SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Border Jobs for Vet-
erans Act of 2015’’. 
SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 
Congress finds the following: 
(1) Customs and Border Protection officers at 
United States ports of entry carry out critical law 
enforcement duties associated with screening foreign 
visitors, returning United States citizens, and im-
ported cargo entering the United States. 
(2) It is in the national interest for United 
States ports of entry to be adequately staffed with 
Customs and Border Protection officers in a timely 
fashion, including meeting the congressionally fund-
ed staffing target of 23,775 officers for fiscal year 
2015. 
(3) An estimated 250,000 to 300,000 members 
of the Armed Forces separate from military service 
every year. 
(4) Recruiting efforts and expedited hiring pro-
cedures must be enhanced to ensure that individuals 
separating from military service are aware of, and 
partake in, opportunities to fill vacant Customs and 
Border Protection officer positions.
SEC. 3. EXPEDITED HIRING OF APPROPRIATE SEPARATING 
SERVICE MEMBERS. 
The Secretary of Homeland Security shall consider 
the expedited hiring of qualified candidates who have the 
ability to perform the essential functions of the position 
of a Customs and Border Protection officer and who are 
eligible for a veterans recruitment appointment authorized 
under section 4214 of title 38, United States Code. 
SEC. 4. ENHANCEMENTS TO EXISTING PROGRAMS TO RE-
CRUIT 
SERVICE 
MEMBERS 
SEPARATING 
FROM MILITARY SERVICE FOR CUSTOMS AND 
BORDER PROTECTION OFFICER VACANCIES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Homeland Secu-
rity, in consultation with the Secretary of Defense, and 
acting through existing programs, authorities, and agree-
ments, where applicable, shall enhance the efforts of the 
Department of Homeland Security to recruit members of 
the Armed Forces who are separating from military serv-
ice to serve as Customs and Border Protection officers. 
(b) ELEMENTS.—The enhanced recruiting efforts 
under subsection (a) shall— 
(1) include Customs and Border Protection offi-
cer opportunities in relevant job assistance efforts 
under the Transition Assistance Program; 
(2) place U.S. Customs and Border Protection 
officials or other relevant Department of Homeland
Security officials at recruiting events and jobs fairs 
involving members of the Armed Forces who are 
separating from military service; 
(3) provide opportunities for local U.S. Customs 
and Border Protection field offices to partner with 
military bases in the region; 
(4) include outreach efforts to educate members 
of the Armed Forces with Military Occupational 
Specialty Codes and Officer Branches, Air Force 
Specialty Codes, Naval Enlisted Classifications and 
Officer Designators, and Coast Guard competencies 
that are transferable to the requirements, qualifica-
tions, and duties assigned to Customs and Border 
Protection officers of available hiring opportunities 
to become Customs and Border Protection officers; 
(5) identify shared activities and opportunities 
for reciprocity related to steps in hiring Customs 
and Border Protection officers with the goal of mini-
mizing the time required to hire qualified applicants; 
(6) ensure the streamlined interagency transfer 
of relevant background investigations and security 
clearances; and 
(7) include such other elements as may be nec-
essary to ensure that members of the Armed Forces 
who are separating from military service are aware
of opportunities to fill vacant Customs and Border 
Protection officer positions. 
SEC. 5. REPORT TO CONGRESS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, and by December 31 
of each of the next 3 years thereafter, the Secretary of 
Homeland Security, in consultation with the Secretary of 
Defense, shall submit a report to the Committee on Home-
land Security and the Committee on Armed Services of 
the House of Representatives and the Committee on 
Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs and the 
Committee on Armed Services of the Senate that includes 
a description and assessment of the efforts of the Depart-
ment of Homeland Security to hire members of the Armed 
Forces who are separating from military service as Cus-
toms and Border Protection officers under section 4. 
(b) CONTENT.—The report required under subsection 
(a) shall include— 
(1) a detailed description of the efforts to im-
plement section 4, including— 
(A) elements of the enhanced recruiting ef-
forts and the goals associated with such ele-
ments; and 
(B) a description of how the elements and 
goals referred to in subparagraph (A) will assist
in meeting statutorily mandated staffing levels 
and agency hiring benchmarks; 
(2) a detailed description of the efforts that 
have been undertaken under section 4; 
(3) the estimated number of separating service 
members made aware of Customs and Border Pro-
tection officer vacancies; 
(4) the number of Customs and Border Protec-
tion officer vacancies filled with separating service 
members; and 
(5) the number of Customs and Border Protec-
tion officer vacancies filled with separating service 
members under Veterans Recruitment Appointment 
authorized under section 4214 of title 38, United 
States Code. 
SEC. 6. RULES OF CONSTRUCTION. 
Nothing in this Act may be construed— 
(1) as superseding, altering, or amending exist-
ing Federal veterans’ hiring preferences or Federal 
hiring authorities; or