H.R. 3579 — Veterans Readiness and Employment Program Integrity Act

This section requires a veteran to submit an application containing the veteran's substantive work record and educational transcripts—as determined appropriate by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs—before the Secretary may provide an initial evaluation under the Veterans Readiness and Employment program (i.e., vocational rehabilitation services for veterans with service-connected disabilities that enable suitable employment or greater independence).

This section limits employment assistance under the Veterans Readiness and Employment (VR&E) program—which provides counseling, training, and job placement to veterans with service-connected disabilities—to 365 days, with an additional 180 days available if a counselor certifies that the veteran is actively seeking employment. (Previously, no durational limit applied to such assistance.)

This section establishes data collection and reporting requirements under the Veterans Readiness and Employment program (i.e., Chapter 31 of title 38, U.S. Code, which provides vocational rehabilitation and employment services to veterans with service-connected disabilities). Specifically, it requires (1) annual reports to the congressional Committees on Veterans’ Affairs on participating veterans’ employment outcomes, including annual wages before and after program completion by regional office; and (2) annual public publication on a Department website of average wait times from a veteran’s program request to first counselor meeting. The section further requires the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, not later than one year after enactment, to contract with a non-Department entity for an independent review of the program, with recommendations to improve and modernize it due to the Secretary not later than one year after the contract.