16 U.S.C. § 8505 (CONSERVATION)
§ 8505. Career and volunteer opportunities for veterans
(a) Veteran hiring
The Secretaries are strongly encouraged to hire veterans in all positions related to the management of Federal recreational lands and waters.
(b) Pilot program
(1) Establishment
The Secretary, in consultation with the Assistant Secretary of Labor for Veterans’ Employment and Training and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, shall establish a pilot program under which veterans are employed by the Federal Government in positions that relate to the conservation and resource management activities of the Department of the Interior.
(2) Positions
The Secretary shall—
(A) identify vacant positions in the Department of the Interior that are appropriate to fill using the pilot program; and
(B) to the extent practicable, fill such positions using the pilot program.
(3) Application of civil service laws
A veteran employed under the pilot program shall be treated as an employee as defined by section 2105 of title 5.
(4) Briefings and report
(A) Initial briefing
Not later than 60 days after January 4, 2025, the Secretary and the Assistant Secretary of Labor for Veterans’ Employment and Training shall jointly provide to the appropriate congressional committees a briefing on the pilot program under this subsection, which shall include—
(i) a description of how the pilot program will be carried out in a manner to reduce the unemployment of veterans; and
(ii) any recommendations for legislative actions to improve the pilot program.
(B) Implementation briefing
Not later than 1 year after the date on which the pilot program under subsection (a) 1 commences, the Secretary and the Assistant Secretary of Labor for Veterans’ Employment and Training shall jointly provide to the appropriate congressional committees a briefing on the implementation of the pilot program.
(C) Final report
Not later than 30 days after the date on which the pilot program under subsection (a) 1 terminates under paragraph (5), the Secretary and the Assistant Secretary of Labor for Veterans’ Employment and Training shall jointly submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report on the pilot program that includes the following:
(i) The number of veterans who applied to participate in the pilot program.
(ii) The number of such veterans employed under the pilot program.
(iii) The number of veterans identified in clause (ii) who transitioned to full-time positions with the Federal Government after participating in the pilot program.
(iv) Any other information the Secretary and the Assistant Secretary of Labor for Veterans’ Employment and Training determine appropriate with respect to measuring the effectiveness of the pilot program.
(5) Duration
The authority to carry out the pilot program under this subsection shall terminate on the date that is 2 years after the date on which the pilot program commences.
(c) Appropriate congressional committees defined
In this section, the term “appropriate congressional committees” means—
(1) the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs and the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives; and
(2) the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs and the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate.
(d) Outdoor recreation program attendance
Each Secretary of a military department is encouraged to allow members of the Armed Forces on active duty status to participate in programs related to environmental stewardship or guided outdoor recreation.
(Pub. L. 118–234, title II, § 226, Jan. 4, 2025, 138 Stat. 2889.)