Promoting Jobs for Veterans Act of 2009

Bill: 111-hr-4220
Sponsor: Rep. Buyer, Steve [R-IN-4]
Introduced: 2009-12-08 in the House
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Elementary and secondary education
Employment and training programs
Government information and archives
Government lending and loan guarantees
Internet and video services
Internet, web applications, social media
Military personnel and dependents
Minority and disadvantaged businesses
Public contracts and procurement
Small business
Teaching, teachers, curricula
Veterans' education, employment, rehabilitation

Summary:
action_date: 2009-12-08
text: 
Promoting Jobs for Veterans Act of 2009 - Reinstates the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) small business loan program, under which the Secretary of Veterans Affairs provides financial assistance to veterans' small businesses. Qualifies for such assistance any veteran business owner with a disability rated at 10% (under current law, 30%) or more. Removes VA authority to provide such assistance through direct loans, while maintaining authority for loan guaranties. Increases from $200,000 to $500,000 the maximum guaranty amount. Authorizes the Secretary to: (1) contract-out to provide such loans; and (2) subsidize the interest rates paid under such loans. Provides a loan guarantee preference for National Guard and reserve members activated in support of the Global War on Terrorism.
 
Requires (current law authorizes) a VA contracting officer to award contracts to small businesses owned and controlled by veterans using other than competitive procedures for contracts above the simplified acquisition threshold in order to meet VA small business procurement contracting goals.
 
Allows the Secretary to evaluate a contract bid submitted by a small business owned and controlled by veterans on the same basis as the Administrator of the Small Business Administration (SBA) evaluates a bid submitted by a socially and economically disadvantaged small business.
 
Amends the Small Business Act to extend the period of eligibility for certain small business assistance in the case of small businesses owned by individuals who are called or ordered to active duty for more than 30 days.
 
Increases the amount of the monthly subsistence allowance payable to veterans participating in VA vocational rehabilitation programs.
 
Directs the Secretary to award up to 2,000 internships annually to veterans who have completed a vocational rehabilitation program.
 
Requires the Secretary to pay to a veteran who is unemployed for at least four months, 59 years old or younger, and ineligible for other VA education or training assistance a training assistance allowance for each month the veteran is enrolled in a program of apprenticeship or other on-job training.
 
Authorizes the Secretary to pay a $500 monthly assistance allowance to a rural veteran teacher.
 
Amends the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 to authorize appropriations for veterans' workforce investment programs.
 
Directs the Secretary to include on the main VA Internet website a hyperlink with a drop-down menu entitled &quot;Veterans Employment,&quot; which shall link to appropriate Internet employment websites.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2010-01-04
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Higher Education, Lifelong Learning, and Competitiveness.
action_date: 2010-01-04
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Finance and Tax.
action_date: 2009-12-11
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity.
action_date: 2009-12-08
text: Referred to House Small Business
action_date: 2009-12-08
text: Referred to House Education and Labor
action_date: 2009-12-08
text: Referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, and in addition to the Committees on Education and Labor, and Small Business, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2009-12-08
text: Referred to House Veterans' Affairs
action_date: 2009-12-08
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E2904)
action_date: 2009-12-08
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2009-12-08
text: Introduced in House