I 
111TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 4220 
To amend title 38, United States Code, to make certain improvements in 
the laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs relating 
to small business concerns and employment assistance, and for other 
purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
DECEMBER 8, 2009 
Mr. BUYER (for himself, Mr. MORAN of Kansas, Mr. BROWN of South Caro-
lina, Mr. MILLER of Florida, Mr. BOOZMAN, Mr. BILIRAKIS, Mr. BU-
CHANAN, Mr. ROE of Tennessee, Mr. BILBRAY, and Mr. LAMBORN) intro-
duced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Vet-
erans’ Affairs, and in addition to the Committees on Education and 
Labor and Small Business, for a period to be subsequently determined 
by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall 
within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 
A BILL 
To amend title 38, United States Code, to make certain 
improvements in the laws administered by the Secretary 
of Veterans Affairs relating to small business concerns 
and employment assistance, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS. 
(a) SHORT TITLE.—This Act may be cited as the 
‘‘Promoting Jobs for Veterans Act of 2009’’. 
VerDate Nov 24 2008 
02:52 Dec 09, 2009
Jkt 089200
PO 00000
Frm 00001
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H4220.IH
H4220
smartinez on DSKB9S0YB1PROD with BILLS
(b) TABLE OF CONTENTS.—The table of contents for 
this Act is as follows: 
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents. 
Sec. 2. References to title 38, United States Code. 
TITLE I—PROMOTING JOBS FOR VETERANS THROUGH SMALL 
BUSINESS PROGRAMS 
Sec. 101. Promoting jobs for veterans through the reauthorization and improve-
ment of Department of Veterans Affairs small business loan 
program. 
Sec. 102. Promoting jobs for veterans through the use of sole source contracts 
by Department of Veterans Affairs for purposes of meeting the 
contracting goals and preferences of the Department of Vet-
erans Affairs for small business concerns owned and controlled 
by veterans. 
Sec. 103. Promoting jobs for veterans through the treatment of small business 
concerns owned and controlled by veterans as socially and eco-
nomically disadvantaged. 
Sec. 104. Promoting jobs for veterans through the extension of period of eligi-
bility for certain assistance for small business concerns owned 
by an individual who is called or ordered to active duty. 
TITLE II—PROMOTING JOBS FOR VETERANS THROUGH 
EMPLOYMENT ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS 
Sec. 201. Promoting jobs for veterans through the increase in the amount of 
subsistence allowance payable to veterans participating in voca-
tional rehabilitation programs. 
Sec. 202. Promoting jobs for veterans through the establishment of a vocational 
rehabilitation internship program. 
Sec. 203. Promoting jobs for veterans through the payment of an employment 
training assistance. 
Sec. 204. Promoting jobs for veterans through the payment of an assistance al-
lowance for rural veteran teachers. 
Sec. 205. Promoting jobs for veterans through the authorization of appropria-
tions for veterans’ workforce investment programs. 
Sec. 206. Promoting jobs for veterans through the promotion of the VetSuccess 
Internet website. 
SEC. 2. REFERENCES TO TITLE 38, UNITED STATES CODE. 
Except as otherwise expressly provided, whenever in 
this Act an amendment or repeal is expressed in terms 
of an amendment to, or a repeal of, a section or other 
provision, the reference shall be considered to be made to 
VerDate Nov 24 2008 
02:52 Dec 09, 2009
Jkt 089200
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H4220.IH
H4220
smartinez on DSKB9S0YB1PROD with BILLS
a section or other provision of title 38, United States 
Code. 
TITLE I—PROMOTING JOBS FOR 
VETERANS THROUGH SMALL 
BUSINESS PROGRAMS 
SEC. 101. PROMOTING JOBS FOR VETERANS THROUGH THE 
REAUTHORIZATION AND IMPROVEMENT OF 
DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS SMALL 
BUSINESS LOAN PROGRAM. 
(a) REAUTHORIZATION.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 37 is amended by 
striking section 3751. 
(2) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sec-
tions at the beginning of such chapter is amended 
by striking the item relating to section 3751. 
(3) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—Section 3749 
is amended by striking subsection (e). 
(b) EXPANSION OF ELIGIBILITY FOR SMALL BUSI-
NESS LOANS.—Chapter 37, as amended by subsection (a), 
is further amended— 
(1) in section 3741— 
(A) by striking paragraph (2); 
(B) by striking ‘‘this subchapter—’’ and 
all that follows through ‘‘ ‘disabled veteran’ ’’ 
VerDate Nov 24 2008 
02:52 Dec 09, 2009
Jkt 089200
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H4220.IH
H4220
smartinez on DSKB9S0YB1PROD with BILLS
(ii) in paragraph (2), as so redesig-
nated, by striking ‘‘make or’’; 
(C) in subsection (c), by striking ‘‘made 
or’’; 
(D) in subsection (d)— 
(i) by striking paragraph (2); 
(ii) by striking ‘‘(1) Except as pro-
vided in paragraph (2) of this subsection, 
the’’ and inserting ‘‘The’’; and 
(iii) by striking ‘‘make or’’; and 
(E) in subsection (e)— 
(i) in paragraph (1)— 
(I) in the first sentence, by strik-
ing ‘‘or, if the loan was a direct loan 
made by the Secretary, may suspend 
such obligation’’; and 
(II) in the second sentence, by 
striking ‘‘or while such obligation is 
suspended’’; 
(ii) by striking ‘‘or suspend’’ each 
place it appears; 
(iii) by striking ‘‘or suspension’’ each 
place it appears 
(iv) by striking ‘‘or suspends’’ each 
place it appears; and 
VerDate Nov 24 2008 
02:52 Dec 09, 2009
Jkt 089200
PO 00000
Frm 00005
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H4220.IH
H4220
smartinez on DSKB9S0YB1PROD with BILLS
(v) in paragraph (4)(B), by striking 
‘‘or suspended’’; 
(2) in section 3743— 
(A) by striking ‘‘that is provided a direct 
loan under this subchapter, or’’; 
(B) by striking the comma between ‘‘sub-
chapter’’ and ‘‘shall’’; 
(C) by striking ‘‘direct or’’; and 
(D) by striking ‘‘for the amount of such 
direct loan or, in the case of a guaranteed 
loan,’’; 
(3) in section 3746, by striking ‘‘made or’’ both 
places it appears; 
(4) in section 3749(b), by striking ‘‘and direct 
loan’’; and 
(5) in section 3750, by striking ‘‘made or’’. 
(d) INCREASE OF MAXIMUM GUARANTY AMOUNT.— 
Section 3742(b)(2), as redesignated by subsection 
(c)(1)(B)(i), is amended by striking ‘‘$200,000’’ and in-
serting ‘‘$500,000’’. 
(e) AUTHORITY TO ENTER INTO A CONTRACT.—Sec-
tion 3742, as amended by subsection (c), is further 
amended by adding at the end the following new sub-
section: 
VerDate Nov 24 2008 
02:52 Dec 09, 2009
Jkt 089200
PO 00000
Frm 00006
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H4220.IH
H4220
smartinez on DSKB9S0YB1PROD with BILLS
‘‘(f) The Secretary shall enter into a contract with 
an appropriate entity for the purpose of carrying out the 
program under this subchapter.’’. 
(f) AUTHORITY OF SECRETARY TO SUBSIDIZE IN-
TEREST RATES OF GUARANTEED LOAN.—Section 3745 is 
amended by striking subsection (b) and inserting the fol-
lowing new subsection (b): 
‘‘(b) For any loan guaranteed under this subchapter, 
the Secretary may pay to the lender such amounts as may 
be required to reduce the rate of interest payable by the 
veterans’ small business concern by up to one-half of one 
percent, except that the rate of interest payable by such 
concern shall not be less than one-half of one percent.’’. 
(g) PREFERENCE
FOR MEMBERS
OF NATIONAL 
GUARD
AND RESERVES ACTIVATED
IN SUPPORT
OF 
GLOBAL WAR ON TERRORISM.—Section 3748 is amend-
ed— 
(1) by striking ‘‘and, second’’ and inserting 
‘‘second’’; and 
(2) by inserting before the period at the end ‘‘, 
and, third, to veterans’ small business concern in 
which veterans who, as members of a reserve compo-
nent, are activated in support of the Global War on 
Terrorism have a significant ownership interest’’. 
VerDate Nov 24 2008 
02:52 Dec 09, 2009
Jkt 089200
PO 00000
Frm 00007
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H4220.IH
H4220
smartinez on DSKB9S0YB1PROD with BILLS
(h) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—Section 
3749(c)(1) 
is 
amended 
by 
striking 
‘‘a 
total 
of 
$25,000,000’’ and inserting ‘‘$1,000,000,000 for each fis-
cal year’’. 
SEC. 102. PROMOTING JOBS FOR VETERANS THROUGH THE 
USE OF SOLE SOURCE CONTRACTS BY DE-
PARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS FOR PUR-
POSES 
OF 
MEETING 
THE 
CONTRACTING 
GOALS AND PREFERENCES OF THE DEPART-
MENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS FOR SMALL 
BUSINESS 
CONCERNS 
OWNED 
AND 
CON-
TROLLED BY VETERANS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 8127(c) is amended by 
striking ‘‘may’’ and inserting ‘‘shall’’. 
(b) DEADLINE FOR INTERIM POLICY GUIDANCE.— 
By not later than 30 days after the date of the enactment 
of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall issue 
interim policy guidance to carry out the amendment made 
by subsection (a). 
SEC. 103. PROMOTING JOBS FOR VETERANS THROUGH THE 
TREATMENT OF SMALL BUSINESS CONCERNS 
OWNED AND CONTROLLED BY VETERANS AS 
SOCIALLY AND ECONOMICALLY DISADVAN-
TAGED. 
Section 8128 is amended— 
VerDate Nov 24 2008 
02:52 Dec 09, 2009
Jkt 089200
PO 00000
Frm 00008
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H4220.IH
H4220
smartinez on DSKB9S0YB1PROD with BILLS
(1) by redesignating subsection (b) as sub-
section (c); and 
(2) by inserting after subsection (a) the fol-
lowing new subsection: 
‘‘(b) TREATMENT AS SOCIALLY AND ECONOMICALLY 
DISADVANTAGED.—The Secretary may evaluate a bid sub-
mitted by a small business concern owned and controlled 
by veterans and award a contract to such a concern on 
the same basis as the Administrator of the Small Business 
Administration may evaluate a bid submitted by a socially 
and economically disadvantaged small business concern 
and award a contract to such a concern under section 8(a) 
of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 637(a)).’’. 
SEC. 104. PROMOTING JOBS FOR VETERANS THROUGH THE 
EXTENSION OF PERIOD OF ELIGIBILITY FOR 
CERTAIN ASSISTANCE FOR SMALL BUSINESS 
CONCERNS OWNED BY AN INDIVIDUAL WHO 
IS CALLED OR ORDERED TO ACTIVE DUTY. 
Section 7(j)(15) of the Small Business Act (15 
U.S.C. 636(j)(15)) is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘(15)(A) Subject to the provisions of paragraph 
(10)(C), a small business concern may receive develop-
mental assistance under the Program and contracts under 
section 8(a) for a total period of not longer than nine 
VerDate Nov 24 2008 
02:52 Dec 09, 2009
Jkt 089200
PO 00000
Frm 00009
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H4220.IH
H4220
smartinez on DSKB9S0YB1PROD with BILLS
years, measured from the date of its certification under 
the authority of such section, of which— 
‘‘(i) no more than four years may be spent in 
the developmental stage of Program Participation; 
and 
‘‘(ii) no more than five years may be spent in 
the transitional stage of Program Participation. 
‘‘(B) Notwithstanding subparagraph (A), a small 
business concern that is owned by an individual who is 
called or ordered to active duty for a period of more than 
30 days (as defined in section 101(d)(2) of title 10, United 
States Code) may receive developmental assistance under 
the Program and contracts under section 8(a) for a total 
period of not longer than the sum of— 
‘‘(i) 9 years, as measured from the date of the 
certification of such concern under the authority of 
such section; and 
‘‘(ii) the length of time such individual is called 
or ordered to active duty for a period of more than 
30 days during the 9-year period described in clause 
(i).’’. 
VerDate Nov 24 2008 
02:52 Dec 09, 2009
Jkt 089200
PO 00000
Frm 00010
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H4220.IH
H4220
smartinez on DSKB9S0YB1PROD with BILLS
‘‘(B) The amount determined by the Secretary 
in accordance with the following table, which shall 
be the monthly amount shown in column II, III, IV, 
or V (whichever is applicable as determined by the 
veteran’s dependency status) opposite the appro-
priate type of program being pursued as specified in 
column I: 
‘‘Column I 
Column 
II 
Column 
III 
Column 
IV 
Column V 
Type of program 
No de-
pendents 
One de-
pendent 
Two de-
pendents 
More 
than two 
depend-
ents 
.................................................
................
................
................
The 
amount 
in column 
IV, plus 
the 
following 
for each 
dependent 
in excess 
of two:
Full-time .................................
$1,200 
$1,500 
$1,800 
$120
Three-quarter time .................
$900 
$1,125 
$1,350 
$90
Half-time ................................
$600 
$750 
$900 
$60’’. 
(b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendment made by 
subsection (a) shall apply with respect to a payment made 
for the third month beginning after the date of the enact-
ment of this Act and each subsequent month. 
SEC. 202. PROMOTING JOBS FOR VETERANS THROUGH THE 
ESTABLISHMENT OF A VOCATIONAL REHA-
BILITATION INTERNSHIP PROGRAM. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 31 is amended by insert-
ing after section 3116 the following new section: 
VerDate Nov 24 2008 
02:52 Dec 09, 2009
Jkt 089200
PO 00000
Frm 00012
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H4220.IH
H4220
smartinez on DSKB9S0YB1PROD with BILLS
‘‘§ 3116A. Internship program 
‘‘(a) INTERNSHIP PROGRAM.—The Secretary shall 
carry out an internship program through which the Sec-
retary shall award internships to up to 2,000 veterans 
each year in accordance with this section. The recipient 
of an internship under this section shall be employed in 
the Veterans Benefits Administration for the duration of 
the internship. 
‘‘(b) ELIGIBILITY.—To be eligible to receive an in-
ternship under this section a veteran shall have completed 
a rehabilitation program under this chapter. In awarding 
internships under this section, the Secretary shall give a 
preference to a veteran who has completed a program of 
long-term education or training, as determined by the Sec-
retary. 
‘‘(c) SALARY; BENEFITS.—(1) Each recipient of an 
internship under this section shall be paid at a rate deter-
mined by the Secretary, except that such rate shall be at 
least the maximum annual rate of basic pay payable for 
grade GS–3 of the General Schedule under section 5332 
of title 5, United States Code, and shall not exceed the 
maximum annual rate of basic pay payable for grade GS– 
5 of such schedule. 
‘‘(2) Each such recipient shall be entitled to leave on 
the same basis as employees of the Department who are 
paid at the same annual rate, except that such recipient 
VerDate Nov 24 2008 
02:52 Dec 09, 2009
Jkt 089200
PO 00000
Frm 00013
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H4220.IH
H4220
smartinez on DSKB9S0YB1PROD with BILLS
may not be reimbursed for any unused leave at the end 
of the internship. 
‘‘(3) The Secretary shall furnish hospital care, med-
ical services, and nursing home care to each recipient of 
an internship under this section on the same basis as a 
veteran described in subsection (B) of paragraph (2) of 
subsection (a) of section 1710 of this title unless the re-
cipient is eligible for such care and services under sub-
paragraph (A) of such paragraph or under paragraph (1) 
of such subsection. 
‘‘(4) The recipient of an internship under this section 
may receive an allowance under section 3108 of this title 
if such recipient is entitled to such an allowance. 
‘‘(d) DURATION.—No internship under this section 
shall exceed 12 months in duration. 
‘‘(e) OUTREACH.—The Secretary shall notify each 
participant in a rehabilitation program under this chapter 
of the internship program under this section.’’. 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sections 
at the beginning of such chapter is amended by inserting 
after the item relating to 3116 the following new item: 
‘‘3116A. Internship program.’’. 
VerDate Nov 24 2008 
02:52 Dec 09, 2009
Jkt 089200
PO 00000
Frm 00014
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6211
E:\BILLS\H4220.IH
H4220
smartinez on DSKB9S0YB1PROD with BILLS
SEC. 203. PROMOTING JOBS FOR VETERANS THROUGH THE 
PAYMENT OF AN EMPLOYMENT TRAINING AS-
SISTANCE. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 36 is amended by insert-
ing after section 3687 the following new section: 
‘‘§ 3687A. Additional training assistance for unem-
ployed 
veterans 
pursuing 
apprentice-
ships or other on-job training. 
‘‘(a) MONTHLY
TRAINING
ASSISTANCE
ALLOW-
ANCE.—A covered veteran shall be paid a monthly training 
assistance allowance under this section for each month 
that the veteran is enrolled in a program of apprenticeship 
described in paragraph (1) of subsection (a) of section 
3687 of this title or a program of other on-job training 
described in paragraph (2) of such subsection. 
‘‘(b) AMOUNT.—The amount of the monthly training 
assistance allowance under this section is the amount 
equal to the monthly amount of the basic allowance for 
housing payable under section 403 of title 37 for a mem-
ber of the Armed Forces with dependents in pay grade 
E–5 residing in the military housing area that encom-
passes all or the majority portion of the ZIP code area 
in which the veteran resides. 
‘‘(c) DURATION.—A covered veteran may receive 
training assistance under this section for a single period 
of not more than 12 months. 
VerDate Nov 24 2008 
02:52 Dec 09, 2009
Jkt 089200
PO 00000
Frm 00015
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H4220.IH
H4220
smartinez on DSKB9S0YB1PROD with BILLS
‘‘(d) COVERED VETERAN DEFINED.—In this section, 
the term ‘covered veteran’ means a veteran who is— 
‘‘(1) unemployed for a period of not less than 
four consecutive months at the time of applying for 
training assistance under this section; 
‘‘(2) 59 years of age or younger; and 
‘‘(3) except as provided under this section, ineli-
gible for education or training assistance under this 
title. 
‘‘(e) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There 
is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section 
$100,000,000 for each fiscal year.’’. 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sections 
at the beginning of such chapter is amended by adding 
at the end the following new item: 
‘‘3687A. Additional monthly training assistance allowance for unemployed vet-
erans.’’. 
(c) EFFECTIVE DATE.—Section 3687A of title 38, 
United States Code, as added by subsection (a), shall 
apply with respect to months beginning on or after the 
first day of fiscal year 2011. 
SEC. 204. PROMOTING JOBS FOR VETERANS THROUGH THE 
PAYMENT OF AN ASSISTANCE ALLOWANCE 
FOR RURAL VETERAN TEACHERS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 36 is amended by adding 
at the end the following new section: 
VerDate Nov 24 2008 
02:52 Dec 09, 2009
Jkt 089200
PO 00000
Frm 00016
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H4220.IH
H4220
smartinez on DSKB9S0YB1PROD with BILLS
‘‘§ 3698. Assistance allowance for rural veteran teach-
ers 
‘‘(a) REDUCING ADMINISTRATIVE BURDEN.—The 
Secretary may pay to a rural veteran teacher a monthly 
assistance allowance of $500. 
‘‘(b) DURATION.—The aggregate period for which the 
Secretary may pay a rural veteran teacher a monthly as-
sistance allowance under subsection (a) may not exceed 
24 months. 
‘‘(c) RURAL VETERAN TEACHER DEFINED.—In this 
section, the term ‘rural veteran teacher’ means a veteran 
who— 
‘‘(1) is discharged from service in the Armed 
Forces under honorable conditions; 
‘‘(2) is employed to teach full-time at an ac-
credited elementary or secondary school that is lo-
cated in a rural area (as determined by the Bureau 
of the Census); 
‘‘(3) on the date on which the veteran applies 
for a monthly assistance allowance under subsection 
(a), is enrolled in an accredited course leading to 
certification as a teacher; and 
‘‘(4) has not been previously employed to teach 
full-time at an accredited elementary or secondary 
school. 
VerDate Nov 24 2008 
02:52 Dec 09, 2009
Jkt 089200
PO 00000
Frm 00017
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H4220.IH
H4220
smartinez on DSKB9S0YB1PROD with BILLS