II 114th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 1603 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES June 17, 2015 Mr. Flake (for himself, Mr. Johnson , Mr. McCain , and Mr. Schumer ) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs A BILL To actively recruit members of the Armed Forces who are separating from military service to serve as Customs and Border Protection Officers.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Border Jobs for Veterans Act of 2015 . 2. Findings Congress finds the following: (1) Customs and Border Protection Officers at United States ports of entry carry out critical law enforcement duties associated with screening foreign visitors, returning United States citizens, and imported cargo entering the United States. (2) It is in the national interest for United States ports of entry to be adequately staffed with Customs and Border Protection Officers in a timely fashion, including meeting the congressionally funded staffing target of 23,775 officers for fiscal year 2015. (3) An estimated 250,000 to 300,000 members of the Armed Forces separate from military service every year. (4) Recruiting efforts and expedited hiring procedures should be undertaken to ensure that individuals separating from military service are aware of, and partake in, opportunities to fill vacant Customs and Border Protection Officer positions. 3. Expedited hiring of appropriate separating servicemembers (a) Identification of transferable qualifications Not later than 60 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Homeland Security, in conjunction with the Secretary of Defense, shall jointly identify Military Occupational Specialty Codes, Air Force Specialty Codes, Naval Enlisted Classifications and Officer Designators, and Coast Guard Competencies that are transferable to the requirements, qualifications, and duties assigned to Customs and Border Protection Officers. (b) Hiring The Secretary of Homeland Security shall consider hiring qualified candidates with the Military Occupational Specialty Codes, Air Force Specialty Codes, Naval Enlisted Classifications and Officer Designators, and Coast Guard Competencies identified as transferable under subsection (a) who are eligible for veterans recruitment appointment authorized under section 4214 of title 38, United States Code. 4. Establishing a program for recruiting servicemembers separating from military service for Customs and Border Protection Officer vacancies (a) In general Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Homeland Security, in conjunction with the Secretary of Defense, shall establish a program to actively recruit members of the Armed Forces who are separating from military service to serve as Customs and Border Protection Officers. (b) Elements The program established under subsection (a) shall— (1) include Customs and Border Protection Officer opportunities in relevant job assistance efforts under the Transition Assistance Program; (2) place U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials or other relevant Department of Homeland Security officials at recruiting events and jobs fairs involving members of the Armed Forces who are separating from military service; (3) provide opportunities for local U.S. Customs and Border Protection field offices to partner with military bases in the region; (4) conduct outreach efforts to educate members of the Armed Forces with Military Occupational Specialty Codes, Air Force Specialty Codes, and Naval Enlisted Classifications and Officer Designators that are transferable to the requirements, qualifications, and duties assigned to Customs and Border Protection Officers; (5) require the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Homeland Security to work cooperatively to identify shared activities and opportunities for reciprocity related to steps in hiring U.S. Customs and Border Patrol officers with the goal of minimizing the time required to hire qualified applicants; (6) require the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Homeland Security to work cooperatively to ensure the streamlined interagency transfer of relevant background investigations and security clearances; and (7) include such other elements as may be necessary to ensure that members of the Armed Forces who are separating from military service are aware of opportunities to fill vacant Customs and Border Protection Officer positions. 5. Report to Congress (a) In general Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, and by December 31 of each year thereafter, the Secretary of Homeland Security and the Secretary of Defense shall jointly submit a report to the appropriate congressional committees that includes a description and assessment of the program established under section 4. (b) Content The report required under subsection (a) shall include— (1) a detailed description of the program established under section 4, including— (A) programmatic elements; (B) goals associated with those elements; and (C) a description of how the elements and goals will assist in meeting statutorily mandated staffing levels and agency hiring benchmarks; (2) a detailed description of the program elements that have been implemented under section 4; (3) a detailed summary of the actions taken under section 4 to implement such program elements; (4) the number of separating servicemembers made aware of Customs and Border Protection Officer vacancies; (5) the Military Occupational Specialty Codes, Air Force Specialty Codes, Naval Enlisted Classifications and Officer Designators, and Coast Guard Competencies identified as transferable under section 3(a) and a rationale for such identifications; (6) the number of Customs and Border Protection Officer vacancies filled with separating servicemembers; (7) the number of Customs and Border Protection Officer vacancies filled with separating servicemembers under veterans recruitment appointment authorized under section 4214 of title 38, United States Code; and (8) the results of any evaluations or considerations of additional elements included or not included in the program established under section 4. 6. Rules of construction Nothing in this Act may be construed— (a) as superseding, altering, or amending existing Federal veterans’ hiring preferences or Federal hiring authorities; or (b) as authorizing the appropriation of additional amounts to carry out this Act.