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