The Congressional Record is a unique source of public documentation. It started in 1873, documenting nearly all the major and minor policies being discussed and debated.
“HONORING INVESTMENTS IN RECRUITING AND EMPLOYING AMERICAN MILITARY VETERANS ACT OF 2016” mentioning the U.S. Dept of Labor was published in the House of Representatives section on pages H6340-H6343 on Nov. 29, 2016.
The Department provides billions in unemployment insurance, which peaked around 2011 though spending had declined before the pandemic. Downsizing the Federal Government, a project aimed at lowering taxes and boosting federal efficiency, claimed the Department funds "ineffective and duplicative services" and overregulates the workplace.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
HONORING INVESTMENTS IN RECRUITING AND EMPLOYING AMERICAN MILITARY
VETERANS ACT OF 2016
Mr. MILLER of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3286) to encourage effective, voluntary private sector investments to recruit, employ, and retain men and women who have served in the United States military with annual presidential awards to private sector employers recognizing such efforts, and for other purposes, as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 3286
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 ``Honoring Investments in Recruiting and Employing American Military Veterans Act of 2016'' or the ``HIRE Vets Act''.
SEC. 2. HIRE VETS MEDALLION PROGRAM.
(a) Program Established.--Not later than one year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Labor shall establish, by rule, a HIRE Vets Medallion Program to solicit voluntary information from employers for purposes of recognizing, by means of an award to be designated a ``HIRE Vets Medallion'', verified efforts by such employers--
(1) to recruit, employ, and retain veterans; and
(2) to provide community and charitable services supporting the veteran community.
(b) Application Process.--Beginning in the calendar year following the calendar year in which the Secretary establishes the program--
(1) the Secretary shall annually--
(A) solicit and accept voluntary applications from employers in order to consider whether those employers should receive a HIRE Vets Medallion;
(B) review applications received in each calendar year; and
(C) provide to the President a list of recipients; and
(2) the President shall annually--
(A) notify such recipients of their awards; and
(B) at a time to coincide with the annual commemoration of Veterans Day--
(i) announce the names of such recipients;
(ii) recognize such recipients through publication in the Federal Register; and
(iii) issue to each such recipient--
(I) a HIRE Vets Medallion of the level determined under section 3; and
(II) a certificate stating that such employer is entitled to display such HIRE Vets Medallion during the following calendar year, to be designated a ``HIRE Vets Medallion Certificate''.
(c) Timing.--
(1) Solicitation period.--The Secretary shall solicit applications not later than January 31st of each calendar year for the medallions to be awarded in November of that calendar year.
(2) End of acceptance period.--The Secretary shall stop accepting applications not earlier than April 30th of each calendar year for the medallions to be awarded in November of that calendar year.
(3) Review period.--The Secretary shall finish reviewing applications not later than August 31st of each calendar year for the medallions to be awarded in November of that calendar year.
(4) Recommendations to president.--The Secretary shall provide to the President a list of employers to receive HIRE Vets Medallions not later than September 30th of each calendar year for the medallions to be awarded in November of that calendar year.
(5) Notice to recipients.--The President shall notify employers who will receive HIRE Vets Medallions not later than October 11th of each calendar year for the medallions to be awarded in November of that calendar year.
SEC. 3. SELECTION OF RECIPIENTS.
(a) Application Review Process.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary shall review all applications received in a calendar year to determine whether an employer should receive a HIRE Vets Medallion, and, if so, of what level.
(2) Application contents.--The Secretary shall require that all applications provide information on the programs and other efforts of applicant employers during the calendar year prior to that in which the medallion is to be awarded, including the categories and activities governing the level of award for which the applicant is eligible under subsection
(b).
(3) Verification.--In reviewing applications, the Secretary shall verify all information provided in the applications, to the extent that such information is relevant in determining whether or not an applicant should receive a HIRE Vets Medallion or in determining the appropriate level of HIRE Vets Medallion for that employer to receive.
(b) Awards.--
(1) Large employers.--
(A) In general.--The Secretary shall establish two levels of HIRE Vets Medallions to be awarded to employers employing 500 or more employees, to be designated the ``Gold HIRE Vets Medallion'' and the ``Platinum HIRE Vets Medallion''.
(B) Gold hire vets medallion.--No employer shall be eligible to receive a Gold HIRE Vets Medallion in a given calendar year unless--
(i) veterans constitute not less than 7 percent of all employees hired by such employer during the prior calendar year;
(ii) such employer has established an employee veteran organization or resource group to assist new veteran employees with integration, including coaching and mentoring; and
(iii) such employer has established programs to enhance the leadership skills of veteran employees during their employment.
(C) Platinum hire vets medallion.--No employer shall be eligible to receive a Platinum HIRE Vets Medallion in a given calendar year unless--
(i) veterans constitute not less than 10 percent of all employees hired by such employer during the prior calendar year;
(ii) such employer retains through the end of the prior calendar year not less than 85 percent of veteran employees hired during the calendar year before the prior calendar year;
(iii) such employer employs dedicated human resources professionals to support hiring and retention of veteran employees, including efforts focused on veteran hiring and training;
(iv) such employer provides each of its employees serving on active duty in the United States National Guard or Reserve with compensation sufficient, in combination with the employee's active duty pay, to achieve a combined level of income commensurate with the employee's salary prior to undertaking active duty; and
(v) such employer has established a tuition assistance program to support veteran employees' attendance in postsecondary education during the term of their employment.
(D) Exemption for smaller employers.--An employer shall be deemed to meet the requirements of subparagraph (C)(iv) if such employer--
(i) employs 5,000 or fewer employees; and
(ii) employs at least one human resources professional whose regular work duties include those described under subparagraph (C)(iii).
(E) Additional criteria.--The Secretary may provide, by rule, additional criteria with which to determine qualifications for receipt of each level of HIRE Vets Medallion.
(2) Small- and medium-sized employers.--The Secretary shall establish similar awards in order to recognize achievements in supporting veterans by--
(A) employers with 50 or fewer employees; and
(B) employers with more than 50 but fewer than 500 employees.
(c) Design by Secretary.--The Secretary shall establish the shape, form, and metallic content of each HIRE Vets Medallion.
SEC. 4. DISPLAY OF AWARD.
(a) In General.--The recipient of a HIRE Vets Medallion may--
(1) publicly display such medallion through the end of the calendar year following receipt of such medallion; and
(2) publicly display the HIRE Vets Medallion Certificate issued in conjunction with such medallion.
(b) Unlawful Display Prohibited.--It is unlawful for any employer to publicly display a HIRE Vets Medallion, in connection with, or as a part of, any advertisement, solicitation, business activity, or product--
(1) for the purpose of conveying, or in a manner reasonably calculated to convey, a false impression that the employer received the medallion through the HIRE Vets Medallion Program, if such employer did not receive such medallion through the HIRE Vets Medallion Program; or
(2) for the purpose of conveying, or in a manner reasonably calculated to convey, a false impression that the employer received the medallion through the HIRE Vets Medallion Program during the preceding calendar year if it is after the end of the calendar year following the calendar year in which such medallion was issued to such employer through the HIRE Vets Medallion Program.
SEC. 5. APPLICATION FEE AND FUNDING.
(a) Fund Established.--There is established in the Treasury of the United States a fund to be designated the ``HIRE Vets Medallion Award Fund''.
(b) Fee Authorized.--The Secretary may assess a reasonable fee on employers that apply for receipt of a HIRE Vets Medallion and the Secretary shall deposit such fees into the HIRE Vets Medallion Award Fund. The Secretary shall establish the amount of the fee such that the amounts collected as fees and deposited into the Fund are sufficient to cover the costs associated with carrying out this Act.
(c) Use of Funds.--Amounts in the HIRE Vets Medallion Award Fund shall be available, subject to appropriation, to the Secretary to carry out the HIRE Vets Medallion Program.
SEC. 6. REPORT TO CONGRESS.
(a) Reports.--Beginning not later than two years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to Congress annual reports on--
(1) the fees collected from applicants for HIRE Vets Medallions in the prior year and any changes in fees to be proposed in the present year;
(2) the cost of administering the HIRE Vets Medallion Program in the prior year;
(3) the number of applications for HIRE Vets Medallions received in the prior year; and
(4) the HIRE Vets Medallions awarded in the prior year, including the name of each employer to whom a HIRE Vets Medallion was awarded and the level of medallion awarded to each such employer.
(b) Committees.--The Secretary shall provide the reports required under subsection (a) to the Chairman and Ranking Member of--
(1) the Committees on Education and the Workforce and Veterans' Affairs of the House of Representatives; and
(2) the Committees on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions and Veterans' Affairs of the Senate.
SEC. 7. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(a) Employer.--The term ``employer'' has the meaning given such term under section 4303 of title 38, United States Code, except that such term does not include--
(1) the Federal Government;
(2) any State, as defined in such section; or
(3) any foreign state.
(b) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary of Labor.
(c) Veteran.--The term ``veteran'' has the meaning given such term under section 101 of title 38, United States Code.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Miller) and the gentleman from California (Mr. Takano) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Florida.
General Leave
Mr. MILLER of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 3286, as amended.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from Florida?
There was no objection.
Mr. MILLER of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, H.R. 3286, as amended, would require the Department of Labor to establish a HIRE Vets Medallion Program to recognize and to award employers with a HIRE Vets Medallion for their efforts to recruit, employ, and retain veterans, as well as their work to provide community and charitable services to veterans in their local communities.
While we still have work to do, it is important to note that the veteran unemployment rate has continued to decrease over recent years and, as of last month, it was at a low of 4.3 percent. While many factors have led to the continued reduction of the unemployment rate for the men and women who have served, our Nation's employers in both the public and the private sectors deserve a lot of the credit, and it is important that we highlight the work that these companies have done and publicly recognize their commitment for hiring veterans.
With this idea in mind, H.R. 3286, as amended, would authorize the Secretary of Labor to create the HIRE Vets Medallion Program, which would recognize employers who hire and retain veterans, as well as companies who provide support services to the veterans in their communities.
Employers would earn either platinum or gold status based on requirements related to the number of veterans hired each year, providing pay equity for guardsmen and Reserve employees who were called up to active military service, and other requirements. Once these employers have earned a HIRE Vets Medallion, they would be able to publicly display their award to illustrate the work they have done on behalf of veterans and the priority that they place on hiring veterans within their workforce.
As we work to continue to decrease the national unemployment rate among our men and women who have served, it is vital that we highlight and step up and thank the employers who have employed these individuals and recognize the benefits of hiring a veteran.
I want to thank Colonel Paul Cook of California for introducing and advocating for this bill. It has my full and complete support.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 3286, as amended, the Honoring Investments in Recruiting and Employing American Military Veterans Act of 2016, or the HIRE Vets Act. I thank my colleague and fellow Inland Empire and California Representative Colonel Paul Cook for introducing this innovative bill.
The HIRE Vets Act directs the Department of Labor's Veterans' Employment and Training Services, otherwise known as DOL VETS, to establish a HIRE Vets Medallion Program. This program will solicit voluntary information from private sector employers who successfully recruit, employ, and retain veterans, and allow these employers to display on their marketing materials a recognized medallion as a symbol of their commendable hiring practices. Employers who provide community and charitable services supporting veterans will also be eligible to display a HIRE Vets Medallion.
Hiring veterans isn't just the right thing to do from a moral perspective; it also makes good business sense. The men and women who served in our military received invaluable training and experience that has been proven to help them thrive in postmilitary employment, whether in the public or private sectors.
Fortunately, we have been seeing encouraging trends in veterans' employment. Thanks to the hard work of DOL VETS, combined with efforts within the private sector and Federal and State governments, the veterans' unemployment rate in October was 4.3 percent. That is lower than the national unemployment rate, which was 4.9 percent. This continues a 24-month trend, with only a single exception.
We can all be very proud of the progress we have made in making sure more veterans are able to find quality, good-paying jobs upon transitioning into civilian life. That said, we want to remain vigilant to make sure that the men and women who signed up to defend our Nation enjoy opportunities for growth and prosperity when they return home.
Again, I want to thank my colleague, Colonel Cook, for offering this legislation to provide a uniform, recognizable medallion to show our appreciation to companies that hire and retain veteran employees. I am proud to be a cosponsor of this bill and to stand in support of its passage today.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. MILLER of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. Cook), the sponsor of this legislation, from the Eighth District of California.
Mr. COOK. Mr. Speaker, as a combat veteran, I am deeply concerned that the men and women of our Armed Forces continue to struggle to find jobs upon their return to civilian life. These individuals have not only displayed great courage serving their country, but have acquired distinctive skills that make them ideal candidates for employment.
Veterans who serve this country honorably should never struggle to find employment, which is why I have introduced H.R. 3286, the Honoring Investments in Recruiting and Employing American Military Veterans Act, the HIRE Vets Act.
As already mentioned, this bill creates an innovative system to encourage and recognize employers who make veterans a priority in their hiring practices, incentivizing the creation of thousands of jobs for veterans.
This bill goes beyond simply recognizing that a business hires veterans. It is critical that we establish a nationwide gold standard program that creates a strong and consistent brand. This bill is an opportunity for Americans to see which companies truly live up to the employment promises they made to veterans.
It is our duty to ensure veterans receive the benefits and resources they have earned through their services to this country, and that includes encouraging meaningful job opportunities.
I have been around a long while and, of course, have my own experiences from Vietnam, where a lot of veterans returned to their hometown and were shunned; they were ostracized, creating problems in terms of alcohol, drugs, you name it. A lot of it was related to the fact that they couldn't find a job or people didn't want to talk to them. This bill, I think, with the help of businesses, goes a long way to correct a problem we have had for many, many years.
This bill passed out of the House Veterans' Affairs Committee unanimously, and I want to thank Chairman Miller and Ranking Member Takano for their support. I would also like to thank Representative Tulsi Gabbard for being the original cosponsor of this important legislation.
I urge my colleagues to vote in favor of this bill.
{time} 1715
Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from Hawaii (Ms. Gabbard).
Ms. GABBARD. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 3286, a bill on which I am proud to have worked with my colleague and fellow veteran, the gentleman from California (Mr. Cook), whose service I honor very much.
Every single day, we have roughly 500 veterans who return to civilian life, joining the more than 2.9 million veterans who have returned home just since 9/11 alone. Now, some choose to take advantage of educational benefits they have earned, and others choose to jump right back into the workforce. Unfortunately, for many of our veterans, making that move is not as simple as submitting a resume and waiting for a call back.
Our veterans, unfortunately, often face sometimes an unfriendly job market or an unfriendly job culture that does not fully understand their needs and the unique challenges of transitioning from military servicemember life to civilian life.
Now, we have taken some important steps to encourage employers to hire more veterans, and we have seen the total percentage of unemployed veterans drop by 1.5 percent over the past year. While this is progress, the fact is, we still have over 400,000 veterans unemployed today. This tells us that more must be done, not only to get them employed but to make sure that they are employed in meaningful, good-
paying jobs.
I recently hosted a panel of experts from both the public and private sector where we talked about how we can better empower our veterans in the tech sector specifically. The tech industry has experienced unprecedented growth over the past decade and is the fastest growing sector in our economy. Yet, so far, veterans remain largely underrepresented, making up just 2 percent of this fast-growing industry.
Now, it is not because they are not qualified. It is not because they don't have what it takes to do the job. Through their service and training, our highly trained men and women develop the ability to lead, make decisions under pressure, act as a member of a team and accomplish the mission. The bottom line is they get the job done. These skills make them especially valuable to employers, whether it be in the tech industry or in any other business, nonprofit, or civic leadership position.
That is why I am proud to join my fellow veteran and friend, Congressman Paul Cook, today in support of this important legislation because it incentivizes employers to hire and retain veterans by creating a standard of recognition for those who go the extra mile to recruit and retain veterans, and provide services that support our veteran community.
I strongly urge our colleagues to pass this legislation and help serve and empower our veterans and businesses to thrive.
Mr. MILLER of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I have no more requests for time at this point. I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers. I yield myself such time as I may consume.
It just strikes me, Colonel Cook, I know we have named this act the HIRE Vets Act, and knowing of your service in Vietnam, and so many of the Vietnam veterans that live in the Inland Empire, we could also call this the Welcome Home Act because nothing is more welcoming than a job.
I share your passion for caring about our veterans in the Inland Empire, and in California, of course, all over our country, and I certainly honor your service to our country.
So I urge all my colleagues to support--to join me in passing H.R. 3286, and I look forward to seeing those medallions in many businesses across your district and mine in California.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. MILLER of Florida. Mr. Speaker, once again, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 3286, as amended.
I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Miller) that the House suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 3286, as amended.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
____________________
