Border Jobs for Veterans Act of 2015
PL 114-68 (H.R.2835), enacted 10/16/2015

129 STAT. 555 
PUBLIC LAW 114–68—OCT. 16, 2015 
Public Law 114–68 
114th Congress 
An Act 
To actively recruit members of the Armed Forces who are separating from military 
service to serve as Customs and Border Protection officers. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Border Jobs for Veterans Act 
of 2015’’. 
SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 
Congress finds the following: 
(1) Customs and Border Protection officers at United States 
ports of entry carry out critical law enforcement duties associ-
ated 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 must 
be enhanced to ensure that individuals separating from military 
service are aware of, and partake in, opportunities to fill vacant 
Customs and Border Protection officer positions. 
SEC. 3. EXPEDITED HIRING OF APPROPRIATE SEPARATING SERVICE 
MEMBERS. 
The Secretary of Homeland Security shall consider the expe-
dited hiring of qualified candidates who have the ability to perform 
the essential functions of the position of a Customs and Border 
Protection officer and who are eligible for a veterans recruitment 
appointment authorized under section 4214 of title 38, United States 
Code. 
SEC. 4. ENHANCEMENTS TO EXISTING PROGRAMS TO RECRUIT 
SERVICE MEMBERS SEPARATING FROM MILITARY SERVICE 
FOR CUSTOMS AND BORDER PROTECTION OFFICER VACAN-
CIES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Homeland Security, in con-
sultation with the Secretary of Defense, and acting through existing 
programs, authorities, and agreements, where applicable, shall 
enhance the efforts of the Department of Homeland Security to 
Consultation. 
Border Jobs for 
Veterans Act 
of 2015. 
6 USC 211 note. 
Oct. 16, 2015 
[H.R. 2835] 
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129 STAT. 556 
PUBLIC LAW 114–68—OCT. 16, 2015 
recruit members of the Armed Forces who are separating from 
military service to serve as Customs and Border Protection officers. 
(b) ELEMENTS.—The enhanced recruiting efforts under sub-
section (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) include outreach efforts to educate members of the 
Armed Forces with Military Occupational Specialty Codes and 
Officer Branches, Air Force Specialty Codes, Naval Enlisted 
Classifications and Officer Designators, and Coast Guard com-
petencies that are transferable to the requirements, qualifica-
tions, and duties assigned to Customs and Border Protection 
officers of available hiring opportunities to become Customs 
and Border Protection officers; 
(5) identify shared activities and opportunities for reci-
procity related to steps in hiring Customs and Border Protection 
officers with the goal of minimizing the time required to hire 
qualified applicants; 
(6) 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. 
SEC. 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 of the 
next 3 years thereafter, the Secretary of Homeland Security, in 
consultation with the Secretary of Defense, shall submit a report 
to the Committee on Homeland Security and the Committee on 
Armed Services of the House of Representatives and the Committee 
on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs and the Com-
mittee on Armed Services of the Senate that includes a description 
and assessment of the efforts of the Department of Homeland 
Security to hire members of the Armed Forces who are separating 
from military service as Customs and Border Protection officers 
under section 4. 
(b) CONTENT.—The report required under subsection (a) shall 
include— 
(1) a detailed description of the efforts to implement section 
4, including— 
(A) elements of the enhanced recruiting efforts and 
the goals associated with such elements; and 
(B) a description of how the elements and goals referred 
to in subparagraph (A) will assist in meeting statutorily 
mandated staffing levels and agency hiring benchmarks; 
(2) a detailed description of the efforts that have been 
undertaken under section 4; 
Time period. 
Consultation. 
Assessment. 
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129 STAT. 557 
PUBLIC LAW 114–68—OCT. 16, 2015 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—H.R. 2835: 
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 161 (2015): 
Sept. 28, considered and passed House. 
Oct. 1, considered and passed Senate. 
(3) the estimated number of separating service members 
made aware of Customs and Border Protection officer vacancies; 
(4) the number of Customs and Border Protection officer 
vacancies filled with separating service members; and 
(5) the number of Customs and Border Protection officer 
vacancies filled with separating service members under Vet-
erans Recruitment Appointment authorized under section 4214 
of title 38, United States Code. 
SEC. 6. RULES OF CONSTRUCTION. 
Nothing in this Act may be construed— 
(1) as superseding, altering, or amending existing Federal 
veterans’ hiring preferences or Federal hiring authorities; or 
(2) to authorize the appropriation of additional amounts 
to carry out this Act. 
Approved October 16, 2015. 
Estimate. 
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