Veterans Employment Readiness Yield Act of 2024

Floor Speech

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Mr. BOST. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 7653) to amend title 38, United States Code, to update certain terminology regarding veteran employment.

The Clerk read the title of the bill.

The text of the bill is as follows: H. R. 7653

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ``Veterans Employment Readiness Yield Act of 2024'' or the ``VERY Act of 2024''. SEC. 2. UPDATE OF CERTAIN TERMINOLOGY REGARDING VETERAN EMPLOYMENT.

Title 38, United States Code, is amended--

(1) by striking ``employment handicap'' each place it occurs and inserting ``employment barrier''; and

(2) by striking ``employment handicaps'' each place it occurs and inserting ``employment barriers''.

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Mr. BOST. 7653.

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

Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 7653 offered by the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Davis).

Madam Speaker, the VERY Act would strike the term ``employment handicap'' from the law that authorizes the Veteran Readiness and Employment program and replace it with the term ``employment barrier.''

This term is used in the law to describe participants who are eligible and entitled to receive benefits and services. The bill is a simple fix that would remove a negative view of the term ``handicap'' and replace it with a more positive word.

This Congress, VA has made significant mistakes that have damaged their relationship with veterans, and it is our job as Congress to help VA rebuild trust with our veterans.

While the new Trump administration has many issues to fix that were created by the current administration, this change is a step in the right direction. This Congress, the Republican majority has worked hard to improve the VR&E program.

Now, we have put the VA's feet to the fire to ensure that veterans are put first when using the VR&E program. Representative Davis' bill takes a step in the right direction to do exactly that.

We must continue to break down barriers to level the playing field for veterans seeking employment. I thank the VFW and the DAV for supporting this bill. I also recognize the work of my colleagues on the other side of the aisle on this legislation, and I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 7653.

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Mr. BOST. Madam Speaker, I have no further speakers, and I am prepared to close.

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Mr. BOST. Madam Speaker, I have no further speakers, and I am prepared to close.

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Mr. BOST. Madam Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time to close.

Madam Speaker, once again, I encourage Members to support the legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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