Veterans Employment Readiness Yield Act of 2025

Floor Speech

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 2625, the Veterans Employment Readiness Yield Act of 2025 introduced by my good friend Representative Don Davis.

The Veteran Readiness and Employment program, or VR&E, offers vital services to help veterans and servicemembers with service-connected disabilities and those determined to have an employment handicap prepare for, find, and maintain suitable employment or live more independently.

This bill would replace the terms ``employment handicap'' and ``serious employment handicap'' with ``employment barrier'' and ``serious employment barrier.''

Historically, the term ``handicap'' has been associated with disadvantage or burden, which does not accurately reflect our veteran population.

By making this change, we acknowledge the challenges that veterans with service-connected disabilities often face in the job market. Eliminating the stigma associated with these disabilities will encourage more veterans to participate in the VR&E program, ultimately assisting them in preparing for and securing meaningful employment.

The Department of Veterans Affairs requested this change, which has bipartisan support and incurs no cost. I thank Mr. Davis for his work on veterans' issues during his time in Congress. I am proud of his work to open doors at the VA for more veterans so they may access the benefits they have earned through their service.

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Mr. TAKANO. 2625.

Mr. DAVIS of North Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman Bost and Representative Takano for yielding time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 2625, the Veterans Employment Readiness Yield Act of 2025.

On behalf of the more than 56,000 veterans in North Carolina's First Congressional District, which I am proud to represent, and so many across our country, I urge my colleagues to vote in favor of this commonsense legislation.

I thank the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Ciscomani), who co-led the bill. I also thank the House Committee on Veterans' Affair for marking it up and moving it forward. Lastly, I thank the Disabled American Veterans and Paralyzed Veterans of America for endorsing this legislation.

H.R. 2625 amends terminology in the Veteran Readiness and Employment program to replace the term ``employment handicap'' with ``employment barrier'' and the term ``serious employment handicap'' with ``serious employment barrier,'' while, most importantly, leaving the definitions unchanged.

The Veteran Readiness and Employment program helps former servicemembers find jobs and ensure their mental and financial well- being are intact. Updating the terminology will improve efficiency and encourage veterans to use the Veteran Readiness and Employment program.

No veteran should have any discomfort advocating for themselves and seeking help for their service-connected disabilities. We will continue to stay in this fight until every disabled veteran has what they need to get the assistance they have earned.

On behalf of a grateful nation, we can honor those who have given life and limb to serve by passing the VERY Act.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to do exactly that, and I thank the chair and the ranking member for yielding time.

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Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, we passed this bill in the House last Congress, only for the Senate to run out of time. I am hopeful that this year the Senate acts quickly to send this bill directly to the President's desk.

Mr. Speaker, I support H.R. 2625, the Veterans Employment Readiness Yield Act of 2025, and I urge all my colleagues to support it, as well.

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