119-s1543

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 1543 Introduced in Senate

    (IS) ]

<DOC>

119th CONGRESS
 1st Session
 S. 1543

 To amend title 38, United States Code, to establish in the Department 
 of Veterans Affairs the Veterans Economic Opportunity and Transition 
 Administration, and for other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

 April 30, 2025

 Mr. Banks (for himself, Ms. Hassan, Mr. Scott of Florida, and Ms. 
 Cortez Masto) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and 
 referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

 A BILL

 To amend title 38, United States Code, to establish in the Department 
 of Veterans Affairs the Veterans Economic Opportunity and Transition 
 Administration, and for other purposes.

 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 Opportunity Act of 2025''.

SEC. 2. ESTABLISHMENT OF VETERANS ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY AND TRANSITION 
 ADMINISTRATION.

    (a) Veterans Economic Opportunity and Transition Administration.--

    (1) In general.--Part V of title 38, United States Code, is 
 amended by adding at the end the following new chapter:

 ``CHAPTER 80--VETERANS ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY AND TRANSITION 
 ADMINISTRATION

``Sec.
``8001. Organization of Administration.
``8002. Functions of Administration.
``8003. Annual report to Congress.
``

Sec. 8001. Organization of Administration
 ``

    (a) Veterans Economic Opportunity and Transition 
Administration.--

    (1) There is in the Department a Veterans Economic 
Opportunity and Transition Administration.
 ``

    (2) The primary function of the Veterans Economic Opportunity and 
Transition Administration is the administration of the programs of the 
Department that provide assistance related to economic opportunity to 
veterans and their dependents and survivors.
 ``

    (b) Under Secretary for Economic Opportunity and Transition.--The 
Veterans Economic Opportunity and Transition Administration is under 
the Under Secretary for Veterans Economic Opportunity and Transition, 
who is directly responsible to the Secretary for the operations of the 
Administration.
``

Sec. 8002. Functions of Administration
 ``The Veterans Economic Opportunity and Transition Administration 
is responsible for the administration of the following:
 ``

    (1) Vocational rehabilitation and employment programs.
 ``

    (2) Educational assistance programs.
 ``

    (3) Veterans' housing loan and related programs.
 ``

    (4) The responsibilities of the Secretary with respect to 
 the Transition Assistance Program under 

section 1144 of title 
 10.
 ``

    (5) Any other program of the Department that the 
 Secretary determines appropriate.
``

Sec. 8003. Annual report to Congress
 ``

    (a) In General.--The Secretary shall include in the annual report 
to the Congress required by 

section 529 of this title a report on the 
programs administered by the Under Secretary for Veterans Economic 
Opportunity and Transition.
 ``

    (b) Contents.--Each report under subsection

    (a) shall include the 
following with respect to each program described in such subsection 
during the fiscal year covered by that report:
 ``

    (1) The number of claims received.
 ``

    (2) The number of claims decided.
 ``

    (3) The average processing time for a claim.
 ``

    (4) The number of successful outcomes (as determined by 
 the Secretary).
 ``

    (5) The number of full-time equivalent employees.
 ``

    (6) The amounts expended for information technology.''.

    (2) Clerical amendments.--The tables of chapters at the 
 beginning of title 38, United States Code, and of part V of 
 title 38, United States Code, are each amended by inserting 
 after the item relating to chapter 79 the following new item:

``80. Veterans Economic Opportunity and Transition 8001''.
 Administration.

    (b) Effective Date.--Chapter 80 of title 38, United States Code, as 
added by subsection

    (a) , shall take effect on October 1 of the first 
fiscal year commencing after the date of the enactment of this Act.
            (c) Labor Rights.--Any labor rights, inclusion in the bargaining 
unit, and collective bargaining agreement that affects an employee of 
the Department of Veterans Affairs who is transferred to the Veterans 
Economic Opportunity and Transition Administration, as established 
under chapter 80 of title 38, United States Code, as added by 
subsection

    (a) , shall apply in the same manner to such employee after 
such transfer.
            (d) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that the 
creation of the Veterans Economic Opportunity and Transition 
Administration and the transfer of functions to such Administration 
from the Veterans Benefits Administration should not, directly or 
indirectly--

    (1) cause the budget or spending of the Department of 
 Veterans Affairs to increase or decrease relative to the budget 
 or level of spending of the Department in effect on the day 
 before the date of the enactment of this Act; or

    (2) serve as a basis or justification for any increase or 
 decrease in the number of full-time equivalent employees of the 
 Department.

SEC. 3. UNDER SECRETARY FOR VETERANS ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY AND 
 TRANSITION.

    (a) Under Secretary.--

    (1) In general.--Chapter 3 of title 38, United States Code, 
 is amended by inserting after 

section 306 the following new 
 section:
``

Sec. 306A. Under Secretary for Veterans Economic Opportunity and 
 Transition
 ``

    (a) Under Secretary.--

    (1) There is in the Department an Under 
Secretary for Veterans Economic Opportunity and Transition, who is 
appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the 
Senate.
 ``

    (2) The Under Secretary for Veterans Economic Opportunity and 
Transition shall be appointed without regard to political affiliation 
or activity and solely on the basis of demonstrated ability in--
 ``
        (A) the administration of programs within the Veterans 
 Economic Opportunity and Transition Administration or programs 
 of similar content and scope; and
 ``
        (B) information technology.
 ``

    (b) Responsibilities.--The Under Secretary for Veterans Economic 
Opportunity and Transition is the head of, and is directly responsible 
to the Secretary for the operations of, the Veterans Economic 
Opportunity and Transition Administration.
 ``
            (c) Vacancies.--

    (1) Whenever a vacancy in the position of Under 
Secretary for Veterans Economic Opportunity and Transition occurs or is 
anticipated, the Secretary shall establish a commission to recommend 
individuals to the President for appointment to the position.
 ``

    (2) A commission established under this subsection shall be 
composed of the following members appointed by the Secretary:
 ``
        (A) Three persons representing education and training, 
 vocational rehabilitation, employment, real estate, mortgage 
 finance and related industries, and survivor benefits 
 activities affected by the Veterans Economic Opportunity and 
 Transition Administration.
 ``
        (B) Two persons representing veterans served by the 
 Veterans Economic Opportunity and Transition Administration.
 ``
            (C) Two persons who have experience in the management of 
 private sector benefits programs of similar content and scope 
 to the economic opportunity and transition programs of the 
 Department.
 ``
            (D) The Deputy Secretary of Veterans Affairs.
 ``
        (E) The chairman of the Veterans' Advisory Committee on 
 Education formed under 

section 3692 of this title.
 ``
        (F) One person who has held the position of Under 
 Secretary for Veterans Economic Opportunity and Transition, if 
 the Secretary determines that it is desirable for such person 
 to be a member of the commission.
 ``

    (3) A commission established under this subsection shall 
recommend at least three individuals for appointment to the position of 
Under Secretary for Veterans Economic Opportunity and Transition. The 
commission shall submit all recommendations to the Secretary. The 
Secretary shall forward the recommendations to the President and the 
Committees on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and House of 
Representatives with any comments the Secretary considers appropriate. 
Thereafter, the President may request the commission to recommend 
additional individuals for appointment.
 ``

    (4) The Assistant Secretary or Deputy Assistant Secretary of 
Veterans Affairs who performs personnel management and labor relations 
functions shall serve as the executive secretary of a commission 
established under this subsection.''.

    (2) Clerical amendment.--The table of sections at the 
 beginning of such chapter is amended by inserting after the 
 item relating to 

section 306 the following new item:

``306A. Under Secretary for Veterans Economic Opportunity and 
 Transition.''.

    (b) Conforming Amendments.--Title 38, United States Code, is 
further amended--

    (1) in 

section 306
            (c) (2) , by striking subparagraphs
        (A) and
        (E) and redesignating subparagraphs
        (B) ,
            (C) ,
            (D) , and
        (F) , as 
 subparagraphs
        (A) through
            (D) , respectively;

    (2) in 

section 317
            (d) (2) , by inserting after ``Under 
 Secretary for Benefits,'' the following: ``the Under Secretary 
 for Veterans Economic Opportunity and Transition,'';

    (3) in 

section 318
            (d) (2) , by inserting after ``Under 
 Secretary for Benefits,'' the following: ``the Under Secretary 
 for Veterans Economic Opportunity and Transition,'';

    (4) in 

section 516

    (e)

    (2)
            (C) , by striking ``Health and the 
 Under Secretary for Benefits'' and inserting ``Health, the 
 Under Secretary for Benefits, and the Under Secretary for 
 Veterans Economic Opportunity and Transition'';

    (5) in 

section 541

    (a)

    (2)
        (B) , by striking ``Health and the 
 Under Secretary for Benefits'' and inserting ``Health, the 
 Under Secretary for Benefits, and the Under Secretary for 
 Veterans Economic Opportunity and Transition'';

    (6) in 

section 542

    (a)

    (2)
        (B)
            (iii) , by striking ``Health and 
 the Under Secretary for Benefits'' and inserting ``Health, the 
 Under Secretary for Benefits, and the Under Secretary for 
 Veterans Economic Opportunity and Transition'';

    (7) in 

section 544

    (a)

    (2)
        (B)
            (vi) , by striking ``Health and 
 the Under Secretary for Benefits'' and inserting ``Health, the 
 Under Secretary for Benefits, and the Under Secretary for 
 Veterans Economic Opportunity and Transition'';

    (8) in 

section 709
            (c) (2)
        (A) , by inserting after ``Under 
 Secretary for Benefits,'' the following: ``the Under Secretary 
 for Veterans Economic Opportunity and Transition,'';

    (9) in 

section 7701

    (a) , by inserting after ``assistance'' 
 the following: ``, other than assistance related to Economic 
 Opportunity and Transition,''; and

    (10) in 

section 7703, by striking paragraphs

    (2) and

    (3) and redesignating paragraphs

    (4) and

    (5) as paragraphs

    (2) and

    (3) , respectively.
            (c) Effective Date.--

Section 306A of title 38, United States Code, 
as added by subsection

    (a) , and the amendments made by this section, 
shall take effect on October 1, 2025.

SEC. 4. TRANSFER OF SERVICES.

    (a) Report to Congress.--Not later than 180 days after the date of 
the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall 
submit to the Committees on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and House 
of Representatives a report on the progress toward establishing the 
Veterans Economic Opportunity and Transition Administration, as 
established under 

section 8001 of title 38, United States Code, as 
added by 

section 2, and the transition of the provision of services to 
veterans by such Administration.

    (b) Certification.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs may not 
transfer the function of providing any services to veterans to the 
Veterans Economic Opportunity and Transition Administration, as 
established under 

section 8001 of title 38, United States Code, as 
added by 

section 2, until the Secretary submits to the Committees on 
Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and House of Representatives 
certification that--

    (1) the transition of the provision of services to such 
 Administration will not negatively affect the provision of such 
 services to veterans; and

    (2) such services are ready to be transferred.
            (c) Deadline for Certification.--The Secretary shall submit to the 
Committees on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and House of 
Representatives the certification required by subsection

    (b) --

    (1) no earlier than April 1 of the first fiscal year 
 commencing after the date of the enactment of this Act; and

    (2) no later than September 1 of the first fiscal year 
 commencing after the date of the enactment of this Act.
            (d) Failure To Certify.--If the Secretary fails to submit the 
certification required by subsection

    (b) by the date specified in 
subsection
            (c) (2) , the Secretary shall submit to the Committees on 
Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and House of Representatives a report 
that includes--

    (1) the reason why the certification was not made by such 
 date; and

    (2) the estimated date when the certification will be made.
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