114TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 5229 
AN ACT 
To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out 
a study to evaluate the effectiveness of programs, espe-
cially in regards to women veterans and minority vet-
erans, in transitioning to civilian life, and for other pur-
poses. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
(5) In 2013, American Indian and Alaska Na-
tive veterans had the lowest median personal in-
comes of any group of minority veterans. 
(6) In 2013, American Indian and Alaska Na-
tive veterans were less likely to have finished an ad-
vanced degree than other veterans. 
(7) American Indian and Alaska Native vet-
erans were more likely to have a service-connected 
disability rating compared to all other veterans. In 
2013, the rate of American Indian and Alaska Na-
tive veterans with a service-connected disability rat-
ing was about 26 percent compared to 18.2 percent 
for all other veterans. 
(8) There is a lack of data on, and an under-
standing of, the challenges and needs of veterans 
who are residents of a territory of the United States 
and veterans who are part of the indigenous popu-
lation of a territory of the United States. 
SEC. 3. STUDY ON THE EFFECTIVENESS OF VETERANS 
TRANSITION EFFORTS. 
(a) STUDY.—The Secretary of Veterans Affairs, in 
coordination with the Secretaries of Labor and Defense, 
shall carry out a study to evaluate programs to assist vet-
erans of the Armed Forces in their transition to civilian 
life. Such study shall be designed to determine the effec-
tiveness of current programs, especially in regards to the 
unique challenges faced by women veterans, veterans with 
disabilities, Native American veterans, veterans who are 
residents of a territory of the United States, veterans who 
are part of the indigenous population of a territory of the 
United States, and other groups of minority veterans iden-
tified by the Secretaries, including whether such pro-
grams— 
(1) effectively address the challenges veterans 
face in pursuing higher education, especially the 
challenges faced by women veterans, veterans with 
disabilities, Native American veterans, veterans who 
are residents of a territory of the United States, vet-
erans who are part of the indigenous population of 
a territory of the United States, and other groups of 
minority veterans identified by the Secretaries; 
(2) effectively address the challenges such vet-
erans face entering the civilian workforce and in 
translating experience and skills from military serv-
ice to the job market; and 
(3) effectively address the challenges faced by 
the families of such veterans transitioning to civilian 
life. 
(b) REPORT.—Eighteen months after the enactment 
of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit
a report to the Committees on Veterans’ Affairs of the 
Senate and House of Representatives regarding the find-
ings and recommendations of the study required under 
subsection (a) of this section. 
SEC. 4. PROHIBITION ON AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIA-
TIONS. 
No additional funds are authorized to carry out the 
requirements of this Act. Such requirements shall be car-
ried out using amounts otherwise authorized. 
Passed the House of Representatives May 23, 2016. 
Attest: 
Clerk.
114TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 5229 
AN ACT 
To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry 
out a study to evaluate the effectiveness of pro-
grams, especially in regards to women veterans 
and minority veterans, in transitioning to civilian 
life, and for other purposes.