Establishing Veterans Economic Opportunity and Transition Administration

Floor Speech

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Mr. TAKANO. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Madam Speaker, I am pleased to speak on H.R. 2494, introduced by Congressman Wenstrup, and which would establish a fourth administration at the Department of Veterans Affairs focused on economic opportunity and transition.

When our servicemembers conclude their time with the armed services, they are tasked with returning to civilian life. This is the sacrifice they make for our security, and in exchange, we owe them more than a thank you and well wishes. We owe them a commitment that they will be supported in their transition to civilian life, and that they will have a VA that is responsive to their needs.

That is why we passed the first GI Bill nearly 75 years ago to the day and why we continue today to make improvements in providing our Nation's veterans with the benefits they have earned.

Unfortunately, VA has struggled to track the effectiveness of programs for education and employment, and Congress has struggled to determine the Department's resource needs in these areas.

Madam Speaker, one of the main reasons we have identified through hearings and discussion with our veterans service organizations is that the Veterans Benefits Administration is simply asked to do too much. While managing compensation claims is important, the responsibility of managing transition, education, and housing benefits often takes a backseat. To put it in perspective, the Veterans Benefits Administration's structure has not significantly changed since the Veterans Administration was established in 1930.

Madam Speaker, during the last 89 years, the services needed by veterans has dramatically changed, which is why our committee has an Economic Opportunity Subcommittee. It is time for the importance of economic opportunity to be elevated at VA as well.

This bipartisan bill would create a new administration within the Department to manage educational assistance, vocational rehabilitation, and employment, education, career counseling programs, and broadly defined shared transition assistance programs. That means a dedicated Under Secretary for Veterans Economic Opportunity and Transition solely focused on fulfilling our promise to the veterans that they will get the education they want, the housing they need, and the careers they deserve.

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Mr. TAKANO. Madam Speaker, I ask all of my colleagues to join me in passing this important piece of legislation, H.R. 2494, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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