Training in High-Demand Roles to Improve Veteran Employment Act

Floor Speech

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Mr. LEVIN of California. Madam Speaker, I thank our great chairman, Chairman Takano, and our ranking member for their great work. It is an honor to continue serving our veterans in a bipartisan manner and to chair the relevant subcommittee.

As the Representative for Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton and thousands of military families in the region, I am incredibly proud of the work we have accomplished in the past few years for our Nation's veterans.

Back in January of this year, the Johnny Isakson and David P. Roe, M.D. Veterans Health Care and Benefits Improvement Act was signed into law. It was a historic omnibus bill for veterans that strengthened many benefits and services for those who have served our country. It was a great bipartisan accomplishment. Again, I am grateful to all of my colleagues for getting it across the finish line.

It included provisions to improve services for homeless veterans, to protect GI Bill benefits, improve the Transition Assistance Program for servicemembers returning to civilian life, and so much more. It was the product, again, of bipartisan, bicameral work, proof that we can do things on a bipartisan basis here in Washington, D.C., and I was proud to help lead that bill.

Most recently, we passed the American Rescue Plan, a landmark piece of legislation to help Americans get through this pandemic, including our veterans who have struggled to get back on their feet during this difficult time.

A key piece of that bill was nearly $400 million for a rapid retraining program for veterans who are unemployed as a result of this pandemic and don't have access to other veteran education benefits.

Both of these bills were huge accomplishments; but, like all legislation, they weren't perfect, and there are still steps that we must take to make these programs work even better for the veterans they are intended to serve.

That is why I was proud to introduce legislation with Ranking Member Mike Bost of the House Veterans' Affairs Committee, amending the American Rescue Plan and the Isakson-Roe legislation to improve job training and education programs for our veterans.

For example, our bill makes changes to the Rapid Retraining Assistance Program so we are focusing on high-demand occupations.

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Mr. LEVIN of California. Madam Speaker, it will also improve the VA's communication with veterans about employment placement services. It will clarify veterans' eligibility for housing stipends under the retraining program. And it will ensure the VA works with qualified nonprofit business associations to facilitate the employment of participating veterans.

Nothing in this bill is controversial. It is all about improving existing veterans' programs so they can get back to work and make the most of the services they have earned and deserve.

Madam Speaker, I hope we can pass this bill without delay, and I urge all of my colleagues to support it.

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