IB 
Union Calendar No. 45 
116TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 2045 
[Report No. 116–69] 
To amend title 38, United States Code, to establish the Veterans Economic 
Opportunity and Transition Administration and the Under Secretary 
for Veterans Economic Opportunity and Transition of the Department 
of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
APRIL 3, 2019 
Mr. WENSTRUP (for himself, Mr. LEVIN of California, Mr. DAVID P. ROE of 
Tennessee, and Mr. BILIRAKIS) introduced the following bill; which was 
referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs 
MAY 16, 2019 
Reported with amendments, committed to the Committee of the Whole House 
on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed 
[Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic] 
[For text of introduced bill, see copy of bill as introduced on April 3, 2019] 
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A BILL 
To amend title 38, United States Code, to establish the 
Veterans Economic Opportunity and Transition Adminis-
tration and the Under Secretary for Veterans Economic 
Opportunity and Transition of the Department of Vet-
erans Affairs, and for other purposes. 
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Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. ESTABLISHMENT OF VETERANS ECONOMIC OP-
PORTUNITY AND TRANSITION ADMINISTRA-
TION. 
(a) VETERANS ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY AND TRANSI-
TION ADMINISTRATION.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Part V of title 38, United 
States Code, is amended by adding at the end the fol-
lowing new chapter: 
‘‘CHAPTER 80—VETERANS ECONOMIC OP-
PORTUNITY AND TRANSITION ADMIN-
ISTRATION 
‘‘Sec. 
‘‘8001. Organization of Administration. 
‘‘8002. Functions of Administration. 
‘‘8003. Annual report to Congress. 
‘‘§ 8001. Organization of Administration 
‘‘(a) VETERANS ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY AND TRAN-
SITION ADMINISTRATION.—There is in the Department of 
Veterans Affairs a Veterans Economic Opportunity and 
Transition Administration. The primary function of the 
Veterans Economic Opportunity and Transition Adminis-
tration is the administration of the programs of the Depart-
ment that provide assistance related to economic oppor-
tunity to veterans and their dependents and survivors. 
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‘‘(b) UNDER SECRETARY
FOR ECONOMIC OPPOR-
TUNITY AND TRANSITION.—The Veterans Economic Oppor-
tunity and Transition Administration is under the Under 
Secretary for Veterans Economic Opportunity and Transi-
tion, who is directly responsible to the Secretary for the op-
erations of the Administration. 
‘‘§ 8002. Functions of Administration 
‘‘The Veterans Economic Opportunity and Transition 
Administration is responsible for the administration of the 
following programs of the Department: 
‘‘(1) Vocational rehabilitation and employment 
programs. 
‘‘(2) Educational assistance programs. 
‘‘(3) Veterans’ housing loan and related pro-
grams. 
‘‘(4) The verification of small businesses owned 
and controlled by veterans pursuant to subsection (f) 
of section 8127 of this title, including the administra-
tion of the database of veteran-owned businesses de-
scribed in such subsection. 
‘‘(5) The Transition Assistance Program under 
section 1144 of title 10. 
‘‘(6) Any other program of the Department that 
the Secretary determines appropriate. 
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‘‘§ 8003. Annual report to Congress 
‘‘The Secretary shall include in the annual report to 
the Congress required by section 529 of this title a report 
on the programs administered by the Under Secretary for 
Veterans Economic Opportunity and Transition. Each such 
report shall include the following with respect to each such 
program during the fiscal year covered by that report: 
‘‘(1) The number of claims received. 
‘‘(2) The number of claims decided. 
‘‘(3) The average processing time for a claim. 
‘‘(4) The number of successful outcomes (as deter-
mined by the Secretary). 
‘‘(5) The number of full-time equivalent employ-
ees. 
‘‘(6) The amounts expended for information tech-
nology.’’. 
(2) CLERICAL
AMENDMENTS.—The tables of 
chapters at the beginning of title 38, United States 
Code, and of part V of title 38, United States Code, 
are each amended by inserting after the item relating 
to chapter 79 the following new item: 
‘‘80. Veterans Economic Opportunity and Transition Ad-
ministration .................................................................. 8001’’. 
(b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—Chapter 80 of title 38, United 
States Code, as added by subsection (a), shall take effect 
on October 1, 2020. 
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(c) AUTHORIZATION FOR APPROPRIATIONS FOR VET-
ERANS BENEFITS ADMINISTRATIONS.—There is authorized 
to be appropriated for fiscal year 2020 for the General Op-
erating Expenses account of the Veterans Benefits Adminis-
tration $3,025,000,000. 
(d) LABOR RIGHTS.—Any labor rights, inclusion in 
the bargaining unit, and collective bargaining agreement 
that affects an employee of the Department of Veterans Af-
fairs who is transferred to the Veterans Economic Oppor-
tunity and Transition Administration, as established under 
chapter 80 of title 38, United States Code, as added by sub-
section (a), shall apply in the same manner to such em-
ployee after such transfer. 
SEC. 2. UNDER SECRETARY FOR VETERANS ECONOMIC OP-
PORTUNITY AND TRANSITION. 
(a) UNDER SECRETARY.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 3 of title 38, United 
States Code, is amended by inserting after section 306 
the following new section: 
‘‘§ 306A. Under Secretary for Veterans Economic Op-
portunity and Transition 
‘‘(a) UNDER SECRETARY.—There is in the Department 
an Under Secretary for Veterans Economic Opportunity 
and Transition, who is appointed by the President, by and 
with the advice and consent of the Senate. The Under Sec-
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retary for Veterans Economic Opportunity and Transition 
shall be appointed without regard to political affiliation or 
activity and solely on the basis of demonstrated ability in— 
‘‘(1) information technology; and 
‘‘(2) the administration of programs within the 
Veterans Economic Opportunity and Transition Ad-
ministration or programs of similar content and 
scope. 
‘‘(b) RESPONSIBILITIES.—The Under Secretary for 
Veterans Economic Opportunity and Transition is the head 
of, and is directly responsible to the Secretary for the oper-
ations of, the Veterans Economic Opportunity and Transi-
tion Administration. 
‘‘(c) VACANCIES.—(1) Whenever a vacancy in the posi-
tion of Under Secretary for Veterans Economic Oppor-
tunity and Transition occurs or is anticipated, the Sec-
retary shall establish a commission to recommend individ-
uals to the President for appointment to the position. 
‘‘(2) A commission established under this subsection 
shall be composed of the following members appointed by 
the Secretary: 
‘‘(A) Three persons representing education and 
training, vocational rehabilitation, employment, real 
estate, mortgage finance and related industries, and 
survivor benefits activities affected by the Veterans 
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Economic Opportunity and Transition Administra-
tion. 
‘‘(B) Two persons representing veterans served 
by the Veterans Economic Opportunity and Transi-
tion Administration. 
‘‘(C) Two persons who have experience in the 
management of private sector benefits programs of 
similar content and scope to the economic oppor-
tunity and transition programs of the Department. 
‘‘(D) The Deputy Secretary of Veterans Affairs. 
‘‘(E) The chairman of the Veterans’ Advisory 
Committee on Education formed under section 3692 
of this title. 
‘‘(F) One person who has held the position of 
Under Secretary for Veterans Economic Opportunity 
and Transition, if the Secretary determines that it is 
desirable for such person to be a member of the com-
mission. 
‘‘(3) A commission established under this subsection 
shall recommend at least three individuals for appointment 
to the position of Under Secretary for Veterans Economic 
Opportunity and Transition. The commission shall submit 
all recommendations to the Secretary. The Secretary shall 
forward the recommendations to the President and the Com-
mittees on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and House of 
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Representatives with any comments the Secretary considers 
appropriate. Thereafter, the President may request the com-
mission to recommend additional individuals for appoint-
ment. 
‘‘(4) The Assistant Secretary or Deputy Assistant Sec-
retary of Veterans Affairs who performs personnel manage-
ment and labor relations functions shall serve as the execu-
tive secretary of a commission established under this sub-
section.’’. 
(2) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sec-
tions at the beginning of such chapter is amended by 
inserting after the item relating to section 306 the fol-
lowing new item: 
‘‘306A. Under Secretary for Veterans Economic Opportunity and Transition.’’. 
(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.—Title 38, United 
States Code, is further amended— 
(1) in section 306(c)(2), by striking subpara-
graphs (A) and (E) and redesignating subparagraphs 
(B), (C), (D), and (F), as subparagraphs (A) through 
(D), respectively; 
(2) in section 317(d)(2), by inserting after 
‘‘Under Secretary for Benefits,’’ the following: ‘‘the 
Under Secretary for Veterans Economic Opportunity 
and Transition,’’; 
(3) in section 318(d)(2), by inserting after 
‘‘Under Secretary for Benefits,’’ the following: ‘‘the 
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Under Secretary for Veterans Economic Opportunity 
and Transition,’’; 
(4) in section 516(e)(2)(C), by striking ‘‘Health 
and the Under Secretary for Benefits’’ and inserting 
‘‘Health, the Under Secretary for Benefits, and the 
Under Secretary for Veterans Economic Opportunity 
and Transition’’; 
(5) in section 541(a)(2)(B), by striking ‘‘Health 
and the Under Secretary for Benefits’’ and inserting 
‘‘Health, the Under Secretary for Benefits, and the 
Under Secretary for Veterans Economic Opportunity 
and Transition’’; 
(6) in section 542(a)(2)(B)(iii), by striking 
‘‘Health and the Under Secretary for Benefits’’ and 
inserting ‘‘Health, the Under Secretary for Benefits, 
and the Under Secretary for Veterans Economic Op-
portunity and Transition’’; 
(7) in section 544(a)(2)(B)(vi), by striking 
‘‘Health and the Under Secretary for Benefits’’ and 
inserting ‘‘Health, the Under Secretary for Benefits, 
and the Under Secretary for Veterans Economic Op-
portunity and Transition’’; 
(8) in section 709(c)(2)(A), by inserting after 
‘‘Under Secretary for Benefits,’’ the following: ‘‘the 
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Under Secretary for Veterans Economic Opportunity 
and Transition,’’; 
(9) in section 7701(a), by inserting after ‘‘assist-
ance’’ the following: ‘‘, other than assistance related to 
Economic Opportunity and Transition,’’; and 
(10) in section 7703, by striking paragraphs (2) 
and (3) and redesignating paragraphs (4) and (5) as 
paragraphs (2) and (3), respectively. 
(c) EFFECTIVE DATE.—Section 306A of title 38, 
United States Code, as added by subsection (a), and the 
amendments made by this section, shall take effect on Octo-
ber 1, 2020. 
SEC. 3. TRANSFER OF SERVICES. 
(a) REPORT TO CONGRESS.—Not later than 180 days 
after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary 
of Veterans Affairs shall submit to the Committees’ on Vet-
erans Affairs of the Senate and House of Representatives 
a report on the progress toward establishing the Veterans 
Economic Opportunity and Transition Administration, as 
established under section 8001 of title 38, United States 
Code, as added by section 4, and the transition of the provi-
sion of services to veterans by such Administration. 
(b) CERTIFICATION.—The Secretary of Veterans Af-
fairs may not transfer the function of providing any serv-
ices to veterans to the Veterans Economic Opportunity and 
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Transition Administration, as established under section 
8001 of title 38, United States Code, as added by section 
4 until the Secretary submits to the Committees’ Veterans 
Affairs of the Senate and House of Representatives certifi-
cation that— 
(1) the transition of the provision of services to 
such Administration will not negatively affect the 
provision of such services to veterans; 
(2) such services are ready to be transferred. 
(c) DEADLINE FOR CERTIFICATION.—The Secretary 
shall submit to the Committees’ on Veterans Affairs of the 
Senate and House of Representatives the certification re-
quired by subsection (b)— 
(1) no earlier than April 1, 2020; and 
(2) no later than September 1, 2020. 
(d) FAILURE TO CERTIFY.—If the Secretary fails to 
submit the certification required by subsection (b) by the 
date specified in subsection (c)(2), the Secretary shall sub-
mit to the Committees on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate 
and House of Representatives a report that includes— 
(1) the reason why the certification was not 
made by such date; and 
(2) the estimated date when the certification will 
be made. 
Amend the title so as to read: ‘‘A bill to amend title 
38, United States Code, to establish in the Department 
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the Veterans Economic Opportunity and Transition Ad-
ministration, and for other purposes.’’. 
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Union Calendar No. 45 
116TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. R. 2045 
[Report No. 116–69] 
A BILL 
To amend title 38, United States Code, to establish 
the Veterans Economic Opportunity and Transi-
tion Administration and the Under Secretary for 
Veterans Economic Opportunity and Transition 
of the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for 
other purposes. 
MAY 16, 2019 
Reported with amendments, committed to the Committee 
of the Whole House on the State of the Union, and or-
dered to be printed 
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