Improving Veterans' Opportunity in Education and Business Act of 2008

Bill: 110-hr-6221
Sponsor: Rep. Boozman, John [R-AR-3]
Introduced: 2008-06-10 in the House
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Commerce
Disabled
Government Operations and Politics
Government contractors
Government procurement
Labor and Employment
Small business
Veterans' benefits
Veterans' employment

Summary:
action_date: 2008-06-10
text: 
Veteran-Owned Small Business Protection and Clarification Act of 2008 - Requires that, if the Secretary of Veterans Affairs enters into a contract or other arrangement, on or after June 1, 2007, to acquire goods or services (or both), the Secretary shall include in such contract or arrangement a requirement that the contractee comply with Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) contracting goals and preferences with respect to small businesses owned and controlled by veterans and service-disabled veterans.
 
Directs the Secretary to modify current contracts and arrangements to comply with requirements of this Act.

action_date: 2008-07-31
text: 
Improving Veterans' Opportunity in Education and Business Act of 2008 - Requires that, if the Secretary of Veterans Affairs enters into a contract or other arrangement, on or after June 1, 2007, to acquire goods or services (or both), the Secretary shall include in such contract or arrangement a requirement that the contractee comply with Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) contracting goals and preferences with respect to small businesses owned and controlled by veterans and service-disabled veterans. Directs the Secretary to modify current contracts and arrangements to comply with requirements of this Act.
 
Requires the Secretary to conduct a five-year pilot project to test the feasibility and advisability of expanding the scope of VA workstudy activities to include workstudy positions available on site at educational institutions, including positions in academic departments and in student services. Authorizes appropriations.
 
Directs the Secretary to carry out a program of job training in skills relevant to the job market for discharged veterans who are either currently not paid at more than 150% of the federal minimum wage, or: (1) had a military occupational specialty of limited transferability to the civilian job market; (2) are not otherwise eligible for veterans' education or training services; (3) have not acquired a marketable skill since leaving military service; (4) were discharged under conditions not less than honorable; and (5) have been unemployed for at least 90 of the previous 180 days. Designates the program as the MOST (military occupational specialty transition) Program. Directs the Secretary to contract with employers to provide programs of apprenticeship on on-job training for such veterans. Limits such payments to $20,000 per veteran and 24 months in duration. Requires quarterly employer reports certifying wages paid to such veterans. Authorizes appropriations. Requires the Secretary to describe Program activities within a currently-required annual report by the Veterans Benefits Administration.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2008-08-01
text: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2008-07-31
text: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2008-07-31
text: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR 7/29/2008 H7253-7254)
action_date: 2008-07-31
text: Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.(text: CR 7/29/2008 H7253-7254)
action_date: 2008-07-31
text: Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H7707)
action_date: 2008-07-29
text: At the conclusion of debate, the chair put the question on the motion to suspend the rules. Mr. Boozman objected to the vote on the grounds that a quorum was not present. Further proceedings on the motion were postponed. The point of no quorum was withdrawn.
action_date: 2008-07-29
text: Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H7253-7255; text of measure as reported in House: CR H7253-7254)
action_date: 2008-07-29
text: DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 6221.
action_date: 2008-07-29
text: Mr. Boozman moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
action_date: 2008-07-29
text: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 504.
action_date: 2008-07-29
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Veterans' Affairs. H. Rept. 110-785.
action_date: 2008-07-29
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Veterans' Affairs. H. Rept. 110-785.
action_date: 2008-07-16
text: Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.
action_date: 2008-07-16
text: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
action_date: 2008-06-26
text: Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee by Voice Vote .
action_date: 2008-06-26
text: Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
action_date: 2008-06-19
text: Subcommittee Hearings Held.
action_date: 2008-06-13
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity.
action_date: 2008-06-10
text: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2008-06-10
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2008-06-10
text: Introduced in House