine or an equivalent 
                                degree;</DELETED>
                                <DELETED>    ``(V) a degree of doctor 
                                of optometry or an equivalent 
                                degree;</DELETED>
                                <DELETED>    ``(VI) a degree of doctor 
                                of podiatric medicine or an equivalent 
                                degree;</DELETED>
                                <DELETED>    ``(VII) a degree of 
                                bachelor of science in pharmacy or an 
                                equivalent degree;</DELETED>
                                <DELETED>    ``(VIII) a degree of 
                                doctor of pharmacy or an equivalent 
                                degree;</DELETED>
                                <DELETED>    ``(IX) a graduate degree 
                                in public health or an equivalent 
                                degree;</DELETED>
                                <DELETED>    ``(X) a degree of doctor 
                                of chiropractic or an equivalent 
                                degree;</DELETED>
                                <DELETED>    ``(XI) a graduate degree 
                                in health administration or an 
                                equivalent degree;</DELETED>
                                <DELETED>    ``(XII) a doctoral degree 
                                in clinical psychology or an equivalent 
                                degree;</DELETED>
                                <DELETED>    ``(XIII) a degree in 
                                social work or an equivalent degree; 
                                or</DELETED>
                                <DELETED>    ``(XIV) a degree in 
                                counseling or an equivalent 
                                degree.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(B) Other terms.--The terms 
                `apprenticeship program', `institution of higher 
                education', and `postsecondary education' have the 
                meanings given the terms in subsection (f).</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(8) Authorization of appropriations.--There is 
        authorized to be appropriated to carry out this subsection 
        $15,000,000 for each fiscal year.''.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (b) Conforming Amendment.--Section 174(b)(1) of the 
Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (29 U.S.C. 2919(b)(1)) is amended by 
inserting ``(other than subsection (f) or (g) of section 171)'' after 
``through 172''.</DELETED>

<DELETED>SEC. 12. VETERANS ENERGY-RELATED EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    (a) In General.--Section 168 of the Workforce Investment 
Act of 1998 (29 U.S.C. 2913) is amended--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) by redesignating subsection (b) as subsection 
        (c);</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) in subsection (a)--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (A) in subparagraph (B), by striking 
                ``and'' at the end;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (B) in subparagraph (C), by striking the 
                period and inserting ``; and''; and</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (C) by adding at the end the 
                following:</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(D) activities described in subsection 
                (b).''; and</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (3) by inserting after subsection (a) the 
        following:</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(b) Veterans Energy-Related Employment Program.--
</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(1) Establishment of pilot program.--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(A) In general.--To encourage the 
                employment of eligible veterans in the energy industry, 
                the Secretary shall carry out a Veterans Energy-Related 
                Employment Program as a pilot program and as a program 
                described in subsection (a).</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(B) Grants.--Under the pilot program, 
                the Secretary shall award grants on a competitive basis 
                to 3 States for the establishment and administration of 
                State Energy-Related Employment Programs. In 
                administering such a program, the State shall make 
                grants to energy employers and labor-management 
                organizations that collectively provide covered 
                training, on-the-job training, apprenticeship programs 
                registered as described in section 171(f)(2)(C) 
                (referred to individually in this subsection as an 
                `apprenticeship program'), and certification classes to 
                eligible veterans. Such a program may be referred to in 
                this subsection as a `State program'.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(2) Eligibility for grants.--To be eligible to 
        receive a grant under the pilot program, a State shall submit 
        to the Secretary an application that includes each of the 
        following:</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(A) A proposal for the expenditure of 
                grant funds to establish, and administer through a 
                public-private partnership, a State Energy-Related 
                Employment Program designed to provide covered 
                training, on-the-job training, apprenticeship programs, 
                and certification classes to a significant number of 
                eligible veterans and ensure lasting and sustainable 
                employment in well-paying jobs in the energy 
                industry.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(B) Evidence that the State has--
                </DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(i) a population of eligible 
                        veterans, of an appropriate size for the State 
                        program;</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(ii) a robust and diverse energy 
                        industry; and</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(iii) the ability to carry out 
                        the State program described in the proposal 
                        under subparagraph (A).</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(C) Such other information and 
                assurances as the Secretary may require.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(3) Use of funds.--A State that is the recipient 
        of a grant under this subsection shall use the grant funds for 
        each of the following purposes:</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(A) Making grants to energy employers 
                and labor-management organizations to reimburse such 
                employers and organizations for the cost of providing 
                covered training, on-the-job training, apprenticeship 
                programs, and certification classes to eligible 
                veterans.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(B) Conducting outreach to inform energy 
                employers, labor-management organizations, and 
                veterans, including veterans in rural areas, of their 
                eligibility or potential eligibility for participation 
                in the State program.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(4) Conditions.--Under the pilot program, each 
        State that receives a grant under this subsection shall be 
        subject to each of the following conditions:</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(A) Repayment.--The State shall repay to 
                the Secretary, on such date as shall be determined by 
                the Secretary, any amount received under the pilot 
                program that is not used for the purposes described in 
                paragraph (3).</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(B) Submission of reports.--The State 
                shall submit to the Secretary, at such times and 
                containing such information as the Secretary shall 
                require, reports on the use of the grant 
                funds.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(5) Employer requirements.--In order to receive 
        a grant made by a State under the pilot program, an energy 
        employer seeking the grant shall, or a labor-management 
        organization seeking such a grant shall (in coordination with 
        the energy employer involved)--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(A) submit to the administrator of the 
                State program an application that includes--</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(i) the rate of pay for each 
                        eligible veteran proposed to be served using 
                        grant funds;</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(ii) the average rate of pay for 
                        an individual employed by the energy employer 
                        in a similar position who is not an eligible 
                        veteran; and</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(iii) such other information and 
                        assurances as the administrator may require; 
                        and</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(B) agree to submit to the 
                administrator, for each quarter, a report containing 
                such information as the Secretary may 
                specify.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(6) Limitation.--None of the funds made 
        available to an energy employer or labor-management 
        organization through a grant under the pilot program may be 
        used to provide services of any kind to a person who is not an 
        eligible veteran.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(7) Report to congress.--The Secretary shall 
        submit to Congress a report on the pilot program. The Secretary 
        shall submit the report together with the report required to be 
        submitted annually under section 4107(c) of title 38, United 
        States Code, and with respect to the same year as is covered by 
        such report. The report on the pilot program shall include a 
        detailed description of activities carried out under this 
        subsection and an evaluation of the program.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(8) Administrative and reporting costs.--Of the 
        amounts appropriated pursuant to the authorization of 
        appropriations under paragraph (10), 2 percent shall be made 
        available to the Secretary for administrative costs associated 
        with implementing and evaluating the pilot program under this 
        subsection and for preparing and submitting the report required 
        under paragraph (7). The Secretary shall determine the 
        appropriate maximum amount of each grant awarded under this 
        subsection that may be used by the recipient for administrative 
        and reporting costs.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(9) Definitions.--In this subsection:</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(A) Covered training, on-the-job 
                training, apprenticeship programs, and certification 
                classes.--The term `covered training, on-the-job 
                training, apprenticeship programs, and certification 
                classes' means training, on-the-job training, 
                apprenticeship programs, and certification classes that 
                are--</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(i) designed to provide a 
                        veteran with skills that are particular to an 
                        energy industry and not directly transferable 
                        to employment in another industry; 
                        and</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(ii) approved as provided in 
                        paragraph (1) or (2), as appropriate, of 
                        subsection (a) of section 3687 of title 38, 
                        United States Code.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(B) Eligible veteran.--The term 
                `eligible veteran' means a veteran described in 
                subsection (a) who is employed by an energy employer 
                and enrolled or participating in a covered training, 
                on-the-job training, apprenticeship program, or 
                certification class.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(C) Energy employer.--The term `energy 
                employer' means an entity that employs individuals in a 
                trade or business in an energy industry.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(D) Energy industry.--The term `energy 
                industry' means any of the following 
                industries:</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(i) The energy-efficient 
                        building, construction, or retrofits 
                        industry.</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(ii) The renewable electric 
                        power industry, including the wind and solar 
                        energy industries.</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(iii) The biofuels 
                        industry.</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(iv) The energy efficiency 
                        assessment industry that serves the 
                        residential, commercial, or industrial 
                        sector.</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(v) The oil and natural gas 
                        industry.</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(vi) The nuclear 
                        industry.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(10) Appropriations.--There is authorized to be 
        appropriated to the Secretary $10,000,000 for each of fiscal 
        years 2011 through 2015, for the purpose of carrying out the 
        pilot program described in this subsection.''.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (b) Conforming Amendment.--Section 174(a)(1) of the 
Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (29 U.S.C. 2919(a)(1)) is amended by 
inserting ``(other than section 168(b))'' after ``168''.</DELETED>

<DELETED>SEC. 13. GRANTS FOR EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES PERSONNEL 
              TRAINING FOR VETERANS.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    Section 330J(c)(8) of the Public Health Service Act (42 
U.S.C. 254c-15(c)(8)) is amended by inserting before the period the 
following: ``, including, as provided by the Secretary, may use funds 
to provide to military veterans required coursework and training that 
take into account, and are not duplicative of, previous medical 
coursework and training received when such veterans were active members 
of the Armed Forces, to enable such veterans to satisfy emergency 
medical services personnel certification requirements, as determined by 
the appropriate State regulatory entity''.</DELETED>

<DELETED>SEC. 14. VETERANS TO WORK PILOT PROGRAM.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    (a) Veterans To Work Program.--Subchapter III of chapter 
169 of title 10, United States Code, is amended by inserting after 
section 2856 the following new section:</DELETED>
<DELETED>``Sec. 2857. Veterans to Work pilot program</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(a) Pilot Program; Purposes.--The Secretary of Defense 
shall carry out a pilot program (to be known as the `Veterans to Work 
pilot program') to determine--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(1) the maximum feasible extent to which 
        apprentices may be employed to work on military construction 
        projects designated under subsection (b);</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(2) the maximum feasible extent to which the 
        apprentices so employed are veterans; and</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(3) the feasibility of expanding the employment 
        of apprentices to military construction projects in addition to 
        those projects designated under subsection (b).</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(b) Designation of Military Construction Projects for 
Pilot Program.--(1) For each of fiscal years 2011 through 2015, the 
Secretary of Defense shall, in consultation with the Secretaries of the 
military departments, designate for inclusion in the pilot program not 
less than 20 military construction projects (including unspecified 
minor military construction projects under section 2805(a) of this 
title) that will be conducted in that fiscal year.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(2) In designating military construction projects under 
this subsection, the Secretary of Defense shall--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(A) to the greatest extent possible, designate 
        military construction projects that are located where there are 
        veterans enrolled in qualified apprenticeship programs or 
        veterans who could be enrolled in qualified apprenticeship 
        programs in a cost-effective, timely, and feasible 
        manner;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(B) ensure geographic diversity among the 
        military construction projects designated; and</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(C) select projects to be carried out in the 
        continental United States, Alaska, Hawaii, Guam, Puerto Rico, 
        the Northern Mariana Islands, and the United States Virgin 
        Islands.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(3) Unspecified minor military construction projects may 
not exceed 40 percent of the military construction projects designated 
under this subsection for a fiscal year.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(c) Contract Provisions.--Any agreement that the 
Secretary of Defense or the Secretary of a military department enters 
into for a military construction project that is designated for 
inclusion in the pilot program shall ensure that, to the maximum extent 
feasible, apprentices shall be employed on the project and that, to the 
maximum extent feasible, such apprentices shall be veterans.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(d) Qualified Apprenticeship and Other Training 
Programs.--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(1) Participation by each contractor required.--
        Each contractor and subcontractor that seeks to provide 
        construction services on military construction projects 
        designated by the Secretary of Defense pursuant to subsection 
        (b) shall submit adequate assurances with its bid or proposal 
        that it participates in a qualified apprenticeship or other 
        training program for each craft or trade classification of 
        worker that it intends to employ to perform work on the 
        project.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(2) Qualified apprenticeship or other training 
        program defined.--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(A) In general.--In this section, the 
                term `qualified apprenticeship or other training 
                program' means an apprenticeship or other training 
                program that qualifies as an employee welfare benefit 
                plan, as defined in section 3(1) of the Employee 
                Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (29 U.S.C. 
                1002(1)).</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(B) Certification of other programs in 
                certain localities.--In the event that the Secretary of 
                Labor certifies that a qualified apprenticeship or 
                other training program (as defined in subparagraph (A)) 
                for a craft or trade classification of workers that a 
                prospective contractor or subcontractor intends to 
                employ, is not operated in the locality where the 
                project will be performed, an apprenticeship or other 
                training program that is not an employee welfare 
                benefit plan (as defined in such section) may be 
                certified by the Secretary as a qualified 
                apprenticeship or other training program provided it is 
                registered with the Office of Apprenticeship of the 
                Department of Labor, or a State apprenticeship agency 
                recognized by the Office of Apprenticeship for Federal 
                purposes</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(e) Report.--(1) Not later than 150 days after the end 
of each fiscal year during which the pilot program is active, the 
Secretary of Defense shall submit to Congress a report that includes 
the following:</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(A) The progress of military construction 
        projects designated pursuant to subsection (b) and the role of 
        apprentices in achieving that progress.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(B) Any challenges, difficulties, or problems 
        encountered in recruiting apprentices or in recruiting veterans 
        to become apprentices.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(C) Cost differentials in the designated 
        military construction projects when compared with similar 
        projects completed contemporaneously, but not designated for 
        the pilot program.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(D) Evaluation of benefits derived from 
        employing apprentices, including the following:</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(i) Workforce sustainability.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(ii) Workforce skills 
                enhancement.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(iii) Increased short and long term 
                cost-effectiveness.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(iv) Improved veteran employment in 
                sustainable wage fields.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(E) Any additional benefits derived from 
        employing apprentices and veteran apprentices.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(F) Recommendations on how to more effectively 
        employ apprentices in subsequent fiscal years.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(G) Any other information the Secretary of 
        Defense considers appropriate.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(2) Not later than March 1, 2016, the Secretary of 
Defense shall submit to Congress a report that--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(A) analyzes the pilot program in terms of its 
        effect on the sustainability of a workforce to meet the 
        military construction needs of the Armed Forces;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(B) studies overall improvements in veteran 
        employment in sustainable wage fields or professions; 
        and</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(C) makes recommendations on the continuation, 
        modification, or expansion of the pilot program on the basis of 
        such factors as the Secretary of Defense determines 
        appropriate, including the following:</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(i) Workforce sustainability.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(ii) Cost-effectiveness.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(iii) Community development.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(f) Definitions.--In this section:</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(1) The term `apprentice' means an individual 
        who is employed pursuant to and individually registered in a 
        `qualified apprenticeship or other training program,' as 
        defined in subsection (d)(2)(A) or other apprenticeship or 
        training programs recognized in accordance with subsection 
        (d)(2)(B).</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(2) The term `State' means any of the several 
        States, the District of Columbia, or territories of Guam, 
        Puerto Rico, the Northern Mariana Islands, and the United 
        States Virgin Islands.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(3) The term `veteran' has the meaning given 
        such term under section 101(2) of title 38.''.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the 
beginning of subchapter III of chapter 169 of such title is amended by 
inserting after the item relating to section 2856 the following new 
item:</DELETED>

<DELETED>``2857. Veterans to Work pilot program.''.

<DELETED>SEC. 15. REPORT ON RECOMMENDATIONS FOR IMPROVEMENTS TO THE 
              TRANSITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM TO BETTER MEET THE NEEDS OF 
              MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES AND VETERANS.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    (a) Report Required.--Not later than 180 days after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense and the 
Secretary of Labor, acting through the Assistant Secretary of Labor for 
Veterans' Employment and Training, shall jointly submit to the 
appropriate committees of Congress a report setting forth 
recommendations for improvements and enhancements of the Transition 
Assistance Program (TAP) in order to better meet the needs of members 
of the Armed Forces and veterans.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (b) Elements.--The report required by subsection (a) shall 
include the following:</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) A description and assessment of the extent to 
        which the current Transition Assistance Program meets the needs 
        of members of the Armed Forces and veterans.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) Recommendations for improvements and 
        enhancements of the Transition Assistance Program in order to 
        ensure--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (A) the comprehensiveness of the programs 
                and activities under the program; and</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (B) the consistency of the programs and 
                activities under the program across the Armed Forces 
                and among the military installations at which the 
                program is carried out.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (3) Recommendations for improvements and 
        enhancements of the Transition Assistance Program to ensure 
        that the program meets the needs of veterans residing in 
        localities in the vicinity of military installations at which 
        the program is carried out.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (4) A description and assessment of the programs 
        and activities offered to veterans who have completed 
        participation in the Transition Assistance Program in order to 
        further assist such veterans in their continuing transition 
        from military life to civilian life, and recommendations for 
        programs and activities to improve and enhance such 
        assistance.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (5) An estimate of the cost of implementing the 
        recommendations set forth pursuant to paragraphs (2), (3), and 
        (4) during the five fiscal years beginning after the date of 
        the submittal of the report.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (6) Such other matters as the Secretary of Defense 
        and the Secretary of Labor jointly consider 
        appropriate.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (c) Appropriate Committees of Congress Defined.--In this 
section, the term ``appropriate committees of Congress'' means--
</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) the Committee on Armed Services, the Committee 
        on Veterans' Affairs, and the Committee on Appropriations of 
        the Senate; and</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) the Committee on Armed Services, the Committee 
        on Veterans' Affairs, and the Committee on Appropriations of 
        the House of Representatives.</DELETED>

<DELETED>SEC. 16. STUDY ON PROGRAM OF TRANSITION ASSISTANCE MODELED ON 
              NATIONAL GUARD EMPLOYMENT ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM OF THE 
              WASHINGTON NATIONAL GUARD.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    (a) Study Required.--Not later than 180 days after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall 
complete a study of the National Guard Employment Enhancement Program 
of the Washington National Guard to assess the feasibility and 
advisability of carrying out a program of assistance modeled after such 
program for all members of reserve components of the Armed Forces who 
transition from activity military service to civilian life.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (b) Report.--Upon completion of the study required by 
subsection (a), the Secretary shall submit to the appropriate 
committees of Congress a report that includes the following:</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) The findings of the Secretary as a result of 
        the study.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) The recommendation of the Secretary as to the 
        feasibility and advisability of carrying out a program of 
        assistance as described in subsection (a).</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (3) If the Secretary determines that carrying out 
        a program of assistance as described in subsection (a) is 
        feasible and advisable, an estimate of the cost to implement 
        the program of assistance.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (c) Appropriate Committees of Congress Defined.--In this 
section, the term ``appropriate committees of Congress'' means--
</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) the Committee on Armed Services, the Committee 
        on Veterans' Affairs, and the Committee on Appropriations of 
        the Senate; and</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) the Committee on Armed Services, the Committee 
        on Veterans' Affairs, and the Committee on Appropriations of 
        the House of Representatives.</DELETED>

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Veteran Employment Assistance Act of 
2010''.

SEC. 2. VETERANS' BUSINESS CENTER PROGRAM.

    (a) In General.--Section 32 of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 
657b) is amended by striking subsection (f) and inserting the 
following:
    ``(f) Online Coordination.--
            ``(1) Definition.--In this subsection, the term `veterans' 
        assistance provider' means--
                    ``(A) a veterans' business center established under 
                subsection (g);
                    ``(B) an employee of the Administration assigned to 
                the Office of Veterans Business Development; and
                    ``(C) a veterans business ownership representative 
                designated under subsection (g)(13)(B).
            ``(2) Establishment.--The Associate Administrator shall 
        establish an online mechanism to--
                    ``(A) provide information that assists veterans' 
                assistance providers in carrying out the activities of 
                the veterans' assistance providers; and
                    ``(B) coordinate and leverage the work of the 
                veterans' assistance providers, including by allowing a 
                veterans' assistance provider to--
                            ``(i) distribute best practices and other 
                        materials;
                            ``(ii) communicate with other veterans' 
                        assistance providers regarding the activities 
                        of the veterans' assistance provider on behalf 
                        of veterans; and
                            ``(iii) pose questions to and request input 
                        from other veterans' assistance providers.
    ``(g) Veterans' Business Center Program.--
            ``(1) Definitions.--In this subsection--
                    ``(A) the term `active duty' has the meaning given 
                that term in section 101 of title 10, United States 
                Code;
                    ``(B) the term `private nonprofit organization' 
                means an entity that is described in section 501(c) of 
                the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and exempt from 
                taxation under section 501(a) of such Code;
                    ``(C) the term `Reservist' means a member of a 
                reserve component of the Armed Forces, as described in 
                section 10101 of title 10, United States Code;
                    ``(D) the term `Service Corps of Retired 
                Executives' means the Service Corps of Retired 
                Executives authorized under section 8(b)(1);
                    ``(E) the term `small business concern owned and 
                controlled by veterans'--
                            ``(i) has the same meaning as in section 
                        3(q); and
                            ``(ii) includes a small business concern--
                                    ``(I) not less than 51 percent of 
                                which is owned by one or more spouses 
                                of veterans or, in the case of any 
                                publicly owned business, not less than 
                                51 percent of the stock of which is 
                                owned by one or more spouses of 
                                veterans; and
                                    ``(II) the management and daily 
                                business operations of which are 
                                controlled by one or more spouses of 
                                veterans;
                    ``(F) the term `spouse', relating to a veteran, 
                service-disabled veteran, or Reservist, includes an 
                individual who is the spouse of a veteran, service-
                disabled veteran, or Reservist on the date on which the 
                veteran, service-disabled veteran, or Reservist died;
                    ``(G) the term `veterans' business center program' 
                means the program established under paragraph (2)(A); 
                and
                    ``(H) the term `women's business center' means a 
                women's business center described in section 29.
            ``(2) Program established.--
                    ``(A) In general.--The Administrator, acting 
                through the Associate Administrator, shall establish a 
                veterans' business center program, under which the 
                Associate Administrator may provide financial 
                assistance to a private nonprofit organization to 
                conduct a 5-year project for the benefit of small 
                business concerns owned and controlled by veterans, 
                which may be renewed for one or more additional 5-year 
                periods.
                    ``(B) Form of financial assistance.--Financial 
                assistance under this subsection may be in the form of 
                a grant, a contract, or a cooperative agreement.
            ``(3) Veterans' business centers.--Each private nonprofit 
        organization that receives financial assistance under this 
        subsection shall establish or operate a veterans' business 
        center (which may include establishing or operating satellite 
        offices in the region described in paragraph (5) served by that 
        private nonprofit organization) that provides to veterans 
        (including service-disabled veterans), Reservists, and the 
        spouses of veterans (including service-disabled veterans) and 
        Reservists--
                    ``(A) financial advice, including training and 
                counseling on applying for and securing business credit 
                and investment capital, preparing and presenting 
                financial statements, and managing cash flow and other 
                financial operations of a small business concern;
                    ``(B) management advice, including training and 
                counseling on the planning, organization, staffing, 
                direction, and control of each major activity and 
                function of a small business concern;
                    ``(C) marketing advice, including training and 
                counseling on identifying and segmenting domestic and 
                international market opportunities, preparing and 
                executing marketing plans, developing pricing 
                strategies, locating contract opportunities, 
                negotiating contracts, and using public relations and 
                advertising techniques; and
                    ``(D) advice, including training and counseling, 
                for Reservists and the spouses of Reservists.
            ``(4) Application.--
                    ``(A) In general.--A private nonprofit organization 
                desiring to receive financial assistance under this 
                subsection shall submit an application to the Associate 
                Administrator at such time and in such manner as the 
                Associate Administrator may require.
                    ``(B) 5-year plan.--Each application described in 
                subparagraph (A) shall include a 5-year plan on 
                proposed fundraising and training activities relating 
                to the veterans' business center.
                    ``(C) Determination and notification.--Not later 
                than 60 days after the date on which a private 
                nonprofit organization submits an application under 
                subparagraph (A), the Associate Administrator shall 
                approve or deny the application and notify the 
                applicant of the determination.
                    ``(D) Availability of application.--The Associate 
                Administrator shall make every effort to make the 
                application under subparagraph (A) available online.
            ``(5) Eligibility.--The Associate Administrator may select 
        to receive financial assistance under this subsection--
                    ``(A) a Veterans Business Outreach Center 
                established by the Administrator under section 8(b)(17) 
                on or before the day before the date of enactment of 
                this subsection; or
                    ``(B) private nonprofit organizations located in 
                various regions of the United States, as the Associate 
                Administrator determines is appropriate.
            ``(6) Selection criteria.--
                    ``(A) In general.--The Associate Administrator 
                shall establish selection criteria, stated in terms of 
                relative importance, to evaluate and rank applicants 
                under paragraph (5)(C) for financial assistance under 
                this subsection.
                    ``(B) Criteria.--The selection criteria established 
                under this paragraph shall include--
                            ``(i) the experience of the applicant in 
                        conducting programs or ongoing efforts designed 
                        to impart or upgrade the business skills of 
                        veterans, and the spouses of veterans, who own 
                        or may own small business concerns;
                            ``(ii) for an applicant for initial 
                        financial assistance under this subsection--
                                    ``(I) the ability of the applicant 
                                to begin operating a veterans' business 
                                center within a minimum amount of time; 
                                and
                                    ``(II) the geographic region to be 
                                served by the veterans' business 
                                center;
                            ``(iii) the demonstrated ability of the 
                        applicant to--
                                    ``(I) provide managerial counseling 
                                and technical assistance to 
                                entrepreneurs; and
                                    ``(II) coordinate services provided 
                                by veterans services organizations and 
                                other public or private entities; and
                            ``(iv) for any applicant for a renewal of 
                        financial assistance under this subsection, the 
                        results of the most recent examination under 
                        paragraph (10) of the veterans' business center 
                        operated by the applicant.
                    ``(C) Criteria publicly available.--The Associate 
                Administrator shall--
                            ``(i) make publicly available the selection 
                        criteria established under this paragraph; and
                            ``(ii) include the criteria in each 
                        solicitation for applications for financial 
                        assistance under this subsection.
            ``(7) Amount of assistance.--The amount of financial 
        assistance provided under this subsection to a private 
        nonprofit organization for each fiscal year shall be--
                    ``(A) not less than $150,000; and
                    ``(B) not more than $200,000.
            ``(8) Federal share.--
                    ``(A) In general.--
                            ``(i) Initial financial assistance.--Except 
                        as provided in clause (ii) and subparagraph 
                        (E), a private nonprofit organization that 
                        receives financial assistance under this 
                        subsection shall provide non-Federal 
                        contributions for the operation of the 
                        veterans' business center established by the 
                        private nonprofit organization in an amount 
                        equal to--
                                    ``(I) in each of the first and 
                                second years of the project, not less 
                                than 33 percent of the amount of the 
                                financial assistance received under 
                                this subsection; and
                                    ``(II) in each of the third through 
                                fifth years of the project, not less 
                                than 50 percent of the amount of the 
                                financial assistance received under 
                                this subsection.
                            ``(ii) Renewals.--A private nonprofit 
                        organization that receives a renewal of 
                        financial assistance under this subsection 
                        shall provide non-Federal contributions for the 
                        operation of the veterans' business center 
                        established by the private nonprofit 
                        organization in an amount equal to not less 
                        than 50 percent of the amount of the financial 
                        assistance received under this subsection.
                    ``(B) Form of non-federal share.--Not more than 50 
                percent of the non-Federal share for a project carried 
                out using financial assistance under this subsection 
                may be in the form of in-kind contributions.
                    ``(C) Timing of disbursement.--The Associate 
                Administrator may disburse not more than 25 percent of 
                the financial assistance awarded to a private nonprofit 
                organization before the private nonprofit organization 
                obtains the non-Federal share required under this 
                paragraph with respect to that award.
                    ``(D) Failure to obtain non-federal funding.--
                            ``(i) In general.--If a private nonprofit 
                        organization that receives financial assistance 
                        under this subsection fails to obtain the non-
                        Federal share required under this paragraph 
                        during any fiscal year, the private nonprofit 
                        organization may not receive a disbursement 
                        under this subsection in a subsequent fiscal 
                        year or a disbursement for any other project 
                        funded by the Administration, unless the 
                        Administrator makes a written determination 
                        that the private nonprofit organization will be 
                        able to obtain a non-Federal contribution.
                            ``(ii) Restoration.--A private nonprofit 
                        organization prohibited from receiving a 
                        disbursement under clause (i) in a fiscal year 
                        may receive financial assistance in a 
                        subsequent fiscal year if the organization 
                        obtains the non-Federal share required under 
                        this paragraph for the subsequent fiscal year.
                    ``(E) Waiver of non-federal share.--
                            ``(i) In general.--Upon request by a 
                        private nonprofit organization, and in 
                        accordance with this subparagraph, the 
                        Administrator may waive, in whole or in part, 
                        the requirement to obtain non-Federal funds 
                        under subparagraph (A) for a fiscal year. The 
                        Administrator may not waive the requirement for 
                        a private nonprofit organization to obtain non-
                        Federal funds under this subparagraph for more 
                        than a total of 2 fiscal years.
                            ``(ii) Considerations.--In determining 
                        whether to waive the requirement to obtain non-
                        Federal funds under this subparagraph, the 
                        Administrator shall consider--
                                    ``(I) the economic conditions 
                                affecting the private nonprofit 
                                organization;
                                    ``(II) the impact a waiver under 
                                this subparagraph would have on the 
                                credibility of the veterans' business 
                                center program;
                                    ``(III) the demonstrated ability of 
                                the private nonprofit organization to 
                                raise non-Federal funds; and
                                    ``(IV) the performance of the 
                                private nonprofit organization.
                            ``(iii) Limitation.--The Administrator may 
                        not waive the requirement to obtain non-Federal 
                        funds under this subparagraph if granting the 
                        waiver would undermine the credibility of the 
                        veterans' business center program.
            ``(9) Contract authority.--A veterans' business center may 
        enter into a contract with a Federal department or agency to 
        provide specific assistance to veterans, service-disabled 
        veterans, Reservists, or the spouses of veterans, service-
        disabled veterans, or Reservists. Performance of such contract 
        shall not hinder the veterans' business center in carrying out 
        the terms of the grant received by the veterans' business 
        centers from the Administrator.
            ``(10) Examination and determination of viability.--
                    ``(A) Examination.--
                            ``(i) In general.--The Associate 
                        Administrator shall conduct an annual 
                        examination of the programs and finances of 
                        each veterans' business center established or 
                        operated using financial assistance under this 
                        subsection.
                            ``(ii) Factors.--In conducting the 
                        examination under clause (i), the Associate 
                        Administrator shall consider whether the 
                        veterans' business center has failed--
                                    ``(I) to provide the information 
                                required to be provided under 
                                subparagraph (B), or the information 
                                provided by the center is inadequate;
                                    ``(II) the center has failed to 
                                comply with a requirement for 
                                participation in the veterans' business 
                                center program, as determined by the 
                                Assistant Administrator, including--
                                            ``(aa) failure to acquire 
                                        or properly document a non-
                                        Federal share;
                                            ``(bb) failure to establish 
                                        an appropriate partnership or 
                                        program for marketing and 
                                        outreach to small business 
                                        concerns;
                                            ``(cc) failure to achieve 
                                        results described in a 
                                        financial assistance agreement; 
                                        and
                                            ``(dd) failure to provide 
                                        to the Administrator a 
                                        description of the amount and 
                                        sources of any non-Federal 
                                        funding received by the center;
                                    ``(III) to carry out the 5-year 
                                plan under in paragraph (4)(B); or
                                    ``(IV) to meet the eligibility 
                                requirements under paragraph (5).
                    ``(B) Information provided.--In the course of an 
                examination under subparagraph (A), the veterans' 
                business center shall provide to the Associate 
                Administrator--
                            ``(i) an itemized cost breakdown of actual 
                        expenditures for costs incurred during the most 
                        recent full fiscal year;
                            ``(ii) documentation of the amount of non-
                        Federal contributions obtained and expended by 
                        the veterans' business center during the most 
                        recent full fiscal year; and
                            ``(iii) with respect to any in-kind 
                        contribution under paragraph (8)(B), 
                        verification of the existence and valuation of 
                        such contributions.
                    ``(C) Determination of viability.--The Associate 
                Administrator shall analyze the results of each 
                examination under this paragraph and, based on that 
                analysis, make a determination regarding the viability 
                of the programs and finances of each veterans' business 
                center.
                    ``(D) Discontinuation of funding.--
                            ``(i) In general.--The Associate 
                        Administrator may discontinue an award of 
                        financial assistance to a private nonprofit 
                        organization at any time if the Associate 
                        Administrator determines under subparagraph (C) 
                        that the veterans' business center operated by 
                        that organization is not viable.
                            ``(ii) Restoration.--The Associate 
                        Administrator may continue to provide financial 
                        assistance to a private nonprofit organization 
                        in a subsequent fiscal year if the Associate 
                        Administrator determines under subparagraph (C) 
                        that the veterans' business center is viable.
            ``(11) Privacy requirements.--
                    ``(A) In general.--Except as provided in 
                subparagraph (B), a veterans' business center 
                established or operated using financial assistance 
                provided under this subsection may not disclose the 
                name, address, or telephone number of any individual or 
                small business concern that receives advice from the 
                veterans' business center without the consent of the 
                individual or small business concern.
                    ``(B) Exception.--A veterans' business center may 
                disclose information described in subparagraph (A)--
                            ``(i) if the Administrator or Associate 
                        Administrator is ordered to make such a 
                        disclosure by a court in any civil or criminal 
                        enforcement action initiated by a Federal or 
                        State agency; or
                            ``(ii) to the extent that the Administrator 
                        or Associate Administrator determines that such 
                        a disclosure is necessary to conduct a 
                        financial audit of a veterans' business center.
                    ``(C) Administration use of information.--This 
                paragraph does not--
                            ``(i) restrict access by the Administrator 
                        to program activity data; or
                            ``(ii) prevent the Administrator from using 
                        information not described in subparagraph (A) 
                        to conduct surveys of individuals or small 
                        business concerns that receive advice from a 
                        veterans' business center.
                    ``(D) Regulations.--The Administrator shall issue 
                regulations to establish standards for requiring 
                disclosures under subparagraph (B)(ii).
            ``(12) Report.--
                    ``(A) In general.--Not later than 60 days after the 
                end of each fiscal year, the Associate Administrator 
                shall submit to the Committee on Small Business and 
                Entrepreneurship of the Senate and the Committee on 
                Small Business of the House of Representatives a report 
                on the effectiveness of the veterans' business center 
                program in each region during the most recent full 
                fiscal year.
                    ``(B) Contents.--Each report under this paragraph 
                shall include, at a minimum, for each veterans' 
                business center established or operated using financial 
                assistance provided under this subsection--
                            ``(i) the number of individuals receiving 
                        assistance from the veterans' business center, 
                        including the number of such individuals who 
                        are--
                                    ``(I) veterans or spouses of 
                                veterans;
                                    ``(II) service-disabled veterans or 
                                spouses of service-disabled veterans; 
                                or
                                    ``(III) Reservists or spouses of 
                                Reservists;
                            ``(ii) the number of startup small business 
                        concerns formed by individuals receiving 
                        assistance from the veterans' business center, 
                        including--
                                    ``(I) veterans or spouses of 
                                veterans;
                                    ``(II) service-disabled veterans or 
                                spouses of service-disabled veterans; 
                                or
                                    ``(III) Reservists or spouses of 
                                Reservists;
                            ``(iii) the gross receipts of small 
                        business concerns that receive advice from the 
                        veterans' business center;
                            ``(iv) the employment increases or 
                        decreases of small business concerns that 
                        receive advice from the veterans' business 
                        center;
                            ``(v) to the maximum extent practicable, 
                        the increases or decreases in profits of small 
                        business concerns that receive advice from the 
                        veterans' business center; and
                            ``(vi) the results of the examination of 
                        the veterans' business center under paragraph 
                        (10).
            ``(13) Coordination of efforts and consultation.--
                    ``(A) Coordination and consultation.--To the extent 
                practicable, the Associate Administrator and each 
                private nonprofit organization that receives financial 
                assistance under this subsection shall--
                            ``(i) coordinate outreach and other 
                        activities with other programs of the 
                        Administration and the programs of other 
                        Federal agencies;
                            ``(ii) consult with technical 
                        representatives of the district offices of the 
                        Administration in carrying out activities using 
                        financial assistance under this subsection; and
                            ``(iii) provide information to the veterans 
                        business ownership representatives designated 
                        under subparagraph (B) and coordinate with the 
                        veterans business ownership representatives to 
                        increase the ability of the veterans business 
                        ownership representatives to provide services 
                        throughout the area served by the veterans 
                        business ownership representatives.
                    ``(B) Veterans business ownership 
                representatives.--
                            ``(i) Designation.--The Administrator shall 
                        designate not fewer than 1 individual in each 
                        district office of the Administration as a 
                        veterans business ownership representative, who 
                        shall communicate and coordinate activities of 
                        the district office with private nonprofit 
                        organizations that receive financial assistance 
                        under this subsection.
                            ``(ii) Initial designation.--The first 
                        individual in each district office of the 
                        Administration designated by the Administrator 
                        as a veterans business ownership representative 
                        under clause (i) shall be an individual that is 
                        employed by the Administration on the date of 
                        enactment of this subsection.
            ``(14) Existing contracts.--An award of financial 
        assistance under this subsection shall not void any contract 
        between a private nonprofit organization and the Administration 
        that is in effect on the date of such award.
    ``(h) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated--
            ``(1) to carry out subsections (a) through (f), $2,000,000 
        for each of fiscal years 2011 through 2013; and
            ``(2) to carry out subsection (g)--
                    ``(A) $8,000,000 for fiscal year 2011;
                    ``(B) $8,500,000 for fiscal year 2012; and
                    ``(C) $9,000,000 for fiscal year 2013.''.
    (b) GAO Reports.--
            (1) Definitions.--In this subsection--
                    (A) the terms ``small business concern'' and 
                ``veteran'' have the meanings given those terms under 
                section 3 of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 632); 
                and
                    (B) the terms ``Reservist'', ``small business 
                concern owned and controlled by veterans'', and 
                ``veterans' business center program'' have the meanings 
                given those terms in section 32(g) of the Small 
                Business Act, as added by this section.
            (2) Report on access to credit.--
                    (A) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the 
                date of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General 
                of the United States shall submit a report regarding 
                the ability of small business concern owned and 
                controlled by veterans to access credit to--
                            (i) the Committee on Veterans' Affairs and 
                        the Committee on Small Business and 
                        Entrepreneurship of the Senate; and
                            (ii) the Committee on Veterans' Affairs and 
                        the Committee on Small Business of the House of 
                        Representatives.
                    (B) Contents.--The report submitted under 
                subparagraph (A) shall include an analysis of--
                            (i) the sources of credit used by small 
                        business concerns owned and controlled by 
                        veterans and percentage of the credit obtained 
                        by small business concern owned and controlled 
                        by veterans that is obtained from each source;
                            (ii) the default rate for small business 
                        concerns owned and controlled by veterans 
                        separately for each source of credit described 
                        in clause (i), as compared to the default rate 
                        for the source of credit for small business 
                        concerns generally;
                            (iii) the Federal lending programs 
                        available to provide credit to small business 
                        concerns owned and controlled by veterans;
                            (iv) gaps, if any, in the availability of 
                        credit for small business concerns owned and 
                        controlled by veterans that are not being 
                        filled by the Federal Government or private 
                        sources;
                            (v) obstacles faced by veterans in trying 
                        to access credit;
                            (vi) the extent to which deployment and 
                        other military responsibilities affect the 
                        credit history of veterans and Reservists; and
                            (vii) the extent to which veterans are 
                        aware of Federal programs targeted towards 
                        helping veterans access credit.
            (3) Report on veterans' business center program.--
                    (A) In general.--Not later than 60 days after the 
                end of the second fiscal year beginning after the date 
                on which the veterans' business center program is 
                established, the Comptroller General of the United 
                States shall evaluate the effectiveness of the 
                veterans' business center program, and submit to 
                Congress a report on the results of that evaluation.
                    (B) Contents.--The report submitted under 
                subparagraph (A) shall include--
                            (i) an assessment of--
                                    (I) the use of amounts made 
                                available to carry out the veterans' 
                                business center program;
                                    (II) the effectiveness of the 
                                services provided by each private 
                                nonprofit organization receiving 
                                financial assistance under the 
                                veterans' business center program;
                                    (III) whether the services 
                                described in clause (ii) are 
                                duplicative of services provided by 
                                other veteran service organizations, 
                                programs of the Small Business 
                                Administration, or programs of another 
                                Federal department or agency and, if 
                                so, recommendations regarding how to 
                                alleviate the duplication of the 
                                services; and
                                    (IV) whether there are areas of the 
                                United States in which there are not 
                                adequate entrepreneurial services for 
                                small business concerns owned and 
                                controlled by veterans and, if so, 
                                whether there is a veterans' business 
                                center established under the veterans' 
                                business center program providing 
                                services to that area; and
                            (ii) recommendations, if any, for improving 
                        the veterans' business center program.

SEC. 3. REPORTING REQUIREMENT FOR INTERAGENCY TASK FORCE ON SMALL 
              BUSINESSES OWNED AND CONTROLLED BY DISABLED VETERANS.

    Section 32(c) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 657b(c)) is 
amended by adding at the end the following:
            ``(4) Report.--Not less frequently than twice each year, 
        the Administrator shall submit to Congress a report on the 
        appointments made to and activities of the task force.''.

SEC. 4. REPEAL OF AUTHORITY TO AWARD NEW GRANTS AND RENEWAL OF 
              PREVIOUSLY AWARDED GRANTS FOR OUTREACH PROGRAMS FOR 
              VETERANS.

    (a) Definition.--In this section, the term ``covered grant, 
contract, or cooperative agreement'' means a grant, contract, or 
cooperative agreement that was--
            (1) made or entered into under section 8(b)(17) of the 
        Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 637(b)(17)); and
            (2) in effect on or before the date described in subsection 
        (b)(2).
    (b) Repeal.--
            (1) In general.--Section 8(b) of the Small Business Act (15 
        U.S.C. 637(b)) is amended--
                    (A) in paragraph (15), by adding ``and'' at the 
                end;
                    (B) in paragraph (16), by striking ``; and'' and 
                inserting a period; and
                    (C) by striking paragraph (17).
            (2) Effective date.--The amendments made by paragraph (1) 
        shall take effect 60 days after the date of enactment of this 
        Act.
    (c) Transitional Rules.--
            (1) In general.--Notwithstanding any other provision of 
        law, a covered grant, contract, or cooperative agreement shall 
        remain in full force and effect under the terms, and for the 
        duration, of the covered grant, contract, or agreement.
            (2) Additional requirements.--Any organization that was 
        awarded or entered into a covered grant, contract, or 
        cooperative agreement shall be subject to the requirements of 
        section 32(g) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 657b(g)) (as 
        added by this Act).
    (d) Renewal of Financial Assistance.--An organization that was 
awarded or entered into a covered grant, contract, or cooperative 
agreement may apply for a renewal of the grant, contract, or agreement 
under the terms and conditions described in section 32(g) of the Small 
Business Act (15 U.S.C. 657b(g)) (as added by this Act).

SEC. 5. MILITARY PATHWAYS DEMONSTRATION PROGRAMS.

    (a) Information Technology Military Pathways Demonstration 
Program.--
            (1) In general.--The Secretary of Labor, acting through the 
        Assistant Secretary for Veterans' Employment and Training, 
        after consultation with the Secretary of Veterans Affairs and 
        the Secretary of Defense, shall establish a demonstration 
        program and carry out the program by making grants, on a 
        competitive basis, to not more than 5 entities for 
        demonstration projects. The projects shall be designed to test 
        the feasibility of methods of enabling transitioning military 
        members to build on the technical skills learned in many 
        military jobs, to enter the information technology workforce or 
        continue their skills development in the information technology 
        disciplines to meet the demand for information technology 
        workforce readiness in computer specialist and related 
        information technology jobs.
            (2) Issues to be examined.--In carrying out the program, 
        the Secretary may examine the feasibility of methods such as 
        the following:
                    (A) Methods to improve the transitions, skills 
                development, and employment of transitioning military 
                members for and in information technology occupations 
                with wages sufficient to support families.
                    (B) Methods to align the information technology 
                skills acquired in military occupations with skills 
                required in civilian information technology occupations 
                in new, emerging, or viable industries, including 
                aligning the skills--
                            (i) using guidelines for assessments and 
                        credentials that employers value in the hiring 
                        process, and credentials that are industry-
                        recognized and approved by the Secretary; and
                            (ii) by means that may include the use of a 
                        modified or enhanced Department of Defense 
                        transition program or a Department of Labor 
                        transition program, such as the program carried 
                        out under chapter 41 of title 38, United States 
                        Code.
                    (C) Methods to ensure that military members receive 
                education and training, including training through 
                apprenticeship programs, and necessary support 
                services, that are flexible, available (including 
                available for deployed military members), adequate for 
                individuals seeking to make the transition to civilian 
                information technology occupations, and consistent with 
                academic requirements of the institution involved.
                    (D) Methods to enable military members to 
                accelerate application for admission, acceptance, and 
                graduation as students in computer science, 
                engineering, and related disciplines at 2-year and 4-
                year institutions of higher education, based on 
                military credentials and experience.
                    (E) Methods to help military members obtain 
                information technology credentials that are industry-
                recognized, are approved by the Secretary, and satisfy 
                both military requirements and civilian requirements, 
                prior to release of the members from the military.
            (3) Eligibility.--To be eligible to receive a grant under 
        this subsection, an entity shall submit an application to the 
        Secretary at such time, in such manner, and containing such 
        information as the Secretary may require, including each of the 
        following:
                    (A) An assurance that the entity agrees that, in 
                carrying out the project, the entity will work in 
                conjunction with a local board and enter into a 
                partnership that includes, as principal partners, 
                employers, labor organizations, postsecondary education 
                institutions including institutions of higher 
                education, veterans service organizations, and other 
                community organizations.
                    (B) Information--
                            (i) demonstrating the capability of the 
                        entity in working with transitioning military 
                        members;
                            (ii) demonstrating that the entity has a 
                        history of effective collaboration with--
                                    (I) the information technology 
                                industry or an industry with 
                                significant information technology 
                                jobs;
                                    (II) State boards or local boards, 
                                as appropriate; and
                                    (III) institutions of higher 
                                education and other information 
                                technology educators or trainers; and
                            (iii) demonstrating knowledge of training 
                        and best practices of the information 
                        technology industry.
                    (C) An assurance that the entity will participate 
                in the Secretary's evaluation plan for the 
                demonstration program, including participating in 
                required reporting for the plan.
            (4) Selection criteria.--In order to select entities to 
        receive grants for projects under this subsection, the 
        Secretary shall establish selection criteria consistent with 
        this subsection and shall ensure that the criteria give 
        priority to each of the following types of entities:
                    (A) Entities that demonstrate the ability to 
                leverage public or private funds to sustain such a 
                project after the grant period.
                    (B) Entities that have relationships with 
                institutions of higher education or with qualified 
                community-based organizations that provide training.
                    (C) Entities that have relationships with 
                employers, labor organizations, and other entities that 
                will provide earn and learn opportunities to veterans.
                    (D) Entities that have experience working with 
                veterans and facilitating transitions from military to 
                civilian work environments.
                    (E) Entities that have experience designing 
                contextualized learning programs that integrate basic 
                adult education with skills training.
            (5) Program evaluation and technical assistance.--Using not 
        more than 10 percent of the amount made available to carry out 
        this subsection, the Secretary may--
                    (A) conduct an evaluation to determine promising 
                methods of increasing the number of highly skilled 
                transitioning military members who enter civilian 
                information technology occupations and earn wages 
                sufficient to support families; and
                    (B) provide technical assistance to entities 
                receiving grants under this subsection, relating to the 
                promising methods.
            (6) Definition.--In this subsection, the term ``information 
        technology'' means any equipment or interconnected system or 
        subsystem of equipment--
                    (A) used in the automatic acquisition, storage, 
                analysis, evaluation, manipulation, management, 
                movement, control, display, switching, interchange, 
                transmission, or reception of data or information; and
                    (B) includes the following:
                            (i) Computers.
                            (ii) Ancillary equipment for computers 
                        (including imaging peripherals, and input, 
                        output, and storage devices necessary for 
                        security and surveillance).
                            (iii) Peripheral equipment designed to be 
                        controlled by the central processing unit of a 
                        computer.
                            (iv) Software.
                            (v) Computer services (including support 
                        services).
                            (vi) Other computer-related resources.
            (7) Authorization of appropriations.--There is authorized 
        to be appropriated to carry out this subsection $4,000,000 for 
        each of fiscal years 2011 through 2013.
    (b) Nursing, Public Health and Allied Health Professional, and 
Physician Assistant Military Pathways Demonstration Program.--
            (1) In general.--The Secretary of Labor, acting through the 
        Assistant Secretary for Veterans' Employment and Training, 
        after consultation with the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, 
        Secretary of Defense, and Secretary of Health and Human 
        Services, shall establish a demonstration program and carry out 
        the program by making grants, on a competitive basis, to not 
        more than 5 entities for demonstration projects. The projects 
        shall be designed to test the feasibility of methods of 
        enabling transitioning military members to build on the 
        technical skills learned in many military jobs, to enter the 
        nursing, public health and allied health professional, and 
        physician assistant workforces or continue their skills 
        development in disciplines related to those workforces to meet 
        the demand for nurses, public health and allied health 
        professionals, and physician assistants.
            (2) Issues to be examined.--In carrying out the program, 
        the Secretary may examine the feasibility of methods such as 
        the following:
                    (A) Methods to improve the transitions, skills 
                development, and employment of transitioning military 
                members for and in nursing, public health and allied 
                health professional, and physician assistant 
                occupations with wages sufficient to support families.
                    (B) Methods to align nursing, public health and 
                allied health professional, and physician assistant 
                skills acquired in military occupations with skills 
                required in related civilian health occupations, 
                including aligning the skills--
                            (i) using guidelines for assessments and 
                        credentials that employers value in the hiring 
                        process, and credentials that are industry-
                        recognized and approved by the Secretary; and
                            (ii) by means that may include the use of a 
                        modified or enhanced Department of Defense 
                        transition program or a Department of Labor 
                        transition program, such as the program carried 
                        out under chapter 41 of title 38, United States 
                        Code.
                    (C) Methods to ensure that military members receive 
                education and training, including training through 
                apprenticeship programs, and necessary support 
                services, that are flexible, available (including 
                available for deployed military members), adequate for 
                individuals seeking to make the transition to civilian 
                nursing, public health and allied health, and physician 
                assistant occupations, and consistent with academic 
                requirements of the institution involved.
                    (D) Methods to align education and training 
                programs, including apprenticeship programs, for 
                veterans in nursing, public health and allied health 
                professional, and physician assistant occupations with 
                education and training programs for those occupations 
                that are provided for the public.
                    (E) Methods to enable military members to 
                accelerate application for admission, acceptance, and 
                graduation as students in nursing, public health and 
                allied health, and physician assistant disciplines at 
                2-year and 4-year institutions of higher education, 
                based on military credentials and experience.
                    (F) Methods to help military members obtain 
                credentials related to those health care occupations 
                that are industry-recognized, are approved by the 
                Secretary, and satisfy both military requirements and 
                civilian requirements, prior to release of the members 
                from the military.
            (3) Eligibility.--To be eligible to receive a grant under 
        this subsection, an entity shall submit an application to the 
        Secretary at such time, in such manner, and containing such 
        information as the Secretary may require including each of the 
        following:
                    (A) An assurance that the entity agrees that, in 
                carrying out the project, the entity will work in 
                conjunction with a local board and enter into a 
                partnership that includes, as principal partners, 
                employers, labor organizations, postsecondary education 
                institutions including institutions of higher 
                education, veterans service organizations, and other 
                community organizations.
                    (B) Information--
                            (i) in demonstrating the capability of the 
                        entity in working with transitioning military 
                        members;
                            (ii) demonstrating that the entity has a 
                        history of effective collaboration with--
                                    (I) health care employers;
                                    (II) State boards or local boards, 
                                as appropriate; and
                                    (III) institutions of higher 
                                education and other nursing, public 
                                health and allied health professional, 
                                and physician assistant educators or 
                                trainers; and
                            (iii) demonstrating knowledge of training 
                        and best practices of the health care industry.
                    (C) An assurance that the entity will participate 
                in the Secretary's evaluation plan for the 
                demonstration program, including participating in 
                required reporting for the plan.
            (4) Selection criteria.--In order to select entities to 
        receive grants for projects under this subsection, the 
        Secretary shall establish selection criteria consistent with 
        this subsection and shall ensure that the criteria give 
        priority to entities that demonstrate the ability to leverage 
        of public or private funds to sustain such a project after the 
        grant period.
            (5) Program evaluation and technical assistance.--Using not 
        more than 10 percent of the amount made available to carry out 
        this subsection, the Secretary may--
                    (A) conduct an evaluation to determine promising 
                methods of increasing the number of highly skilled 
                transitioning military members who enter civilian 
                nursing, public health and allied health, or physician 
                assistant occupations and earn wages sufficient to 
                support families; and
                    (B) provide technical assistance to entities 
                receiving grants under this subsection, relating to the 
                promising methods.
            (6) Definition.--In this subsection, the term ``allied 
        health professional'' means a health professional (other than a 
        registered nurse or physician assistant) who--
                    (A) has received a certificate, an associate 
                degree, a baccalaureate degree, a master's degree, a 
                doctoral degree, or postbaccalaureate training, in a 
                science relating to health care;
                    (B) shares in the responsibility for the delivery 
                of health care services or related services, 
                including--
                            (i) services relating to the 
                        identification, evaluation, and prevention of 
                        disease and disorders;
                            (ii) dietary and nutrition services;
                            (iii) health promotion services;
                            (iv) rehabilitation services; or
                            (v) health systems management services; and
                    (C) has not received--
                            (i) a degree of doctor of medicine;
                            (ii) a degree of doctor of osteopathy;
                            (iii) a degree of doctor of dentistry or an 
                        equivalent degree;
                            (iv) a degree of doctor of veterinary 
                        medicine or an equivalent degree;
                            (v) a degree of doctor of optometry or an 
                        equivalent degree;
                            (vi) a degree of doctor of podiatric 
                        medicine or an equivalent degree;
                            (vii) a degree of bachelor of science in 
                        pharmacy or an equivalent degree;
                            (viii) a degree of doctor of pharmacy or an 
                        equivalent degree;
                            (ix) a graduate degree in public health or 
                        an equivalent degree;
                            (x) a degree of doctor of chiropractic or 
                        an equivalent degree;
                            (xi) a graduate degree in health 
                        administration or an equivalent degree;
                            (xii) a doctoral degree in clinical 
                        psychology or an equivalent degree;
                            (xiii) a degree in social work or an 
                        equivalent degree; or
                            (xiv) a degree in counseling or an 
                        equivalent degree.
            (7) Authorization of appropriations.--There is authorized 
        to be appropriated to carry out this subsection $4,000,000 for 
        each of fiscal years 2011 through 2013.
    (c) Law Enforcement and Security Military Pathways Demonstration 
Program.--
            (1) In general.--The Secretary of Labor, acting through the 
        Assistant Secretary of Labor for Veterans' Employment and 
        Training and after consultation with the Secretary of Veterans 
        Affairs and the Secretary of Defense, shall establish a 
        demonstration program and carry out the program by making 
        grants, on a competitive basis, for demonstration projects. The 
        projects shall be designed to test the feasibility of methods 
        of enabling transitioning military members to build on skills 
        learned in many military jobs, to enter the law enforcement and 
        security workforce or continue their skills development in law 
        enforcement and security disciplines to meet the demand for law 
        enforcement and security officers.
            (2) Annual number of grants.--In any 12-month period of the 
        demonstration program, the Secretary may not award more than 5 
        grants for demonstration projects described in this subsection.
            (3) Authorization of appropriations.--There is authorized 
        to be appropriated to carry out this subsection $4,000,000 for 
        each of fiscal years 2011 through 2013.
    (d) Monitoring of Use of Funds.--The Secretary shall monitor and 
evaluate the use of amounts made available through grants made under 
this section. In monitoring and evaluating the use of such amounts, the 
Secretary shall collect from the grant recipients such information as 
the Secretary considers to be appropriate, including data on the 
outcomes relating to the services provided to each veteran under this 
section.
    (e) Report.--Not later than 180 days after the completion of the 
demonstration programs carried out under subsections (a), (b), and (c), 
the Secretary shall prepare and submit, to the appropriate committees 
of Congress and heads of appropriate Federal agencies, a report on the 
findings and outcomes of the demonstration programs. The report shall 
include analysis and a description of methods for enabling veterans to 
transfer military occupational skills from military service to 
employment in the civilian labor market. The Secretary shall broadly 
distribute the report through the veterans service organizations, State 
boards, and local boards.
    (f) Definitions.--In this section:
            (1) Apprenticeship program.--The term ``apprenticeship 
        program'' means a program registered under the Act of August 
        16, 1937 (commonly known as the ``National Apprenticeship 
        Act''; 50 Stat. 664, chapter 663; 29 U.S.C. 50 et seq.).
            (2) Institution of higher education.--The term 
        ``institution of higher education'' has the meaning given the 
        term in section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 
        U.S.C. 1001).
            (3) Postsecondary education.--The term ``postsecondary 
        education'' means--
                    (A) a 4-year program of instruction, or not less 
                than a 1-year program of instruction that is acceptable 
                for credit toward a baccalaureate degree or an 
                associate degree, offered by an institution of higher 
                education; or
                    (B) a certificate or apprenticeship program at the 
                postsecondary level offered by an institution of higher 
                education, a nonprofit educational institution, or a 
                labor-management partnership.
            (4) Workforce investment definitions.--The terms ``adult 
        education'', ``community-based organization'', ``local board'', 
        ``Secretary'', ``State board'', and ``veteran'' have the 
        meanings given the terms in section 101 of the Workforce 
        Investment Act of 1998 (29 U.S.C. 2801).

SEC. 6. VETERANS CORPS GRANT PROGRAMS.

    (a) Grant Program Required.--
            (1) In general.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall, 
        in consultation with the Secretary of Labor, establish--
                    (A) a grant program to award grants to States to 
                establish veteran-to-veteran corps; and
                    (B) a grant program to award grants to States to 
                establish veterans conservation corps.
            (2) Duration.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall 
        carry out each grant program established under paragraph (1) 
        during the three-year period beginning on the date of the 
        commencement of the grant program.
            (3) Maximum amount.--The amount of a grant awarded to a 
        State under this section in any year may not exceed $250,000.
            (4) Annual number of grants.--In any 12-month period of a 
        grant program established under paragraph (1), the Secretary 
        may not award more than five grants under that program.
    (b) Veteran-to-Veteran Corps.--For purposes of this section, a 
veteran-to-veteran corps is a corps that--
            (1) is established by a State or State-approved entity--
                    (A) within the veterans agency of the State; or
                    (B) in affiliation with the veterans agency of the 
                State; and
            (2) provides veterans with volunteer and employment 
        opportunities with respect to projects for one or more of the 
        following:
                    (A) Meeting the needs of homeless veterans.
                    (B) Helping veterans find gainful employment, 
                including entrepreneurship opportunities.
                    (C) Connecting veterans with the care and benefits 
                they may be eligible for under laws administered by the 
                Secretary.
    (c) Veterans Conservation Corps.--For purposes of this section, a 
veterans conservation corps is a corps that--
            (1) is established by a State--
                    (A) within the veterans agency of the State; or
                    (B) in affiliation with the veterans agency of the 
                State; and
            (2) provides veterans with volunteer and employment 
        opportunities with respect to conservation projects for one or 
        more of the following:
                    (A) To restore natural habitat.
                    (B) To maintain Federal, State, or local--
                            (i) forest lands;
                            (ii) parks and reserves; and
                            (iii) other reservations, water, and 
                        outdoor lands.
                    (C) To maintain and improve urban and suburban 
                storm water management facilities and other water 
                management facilities.
                    (D) To carry out hazardous materials and spills 
                response, energy efficiency and other environmental 
                maintenance, stewardship, and restoration projects.
    (d) Training, Education, and Certification.--
            (1) In general.--A State receiving a grant under this 
        section to establish a veteran-to-veteran corps or a veterans 
        conservation corps shall ensure that such corps incorporates 
        into the volunteer and employment opportunities provided by 
        such corps sufficient training, education, and certification in 
        related fields.
            (2) Consultation.--Such State shall ensure that, in 
        incorporating training, education, and certification into 
        volunteer and employment opportunities under paragraph (1), the 
        veteran-to-veteran corps and the veterans conservation corps 
        consults with the following:
                    (A) State and local workforce investment boards.
                    (B) Local institutions of higher education, 
                including community colleges.
                    (C) Private schools.
                    (D) State or local agencies, including State 
                employment agencies and State forest services.
                    (E) Labor organizations.
                    (F) Business involved in the environmental 
                industry, in the case of the veterans conservation 
                corps.
                    (G) Veteran-owned businesses and businesses serving 
                veterans, in the case of the veteran-to-veteran corps.
                    (H) Such other entities as the Secretary of 
                Veterans Affairs considers appropriate.
    (e) Employment Assistance.--A State receiving a grant under this 
section to establish a veteran-to-veteran corps or veterans 
conservation corps shall ensure that such corps partners with one-stop 
centers, State and local workforce investment boards, and other State 
agencies to assist veterans enrolled in such corps in obtaining 
employment in related fields.
    (f) Services.--
            (1) Veteran-to-veteran corps.--A State receiving a grant 
        under this section to establish a veteran-to-veteran corps 
        shall ensure that such corps--
                    (A) assesses of the veterans participating in the 
                Corps the skills to help such veterans identify 
                appropriate employment opportunities in their local 
                communities that utilize the skills they developed 
                while in the Armed Forces;
                    (B) makes use of the abilities of participating 
                veterans to help other veterans and, when practicable, 
                provides opportunities for participating veterans to 
                provide assistance to veterans who have experience 
                similar circumstances;
                    (C) assists with or provides referrals for 
                obtaining benefits available to veterans;
                    (D) facilitates internships or job shadowing for 
                veterans; and
                    (E) matches veterans with veteran assistance 
                projects that are aligned with the goals of the 
                veterans participating in the corps.
            (2) Veterans conservation corps.--A State receiving a grant 
        under this section to establish a veterans conservation corps 
        shall ensure that such corps--
                    (A) assesses of the veterans participating in the 
                Corps the skills to help such veterans identify 
                appropriate employment opportunities in their local 
                communities that utilize the skills they developed 
                while in the Armed Forces;
                    (B) assists with or provides referrals for 
                obtaining benefits available to veterans;
                    (C) facilitates internships or job shadowing for 
                veterans; and
                    (D) matches veterans with conservation projects 
                that are aligned with the goals of the veterans.
            (3) Partnership with state and local workforce investment 
        boards.--In carrying out subparagraphs (A) and (D) of paragraph 
        (1) and subparagraphs (A) and (C) of paragraph (2), the State 
        shall partner with State and local workforce investment boards.
    (g) Annual Reports.--Each State receiving a grant under this 
section shall submit to the Secretary and the appropriate committees of 
Congress an annual report, submitted within one-year of the receipt of 
the grant, on the performance of the veteran-to-veteran corps or the 
veterans conservation corps of such State, including the following:
            (1) A description of how the grant amount was used.
            (2) An assessment of the performance of such corps, 
        including a description of the current veterans labor market in 
        such State and the veterans labor market in such State in the 
        previous year.
    (h) Definitions.--In this section:
            (1) Appropriate committees of congress.--The term 
        ``appropriate committees of Congress'' means--
                    (A) the Committee on Appropriations and the 
                Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate; and
                    (B) the Committee on Appropriations and the 
                Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the House of 
                Representatives.
            (2) Institution of higher education.--The term 
        ``institution of higher education'' has the meaning given the 
        term in section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 
        U.S.C. 1001).
            (3) One-stop center.--The term ``one-stop center'' means a 
        one-stop center described in section 134(c) of the Workforce 
        Investment Act of 1998 (29 U.S.C. 2864(c)).
            (4) State and local workforce investment boards.--The term 
        ``State and local workforce investment boards'' means a State 
        workforce investment board and a local workforce investment 
        board as such terms are defined in section 101 of the Workforce 
        Investment Act of 1998 (29 U.S.C. 2801).

SEC. 7. REPORT AND STUDY ON TRANSITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.

    (a) Report on Recommendations for Improvements to the Transition 
Assistance Program to Better Meet the Needs of Members of the Armed 
Forces and Veterans.--
            (1) Report required.--Not later than 180 days after the 
        date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense and 
        the Secretary of Labor, acting through the Assistant Secretary 
        of Labor for Veterans' Employment and Training, shall jointly 
        submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report 
        setting forth recommendations for improvements and enhancements 
        of the Transition Assistance Program (TAP) in order to better 
        meet the needs of members of the Armed Forces and veterans.
            (2) Elements.--The report required by paragraph (1) shall 
        include the following:
                    (A) A description and assessment of the extent to 
                which the current Transition Assistance Program meets 
                the needs of members of the Armed Forces and veterans.
                    (B) Recommendations for improvements and 
                enhancements of the Transition Assistance Program in 
                order to ensure--
                            (i) the comprehensiveness of the programs 
                        and activities under the program; and
                            (ii) the consistency of the programs and 
                        activities under the program across the Armed 
                        Forces and among the military installations at 
                        which the program is carried out.
                    (C) Recommendations for improvements and 
                enhancements of the Transition Assistance Program to 
                ensure that the program meets the needs of veterans 
                residing in localities in the vicinity of military 
                installations at which the program is carried out.
                    (D) A description and assessment of the programs 
                and activities offered to veterans who have completed 
                participation in the Transition Assistance Program in 
                order to further assist such veterans in their 
                continuing transition from military life to civilian 
                life, and recommendations for programs and activities 
                to improve and enhance such assistance.
                    (E) An estimate of the cost of implementing the 
                recommendations set forth pursuant to subparagraphs 
                (B), (C), and (D) during the five fiscal years 
                beginning after the date of the submittal of the 
                report.
                    (F) Such other matters as the Secretary of Defense 
                and the Secretary of Labor jointly consider 
                appropriate.
    (b) Study on Program of Transition Assistance Modeled on National 
Guard Employment Enhancement Program of the Washington National 
Guard.--
            (1) Study required.--Not later than 180 days after the date 
        of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall 
        complete a study of the National Guard Employment Enhancement 
        Program of the Washington National Guard to assess the 
        feasibility and advisability of carrying out a program of 
        assistance modeled after such program for all members of 
        reserve components of the Armed Forces who transition from 
        active military service to civilian life.
            (2) Report.--Upon completion of the study required by 
        paragraph (1), the Secretary shall submit to the appropriate 
        committees of Congress a report that includes the following:
                    (A) The findings of the Secretary as a result of 
                the study.
                    (B) The recommendation of the Secretary as to the 
                feasibility and advisability of carrying out a program 
                of assistance as described in paragraph (1).
                    (C) If the Secretary determines that carrying out a 
                program of assistance as described in paragraph (1) is 
                feasible and advisable, an estimate of the cost to 
                implement the program of assistance.
    (c) Appropriate Committees of Congress Defined.--In this section, 
the term ``appropriate committees of Congress'' means--
            (1) the Committee on Armed Services, the Committee on 
        Veterans' Affairs, and the Committee on Appropriations of the 
        Senate; and
            (2) the Committee on Armed Services, the Committee on 
        Veterans' Affairs, and the Committee on Appropriations of the 
        House of Representatives.

SEC. 8. 3-YEAR LONGITUDINAL STUDY ON THE IMPACT OF GENDER IN 
              UNEMPLOYMENT AMONG VETERANS.

    (a) Study.--
            (1) In general.--Subject to the availability of 
        appropriated funds, the Secretary of Labor, acting through the 
        Assistant Secretary for Veterans' Employment and Training 
        (referred to in this section as the ``Secretary''), shall 
        conduct a study to determine whether gender impacts the need of 
        unemployed veterans to collect unemployment benefits. The study 
        shall be a longitudinal study, using a statistically valid 
        sample of each group of individuals described in paragraph (2). 
        The Secretary shall study the groups over a period of not less 
        than 3 years.
            (2) Covered groups.--The groups of individuals described in 
        this paragraph are each of the following:
                    (A) Unemployed women veterans who do not have 
                dependents and who were discharged or released from the 
                military within the past 10 years.
                    (B) Unemployed male veterans who do not have 
                dependents and who were discharged or released from the 
                military within the past 10 years.
                    (C) Unemployed women veterans who have dependents 
                and who were discharged or released from the military 
                within the past 10 years.
                    (D) Unemployed male veterans who have dependents 
                and who were discharged or released from the military 
                within the past 10 years.
            (3) Contents of study.--The Secretary shall collect for the 
        study required under paragraph (1) any data the Secretary 
        determines are necessary to determine whether gender impacts 
        the individuals' need to collect unemployment benefits. The 
        Secretary may add data elements to the study from time to time 
        as necessary. In addition, the Secretary shall collect through 
        the study, for inclusion in each report under subsection (b), 
        all of the following information:
                    (A) Any unemployment benefits received by such 
                individuals.
                    (B) The average number of months such individuals 
                served on active duty in the Armed Forces.
                    (C) The distribution of disability ratings of such 
                individuals.
                    (D) The types of other benefits administered by the 
                Secretary and received by such individuals.
                    (E) The types of benefits received by such 
                individuals under the old-age, survivors, and 
                disability insurance benefits program established under 
                title II of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 401 et 
                seq.).
                    (F) The average number of months such individuals 
                were unemployed during the year covered by the study.
                    (G) The average annual starting and ending salary 
                of such individuals in their most recent employment.
                    (H) The number of such individuals with 
                postsecondary education.
                    (I) The average number of postsecondary academic 
                credit hours completed, and degrees and certificates 
                earned, by such individuals during the year covered by 
                the study.
                    (J) The average number of visits such individuals 
                made to a Department of Veterans Affairs medical 
                facility during the year covered by the study.
                    (K) The average number of visits such individuals 
                made to a non-Department of Veterans Affairs medical 
                facility during the year covered by the study.
                    (L) The average annual income of such individuals.
                    (M) The average total household income of such 
                individuals for the year covered by the study.
                    (N) The percentage of such individuals who own 
                their principal residences.
                    (O) The average number of dependents of each such 
                individual.
    (b) Annual Report.--By not later than the July 1 after each year 
covered by the study required under subsection (a), the Secretary shall 
submit to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the House of 
Representatives and the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate a 
report on the study during the covered year.

SEC. 9. REAUTHORIZATION OF DEMONSTRATION PROJECT ON CREDENTIALING AND 
              LICENSURE OF VETERANS.

    Section 4114 of title 38, United States Code, is amended--
            (1) in subsection (b)--
                    (A) in paragraph (1), by inserting ``, including 
                the emergency medical services industry'' after 
                ``demand''; and
                    (B) in paragraph (3), by inserting before the 
                period at the end the following: ``to ensure that 
                satisfaction of such requirements may take into 
                account, and be not duplicative of, previous coursework 
                and training received by such members while such 
                members were active members of the Armed Forces'';
            (2) in subsection (e), by inserting ``the Secretary of 
        Health and Human Services,'' after ``Veterans Affairs,''; and
            (3) in subsection (g)--
                    (A) by striking ``The period'' and inserting ``The 
                periods''; and
                    (B) by striking ``period beginning on'' and all 
                that follows through the period and inserting the 
                following: ``periods as follows:
            ``(1) The period beginning on the date that is 60 days 
        after the date of the enactment of the Veterans Benefits, 
        Health Care, and Information Technology Act of 2006 and ending 
        on September 30, 2009.
            ``(2) The period beginning on October 1, 2011, and ending 
        on September 30, 2013.''.
                                                       Calendar No. 556

111th CONGRESS

  2d Session

                                S. 3234

                          [Report No. 111-285]

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL

 To improve employment, training, and placement services furnished to 
   veterans, especially those serving in Operation Iraqi Freedom and 
          Operation Enduring Freedom, and for other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

                           September 2, 2010

                       Reported with an amendment
```