From May 18, 2021 post.
House of Representatives passed H.R. 2494,the Veterans’ Education, Transition, and Opportunity Prioritization Plan (VET OPP) Act of 2021. Congressman Brad Wenstrup (R-Ohio) and Congressman Mike Levin (D-Calif.)introduced the bipartisan legislation.
Currently, the Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) is responsible for all Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) benefits provided to veterans outside of healthcare and cemetery services. While there are many different benefits that VBA provides, the bulk of staffing and resources have been directed toward the administration of disability compensation and pension claims. Other VBA benefits, such as the Forever GI Bill, Vocational Rehabilitation, Home Loan benefits, and VA’s portion of the Transition Assistance Program (TAP), have not received the same level of attention.
The VET OPP Act would address this issue by realigning transition, education, and employment programs at the VA under a new administration, the Economic Opportunity and Transition Administration. It now awaits consideration by the Senate.
Congressman Wenstrup delivered the following remarks in the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee(click hereto view):
“Thank you, Chairman Levin, Ranking Member Moore. I appreciate the opportunity to be with the members of the VA Committee today and the opportunity to speak on my bill, actually our bill, Mr. Chairman, H.R 2494, the Veterans' Education, Transition, and Opportunity Prioritization Plan Act, or VET OPP Act. As a member of the Armed Forces – as a Soldier – I know how important it is to help our warfighters succeed in their transition to civilian life.
"I think a lot of times far too often, many people think that veterans return fromwar– from service– in some ways defeated and they come out with skills that aren't necessarily applicableto the civilian world. I heard former President Bush one time say when you put on your resume what your skills are, you don't really want to put sniper, but you do want to put down that you pay attention to detail, that you show up for work on time. Those types of skills that apply to anything in the civilian world, so a lot of times I think this broken veteran narrative, it just couldn't be further from the truth.
"Our veterans are strong, dependable leaders and our commitment to programs that promote opportunity and success reinforce their abilities and so I think our servicemembers should have a plan from the day they enter the military really to the day they transition out and beyond to know what they're going to do next.
"But our veterans as we say, in the Army, are soldiers for life, and we need to put that emphasis on that and pay attention to what should be their success after their service. And currently, the Veterans Benefits Administration is responsible for all VA benefits provided to veterans outside of health care and cemetery services. So, while there'remany different benefits that VBA provides, the bulk of staffing and resources have been understandably directed towards the administration of disability compensation and pension claims and so this has resulted unfortunately, not necessarily intentionally, but it resulted in a lack of attention on the administration of other VBA benefits, such asthe Forever GI Bill, vocational rehabilitation, home loan benefits, and the VA's portion of the transition assistance program.
"So by aligning transition education and employment programs in a fourth administration within the VA, the VET OPP Act will modernize the department and ensure that these opportunity-focused programs get the high priority that they deserve and the oversight that they need to better serve our veterans.
"I know when I returned from Iraq after a year as a Reservist, they said, 'you don't have to return to work for 90 days,'and I said, 'I'm going next week.' You know, my adrenaline had been flowing 24-7 for a year, the last thing I need to do is sit around my house or find other things to do that aren't as constructive.
"Let's face it, our military, when they serve in uniform, they get up every day because they are needed. They are part of a team. They're relied upon, and it's the type of lifestyle they need to transition to. So, the soonerwe have soldiers and other members of the armed services in a position to know what they're doing next and to be able to get back on their feet and be contributing to something, the better off they're going to be.
"So, I want to thank you, Chairman Levin, for leading this legislation with me. I greatly appreciate it. I know this is our second successive Congress in doing it. Let's push this across the line this time. And I also want to thank Senators Rubio and Hassanfor their partnership in the Senate and with that, I yield back and again, thank you all for your time and consideration today."
Original source can be found here.
