Chairman Bost, House Republicans Introduce Veteran Education and Workforce Reforms, Acquisition Improvements through Reauthorization Strategy

Chairman Bost, House Republicans Introduce Veteran Education and Workforce Reforms, Acquisition Improvements through Reauthorization Strategy

Today, House Committee on Veterans' Affairs Chairman Mike Bost (R-Ill.), alongside Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity Chairman Rep. Derrick Van Orden (Wis.), Subcommittee on Technology Modernization Chairman Rep. Tom Barrett (R-Mich.), Rep. Juan Ciscomani (R-Ariz.), and Rep. Abe Hamadeh (R-Ariz.), introduced a third series of bills as part of the Chairman's broader reauthorization strategy to soundly reauthorize and reform specific education and workforce programs at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) for the 21st century of benefits delivery - many of which have not been comprehensively reviewed in 30 years.

Specifically, the third series of bills would bring accountability to VA's Veteran Readiness and Employment (VR&E) program, enhance VA's acquisition enterprise by improving cost evaluation measures, create a Veterans Economic Opportunity and Transition Administration, and move the Department of Labor's Veterans Education and Training Service (DOL-VETS) program to VA. To read more about the first and second series of bills the Chairman and House Republicans are leading as part of the Committee's reauthorization strategy, click here (first series) and here (second series).

"The bills that were introduced today as part of our larger VA reauthorization strategy would bring needed education and workforce benefits reform to programs that hundreds of thousands of veterans have used, and will use in the future," said Chairman Bost. "Enhancing these multibillion-dollar VA programs to make them better - and create lasting change - would provide more economic opportunity for the veterans, transitioning active-duty servicemembers, and the veteran families they were created to serve. As Chairman, I look forward to leading the discussion on improving these VA benefits' programs at a time when House Republicans are working - alongside President Trump - every day to bring down costs and expand affordability for families nationwide."

The four bills that were introduced today as part of the Committee's broader reauthorization strategy would:

• Create needed accountability and reporting measures within VA's Veteran Readiness and Employment (VR&E) program to better serve disabled veterans
• Establish a modern, centralized VA acquisition enterprise with consistent cost evaluation
• Create a new Veterans Economic Opportunity and Transition Administration within the Veterans Benefits Administration
• Move the DOL-VETS program to VA to centralize workforce benefits delivery
  

"As Chairman of the VA Economic Opportunity Subcommittee, I have seen firsthand the need for stronger accountability and clearer outcomes in the Veterans Readiness and Employment program," said Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity Chairman Van Orden. "As a veteran who has personally relied on this program, I understand how critical it is that this program is readily available to those who have earned them. This legislation modernizes VR&E by improving oversight, ensuring responsible use of resources, and reinforcing the program's focus on helping disabled veterans achieve meaningful employment. With participation expected to grow, these reforms will better serve veterans while safeguarding taxpayer dollars and strengthening the program for the future."

To learn more about proposed reforms to VA's Veteran Readiness and Employment (VR&E) program, click here. Bill text can be found here.

"Inefficiency at the VA directly - and too often negatively - affects the level of services and standard of care veterans receive. Every dollar wasted on overpriced and inefficient technology is a dollar not spent helping the men and women who defended our nation," said Subcommittee on Technology Modernization Chairman Barrett. "Meanwhile, delayed projects and failing IT systems are compromising the benefits and health care America promised them. The ARCA Act is long overdue legislation to streamline purchasing and strengthen accountability so the VA can achieve its mission of putting veterans first while preserving taxpayer dollars."

To learn more about proposed reforms to VA's acquisition enterprise by improving cost evaluation measures, click here. Bill text can be found here.

"Our veterans deserve a system that truly works for them - not one that buries critical education and transition programs under layers of bureaucracy. In Arizona's Sixth District, we are home to nearly 80,000 veterans, and many of them rely on the GI Bill, VR&E, home loan benefits, and the Transition Assistance Program as they build their next chapter. These programs must receive the focus and accountability they deserve," said Rep. Ciscomani. "Creating the Economic Opportunity and Transition Administration is a practical, commonsense step to modernize the VA and strengthen oversight. By streamlining how these programs are managed, we can deliver more timely, effective support and ensure veterans across AZ-06 - and across the country - get the opportunities they have earned through their service."

To learn more about proposed reforms to create a Veterans Economic Opportunity and Transition Administration, click here. Bill text can be found here.

"I am proud to introduce this bill which addresses the lack of accountability and oversight of the past. Maintaining the status quo means the DOL-VETS program and its services will continue to underperform and will be underutilized by veterans. That is not acceptable, and the Government Accountability Office reports make the case for change clear. This realigning of employment programs for workforce opportunities from the Department of Labor to the VA, an agency that is solely focused on veterans, only makes sense," said Rep. Hamadeh.

To learn more about proposed reforms to move the Department of Labor's Veterans Education and Training Service (DOL-VETS) program to VA, click here. Bill text can be found here.