OFFICIALS LEGISLATION INTEREST GROUPS PUBLIC STATEMENTS COMMITTEES VETOES

Longitudinal Study of Vocational Rehabilitation Programs

Floor Speech

Date: June 20, 2008
Location: Washington, DC
Issues: Veterans

LONGITUDINAL STUDY OF VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION PROGRAMS -- (House of Representatives - May 20, 2008)

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Mr. BOOZMAN. Thank you, Mr. Buyer.

Mr. Speaker, I introduced H.R. 3889 to determine whether the VA's Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment Program was meeting its goals of employment and independent living for disabled veterans.

To do that, my bill would require that the Department of Veterans Affairs conduct a 20-year longitudinal study of three cohorts of disabled veterans who participate in the VR&E Program during years 2009, 2011 and 2013. The data VA collects and reports to Congress will enable us to fine-tune the program to achieve higher rehabilitation rates and to provide the most appropriate education and training leading to full employment.

Mr. Speaker, the bill specifies 15 different data points that must be collected and authorizes VA to add any other data points they deem appropriate. With this information, I believe veterans who participate in voc rehab will be more successful in finding gainful employment over their working career.

This is a good bill that does not require offsets and will improve the lives of veterans, and I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 3889, as amended.

I want to thank the Chair of my subcommittee, Ms. Herseth Sandlin, for her support and hard work. I also want to thank Chairman Filner and Ranking Member Buyer as always for bringing the bill forward. Again, I want to thank the staff on both sides for helping to prepare this.

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