I 
108TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 4173 
To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to contract for a report on 
employment placement, retention, and advancement of recently separated 
servicemembers. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
APRIL 20, 2004 
Mr. MICHAUD (for himself, Mr. BROWN of South Carolina, Mr. SMITH of New 
Jersey, and Mr. EVANS) introduced the following bill; which was referred 
to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs 
A BILL 
To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to contract for 
a report on employment placement, retention, and ad-
vancement of recently separated servicemembers. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. REPORT OF EMPLOYMENT PLACEMENT, RE-
TENTION, AND ADVANCEMENT OF RECENTLY 
SEPARATED SERVICEMEMBERS. 
(a) CONTRACT FOR REPORT.—The Secretary of Vet-
erans Affairs shall enter into a contract with a qualified 
entity to conduct a study of and prepare a report on the
employment 
histories 
of 
recently 
separated 
servicemembers. 
(b) CONTENT OF REPORT.—(1) The study conducted 
pursuant to subsection (a) shall consist of an analysis of 
employment-related data that has been collected with re-
spect to recently separated servicemembers. 
(2) In conducting the study, the qualified entity 
shall— 
(A) determine whether the employment ob-
tained by recently separated servicemembers is com-
mensurate with training and education of those 
servicemembers; 
(B) determine whether recently separated 
servicemembers received educational assistance or 
training and rehabilitation under programs adminis-
tered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs under 
chapter 30 or 31 of title 38, United States Code, or 
under chapter 1606 of title 10, United States Code; 
(C) determine whether transition assistance 
services 
provided 
to 
recently 
separated 
servicemembers assisted those servicemembers in ob-
taining civilian employment; 
(D) analyze trends in hiring of veterans by the 
private sector; and
(E) identify recently separated servicemembers 
who have reached senior level management positions. 
(c) USE OF DATA.—In conducting the study under 
subsection (a), the qualified entity shall review data com-
piled and reported by Bureau of Labor Statistics and shall 
collect additional data on the employment histories of re-
cently separated servicemembers available from such other 
sources as the qualified entity determines to be appro-
priate. 
(d) CONTRACT REQUIREMENTS.—(1) The contract 
entered into under subsection (a) shall contain such terms 
and conditions as the Secretary may require. The contract 
shall require that the report on the study be submitted 
to the Secretary not later than 2 years after the date on 
which the contract was entered into. 
(2) The report required under subsection (a) shall 
contain the findings and conclusions of the qualified entity 
on the study and specific recommendations to improve em-
ployment opportunities for veterans recently separated 
from service in the Armed Forces, including if appropriate 
recommendations for— 
(A) the establishment of networks of contacts 
for employment of such veterans in the private sec-
tor;
(B) outreach to private sector leaders on the 
merits and sound business practice of hiring such 
veterans; and 
(C) additional methods to facilitate communica-
tion between private sector employers and such vet-
erans who are seeking employment. 
(e) FUNDING.—Payment by the Secretary for the 
contract entered into under subsection (a)— 
(1) shall be made from the Department of Vet-
erans Affairs appropriations account from which 
payments for compensation and pensions are made; 
and 
(2) may not exceed $490,000. 
(f) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) The term ‘‘qualified entity’’ means an entity 
or organization that meets the following require-
ments: 
(A) Demonstrated experience in conducting 
employment surveys of recently separated 
servicemembers, including Internet-based sur-
veys, that meet such quality assurance require-
ments as the Secretary determines appropriate. 
(B) Demonstrated familiarity with veteran 
employment matters.
(C) Demonstrated ability in developing 
plans to market veterans as employment assets. 
(D) Demonstrated ability to acquire serv-
ices at no cost from other organizations, such 
as technology, staff services, and advertising 
services. 
(E) Demonstrated ability to develop rela-
tionships, establish employment networks, and 
facilitate interaction between private and public 
sector leaders and veterans. 
(2) The term ‘‘employment history’’ means, 
with respect to a recently separated servicemember, 
training, placement, retention, and advancement in 
employment of that servicemember. 
(3) 
The 
term 
‘‘recently 
separated 
servicemember’’ means any veteran (as defined in 
section 101(2) of title 38, United States Code) dis-
charged or released from active duty in the Armed 
Forces of the United States during the 16-year pe-
riod beginning on January 1, 1990. 
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