Definition: In this task, you are given text for US Congressional and California state bills, your task is to generate a summary for this bill.
Input: SECTION 1. FINDINGS.

Congress finds the following:
(1) Apprenticeships can help veterans bridge the gap
between service in the Armed Forces and civilian employment
by--
(A) receiving on-the-job training under the direct
supervision of a professional and classroom
instruction;
(B) implementing skills the veterans acquired while
in the Armed Forces;
(C) providing practical work experience to the
veterans; and
(D) forming professional connections to fellow
members of skilled occupations.
(2) According to the Employment and Training Administration
of the Department of Labor, in fiscal year 2016--
(A) more than 21,000 apprenticeship programs across
the United States are registered with the
Administration;
(B) approximately 1,700 new apprenticeship programs
were established in the United States;
(C) more than 206,000 individuals across the United
States entered an apprenticeship program;
(D) more than 505,000 apprentices sought to acquire
skills to earn the wages necessary for financial
security; and
(E) approximately 49,000 individuals graduated from
apprenticeship programs.

SEC. 2. EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE FOR VETERANS WHO PURSUE CERTAIN
APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAMS.

Section 3313(g)(3) of title 38, United States Code, is amended by
adding at the end the following new subparagraphs:
''(E) In the case of an individual pursuing a
program of apprenticeship (that is registered with the
Employment and Training Administration of the
Department of Labor) on more than a half-time but less
than full-time basis, an annual stipend for tuition and
fees not to exceed the lesser of--
''(i) the actual net cost for tuition and
fees for the program of apprenticeship after
the application of any waiver of, or reduction
in, tuition and fees; or
''(ii) 25 percent of the amount calculated
under subsection (c)(1)(A)(ii).
''(F) In the case of an individual pursuing a
program of apprenticeship (that is registered with the
Employment and Training Administration of the
Department of Labor and for which the individual
provides proof of current registration to the
Secretary) that is not sponsored by the employer of the
individual, an annual stipend for tuition and fees not
to exceed the lesser of--
''(i) the actual net cost for tuition and
fees for the program of apprenticeship after
the application of any waiver of, or reduction
in, tuition and fees; or
''(ii) 25 percent of the amount calculated
under subsection (c)(1)(A)(ii).''.

SEC. 3. SENSE OF CONGRESS.

It is the sense of Congress that apprenticeship programs that are
not sponsored by employers of participants in such programs should
supply professional development resources and interview training to the
participants.

SEC. 4. PILOT PROGRAM FOR VETERANS WHO PURSUE COMPUTER NUMERICALLY
CONTROLLED MACHINING CERTIFICATIONS.

(a) Pilot Program.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall carry
out a pilot program under which the Secretary shall provide eligible
veterans with the opportunity to enroll in certification programs in
computer numerically controlled machining.
(b) Eligibility.--For purposes of the pilot program under this
section, an eligible veteran is a veteran who is entitled to
educational assistance under the laws administered by the Secretary.
(c) Contracts.--
(1) In general.--For purposes of carrying out subsection
(a), by not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment
of this Act, the Secretary shall seek to enter into contracts
with multiple qualified providers of certification programs in
computer numerically controlled machining for the provision of
such programs to eligible veterans under the pilot program.
(2) Payment of contractors.--A contract under this
subsection shall provide that the Secretary shall pay to a
provider--
(A) 25 percent of the cost of providing the
certification program upon the enrollment of an
eligible veteran in the program;
(B) 25 percent of such cost upon the completion of
the program by the veteran; and
(C) 50 percent of such cost upon the employment of
the veteran following completion of the program.
(3) Qualified providers.--For purposes of the pilot
program, a provider of a certification program in computer
numerically controlled machining is qualified if the provider
has been operational for at least two years.
(4) Tuition reimbursement.--In entering into contracts to
carry out the pilot program, the Secretary shall give
preference to a qualified provider that offers tuition
reimbursement for any student who--
(A) completes a certification program offered by
the provider; and
(B) does not find full-time meaningful employment
within the 180-day period beginning on the date the
student completes the program.
(d) Housing Stipend.--The Secretary shall pay to each eligible
veteran who is enrolled in a certification program in computer
numerically controlled machining under the pilot program on a full-time
basis a monthly housing stipend equal to the product of--
(1) in the case of--
(A) a veteran pursuing resident training, the
monthly amount of the basic allowance for housing
payable under section 403 of title 37, United States
Code, for a member with dependents in pay grade E-5 who
resides in the military housing area that encompasses
all or the majority of the ZIP code area in which the
campus at which the veteran attends training or classes
is located; or
(B) a veteran pursuing a certification program
through distance learning, a monthly amount equal to 50
percent of the amount payable under subparagraph (A);
and
(2) the lesser of--
(A) 1.0; or
(B) the number of course hours carried by the
individual in pursuit of the certification program
involved, divided by the minimum number of course hours
required for full-time pursuit of such certification
program, rounded to the nearest tenth.
(e) Certification Program in Computer Numerically Controlled
Machining Defined.--In this section, the term ''certification program
in computer numerically controlled machining'' means a training program
that--
(1) is offered by an entity--
(A) other than an institution of higher learning;
or
(B) that is a professional organization;
(2) does not lead to a degree; and
(3) leads to a National Institute for Metalworking Skills
credential or certification in computer numerically controlled
machining.
(f) Reports.--
(1) Secretary of veterans affairs.--Not later than one year
after the date of the enactment of this Act, and annually
thereafter, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report on
the pilot program under this section.
(2) Comptroller general.--
(A) Interim report.--Not later than three years
after the date on which the Secretary first enters into
a contract under this section, the Comptroller General
of the United States shall submit to Congress a report
containing the results of the interim assessment of the
Comptroller General. Such report shall include the
recommendations of the Comptroller General for
improving the pilot program and an assessment of each
of the following:
(i) The manufacturing and training
experience of the directors and instructors of
the providers of certification programs in
computer numerically controlled machining under
the pilot program.
(ii) Whether the providers followed
training curricula commonly used in the
industry (including curricula from the National
Institute for Metalworking Skills) for the
certification programs.
(iii) Whether the providers use open source
curricula for the certification programs.
(iv) The admittance rate into the pilot
program.
(v) The job placement rate for veterans who
completed a certification program under the
pilot program.
(vi) The average salary of veterans who
completed a certification program under the
pilot program and were subsequently employed.
(vii) The average age of veterans who
participated in the pilot program.
(B) Final report.--Not later than five years after
the date on which the Secretary first enters into a
contract under this section, the Comptroller General
shall submit to Congress a final report on the pilot
program. Such report shall include the recommendation
of the Comptroller General with respect to whether the
program should be extended and an assessment of each of
the following:
(i) Each item described in clauses (i)
through (vii) of subparagraph (A).
(ii) The percentage of veterans who
completed a certification program under the
pilot program who were subsequently employed
for a period of six months or longer.
(g) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be
appropriated to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs $5,000,000 for each
fiscal year during which the Secretary carries out a pilot program
under this section.
(h) Termination.--The authority to carry out a pilot program under
this section shall terminate on the date that is five years after the
date on which the Secretary first enters into a contract under this
section.

SEC. 5. COMPTROLLER GENERAL REVIEW OF THE CAREER TECHNICAL TRAINING
TRACK OF THE TRANSITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.

Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this
Act, the Comptroller General of the United States shall conduct a
review of the career technical training track of the Transition
Assistance Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs (specifically
with regard to the effectiveness of educating participants about
apprenticeship opportunities) and submit to Congress a report on the
results of the review and any recommendations of the Comptroller
General for improving the program.
Output:
This bill provides educational assistance to veterans who pursue certain apprenticeship programs registered with the Employment and Training Administration of the Department of Labor. It is the sense of Congress that apprenticeship programs that are not sponsored by program participants' employers should provide the participants with professional development resources and interview training. The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) shall carry out a pilot program to provide eligible veterans with the opportunity to enroll in certification programs in computer numerically controlled machining. The Government Accountability Office shall report to Congress regarding the career technical training track of the VA's Transition Assistance Program, including its effectiveness in educating participants about apprenticeship opportunities.