WASHINGTON, D.C. (WTWO/WAWV)— Senator Jim Banks (R-Ind.) and Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.) introduced the Veterans Opportunity Act last week.
This act will streamline VA programs that assist veterans with job success and create an Under Secretary position for the new Veterans Economic Opportunity and Transition Administration. The Veterans Economic Opportunity and Transition Administration plans to reorganize current VA employees and programs without expanding. This includes managing employment, vocational rehabilitation, educational assistance, home loans, transition, and other economic opportunity programs that used to be under the Veterans Benefits Administration.
“From their years of service, veterans bring leadership, discipline, and highly transferable skills to civilian employment; they’re ready to succeed from day one,” said Senator Banks. “This bill helps veterans transition into civilian life and ensures our heroes have access to the educational and financial resources they’ve earned.”
The act will essentially create a new administration led by a Senate-confirmed Under Secretary, which will be dedicated to economic opportunity and transition programs for veterans such as GI Bill education benefits, VA home loans, and the Transitional Assistance Program (TAP) under one administration. This new administration will be required to provide annual reports to Congress on things like claim volume, processing times, and outcomes to track its performance. The act also claims to have safeguards in place to prevent increased bureaucracy or loss of veteran services. To read the full text of the bill, click here.
