H.R. 6904 — Veterans Readiness and Employment Improvement and Accountability Act

This section authorizes the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to bar from benefits under chapters 30, 31, 33, 35, or 36 of title 38, U.S. Code (i.e., veterans' educational assistance programs such as the Post-9/11 GI Bill, vocational rehabilitation for service-disabled veterans, and survivors' and dependents' educational assistance), any person convicted under 18 U.S.C. 111 of assaulting, resisting, or impeding a Department of Veterans Affairs officer or employee. The authority applies to convictions occurring on or after the date of enactment.

This section expands the conditions for additional periods of eligibility for veterans' vocational rehabilitation services (i.e., under the Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment program in 38 U.S.C. ch. 31, which provides training, employment counseling, and other assistance to veterans with service-connected disabilities) by adding a new basis: the veteran has not obtained employment (i) in the occupation for which trained and (ii) during the one-year period after the end of such training. (Thus, eligible veterans may receive an extension beyond the basic 12-year eligibility period.)

This section requires the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to approve payments exceeding $5,000 for equipment provided under the Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (VR&E) program (i.e., services and assistance to veterans with service-connected disabilities to obtain and maintain suitable employment). It further directs the Secretary to submit to the congressional Veterans' Affairs Committees, not later than one year after enactment and annually thereafter for five years, a report on each such approved payment identifying (1) the equipment purchased, (2) the reason for the purchase, and (3) the total equipment purchased for the veteran's rehabilitation program.

This section establishes a maximum of $250,000 (new) for Federal funds paid for a veteran's rehabilitation program under the Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment program (i.e., services under 38 U.S.C. ch. 31 to assist service-connected disabled veterans in achieving employment or independent living). Effective October 1, 2026, and annually thereafter, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs must increase this amount by the most recent percentage adjustment under 38 U.S.C. 3015(h) (i.e., consumer price index-based increases applicable to certain GI Bill education benefits).

This section (1) authorizes a vocational rehabilitation specialist to redevelop a veteran's individualized plan of vocational rehabilitation under the Veteran Readiness and Employment program (previously, an employee of the Department of Veterans Affairs), and (2) defines "vocational rehabilitation specialist" for purposes of 38 U.S.C. chapter 31 as a specialist in the Veteran Readiness and Employment division of the Veterans Benefits Administration or a Department counseling psychologist performing those duties. (The program provides counseling, training, employment services, and independent living assistance to veterans with service-connected disabilities.)

This section modifies the basis for calculating the subsistence allowance under VA's Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (VR&E) program for veterans also entitled to Post-9/11 GI Bill educational assistance (38 U.S.C. §3108(b)(4)), allowing it to be the veteran's residence if more than 25 miles from the rehabilitation institution (previously, only the institution). (Thus, such veterans may receive a higher allowance reflecting their home area's cost of living.)

This section directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, to the extent practicable, to employ an employment counselor at each Department of Veterans Affairs regional office to carry out the employment assistance provisions of the section. (As background, those provisions require employment placement services—such as direct job placement and use of public and private placement resources—for veterans with service-connected disabilities rated 10% or more who have completed a vocational rehabilitation program and are determined employable.)

This section establishes that a veteran participating in a Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (VR&E) program under chapter 31 of title 38, U.S. Code, is ineligible for disability compensation under chapter 11 based on a total rating due to individual unemployability (TDIU). (As background, VR&E assists veterans with service-connected disabilities in preparing for suitable employment; TDIU pays such veterans at the 100% compensation rate despite a schedular rating below 100% if they cannot secure substantially gainful employment.)

This section makes technical corrections (1) to the definitions section by redesignating the paragraph (10) relating to the term "emergency situation" as paragraph (1); and (2) to the periods of eligibility section by inserting "in" after "participating" in the second subsection (h), redesignating that subsection as subsection (i), and striking "or (h)" and inserting "(h) or (i)" in subsection (a).