[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 3161 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
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117th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 3161
To require the Secretary of Defense to carry out a pilot program to
supplement the Transition Assistance Program of the Department of
Defense.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
November 3, 2021
Mrs. Blackburn (for herself and Mrs. Gillibrand) introduced the
following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on
Armed Services
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To require the Secretary of Defense to carry out a pilot program to
supplement the Transition Assistance Program of the Department of
Defense.
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 ``Onward to Opportunity Act''.
SEC. 2. PILOT PROGRAM TO SUPPLEMENT THE TRANSITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
OF THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE THROUGH GRANTS.
(a) In General.--The Secretary of Defense, in consultation with the
Secretary of Veterans Affairs, shall carry out a pilot program under
which the Secretary of Defense provides, through grants, enhanced
support and funding to eligible entities to supplement the Transition
Assistance Program by providing job opportunities for industry-
recognized certifications, job placement assistance, and related
employment services directly to covered individuals.
(b) Services.--In carrying out the pilot program, the Secretary of
Defense shall award grants to eligible entities to provide to covered
individuals the following services:
(1) Using an industry-validated screening tool, assessments
of prior education, work history, and employment aspirations of
covered individuals in order to tailor appropriate employment
services.
(2) Preparation for civilian employment through services
such as mock interviews and salary negotiations, training on
professional networking platforms, and company research.
(3) Several industry-specific learning pathways--
(A) with entry-level, mid-level and senior
versions;
(B) in fields such as project management,
cybersecurity, and information technology;
(C) in which each covered individual works with an
academic advisor to choose a career pathway and
navigate coursework during the training process; and
(D) in which each covered individual can earn
industry-recognized credentials and certifications, at
no charge to the covered individual.
(4) Job placement services.
(c) Program Organization and Implementation Model.--The Secretary
of Defense shall ensure that the pilot program follows economic
opportunity program models in use as of the date of the enactment of
this Act that combine industry-recognized certification training,
furnished by professionals, with online learning staff.
(d) Consultation.--The Secretary of Defense shall seek to consult
with private entities to identify the best economic opportunity program
models for the pilot program to follow, including economic opportunity
models in use as of the date of the enactment of this Act that are
furnished through public-private partnerships.
(e) Eligibility.--To be eligible to receive a grant under the pilot
program, an entity shall--
(1) follow a job training and placement model;
(2) have a well-developed and rigorous practice of program
measurement and evaluation that indicates program performance
and efficiency, with data that is high quality and shareable
with partner entities;
(3) have established partnerships with entities (such as
employers, governmental agencies, and non-profit entities) to
provide services described in subsection (b); and
(4) have online training capability to reach rural
veterans, reduce costs, and comply with new conditions forced
by COVID-19.
(f) Coordination With Federal Entities.--Each grantee under the
pilot program shall coordinate with Federal entities, including--
(1) the Office of Transition and Economic Development of
the Department of Veterans Affairs; and
(2) the Veterans' Employment and Training Service of the
Department of Labor.
(g) Performance Metrics.--The Secretary of Defense shall ensure
that performance outcomes of the pilot program--
(1) are able to be verified using a third-party auditing
method; and
(2) include--
(A) the number of covered individuals who receive
and complete skills training through the pilot program;
(B) the number of covered individuals who secure
employment through the pilot program;
(C) the retention rate for covered individuals
described in subparagraph (B); and
(D) the median salary of covered individuals
described in subparagraph (B).
(h) Site Locations.--The Secretary of Defense shall carry out the
pilot program at five military installations in the United States where
existing economic opportunity program models are successful.
(i) Assessment of Possible Expansion.--
(1) In general.--Each grantee under the pilot program shall
assess the feasibility of expanding the virtual training and
career placement services offered under the pilot program to--
(A) members of the reserve components of the Armed
Forces; and
(B) covered individuals outside the United States.
(2) Submittal to secretary of defense.--Each grantee under
the pilot program shall submit to the Secretary of Defense the
assessment of the grantee conducted under paragraph (1).
(j) Duration.--The pilot program shall terminate on September 30,
2025.
(k) Report.--Not later than March 30, 2026, the Secretary of
Defense shall submit to the congressional defense committees a report
that includes--
(1) a description of the pilot program, including a
description of specific activities carried out under this
section;
(2) the metrics and evaluations used to assess the
effectiveness of the pilot program; and
(3) the assessments submitted to the Secretary under
subsection (i)(2).
(l) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Covered individual.--The term ``covered individual''
means--
(A) a member of the Armed Forces participating in
the Transition Assistance Program; or
(B) a spouse of a member described in subparagraph
(A).
(2) Economic opportunity program model.--The term
``economic opportunity program model'' means a model of
programmatic service delivery that expands economic opportunity
and improves employment outcomes for members of the Armed
Forces transitioning to civilian life and military spouses
through career exploration, job training, and credentialing.
(3) Military installation.--The term ``military
installation'' has the meaning given such term in section
2801(c) of title 10, United States Code.
(4) Transition assistance program.--The term ``Transition
Assistance Program'' means the program of the Department of
Defense for preseparation counseling, employment assistance,
and other transitional services provided under sections 1142
and 1144 of title 10, United States Code.
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