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119-hr-6904119th CongressWALLET

Veterans Readiness and Employment Improvement and Accountability Act

Sponsored By: Representative Van Orden, Derrick [R-WI-3]

In Committee

Summary

Tighten oversight and eligibility for VA vocational rehabilitation programs. This bill would focus who can get rehabilitation help, add program funding limits, and boost staffing for job placement services.

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  • Veterans and applicants: Would rewrite eligibility rules for additional vocational programs so eligibility depends on not obtaining employment in the occupation trained for or within one year after training. It would let vocational rehabilitation specialists redevelop individualized plans. The subsistence allowance could be based on the training institution or the veteran’s residence if that home is more than 25 miles away.
  • Funding, equipment, and administration: Would cap Federal funds per rehabilitation program at $250,000 with an automatic annual adjustment starting October 1, 2026. Payments for equipment over $5,000 would need the Secretary’s approval and the VA must send a yearly report to the House and Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committees listing equipment purchases and reasons.
  • Accountability and staffing: Would allow the Secretary to bar people convicted under 18 U.S.C. 111 for offenses against VA officers from various VA education and rehabilitation benefits. It would also direct the VA to employ an employment counselor at each regional office when practicable.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

7 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 2 costs, 2 mixed.

New bar for assault convictions

If enacted, the bill would let the VA Secretary bar a person convicted under 18 U.S.C. 111 for an offense against a VA officer or employee from getting benefits under chapters 30, 31, 33, 35, or 36 of title 38. The Secretary would have this authority for convictions that occur on or after the date of enactment. This could remove education, rehabilitation, and related benefits for covered convictions.

Suspend some disability checks during rehab

If enacted, the bill would stop a veteran participating in a vocational rehabilitation program from receiving disability compensation under chapter 11 when their disability is rated total because of individual unemployability. The bar would apply during the time the veteran is in the vocational rehab program. This would remove that category of ongoing disability pay while in the program.

Cap on rehab program payments

If enacted, the bill would limit Federal payments for an individual vocational rehabilitation program so they may not exceed $250,000. Starting October 1, 2026, and each year after, the Secretary would raise that dollar cap by the most recent percentage increase used under 38 U.S.C. 3015(h). The change sets a numeric ceiling but also requires automatic annual indexing.

More rehab help if training fails

If enacted, the bill would change eligibility rules so a veteran who does not get a job in the occupation they were trained for during the one-year period after training may qualify for additional vocational rehabilitation services. This adds a time-based outcome test that can let veterans get more help when training does not lead to employment.

More VA counselors and specialists

If enacted, the bill would require the VA, to the extent practicable, to have an employment counselor at each VA regional office. It would also add a definition of "vocational rehabilitation specialist" and let those staff, including certain counseling psychologists, redevelop individualized vocational rehabilitation plans. These changes would aim to increase staff capacity and access to rehab services.

Subsistence pay based on residence

If enacted, the bill would let the subsistence allowance for a veteran in a rehabilitation program be based on either the school or the veteran's home. The residence option would apply if the veteran lives more than 25 miles from the training institution. This can increase or better align subsistence pay for veterans who live far from their training site.

Secretary approval for costly equipment

If enacted, the bill would require Secretary approval for any payment over $5,000 for equipment under the vocational rehabilitation equipment provision. The Secretary would also have to report to the House and Senate Veterans' Affairs Committees within one year and annually for five years on each such payment, listing the equipment, reason, and totals for each veteran's rehab program. This adds oversight and public reporting on higher-cost purchases.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Van Orden, Derrick [R-WI-3]

WI • R

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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