Van Orden Introduces Two Veterans’ Affairs Bills
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Rep. Derrick Van Orden (WI-03) introduced two bills designed to expand opportunities for veterans and protect military families – the Ensure Military Personnel Learn Opportunities Yielding Vocations that Employ Transitioning Servicemembers (EMPLOY VETS) Act and Protect Military Dependents Act.
The EMPLOY VETS Act improves the process transitioning servicemembers go through as they move from active duty to veteran by ensuring they receive information about employment opportunities. The Protect Military Dependents Act ensures that dependents who receive educational benefits aren’t penalized when a servicemember loses benefits.
“Government needs to make it easier, not harder for veterans and their families to transition to civilian life,” said Van Orden. “These bills would guarantee our federal government is best serving those who have served us. I look forward to continuing to advocate for active duty service members, veterans, and military families in Congress.”
“Improving the transition process for servicemembers and military families is one of our Committee’s top priorities this Congress,” said Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Chairman Mike Bost (IL-12). “Which is why I am thrilled to support Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity Chairman, Rep. Derrick Van Orden’s, two key veterans’ bills he introduced today. We owe it to our servicemembers to make their transition from active-duty to civilian life as seamless as possible, and the EMPLOY VETS Act will help do just that. The Protect Military Dependents Act would protect military families if a servicemember fails to fulfill their service obligation when it comes to their GI Bill expenses. I am grateful to Rep. Van Orden for his continued commitment and leadership on these issues on behalf of the men and women who have and will serve.”
Transitioning servicemembers receive a variety of information about programs that would help them gain employment after their transition. However, local state Department of Labor (DOL) programs have not been included, so they are unable to conduct outreach to servicemembers. Instead, programs in DOL must wait until after a servicemember has transitioned to contact them. The EMPLOY VETS Act would amend Title 38 to include the definition of a transitioning servicemember as an eligible person to receive outreach from DoL programs.
Under current law, both veterans and their dependents are liable for returning their educational assistance should the servicemember no longer be eligible due to a less than honorable discharge or failure to complete their service obligation. The Protect Military Dependents Act would ensure that their dependents, such as a spouse or child, who enjoyed those educational programs would not be held liable should the military servicemember lose rights to his or her benefits.
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