Representatives Juan Ciscomani (R-AZ) and Sheila Cherfilus McCormick (D-FL) are introducing a bipartisan bill improving the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Veteran Readiness and Employment (VR&E) program.
Specifically, the Veterans Readiness and Employment Program Integrity Act strengthens oversight of the program and requires the VA to report on the employment numbers and annual wages of VR&E participants, in addition to the average wait times they are subject to between their initial application and first meeting with a counselor, to combat multi-month wait times.
"When our veterans hang up their uniform, they deserve to receive the support, opportunities, and trainings they need to successfully transition back to civilian life and beyond," said Rep. Ciscomani in his press release, adding, "This includes improving job training programs, educational opportunities, and employment accommodations to empower our veterans and set them up for success in their new careers. I am proud to lead this bipartisan effort to increase accountability and ensure that the VR&E program provides a good return on investment and adequately serves America's heroes – our veterans."
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Similarly, Rep. Cherfilus McCormick added, "Any hero who fought for our country should be supported as they transition back to civilian life. That starts with making veterans' job training, education, and employment accommodations more efficient."
"This is a bipartisan solution that will help ensure the VR&E program is providing a good return on investment and is fully serving the brave men and women who served us," Cherfilus McCormick added.
The Veterans Readiness and Employment Program Integrity Act marks the second collaboration between the Arizona Congressman and the Florida Congresswoman addressing veterans in recent days, with the two previously teaming up to introduce the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Physicist Pay Cap Relief Act, which would raise the wages of therapeutic medical physicists (TMPs) employed by the VA, thereby increasing veterans' access to oncologists.
