OFFICIALS LEGISLATION INTEREST GROUPS PUBLIC STATEMENTS COMMITTEES VETOES

Veterans Benefits, Health Care, And Information Technology Act of 2006

Date: Dec. 8, 2006
Location: Washington, DC
Issues: Veterans Health and Health Care


VETERANS BENEFITS, HEALTH CARE, AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY ACT OF 2006 -- (House of Representatives - December 08, 2006)

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Mr. BOOZMAN. Mr. Speaker, I certainly want to congratulate Mr. Buyer and thank him and thank the staff on both sides, the chairman, Ranking Member Evans, Acting Ranking Member Filner, and again all of the staff for your hard work in getting this bill together. It is a very, very good bill.

The bill before the House makes improvements in nearly every major area of veterans programs. I am especially proud of the provisions that originally passed the House in H.R. 3082. That bill, and now S. 3421, contains significant changes to how the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Department of Labor's Veterans Employment and Training Service meet the small business and employment needs of America's veterans.

Mr. Speaker, the Federal Government has fallen woefully short in meeting the disabled veteran-owned small business contracting goals set forth in Public Law 106-50 and Presidential Executive Order 13360. Since the law and directive took effect, only one major Federal agency has met the 3 percent goal for disabled veteran-owned small businesses. This is certainly a very, very poor record. This bill provides the Department of Veterans Affairs with the tools and requisite authorities to not only meet the goal but to exceed the goal.

The bill also makes several important improvements in the delivery of employment services to veterans. As a result, State workforce agency employees funded by the Veterans Employment and Training Service will be better trained in their duties. The Secretary of Labor will have additional authority to hold States accountable for job placement results. The bill also makes it easier for servicemembers transitioning to civilian life by authorizing a pilot program to break down barriers to qualifying for State licenses based on military training, education, and experience.

Mr. Speaker, again, this is an excellent bill. I want to again thank you for all of the hard work on both sides for the effort that was done and very much support the passage of this bill.

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