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Committee passes omnibus bill to improve benefits for veterans
H.R. 3082, as amended, the Veterans Small Business and Memorial Affairs Act of 2006

Washington, D.C. — Today, the full House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs marked up and passed H.R. 3082, as amended, the Veterans Small Business and Memorial Affairs Act of 2006. Among other things, the bill would increase benefits for America’s veterans by; establishing the annual contracting goals for VA to include a greater number of veteran owned small businesses, clarifying the rules regarding contracts, prohibiting bonus payments to senior executives who do not meet veteran and disabled veteran contracting goals, and provisions to extend veteran business status to the spouses when the veteran dies.

“I believe the additional tools we are providing to the VA should enable the department to easily meet its set aside goals for veteran businesses and I fully expect senior managers to meet those goals. If VA fails to meet the set aside goals for veteran and disabled veteran set aside goals, I will be happy to provide additional legislative incentives for the department,” said Chairman Steve Buyer.

“I am pleased that we will be able to assist veteran and disabled veteran business owners to improve their competitive position regarding VA contracts,” said Buyer.

Several years ago, Congress passed P.L. 106-50 and P.L. 108-183 with the objective of improving the ability of veteran and disabled veteran businesses to compete for federal contracts. The federal government has not measured up to the requirements within these laws. The updated provisions will provide increased opportunity for veteran business owners.

"I am proud to have helped develop and strongly support these measures intended to improve veterans’ small-business opportunities, job-training and employment services, as well as the licensing and certification process for servicemembers transitioning into the civilian workforce. Our nation’s servicemembers, veterans and military families have earned the benefits and opportunities provided within this legislation,” said Rep. Stephanie Herseth (D-S.D.).

The bill contains several provisions that respond to issues raised either in the February legislative presentations or in meetings with veterans groups such as the Task Force for Veterans Entrepreneurship, Rolling Thunder, the military Coalition, the National Association of Program Administrators, and the Association of Service Disabled Veterans. Buyer thanked these organizations for their valuable input and assistance.

The bill will also make permanent the Secretary’s authority to furnish a government headstone or marker for veterans who are interred in a marked grave at a private cemetery, set to expire December 1, 2006. Buyer praised Rep. Nancy Johnson for her continued leadership on this important issue.

Some of the notable improvements that our veterans will benefit from within this bill include:

Small business -

Require the U.S. Department of Labor’s Veterans’ Employment and Training Service (VETS) to establish professional qualification guidelines for Disabled Veterans Outreach Program Specialists (DVOPS) and Local Veterans Employment Representatives (LVER).
Require States to develop a licensing and certification program within two years after date of enactment for veterans as a condition to receive a grant from VETS.
Clarify that part-time employment of DVOPS/LVERs is half-time employment.
Require that all DVOPS/LVERs hired after date of enactment successfully complete training by the National Veterans Training Institute within three years of appointment.
Authorize a 5-year demonstration project to allow the Assistant Secretary of Labor for VETS to enter into contracts with non-governmental entities to carry out placement services in high-unemployment areas using unobligated funds and require GAO to report on the demonstration project.
Establish a demonstration project that would: authorize the Secretary of Labor to identify not less than 10 military occupational specialties that would lead to civilian credentialing within an industry that has a critical shortage of employees or that is a high growth industry; require the Secretary to work with States and industries to identify the civilian credentialing requirements within each State and industry to reduce the barriers for servicemembers; require an annual report to Congress describing the efforts and results of the previous year towards credentialing services; terminate the authorization of the demonstration project on September 30, 2009; authorize appropriations of $1,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2007 through 2009.

* The Committee expects to take H.R. 3082, as amended, to the floor the week of July 24, 2006.

* The House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity will hold a joint hearing with the House Committee on Armed Services to discuss education benefits.