Veterans Economic Recovery Act of 2020

To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out a retraining assistance program for unemployed veterans, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Veterans Economic Recovery Act of 2020 2. COVID-19 Veteran Rapid Retraining Assistance Program (a) In general The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall carry out a program under which the Secretary shall provide up to 12 months of retraining assistance to an eligible veteran for the pursuit of a covered program of education. Such retraining assistance shall be in addition to any other entitlement to educational assistance or benefits for which a veteran is, or has been, eligible. (b) Eligible veterans (1) In general For purposes of this section, the term eligible veteran (A) as of the date of the submittal of the application for assistance under this section, is at least 25 years of age but not more than 60 years of age; (B) as of the date of the submittal of the application for assistance under this section, is unemployed by reason of the covered public health emergency, as certified by the veteran; (C) as of the date of the submittal of the application for assistance under this section, is not eligible to receive educational assistance under chapter 30, 31, 32, 33, or 35 of title 38, United States Code, or chapter 1606 or 1607 of title 10, United States Code; (D) is not enrolled in any Federal or State jobs program; (E) is not in receipt of compensation for a service-connected disability rated totally disabling by reason of unemployability; and (F) will not be in receipt of unemployment compensation (as defined in section 85(b) Public Law 116–136 (2) Treatment of veterans who transfer entitlement For purposes of paragraph (1)(C), a veteran who has transferred all of the veteran’s entitlement to educational assistance under section 3319 of title 38, United States Code, shall be considered to be a veteran who is not eligible to receive educational assistance under chapter 33 of such title. (3) Failure to complete A veteran who receives retraining assistance under this section to pursue a program of education and who fails to complete the program of education shall not be eligible to receive additional assistance under this section. (c) Covered programs of education (1) In general Each eligible veteran who receives retraining assistance under this section may only use such assistance to pursue a program of education (as such term is defined in section 3452(b) of title 38, United States Code) for training, on a full-time or part-time basis, that— (A) that— (i) is approved under chapter 36 of such title; (ii) does not lead to a bachelors or graduate degree; and (iii) is designed to provide training for a high-demand occupation, as determined under paragraph (2); or (B) is a high technology programs of education offered by a qualified provider, under the meaning of such terms in section 116 of the Harry W. Colmery Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2017 ( Public Law 115–48 38 U.S.C. 3001 (2) Accredited programs In the case of an accredited program of education, the program of education shall not be considered a covered program of education under this section if the program has received a show cause order from the accreditor of the program during the five-year period preceding the date of the enactment of this Act. (3) Determination of high-demand occupations (A) Initial implementation In carrying out this section, the Secretary shall use the list of high-demand occupations compiled by the Commissioner of Labor Statistics until the final list under subparagraph (C) is complete. (B) Study required The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall enter into an agreement with a federally funded research and development corporation or another appropriate non-Department entity for the conduct of a study to determine which occupations are high-demand occupations. Such study shall be completed not later than 30 days after the date of the enactment of this Act. (C) Final list The Secretary— (i) may add or remove occupation from the list in use pursuant to subparagraph (A) during the 60-day period following the completion of the study required by subparagraph (B); (ii) shall issue a final list of high-demand occupations for use under this section by not later than 60 days after the date of the completion of the study; and (iii) shall make such final list publicly available on a website of the Department. (D) Use of list The Secretary shall use the list developed under this paragraph in order to apply the requirement that retraining assistance under this section is used for training for a high-demand occupation, but the Secretary may remove occupations from the list as the Secretary determines appropriate. (d) Amount of assistance (1) Retraining assistance The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall provide to an eligible veteran pursuing a covered program of education under the retraining assistance program under this section an amount equal to the amount of educational assistance payable under section 3313(c)(1)(A) for each month the veteran pursues the covered program of education. Such amount shall be payable directly to the educational institution offering the covered program of education pursued by the veteran as follows: (A) 50 percent of the total amount payable shall be paid when the eligible veteran begins the program of education. (B) 25 percent of the total amount payable shall be paid when the eligible veteran completes the program of education. (C) 25 percent of the total amount payable shall be paid when the eligible veteran finds employment in a field related to the program of education. (2) Failure to complete In the case of a veteran who pursues a covered program of education under the retraining assistance program under this section, but who does not complete the program of education, the Secretary shall pay to the educational institution offering such program of education a pro-rated amount based on the number of months the veteran pursued the program of education— (A) under paragraph (1)(B), which shall be payable when the veteran provides notice to the educational institution that the veteran no longer intends to pursue the program of education; and (B) under paragraph (1)(C), which shall by payable only if the veteran finds employment in a field related to the program of education during the 180-day period beginning on the date on which the veteran withdraws from the program of education. (3) Housing stipend For each month that an eligible veteran pursues a covered program of education under the retraining assistance program under this section, the Secretary shall pay to the veteran a monthly housing stipend in an amount equal to— (A) in the case of a covered program of education leading to a degree at an institution of higher learning (as that term is defined in section 3452(f) of title 38, United States Code) pursued on more than a half-time basis, the amount specified under subsection (c)(1)(B) of section 3313 of title 38, United States Code; (B) in the case of a covered program of education other than a program of education leading to a degree at an institution other than an institution of higher learning pursued on more than a half-time basis, the amount specified under subsection (g)(3)(A)(ii) of such section; (C) in the case of a covered program of education pursued on less than a half-time basis, the amount specified under subsection (f)(2)(A)(ii) of such section; or (D) in the case of a covered program of education pursued solely through distance learning on more than a half-time basis, the amount specified under subsection (c)(1)(B)(iii) of such section. (4) Failure to find employment The Secretary shall not make a payment under paragraph (1)(C) with respect to an eligible veteran who completes or fails to completes a program of education under the retraining assistance program under this section if the veteran fails to find employment in a field related to the program of education within the 180-period beginning on the date on which the veteran withdraws from or completes the program. (e) No transferability Retraining assistance provided under this section may not be transferred to another individual. (f) Employment assistance (1) In general The Secretary of Labor shall contact each veteran who pursues a covered program of education under this section— (A) not later than 30 days after the date on which the veteran begins the program of education to notify the veteran of the availability of employment placement services upon completion of the program; and (B) not later than 14 days after the date on which the veteran completes, or terminates participation in, such program to facilitate the provision of employment placement services to such veteran. (2) Provision of information The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall provide to the Secretary of Labor such information as may be necessary to carry out paragraph (1). (g) Nonprofit organization (1) In general The Secretary of Veterans Affairs may enter into a memorandum of understanding with one or more qualified nonprofit organizations for the purpose of facilitating the employment of veterans who participate in the retraining assistance program under this section. (2) Qualified nonprofit organization For purposes of this subsection, a qualified nonprofit organization is a nonprofit organization that— (A) is an association of businesses; and (B) has at least two years of experience providing job placement services for veterans. (h) Follow-Up outreach The Secretary of Veterans Affairs, in coordination with the Secretary of Labor shall contact each veteran who completes a covered program of education under the retraining assistance program under this section 30, 60, 90, and 180 days after the veteran completes such program of education to ask the veteran about the experience of the veteran in the retraining assistance program and the veteran’s employment status. (i) Time frame for participation An eligible veteran who participates in the retraining assistance program under this section shall— (1) begin a program of education by not later than 150 days after the date of the enactment of this Act; and (2) complete such program of education by not later than 17 months after the date of the enactment of this Act. (j) Limitation Not more than 35,000 eligible veterans may receive retraining assistance under this section. (k) Termination No retraining assistance may be paid under this section after the date that is 17 months after the date of the enactment of this Act. (l) GAO report Not later than 180 days after the termination of the retraining assistance program under subsection (k), the Comptroller General shall submit to the Committees on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and House of Representatives a report on the outcomes and effectiveness of the program. (m) Definitions In this section: (1) The term covered public health emergency (A) of a public health emergency, based on an outbreak of COVID-19 by the Secretary of Health and Human Services under section 319 of the Public Health Service Act ( 42 U.S.C. 247d (B) of a domestic emergency, based on an outbreak of COVID-19 by the President, the Secretary of Homeland Security, or State, or local authority. (2) The term veteran (A) a person who served in the active military, naval, or air service, and who was discharged or released therefrom under conditions other than dishonorable; or (B) a member of a reserve component of the Armed Forces who serves on active duty pursuant to section 502(f) of title 32, United States Code, for a period of 30 days or longer by reason of the covered public health emergency. (n) Funding (1) In general For each fiscal year for which the Secretary provides retraining assistance under this section, such sums as may be necessary shall be made available for such assistance from funds appropriated to, or otherwise made available to, the Department for the payment of readjustment benefits. (2) Administrative costs There is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary $10,000,000 for administrative costs associated with carrying out this section. 3. Access for the Secretaries of Labor and Veterans Affairs to the Federal directory of new hires Section 453A(h) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 653a(h) (4) Veteran employment The Secretaries of Labor and of Veterans Affairs shall have access to information reported by employers pursuant to subsection (b) of this section for purposes of tracking employment of veterans. . 4. Expansion of eligible class of providers of high technology programs of education for veterans Section 116 of the Harry W. Colmery Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2017 ( Public Law 115–48 38 U.S.C. 3001 (1) in subsection (b), by adding at the end the following: The Secretary shall treat an individual as an eligible veteran if the Secretary determines that the individual shall become an eligible veteran fewer than 180 days after the date of such determination. (2) in subsection (c)— (A) in paragraph (3)(A), by striking has been operational for at least 2 years employs instructors whom the Secretary determines are experts in their respective fields in accordance with paragraph (6) (B) by adding at the end the following new paragraph: (6) Experts The Secretary shall determine whether instructors are experts under paragraph (3)(A) based on evidence furnished to the Secretary by the provider regarding the ability of the instructors to— (A) identify professions in need of new employees to hire, tailor the programs to meet market needs, and identify the employers likely to hire graduates; (B) effectively teach the skills offered to eligible veterans; (C) provide relevant industry experience in the fields of programs offered to incoming eligible veterans; and (D) demonstrate relevant industry experience in such fields of programs. ; (3) in subsection (d), in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by inserting (not including an individual described in the second sentence of subsection (b)) each eligible veteran (4) in subsection (e), in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by inserting , including a part-time program shorter than six months in duration, means a program of education (5) in subsection (g), by striking $15,000,000 $45,000,000 (6) by adding at the end the following new subsection (i): (i) Prohibition on certain accounting of assistance The Secretary may not consider enrollment in a high technology program of education under this section to be assistance under a provision of law referred to in section 3695 of title 38, United States Code. . 5. Pilot program for off-base transition training for veterans and spouses (a) Extension of pilot program Subsection (a) of section 301 of the Dignified Burial and Other Veterans’ Benefits Improvement Act of 2012 ( Public Law 112–260 10 U.S.C. 1144 (1) by striking During the two-year period beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act During the 5-year period beginning on the date of the enactment of the Veterans Economic Recovery Act of 2020 (2) by striking to assess the feasibility and advisability of providing such program to eligible individuals at locations other than military installations (b) Locations Subsection (c) of such section is amended— (1) in paragraph (1), by striking not less than three and not more than five States not fewer than 50 locations in States (as defined in section 101 of title 38, United States Code) (2) in paragraph (2), by striking at least two at least 20 (3) by adding at the end the following new paragraphs: (5) Preferences In selecting States for participation in the pilot program, the Secretary shall provide a preference for any State with— (A) a high rate of usage of unemployment benefits for recently separated members of the Armed Forces; or (B) a labor force or economy that has been significantly impacted by the covered public health emergency. (6) Covered public health emergency In this subsection, the term covered public health emergency (A) of a public health emergency, based on an outbreak of COVID-19 by the Secretary of Health and Human Services under section 319 of the Public Health Service Act ( 42 U.S.C. 247d (B) of a domestic emergency, based on an outbreak of COVID-19 by the President, the Secretary of Homeland Security, or State, or local authority. . (c) Annual report Subsection (e) of such section is amended by adding at the end the following new sentence: Each such report shall include information about the employment outcomes of the eligible individuals who received such training during the year covered by the report. (d) Conforming repeal Subsection (f) of such section is repealed. 6. Grants for provision of transition assistance to members of the Armed Forces after separation, retirement, or discharge (a) In general The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall make grants to eligible organizations for the provision of transition assistance to members of the Armed Forces who are separated, retired, or discharged from the Armed Forces, and spouses of such members. (b) Use of funds The recipient of a grant under this section shall use the grant to provide to members of the Armed Forces and spouses described in subsection (a) resume assistance, interview training, job recruitment training, and related services leading directly to successful transition, as determined by the Secretary. (c) Eligible organizations To be eligible for a grant under this section, an organization shall submit to the Secretary an application containing such information and assurances as the Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary of Labor, may require. (d) Priority In making grants under this section, the Secretary shall give priority to an organization that— (1) provides multiple forms of services described in subsection (b); or (2) is located in a State with— (A) a high rate of veteran unemployment; (B) a high rate of usage of unemployment benefits for recently separated members of the Armed Forces; or (C) a labor force or economy that has been significantly impacted by the covered public health emergency (as such term is defined in section 2(m)(2)). (e) Amount of grant A grant under this section shall be in an amount that does not exceed 50 percent of the amount required by the organization to provide the services described in subsection (b). (f) Deadline The Secretary shall carry out this section not later than six months after the effective date of this Act. (g) Termination The authority to provide a grant under this section shall terminate on the date that is five years after the date on which the Secretary implements the grant program under this section. (h) Authorization of appropriations There is authorized to be appropriated $10,000,000 to carry out this section.

Summary: Veterans Economic Recovery Act of 2020 This bill addresses the employment and retraining of veterans, specifically during the COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019) public health emergency. The bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to implement a program under which the VA must provide up to 12 months of nontransferable retraining assistance to up to 35,000 eligible veterans for the pursuit of a specified program of education. Under the bill, an eligible veteran is an individual who, among other requirements, is unemployed due to COVID-19. Veterans who receive retraining assistance may only use such assistance to pursue specified programs, including those designed to provide training for high-demand occupations. The Government Accountability Office must report on the outcomes and effectiveness of the retraining assistance program. The bill provides access to the National Directory of New Hires to the VA and the Department of Labor for the purpose of tracking the employment of veterans. The bill makes updates to the VA's High Technology Pilot Program, including by expanding the class of providers of high technology education programs. The bill reauthorizes and expands the program for the provision of off-base transition training for veterans and their spouses, including by requiring a preference for participation by states with economies significantly impacted by COVID-19. Finally, the bill implements a five-year grant program requiring the VA to make grants to organizations for the provision of transition assistance to members of the Armed Forces who are separated, retired, or discharged from the Armed Forces, and spouses of such members.