<DOC>
[109th Congress House Hearings]
[From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access]
[DOCID: f:22360.wais]
LEGISLATIVE HEARING ON H.R. 419, H.R. 2046, AND TWO DRAFT BILLS
Wednesday, May 4, 2005
U.S. House of Representatives,
Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity,
Committee on Veterans’ Affairs,
Washington, D.C.
The Subcommittee met, pursuant to notice, at 2:20 p.m., in Room 334,
Cannon House Office Building, Hon. John Boozman [Chairman of the
Subcommittee] presiding.
Present: Representatives Boozman, Herseth, Brown-Waite, and Evans.
OPENING STATEMENT OF CHAIRMAN BOOZMAN
Mr. Boozman. Let’s go ahead and get started. I apologize that we are
getting started late. On the other hand, it surely worked out, because
it is better to get started late than the votes interrupt us right in
the middle, and then go back and forth. I think it is going to work
to our advantage. The other thing is I want to apologize. We have had
a little confusion over who is going to testify. Again, like I say, I
apologize for that Here I am, I am a new Subcommittee Chairman, and
they won’t even give me a gavel.
[Laughter.]
Mr. Boozman. The Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity’s first
legislative hearing will come to order. Today, we are here to receive
testimony on several pieces of legislation relating to veterans’
employment. The proposed legislation we have before us today will
strengthen the Uniformed Services Employment and Re-Employment Rights
Act, commonly known as USERRA, to protect veterans’ rights regarding
employer-provided health insurance, improve the Servicemembers’ Civil
Relief Act’s protection against double taxation, reauthorize the
President’s National Hire Veterans Committee, and finally, to reauthorize
the Homeless Veterans Re-Integration Act.
With the exception of the Civil Relief Act, or USERRA bill, the common
thing in these bills is jobs for veterans. That’s what we are about.
You are going to hear us say that a bunch. Jobs for veterans.
The USERRA provisions will ensure that a returning veteran can
re-establish his employer provided health insurance and is protected
against cost increases.
The President’s Committee was established to increase the visibility
of the advantages of hiring veterans. The Jobs for Veterans Act,
Public Law 107-288 established the President’s National Hire Veterans
Committee within the Department of Labor.
The Committee has two missions, to furnish employers with information
on the training and skills of veterans and disabled veterans, and the
advantages afforded employers by hiring veterans with such training
and skills, to facilitate employment of veterans and disabled veterans
through participation in America’s National Labor Exchange and other
means.
The Committee is comprised of leaders in industry and government, with
such notable executives as Mr. Bob Lutz, Chairman of General Motors.
We are grateful for the participation of all the members of the
Committee and look forward to hearing about the work they have done.
The Homeless Veterans Re-Integration program or HVRP is designed to
take the men and women who are probably the most difficult population
of veterans to serve off the streets and return them as productive
contributors to society.
It is a tall order and one that represents unique challenges to both
the government and those who deliver the services to homeless veterans.
It is a well-known fact that a very high percentage of homeless
veterans have mental health and substance abuse issues and
unfortunately, homeless veterans are not immune from these scourges.
I suspect some are so debilitated that we will never return them to
society outside of a very structured environment, but I am pleased
there are two successful programs, and I hope that each of you will
pay close attention to their testimony.
I am also concerned about how we count for homeless veterans.
For years, 250,000 has been the commonly accepted figure.
Today, I believe the VA estimates the number at about 185,000. The
number 300,000 has also been used.
Clearly, there is a wide divergence in the estimate of the number of
homeless veterans. Certainly, if anyone has an idea on how to get a
handle on that issue, we would be pleased to hear it today.
Also, before I recognize Ms. Herseth, I want to remind the panel that
we have a mark-up tomorrow, which really shouldn’t take very much
time. Hopefully, we can get that done.
I now recognize Ms. Herseth, who represents the whole State of South
Dakota, for opening remarks.
OPENING REMARKS OF HON. HERSETH
Ms. Herseth. Good afternoon,and thank you, Mr. Chairman. I am pleased
we are meeting today for the Subcommittee’s first legislative hearing
I am particularly interested in working with you, Mr. Chairman, to
reauthorize the Homeless Veterans Re-Integration Program, administered
by the Department of Labor. As most of you know and as most of us
know, HVRP is the only federal program aimed at providing employment
services to our homeless veterans. Moreover, it is a very successful
and cost-effective program.
Additionally, I am pleased we will consider and soon mark up the
Servicemembers Health Insurance Protection Act of 2005, of which I’m
an original co-sponsor. This legislation is very important for the
increasing number of activated National Guard and Reserve components.
The legislation would prevent unfair premium increases or delays in
reinstatement of a returning servicemember’s employer sponsored health
insurance coverage.
I look forward to the testimony of our witnesses today, and I
appreciate your efforts to assist us in creating effective and
fiscally responsible legislation. I hope that we will use the witness
testimony to guide us in making helpful and reasonable improvements to
the measures before us.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I look forward to today’s testimony and yield
back the balance of my time.
Mr. Boozman. Thank you. Ms. Brown-Waite?
OPENING REMARKS OF HON. BROWN-WAITE
Ms. Brown-Waite. Thank you very much. As you can tell, I’ve got
laryngitis. I will do the best I can. As some would say, that is a
husband’s prayers answered, but the bad news is he’s not here. He’s
back in Florida. He can’t exactly benefit from it.
I certainly want to thank all of the witnesses who are here to testify
before the Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity. I am also pleased
that this first hearing will cover the important topics of health
insurance, homelessness, employment and taxes.
This Subcommittee has been tasked with helping to ensure that veterans
have a smooth transition back into society after Service.
Time spent in Service is a life calling for some, but only a pause
in time for others. Resuming normal activities back home can often be
difficult.
Not only must a veteran reconnect with family and friends, but he or
she faces many other challenges after being away from home.
The legislation we will consider here will bring relief to
servicemembers and to veterans.
I would particularly like to call attention to the Servicemembers
Health Insurance Protection or the SHIP Act. While this bill merely
makes technical corrections, those small corrections will make a great
difference to military families.
It will guarantee the servicemembers returning to civilian life get a
fixed rate for their re-insurance coverage. It also entitles Reservists
to reinstated insurance coverage after being called to active duty.
By helping alleviate the problems these men and women face in
transitioning to and from Service, it will be easing the burden of
Service that lays heavily on separated families.
I appreciate the attendance of each and every group here, and I commend
the chairman for having this hearing today. I look forward to your
testimony.
Mr. Boozman. Thank you. We have a special guest here today, Nick Bacon.
Will you stand up, Nick? Nick is a dear friend. Nick was Director of
the Arkansas Department of Veterans’ Affairs. Nick is a Medal of Honor
winner. He distinguished himself on the field of battle. There are no
if’s, and’s, or but’s about that.
In fact, there was a great article about him in the Pride Magazine a
year or so ago.
Nick is also a hero in the sense that he performed those feats but he
has also used his notoriety and performed countless hours of helping
veterans, serving on various commissions, and is truly a hero in the
sense of doing those things.
We really appreciate you, Nick. It’s good to have you here.
Thank you very much.
[Applause.]
Mr. Boozman. Our first panel is Mr. James Magill, Director of National
Employment Policy, Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States.
Mr. Brian Lawrence, Assistant National Legislative Director, Disabled
American Veterans. Mr. Carl Blake, Associate Legislative Director,
Paralyzed Veterans of America, and Mr. Richard Jones, National
Legislative Director for AMVETS.
Let’s go ahead with you, Mr. Magill. I know you have a train to catch.
Go ahead and testify. If you need to leave, feel free to slip out.
STATEMENTS OF JAMES N. MAGILL, DIRECTOR, NA-
TIONAL EMPLOYMENT POLICY, VETERANS OF FOR-
EIGN WARS OF THE UNITED STATES; BRIAN E.
LAWRENCE, ASSISTANT NATIONAL LEGISLATIVE
DIRECTOR, DISABLED AMERICAN VETERANS; CARL
BLAKE, ASSOCIATE LEGISLATIVE DIRECTOR, PARA-
LYZED VETERANS OF AMERICA; AND RICHARD JONES,
NATIONAL LEGISLATIVE DIRECTOR, AMVETS
STATEMENT OF JAMES N. MAGILL
Mr. Magill. Thank you. What I would like to say first is a pleasant
surprise to see us up here first. I can speak for myself. It’s very
nice, instead of being last.
I would like to just briefly comment on my remarks, because you do have
a copy of my statement.
The first thing I would like to address is H.R. 419,which extends the
operation of the President’s National Hire Veterans Committee. Public
Law 107-288, the Jobs for Veterans Act, one of the provisions was the
creation of the National Hire Veterans Committee.
We did testify in support of that bill, and of course, of the provision.
We think it is probably one of the best kept secrets of the quality
that veterans bring to employment, especially in the private sector.
H.R. 419 would reauthorize this Committee until December 31, 2008.
Again, VFW believes there exists a genuine need for the committee to
continue its objectives. We, therefore, support its extension.
However, we do have concern with the way this bill would be funded.
The funding as proposed would come through an one-half of one percent
reduction in the funding for the DVOP and LVER programs. We do oppose
that.
The next draft bill that we have before us was addressing HVRP. We
believe that this is probably one of the most beneficial and effective
federally funded programs for veterans who are homeless. It provides
counseling, job training, and the all too crucial job placement.
As I said before, HVRP is due to expire. The VFW, recognizing the
positive measurable results and critical need for HVRP, strongly
supports its reauthorization.
With respect to the other two draft bills, the Servicemembers Health
Insurance Act of 2005 and the Servicemembers Taxation Act of 2005, we
do support the enactment of these bills.
That concludes my statement. I’ll be happy to respond to any
questions you may have.
[The statement of James N. Magill was not provided.]
Mr. Boozman. Thank you very much. We have been joined by Mr. Evans,
who is the Ranking Member on the full Committee, and a member of this
Subcommittee. Mr. Evans, do you have a statement?
Mr. Evans. At this time, I will pass, and I yield back my time.
Mr. Boozman. Thank you. Next, Mr. Brian Lawrence, Assistant National
Legislative Director, Disabled American Veterans.
STATEMENT OF BRIAN E. LAWRENCE
Mr. Lawrence. Chairman Boozman, Ranking Member Herseth and members of
the Subcommittee, on behalf of Disabled American Veterans, thank you
for the opportunity to testify on the bills under consideration today.
The DAV was founded on the principle that our nation’s first duty to
veterans is rehabilitation of the full time disabled, along with
quality health care and adequate compensation, this principle
envisioned substantially gainful employment as a key step to helping
disabled veterans obtain self sufficiency and rehabilitation.
H.R. 419, the Hire Veterans Act of 2004, would reauthorize the
President’s National Hire Veterans Committee. This committee was
created to encourage employers throughout the nation to hire veterans
by raising awareness of their high level skills and leadership
abilities.
Since its beginning, the Committee has listed a number of
accomplishments. To remain on schedule, I will not reiterate those
accomplishments, but I do wish to extend to the Committee the DAV’s
praise for their efforts.
This bill would provide a three year extension of the committee which
was set to expire in December 2005. The DAV supports reauthorizing
the Committee, but is concerned that this bill would fund it by taking
a percentage from the DVOP and LVER programs.
DVOP and LVER personnel provide important job services to disabled and
other veterans by serving as intermediaries between them and employers.
DAV is in support of the DVOP and LVER programs and it is based on
resolutions adopted by our membership calling for protection and
adequate funding for the programs.
Support of this bill as currently written would be contrary to these
resolutions because it would reduce such funding.
DAV would support reauthorization of the Committee if its funding
was not taken from another vital veterans’ program.
The Homeless Veterans’ Re-Integration Program Reauthorization Act of
2005 would reauthorize HVRP for fiscal years 2007 and 2008 at $50
million per year. This important employment services program was
established to help homeless veterans re-integrate into the labor
force and obtain financial independence.
The DAV is highly supportive of this program and other homeless
veterans’ initiatives.Services provided by HVRP can mean the difference
between a veteran living on the street or living in transitional
housing and acquiring skills that will enable them to provide for
themselves.
The DAV is pleased that this legislation would extend the program.
In addition, on the legislative advocacy on behalf of homeless
veterans, I’d like to note that the DAV also takes an active role in
seeking to prevent and end homelessness among our nation’s veterans.
Like HVRP, the DAV homeless veterans’ initiative promotes the
development and support of housing and services to help homeless
veterans become productive self sufficient members of society.
Since 1989, DAV allocations for these projects have exceeded $2
million.
The Servicemembers Health Insurance Protection Act of 2005 would limit
premium increases on reinstated health insurance for servicemembers
who are released from active Service, and it would preserve employer
sponsored health plan coverage for certain Reserve members who acquired
TRICARE eligibility.
The Servicemembers Taxation Protection Act of 2005 would prevent double
taxation of servicemembers from the laws of the tax jurisdiction and do
not provide a credit against use, excise or similar taxes the
servicemember previously paid in another jurisdiction.
Mr. Chairman, in accordance with its constitution and by-laws, the
DAV’s legislative focus is on the benefits and services for Service
connected disabled veterans, their dependents and survivors, because
the issues addressed within the last two bill mentioned are not
specific to its legislative focus the DAV has in its resolutions that
are related directly to the issues addressed.
However, since they would both benefit members of the Armed Forces,
the DAV has no objection to favorable consideration of either bill.
On behalf of the 1.2 million members of our organization, I again
thank you for this opportunity to present our views.
[The statement of Brian E. Lawrence appears on p. 41]
Mr. Boozman. Mr. Blake, of the Paralyzed Veterans.
STATEMENT OF CARL BLAKE
Mr. Blake. Chairman Boozman, Ranking Member Herseth, and members of
the Subcommittee, PVA would like to thank you for the opportunity to
testify today on the proposed legislation. As mentioned, the President’s
National Hire Veterans Committee was created by Public Law 107-288, the
Jobs for Veterans Act.
In testimony provided before the House Veterans’ Affairs Subcommittee
on Benefits on April, 18, 2002, PVA supported the creation of the
President’s Committee.
The original purpose of the Committee was to raise employer awareness
of the skills of veterans and the benefit of hiring benefits, as well
as to bridge the gap in communication that exists between employers and
veterans seeking employment.
However, we believe that the President’s Committee has not lived up
to expectations. After reviewing the Committee’s report for 2004,we
see no tangible proof that this Committee has helped open doors to
veterans seeking employment in the private sector.
The report implies that the Committee played a major role in the
creation of Home Depot’s Operation Career Fund, an initiative that
seeks to attract military job seekers, but the report lacked detailed
information regarding the real extent of the Committee’s involvement.
Furthermore, we have not seen any other reports provided by the
President’s Committee. In accordance with the provisions of 107-288,
the Committee was to have provided a report also for 2003 and is also
required to do so for 2004. Yet, we have only seen the report for 2004.
PVA is particularly concerned about the provision of the legislation
that would allow the President’s Committee to be funded out of money
provided by the Department of Labor for administration of DVOP and LVER
programs.
PVA believes that the current efforts to change the way employment
services at DOL are funded jeopardizes DVOP specialists and LVERs.
It seems unless there is a paradigm shift, the number of DVOP
specialists and LVER staff will be reduced.
Although we believe that the Committee’s purpose is genuinely a good
one and it can serve a good purpose, we have to oppose H.R. 419 because
of the provision allowing the funding through the DVOP and LVER programs.
The Homeless Veterans Re-Integration Program is a viable program
focusing on employment of homeless veterans. This program has been
a wonderful success since its inception almost 20 years ago.
PVA supports the reauthorization of HVRP through 2008, and in fact,
we would like to recommend that the legislation be changed to
authorize it for five years, through fiscal year 2011. This is in
accordance with the recommendations of the National Coalition of
Homeless Veterans, which PVA is a member of.
We also support the reauthorization of the program at the $50 million
funding level.
The HVRP is perhaps the most cost effective and cost efficient program
within the Federal Government. In spite of the success of HVRP, it
remains severely under funded.
Even more tragically, DOL does not really request full appropriation
in its budget submission. For fiscal year 2006, the administration
only requested $22 million to support this program despite a $50
million authorization.
Enactment of this legislation would ensure that homeless veterans who
need a high level of support get the support they need.
PVA also supports the last two bills which are under consideration,
the Health Insurance Protection Act and the Taxation Protection Act.
We have no objection as they are considered. I look forward to
working with this Committee to ensure that proper protections and
services are put into place to allow Service men and women who are
returning from Iraq and Afghanistan and who are coming off active duty
transition smoothly back to civilian life and into the employment
sector.
Mr. Chairman, we would like to thank you again for the opportunity to
testify.
[The statement of Carl Blake appears on p. 46]
Mr. Boozman. Mr. Jones, of AMVETS.
STATEMENT OF RICHARD JONES
Mr. Jones. Chairman Boozman, Ranking Member Herseth, members of the
Subcommittee, Ms. Brown-Waite, H.R. 419, the Hire Veterans Act of 2004,
would extend the operation of the President’s National Hire Veterans
Committee.
While we support efforts to enhance the profile of America’s commitment
to its veterans, we are really aware of no official account of any past
achievement of this Committee. Reports of 2003 and 2004 provide no
insight to any substantial gain by this Committee.
We are concerned further that the legislation would fund the
President’s National Hire Veterans Committee through the Department of
Labor’s administration of Disabled Veterans Outreach Program and Local
Veterans Employment Representative Programs.
If the House Committee believes the National Committee should be
extended, AMVETS would hope that consideration be given to finding a
separate funding source other than the DVOP and LVER programs. Taking
resources from an effective DVOP program to fund one that is not would
be a mistake that we trust the Veterans’ Affairs Committee would avoid.
On the second matter, AMVETS strongly supports draft legislation to
reauthorize the Homeless Veterans Re-Integration Program. Grants made
through HVRP provide homeless veterans with occupational training, job
search and placement assistance.
HVRP has been a very successful program, broadly supported by local
community groups and veterans’ service organizations, and we support
the reauthorization.
With regard to the Servicemembers Health Insurance Protection Act of
2005, while of course we would like to protect the possibility of
returning troops finding steep increases in their private health care
insurance due to a non-military related circumstance, we do not want
private insurance to carry the national burden of health care for
military personnel.
As a member of the Military Coalition Guard and Reserve Committee, as
a chairman of a committee in the National Military Veterans Alliance,
we are not aware of this issue being on the radar of any organization
representing Reserve components.
We are aware of the importance of ensuring reinstatement when folks
return from deployment, but we are not aware of private sector gouging
of returning veterans. If we could be educated on that, we would be,
and we would certainly support that.
On the final draft bill before the panel, the Servicemembers Taxation
Protection Act, AMVETS fully supports the legislation.
Servicemembers relocate items subject to personal property tax,
excise tax, use tax, sales tax, and should not be penalized, not be
taxed twice. We certainly support that fully.
Mr. Chairman, that concludes my remarks.
[The statement of Richard Jones appears on p. 55]
Mr. Boozman. Thank you very much. Thank all of you.
I mentioned earlier that we were having a problem really trying to
figure out how many homeless veterans there are. Do you all have
any figures from your organizations or is that something you feel
like you can help us with?
Mr. Magill. We do not have a number. We rely on what VA is coming out
with. I hope you can imagine that with all our folks out there, we
can get an idea individually sometimes, but as far as a whole number,
we don’t know.
All we do know is it’s a lot, and it’s way too many as far as even one
would be too many.
Mr. Blake. Mr. Chairman, we don’t have any kind of survey that could
accurately reflect those numbers. I would submit that Ms. Linda Boone,
who I believe will be testifying next, probably could respond to that
question a little better, and being that we are a member of that
organization, I would like to defer to her perhaps.
Mr. Jones. Certainly, it is difficult to get a hold of that number.
These folks are homeless and hard to account for, either them or their
families. We rely on the number that comes out of the VA, a quarter
million average. It could be higher. It could be lower. I’ve seen
figures as high as half a million. We know there are many.
We know the HVRP program is a program that attracts a great number of
competitors seeking those grants to assist homeless in their local
areas. These folks report to us that there are many homeless.
Mr. Boozman. Ms. Herseth?
Ms. Herseth. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you for your testimony
. Just a couple of questions to follow up.
Mr. Magill and Mr. Lawrence, given the statements you have made in
terms of your organizations’ support of extending the authority of the
Committee, and your concerns about the funding of extending the
Committee.
If we weren’t able to address your concerns with regard to diverting
money away from the chronically under funded LVER and DVOP programs to
fund the extension of the Committee, would you then take positions
similar to Mr. Blake and Mr. Jones and their organizations -- it sounds
like you are more supportive of the work the Committee has done perhaps,
or maybe I am misreading the testimony.
It seemed like you were more supportive of the extension as long as we
an address the funding concerns versus where Mr. Blake and Mr. Jones
may be at this point. Is that true?
Mr. Magill. Our concern, of course, is that employers recognize the
attributes that are brought to the workforce. I have to agree somewhat
with Mr. Jones and Mr. Blake that after reading the reports, I expected
a little more.
What I am looking at is the potential that we hope this Committee can
live up to. They have a wealth of knowledge that sits on the
Committee. At the same time, I have fears that when you start taking
money away from the DVOP and LVER program, such as taking one-half of
one percent, which is a small amount, but it could open up the door for
continued reduction in this program.
We do support the Committee. Once again, we hope that what is said here
today will get the message to the Committee that we are watching them
and we do expect a lot more results for the money they are being supplied.
I hope that answers you.
Ms. Herseth. Yes, it does. If I mischaracterized the positions of
Mr. Blake and Mr. Jones, I hope you will correct me.
Mr. Lawrence, did you have anything to add?
Mr. Lawrence. I would agree with Mr. Magill that we don’t want to open
the door to taking money from the DVOP and LVER programs.
I would say that the accomplishments of the Committee and the goal of
the Committee are hard to measure. We do recognize that. It’s a noble
goal. We just feel that it is kind of overlapping with the mission of
the DVOPs and LVERs as well.
Already the training program, NVTI, that provides education or training
to DVOPs and LVERs has been flat lined for a couple of years. We just
wonder if it might not be more efficient use of the money if NVTI was
fully funded. We know these programs are efficient. We would like
to make sure that the money is channeled accordingly.
Ms. Herseth. Certainly. I think in terms of what we have seen in the
Administration’s proposed budget, many programs that actually had been
deemed to not be efficient, to be duplicative, are the ones that have
been severely cut.
Here we have again some difficult decisions about how we allocate
limited resources. I appreciate the insights that you have offered.
Mr. Blake, if you could elaborate just a little bit. You had mentioned
in terms of reauthorizing HVRP for two years, that you would prefer a
longer extension to five, perhaps to provide a level of stability, but
could you elaborate on your reasoning in your advocacy for a longer
extension period?
Mr. Blake. Yes, ma’am. First off, we support the idea that it would be
extended period. I want to make that clear. We take the position of
extending it through 2011 because if I’m not mistaken, the National
Coalition for Homeless Veterans has done the same.
HVRP has been around for quite a long time, 20 years is a long time
for a program that started out very small and has grown a little bit,
but its services have outgrown the size of the program and the services
it provides to homeless veterans.
Over the last few years, we have seen homeless veterans become more of
an identified problem and more efforts to try to go in the direction of
helping them. I see no point in short term authorizing HVRP, which may
be the best homeless veteran program on the market, so to speak.
Ms. Herseth. My time is up. Just one last comment, particularly in
light of what sounds like anecdotal evidence, either from members of
your organizations or new members about the level of homelessness that
we have of veterans of past wars with those returning from Iraq and
Afghanistan.
I appreciate your thoughts there, too. Thank you.
Mr. Boozman. Mr. Evans?
Mr. Evans. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I also appreciate your leadership
on this issue and thank all the witnesses for coming to be here with us
today. I just wanted to clarify, and I think Linda may when she
comes up give us some information in terms of homeless programs.
One of the things is, and I haven’t had a chance to talk to my staff
about it, the authorization of an incarcerated veterans program within
HVRP. Incarcerated veterans are not a group I think we have heard much
from. I believe we can do much more in that area, but we don’t want to
take money from Peter to pay Paul. I hope we can clarify that.
Secondly, I haven’t talked to my staff about when the hearing will be
to mark up the first two bills. Is that tomorrow at 9:00? Are we
going to have time to make sure everybody knows?
I didn’t want anybody to leave here without knowing that.With that, I
yield back my time, Mr. Chairman.
Mr. Boozman. Thank you. I want to thank the panel very much for being
here, appreciate your testimony.
Yes, sir?
Mr. Magill. If you don’t mind, sir, I just had one comment.
Mr. Boozman. Yes, sir.
Mr. Magill. If this bill would have provided for making HVRP a permanent
program, we would not oppose that.
Mr. Boozman. Again, thank you very much for your testimony and for your
time. It’s greatly appreciated. Our second panel members come from
groups serving homeless veterans. Ms. Linda Boone is Executive Director
of the National Coalition for Homeless Veterans. Mr. Jack Downing is
President and Chief Executive Officer of United Veterans of America.
Dr. Jack Pierce is Director of Student Services, Maryland Center for
Veterans Education and Training. We understand that Ms. Boone is not
going to be with us any longer, and is going to be moving on. We want
to send our best regards from the Subcommittee. I also understand that
Colonel Williams, the Maryland Center’s director, was unable to be here,
and again, we send our best regards.
Mr. Downing, you are recognized. Thank you.
STATEMENTS OF JOHN F. DOWNING, PRESIDENT AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER,
UNITED VETERANS OF AMERICA; LINDA BOONE, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, NATIONAL
COALITION FOR HOMELESS VETERANS; AND JACK R.M. PIERCE, DIRECTOR OF STUDENT
SERVICES, MARYLAND CENTER FOR VETERANS EDUCATION AND TRAINING, INC.
STATEMENT OF JOHN F. DOWNING
Mr. Downing. Chairman Boozman and members of the Committee, I’m honored
to be here today on behalf of the 900 homeless veterans enrolled
annually in the United Veterans of America program.
Each day, 190 of our homeless veterans are assisted by the UVA program,
providing a continuum of care beginning with the treatment of trauma
and mental health issues that result in substance abuse, shelter, food
and other necessities, job training and counseling throughout their
stay. We work in partnership with the Veterans’ Administration and
the per diem program for homeless veterans.
The United Veterans of America has 120 veterans in transitional living
on site at the VA campus in Northampton, Massachusetts. We also have
60 veterans in transitional housing at the Berkshire Veterans Residence
in Pittsfield, Massachusetts which opened in September 2004. We have
ten new studio apartments funded through the U.S. Department of Housing
and Urban Development, which provide permanent housing for homeless
veterans with disabilities at the Pittsfield site.
The UVA serves veterans who are primarily from Massachusetts, Rhode
Island, Connecticut, New York, Vermont and New Hampshire.
The average age of a homeless veteran in our care is 53 years.
Approximately 85 percent of our clients have mental health and substance
abuse issues. Eight percent are elderly, over the age of 70. Five
percent are female. More than 25 percent are diagnosed with
post-traumatic stress syndrome and 28 percent of our residents have come
to us on parole or probation. We have just begun to serve some Iraq war
veterans.
The VA Grant and Per Diem Program provides the core funding for our
veterans’ housing programs. Most recently, the UVA began a collaboration
with the Northampton VA to develop intensive support services for 40
chronically mentally ill residents and 15 females annually that
hopefully will result in permanent housing for all of them.
The UVA is a participant in two Western Massachusetts HUDC funded
continuums of care which provide additional support and funds for
veterans at both the Northampton and Pittsfield facilities.
The UVA received an HVRP intermediary grant of $220,000 in 2004 to
assist in employment of homeless veterans in our region. We commend
the Department of Labor in its attempt to assist homeless and
incarcerated veterans’ re-entry into the workforce.
These programs acknowledge the difference between rural and
urban communities and are beginning to foster collaborations between
small communities and faith based organizations and mainstream service
providers in the areas that we work in
Integrity is at the core of the UVA program, the integrity of the
veterans, the integrity of our staff, and the integrity of our
commitment to tirelessly work to improve the lives of homeless veterans.
The UVA has implemented an integrity contract which is integrated into
the treatment model that promotes social responsibility for the
individuals in our care.
Psychosocial services are augmented by employment, housing, educational
and community service programs. Veterans develop self awareness and
personal growth through volunteer and supported work placements with
community agencies.
Veterans receive services from these agencies, yet more importantly,
are given the opportunity to serve others in need. This enhances
their self respect, their personal dignity and pride. The program
constantly evaluates veterans’ needs and is poised to assist veterans
returning from Iraq with the opportunity to self determine their
pathway to success.
We perceive a gap between the skills of our veterans and the resistance
of some employers to hire formerly homeless veterans. This is
particularly true for those veterans who may have been incarcerated.
This reality has led to significant shifts in our strategies on behalf
of veterans in need of employment.
The UVA practices employer oriented job development. We work to
understand the needs of area employers, enabling the UVA to present
qualified candidates ready to work.
We have partnered with the Sheriff’s Office in Berkshire County,
Massachusetts and the Pittsfield Community Television in Massachusetts
to initiate a program produced, directed and filmed by formerly
homeless veterans, such a tremendous project.
When we walked into the first filming, we had Lieutenant Governor
Carrie Healey from Massachusetts as the first guest. When she walked
in and saw two chronically mentally ill formerly homeless veterans
running t.v. cameras, she turned to me and she said, hey, you’re
really doing what we want you to do, and I said to her, yes, that’s
what it’s about, Ms. Healey, it’s really about getting veterans
engaged in the process. We call that projection Operation Rising
Star. This program presents the community employment experts
candidates from our population that are ready to re-enter the
workforce.
This 30 minute weekly program premieres in June 2005 and we have all
kinds of experts from senior government and business offices in the
northeast working with us on this project.
We are using Department of Labor funds to assist in this exciting
utilization of media technology that allow veterans to learn new
skills and experience a sense of ownership of their work.
The United Veterans understands that our veterans do not necessarily
seek full time employment. Therefore, creativity and flexibility are
key factors in business opportunities for veterans.
Two models of veteran owned businesses have been adopted. The vending
operations in our existing three facilities has been converted to a
veteran owned and operated business. Homeless veterans have purchased
vending machines and inventory and serve our facilities. These
businesses were funded with private sector funds.
The United Veterans of America is currently acquiring a Juice and
Java franchise for two formerly homeless veterans. This business will
employ the two UVA owner veterans and four to seven other veterans
part time as their employees.
Additionally, we have been approached by area manufacturers to create
an inventory measurement service employing homeless veterans to
accommodate the seasonal and part time nature of particularly the
plastics industry’s local demand for this type of service.
As we look at the potential of the veterans we serve, we see no end to
the possible solutions for improving homeless veterans’ lives in a way
that encourages their particular abilities and career goals.
We develop individualized programs for each veteran at the UVA, which
identifies the potential of each veteran and helps to stabilize their
lives.
These include a personal resume development; issues related to past
under employment; definition of their personal support network
including counselors, advisors and family members; realistic career
expectations; communication and presentation skills, and follow up
support.
The UVA program ensures that each homeless veteran has access to
professional help while the veteran remains in control of his or her
own life decisions.
The United Veterans of America has accepted the challenge of President
Bush to end chronic homelessness during the ten years of 2002 to 2012.
The UVA has implemented the strategy of changing the end of the story
as our response to this challenge.
A safe, sober environment in a transitional housing facility is no
longer acceptable as a long term solution for homeless veterans.
Rather, our goal has become safe, sober, permanent living facilities
that allow veterans ownership of their housing.
Employment and a stable income are essential to this goal. We have
come to the conclusion that employment which is limited by
disincentives and that eliminates entitlements for veterans must be
restructured and re-thought. Programs that stress job readiness
skills that are sensitive to the employer community are central to
our strategy and present a realistic assessment of veterans’ abilities
to enter the workforce. Business ownership by homeless veterans offers
creative and flexible work alternatives for our veterans
.
As program development continues, we must create systems that provide
easy access for veterans in all service areas.
We are committed to work with the Department of Veterans’ Affairs,
Housing and Urban Development, and Labor, and all interested members of
the Congress, and organizations to help change the end of the story for
all homeless veterans.
Together, we can help our homeless veterans achieve integrity, dignity
and hope. Thank you.
[The statement of John F. Downing appears on p. 62]
Mr. Boozman. Ms. Boone?
STATEMENT OF LINDA BOONE
Ms. Boone. Good afternoon. Contrary to the perceptions that our
nation’s veterans are well-supported, in fact, many go without
services they are eligible to receive.
One-and-a-half million veterans have incomes that fall below the
Federal poverty level. Neither the VA, state, or county departments
of veterans’ affairs nor community-based service providers have
adequate resources to respond to these veterans’ health, housing, and
service needs.
For example, the VA reports that its homeless treatment and
community-based assistance network serves 100,000 veterans annually,
only 20 percent of those in need. 400,000 homeless veterans remain
without services.
Likewise, other Federal, state and local public agencies, notably
housing and health services, are not adequately responding to housing,
health care and supportive services of veterans.
The National Coalition for Homeless Veterans is privileged to testify
today on the reauthorization of the Homeless Veterans Re-Integration
Program, privileged in that NCHV, commemorating its 15 year anniversary
this year, owes its founding to HVRP.
It was at a meeting of HVRP grantees that our organization founders
met each other and came to appreciate that they were not working in
isolation, that there were others sharing their concern with the
tragedy of homelessness among veterans and were taking action.
At the same time we are saddened today, saddened that there is still a
need 15 years later to hold another congressional hearing on homeless
veterans. Saddened further that there is still a need for the Homeless
Veterans Re-Integration Program.
Frankly, our founders and our members thought we would be out of
business by now.
An immediate first step, shocking in the fact that it has not yet come
to pass, would be the appropriate funding for HVRP in fiscal year
2006, a full authorization level of $50 million.
DOL estimates that 14,750 homeless veterans will be served through
HVRP at the fiscal year 2005 appropriations level of $21 million.
This figure represents just three percent of the overall homeless
population that will be serviced.
We appreciate this subcommittee’s obvious interest in HVRP, to continue
to set a $50 million authorization level. However, we recommend a five
year period. A longer authorization period is particularly important
given the current proposal by the Administration to restructure our
nation’s veterans’ workforce program within its WIA proposal.
Expanding the eligible population for HVRP to also include veterans at
imminent risk of homelessness enables grantees to use these funds for
homeless prevention is something we also request.
NCHV generally supports efforts that generate employment opportunities
for veterans. Veterans with jobs are less likely to lose their housing
than veterans that are without sources of income. As such, we have no
reason to be anything other than supportive of Congress’ decision to
establish the President’s National Hire Veterans Committee.
We are now interested in knowing how the Committee is tracking specific
and measurable outcomes of work. What are those outcomes? How many
veterans have actually been hired due to the Hire Vets First campaign?
What action is the Committee taking to promote hiring of veterans with
serious barriers to employment?
We are also concerned that funding for the Committee is drawn from VETS
state grant program, as you have already heard, diverting precious
resources that are known to put veterans to work compared to a public
awareness campaign that has no evidence base.
Given these concerns, we withhold support for the Hire Veterans Act.
Current law requires the Department of Defense and Homeland Security
to provide individual pre-separation counseling to each member of the
Armed Forces whose discharge or release from active duty is anticipated.
Current law authorizes the Department of Labor to furnish counseling
and assistance in obtaining employment and training opportunities to
members of the Armed Forces who are separated from active duty, known
as the Transition Assistance Program. Participation in this program
is not mandatory.
Former servicemembers with whom our Coalition is in daily contact
report that pre-separation counseling and the Transition Assistance
Program are lacking in a number of areas.
Among their concerns are the depth and content of the pre-separation
counseling that is a variable cost at delivery sites. This counseling
may be limited to brief group level presentations rather than
individualized transition plans.
Servicemember participation in TAP is at the will of the unit commander
and often allowed only during off duty time. We need a program that
includes content on homelessness awareness or housing and counseling
assistance and referral.
Weaknesses in both of the content and delivery of servicemember
separation programs result in some servicemembers failing to receive
information necessary to ensure their stable health care, steady
employment, and secure housing upon their return to civilian life.
This places servicemembers at an increased risk of homelessness.
In response to these concerns, NCHV has developed a legislative
proposal, the Servicemembers Enhanced Transition Services Act, to
improve transition assistance provided for members of the Armed
Services being discharged, released from active duty or retired.
We urge this Committee members to introduce or co-sponsor this Act and
to ensure its enactment this session. In addition to HVRP, many other
programs that Congress has authorized to address homelessness among
veterans are scheduled to sunset in 2006 and merit extension.NCHV urges
Congress to reauthorize, strengthen and expand the specialized homeless
programs and the authorities of the Department of Veterans’ Affairs.
Thank you very much.
[The statement of Linda Boone appears on p. 69]
Mr. Boozman. Thank you.
Dr. Pierce?
STATEMENT OF JACK R.M. PIERCE
Mr. Pierce. You had mentioned, Mr. Chairman, about Colonel Williams was
supposed to be here today. He asked me to come. Colonel Williams takes
dialysis on Wednesdays and he couldn’t be here, so he asked me to pinch
hit for him.
Mr. Boozman. We appreciate that.Like I said, tell him we are thinking
of him. Mr. Pierce. It’s my pleasure. MCVET was established
approximately 12 years ago with a mission to provide homeless veterans
and other veterans in need with comprehensive services that will enable
them to rejoin their communities as productive citizens.
MCVET operates a militarily constructed facility where veterans are
reintroduced to the military type of discipline that they were
accustomed to through their service.
The re-awakening of the routine military discipline enhances MCVET’s
ability to stabilize and reorder the lives of these veterans. Each
student attends substance abuse classes and alcoholic and narcotic
anonymous meetings, and work in conjunction with a case manager in the
development of an individual service strategy plan, which is a long
range plan used as a tool in remaining drug and alcohol free.
Services include a day drop in, emergency, transitional and permanent
housing, substance abuse counseling, assistance with physical and mental
health issues including post-traumatic stress disorder or PTSD, job
training and placement, and education.
MCVET owes its very existence to the Federal grants and to community
based 501(c)3 organizations. We have uniquely married the housing
services available from HUD, the medical and social services support
available from Veterans’ Affairs, and the job training education
services available from the Department of Labor, in order to move
homeless veterans into the societal mainstream as self supporting and
contributing members to their families and their communities.
From July 2004 to June 30, 2005, we received the amount of money that
we have here in the testimony, and then we received a grant for the
two fiscal years from July 1, 2003 to June 30, 2004.
MCVET used these grants from DOL, the VA, and HUD to provide a
complete continuum of care for veterans consisting of a 50 person
capacity day drop in center, a 50 person capacity emergency shelter
program, a 120 person capacity transitional housing program, and an 80
room permanent housing facility called SRO or single room occupancy, a
complete dining facility, learning center, fitness gym, and classrooms.
Thus, a veteran can go from being homeless to permanent housing within
the same program while maintaining continuity of counseling and support
.
We are focused today on grants provided by the HVRP program and how
they benefit homeless veterans. The HVRP funds from the Department of
Labor has enabled MCVET during fiscal year 2003 to enroll 198 and
during 2004, 214 veterans in education and training programs.
MCVET placed 191 veterans in fiscal year 2003, and 188 veterans in
2004 in full time unsubsidized employment with an average salary of
$12.08 per hour in fiscal year 2003 and $12.39 per hour in fiscal
year 2004. During the same fiscal years, the permanent housing program
serviced 116 and 88 veterans respectively. Case management and
counseling are ongoing components of the veterans’ stay in permanent
housing. Also, it is at this housing level that female veterans can
access MCVET’s program.
During fiscal year 2003, 22 percent of all the veterans placed in
employment in the State of Maryland and 86 percent of all veterans
placed in employment in Baltimore City came from MCVET’s job service
office.
The HVRP program coordinator, which is a position funded by the HVRP
grant, enables MCVET to place veterans in the jobs I have listed here,
just to name a few, drivers with CDL A and B class licenses, HVAC
technicians, information technology, apprenticeships in painting.
These are paid apprenticeships in painting, electricians, carpenters,
elevator maintenance, sheet metal machinists. Full time positions
have also been obtained in heavy equipment operator, substance abuse
counselors, youth counselors, work with the Department of Public
Works, Public Safety, Homeland Security, medical billing, medical
coding, medical assistance, biomedical nursing assistant, phlebotomist,
medical administration service, culinary arts, barbers, cosmetology,
dental assistants and loan officers.
Additionally, MCVET’s job office has placed veterans in high profile
jobs, such as drafting, hotel/hospital management, and maintenance
technicians for a municipal transportation system, master fitness
trainer, and web master.
MCVET strives to place veterans in situations where they can succeed
rather than fail.
For fiscal year 2003, the retention rate after 90 days for veterans
placed in employment was 86 percent still working. For fiscal year
2004, for those after 90 days still working, it was 96 percent. After
180 days, the retention rate for fiscal year 2003 was 73 percent and
for fiscal year 2004, it was 71 percent. This is six months out.
We have placed 91 percent of the veterans seeking employment for fiscal
year 2003 and 89 percent of those seeking employment for fiscal year
2004. We are committed to developing careers for our veterans rather
than dead end jobs that tend to perpetuate the cycle of poverty.
Veterans who are educated, gainfully employed and independent are assets
to their communities. They are reunifying with families, purchasing
their own homes, starting their own businesses, and participating in
the economy.
Because of our work with veterans, HUD declared our program a national
model on 7 May 1997. This occurred after we had been serving veterans
a little less than three years.
In closing, I would like to thank you for this opportunity to appear
before you and to share MCVET’s story. Homeless veterans are likely to
face greater challenges in the years ahead, as scarce resources are
strained and with a service delivery system that is already
overburdened. I urge you, in your deliberations, to consider the plight
of those young men and women who have been sent to defend the ideals of
this country. Many of them are returning home broken of body, mind, and
soul, and this country needs to provide them with resources to enable
them to share in the American dream.
I implore you to pass the legislation for reauthorization of the HVRP
Act of 2005. Thank you.
[The statement of Jack R.M. Pierce appears on p. 82]
Mr. Boozman. Thank you. Again, we appreciate the testimony.
Mr. Downing and Dr. Pierce, you all seem to have a substantially higher
success rate not only initially but after 180 days or however you want
to measure it than some of the other programs, maybe some of the other
Department of Labor programs.
What do you attribute that to? You work with lots of individuals and
have seen lots of different programs come and go.
Mr. Downing. From my end, Mr. Chairman, I think there are two things.
I think you have to work with the complete fabric. You can’t be just
doing employment and not dealing with substance abuse. You need to get
the substance abuse, the site social services, you need to get the
whole piece.
The second thing is you need to have a vision that you communicate to
the veterans. They have to know that you have their heart in your
heart. You have to know that if you really believe in this process
that there has to be an end of the story that works.
Saying to people we are going to get you sober and safe and help you
get employment and then ship you off to an SOR where loneliness and
isolation start and you start cycles again, that’s what we saw we had
to stop, number one.
The second thing is we needed to build partnerships that worked. We
had to stop being at war with funding sources. We needed to develop
relations of respect and see that we figure out strategies that allows
us to work together.
We have been very successful building relationships with the VA. I
testified in this room a couple of years ago, and I think Pete Doughtery
said to me, you know what, Downing, if I ever see you again, you better
have a vest on. We were joking about firing back at one another,
because our program had been cut.
The reality is we needed to build a relationship that worked. We had
to be responsible for that. We have built partnerships both at the
national level with the funding sources and in the community,where
members of the Chamber of Commerce, if you want to work with employers,
you have to go to their meetings. You have to know they know you.
We are a member of the Berkshire Plastic Network funded by General
Electric Plastics, 36 plastics companies pay $300 to $500 a year to be
a member. We pay $300 a year to be a member so we can learn about
their industry and their jobs and they would know us and understand us.
I think the third component is you need to be able to start to show
people that failure is never final. You have to remember that the
people that we work with,every system built to help men and women has
failed them. Community services has failed, military services fail,
psych-social services have failed, family has failed, everything has
failed. When they come to us, we need to be able to say this failure
is not final. We are going to begin to build your dignity. We are going
to begin to build your personhood. We are going to begin to give you a
sense of purpose. We need to figure out strategies to motivate them.
In our program, we decided that failure was our responsibility not our
clients. When you leave the United Veterans of America, if you should
leave us, we see that as our failure, that we didn’t develop a strategy
, a sensitivity, an understanding or skill that could touch you in a
way that you would want to stay and continue to work with us.
We don’t even want your failure to be yours any more. We want to take
that burden away and give you that possibility.
I think those pieces work together. I think you have to have a passion
and a commitment to stay in there. Mr. Pierce. We take a veteran into
our program and try to look at the whole person, treat that person
holistically, not just for the substance abuse, but we try to recreate
and re-establish a healthy body and a healthy mind.
We start that process with a shelter program where we require them to
be with us at least 30 days when they come in. It’s not an emergency
shelter. We call it the emergency shelter program because by contract,
we are required or we are mandated to provide 13 weeks of housing in
our emergency shelter program.
During this 13 weeks, we will begin to address barriers to recovery,
barriers to employment, barriers to education. At that level -- we call
it the first platoon. We have case managers. All our case managers
are Master level case managers, social workers, with licenses, who are
tasked to work with a person coming in off the street.
That is an intensive kind of relationship that is developed at that
level. All of these things they have them addressing, court issues,
child support issues, education, getting over the effects of having
been addicted to alcohol and narcotics and chronic mental illness.
Some of them are dually diagnosed.
We begin to work on those issues at that level.We begin to know who we
are dealing with. During that first 13 weeks, and after 60 days,they
are allowed to transition to our transitional housing program, we
develop a service strategy plan. I call it a blueprint for success.
The case management occurs at all levels of our program, so we know
who we are dealing, when we send someone out to get a job. After the
91st day in our program, persons are eligible to apply for education,
training, and employment. I don’t say they will, but they are eligible
to do so because at that point, the case manager sits down with the
veteran and decides are you ready to get involved in training? Are you
ready to get involved in going back to college? Are you ready to get
involved in going out to work?
They make that decision conjointly.If that person is ready, then they
are referred to our DVOP. We have a DVOP who is out stationed to MCVET
five days a week, eight hours a day, with an office in our facility.
He works for us, but is paid by the state with Federal funds. Our DVOP
is here if you have questions for him.
That person begins to work with our veterans in finding a job, finding
a training slot, finding apprenticeships, right in our office.
You heard the statistics that office placed for Baltimore City. Of
the veterans who were placed in positions, our office placed 86 percent
of them. For the State of Maryland, 22 percent. He is stationed
right there with us. We know who we are dealing with. Our persons go
out to jobs. Partnerships have been discussed. Our employers know
that when we send someone to them, that person is ready to work, will
be there, will show up, has developed the kind of work ethic that they
need to have in order to come to work on time, be at work and put
forth an effort. They trust us to send them the best. In fact, we
have employers calling us for persons to employ.That is our success
rates. Not only that, at every point in our program, the person is
case managed. We never lose track of that person. We know after six
months. In fact, we follow up ad nauseam. We never really lose
contact with our people. Six months and three months is what the HVRP
and HUD requires, but we go forever. Mr. Boozman. Very good.
Ms. Herseth? Ms. Herseth. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you very
much for your testimony. Mr. Downing and Dr. Pierce, I appreciate
hearing more about the programs that you are involved with, the success
rates you have had,the impressive records the Chairman has acknowledged
and expressed, whether it is Operation Rising Star, as you mentioned,
which is fascinating,as well as what you do with the MCVET center in
Maryland. Before I ask a few questions of you, Ms. Boone, I would like
for the two of you to address the intersection of mental health illness
and homelessness. Many of us have expressed concern on this Committee
and colleagues that serve on other committees about PTSD, mental health
counseling and adequate resources to meet the needs of Vietnam combat
veterans, Gulf War veterans, past wars even prior to those two, and of
course, our returning veterans. I am wondering if in the counseling
that your programs have provided, as you get to know and adopt a
holistic approach to these veterans, to the extent that you can say,
do you find that more often than not a mental health illness is one
factor among many that creates the condition that leads to
homelessness, or that the situation of homelessness exacerbates or
creates circumstances that lead to mental health illness, to the
extent that you can say Mr. Downing. My best judgment would be mental
health illness, I think, is exacerbated by homelessness. I think mental
health illness, because we don’t provide at the community level
necessarily, they have de-funded a lot of services that touch people
in the community, we have criminalized their behavior.
Many people are forced into jails and prisons when they are not taking
their medicines because of their behaviors, and we are picking them up
on the back side as they re-enter. That’s number one Number two is
the chronically mentally ill that we work with, we found that the
veterans were much better served than people who were non-veterans.
They were able to get into facilities and get treatment, but the issues
in some ways remain the same, when an individual refuses medicine and
acts out, what happens. What we have tried to do is again work in a
peer group and buddy up veterans with one another so they can -- we
monitor taking their meds. We buddy them up during the day and have
them track with one another to create the opportunity to help one
another and to keep them stable.
My experience has been that 80-some percent of our people come in with
a mental health disorder. It’s serious. Combat related post-traumatic
stress syndrome, it represents 28 percent of our people.I think the
other thing we need to recognize, and I think this is a key factor in
the work that I do, individuals who entered military service, their
experience in being separated from the primary community of love that
we normally call family, many of the individuals we work with came
from very weak families, by being separated out and doing extended
periods of time in service, and then facing combat and all the issues,
it seems to me that veterans appear two to three times more homeless
than non-veterans.If that is true, we must then continue to acknowledge
that military service has a tremendous stressor attached to it that
people seem to incorporate into their lives in a way that we don’t
easily identify until separated from service for five, six, seven or
eight years, and at that point,we begin to identify there’s a problem.
We need to become more and more acutely aware. When I heard Ms. Boone
talk about what we are doing at the point of separation, the hospital
that we are attached to, the VA in Northampton, sends a team of people
over to Westover Air Force Base,which is the primary point of discharge
for the Reservists from our area, and we are working to get people in.
The Iraq veterans that have come into our facility came in through
that process. It is just a wonderful thing to see because we are able
to get people back in the first three, five, six days, and not three,
five and six years.
That would also be my observation. Thank you, ma’am.
Ms. Herseth. Thank you.
Mr. Pierce. We have coming into our program in MCVET persons from Iraq
that are suffering from PTSD, but not at a level that has become
alarming. We do have a high figure of our people who do have chronic
mental illness associated with an addictive kind of problem, either
alcohol or drugs. What drove it? Did alcohol drive the mental illness
or did the mental illness drive the alcohol? We do know also that
persons who are homeless suffer from depression. If you are out there
with nowhere to go, nowhere to live, you are depressed. I would be.
It seems that these circumstances are exacerbating that problem.
We deal with persons that are not VA eligible, and we have persons in
our program that cannot access VA services, although they are veterans.
We have to develop other services that will help them, provide the same
services that VA provides. We are fortunate that we have VA medical
centers, three of them, within our reach. For those persons who have
certain kinds of other problems, PSTD is one, gambling is another, we
can send those persons to other VA centers around the country and they
can access services there. Iraq veterans, we have had three in our
program since returning to this country. They are damaged, they are
severely damaged. They are young, nothing older than 23 or 24, and
cannot really exist in a facility because they are not able to access
the services mentally. One young man, his job was to clear out Humvee’s
after they were exploded in Iraq. He was unable to do that. He couldn’t
stay in our program. He did not want to be around, did not trust
people, could not sleep. We lost him. He just walked away one day.
That’s the problem. I don’t know whether you can attach what starts it.
I think other things may exacerbate each other. Ms. Herseth. Votes.
Just one follow up quickly, Ms. Boone. In your statement for the
record, you offer a very comprehensive list of legislative
recommendations for strengthening and expanding the VA’s specialized
homeless programs and authorities. Are they listed in order of priority?
Are these recommendations the top priorities for the Coalition?
Ms. Boone. Of those, reauthorization and expansion, the primary core
program is the Homeless Providers Grant and Per Diem Program, which is
a grant program that goes out to community based organizations. As they
have testified, it is sort of the nugget that starts them.
That is our primary. We want to get it reauthorized. We want the
minimum level of authorization to be $200 million, and we want it to
be through fiscal year 2011.If the authorization level does not go up
from the $99 million it is now, then pretty soon, we are actually not
going to fund any new programs and eventually because the per diem rate
rises, we will have to de-fund programs.
It is very critical that program gets authorized for a higher level.
We also have some recommendations around how the payment process happens
to community based organizations. Right now, it is a reimbursement
process. The intent, when we helped write the legislation at the
beginning, was make it a payment process.
The other thing is you have heard about changing the end of the story
from Mr. Downing. We believe there is an opportunity to make some of
the allowed services to be permanent housing for a certain percentage,
so that those veterans that may need that service, we would be able to
provide that through the grant and per diem program.
Ms. Herseth. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Mr. Boozman. Mr. Evans?
Mr. Evans. Mr. Chairman, we have a vote, I will keep my questions in
short order here.
First of all, I didn’t realize, Linda, you were leaving us so soon.
Ms. Boone. Yes. Later, December, or fall.
Mr. Evans. We thank you for all your years of service, not only with
the homeless veterans program, but throughout your career.
Ms. Boone. Thank you.
Mr. Evans. You are one of the best cases I know of for helping our
veterans, and I am very proud to have worked with you over these many years.
Ms. Boone. Thank you.
Mr. Evans. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Mr. Boozman. We have votes. First of all, I want to thank you so much
again for coming and contributing, appreciate your hard work here on
the front lines, and truly are doing a tremendous job. We appreciate
what you are doing for veterans.
We can go ahead and get started with our next panel. We will recess.
We only have two votes. It shouldn’t be bad at all. We will hop on
over and get back.I apologize for the inconvenience. The only thing we
have to do here is vote.
[Recess.]
Mr. Boozman. Again, I apologize for the inconvenience. Our next panel
is comprised of Mr. Craig Duehring, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary
of Defense for Reserve Affairs, Department of Defense.
Mr. John McWilliam, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Operations and
Management, Veterans’ Employment and Training Service, Department of
Labor. Ms. Cynthia Bascetta, Director of Veterans’ Health and Benefit
Issues, U.S. Government Accountability Office, and Mr. T.P. O’Mahoney,
Chairman of the President’s National Hire Veterans Committee.
Again, I welcome you and appreciate your being here. Let’s go down and
start with Ms. Bascetta.
STATEMENTS OF CYNTHIA A. BASCETTA, DIRECTOR OF
VETERANS’ HEALTH AND BENEFITS ISSUES, U.S. GOV-
ERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY OFFICE; CRAIG W.
DUEHRING, PRINCIPAL DEPUTY ASSISTANT SECRE-
TARY OF DEFENSE FOR RESERVE AFFAIRS, DEPART-
MENT OF DEFENSE; T.P. O’MAHONEY, CHAIRMAN,
PRESIDENT’S NATIONAL HIRE VETERANS COMMITT-
EE, AND JOHN M. McWILLIAM, DEPUTY ASSISTANT
SECRETARY FOR OPERATIONS AND MANAGEMENT,
VETERANS’ EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING SERVICE,
DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
STATEMENT OF CYNTHIA A. BASCETTA
Ms. Bascetta. Thank you, Mr. Chairman, Ms. Herseth.
I am pleased to be here today to discuss GAO’s views on HVRP, a DOL
VETS program targeted to homeless veterans. As you know, DOL’s spending
on HVRP is projected to grow slightly from about $18 million in each
of the last two fiscal years to a little more than $20 million in 2005
and 2006.According to VA, about one-third of homeless adults have
served in the Armed Forces,almost half of homeless veterans have mental
illnesses, and more than 70 percent have substance abuse problems.
As you requested, I will focus my remarks today on what available data
tell us about the effectiveness of HVRP.
We examined DOL documents, interviewed officials, visited an HVRP
grantee, and reviewed GAO’s past work on Federal efforts to address
the needs of homeless veterans. While we did not independently verify
DOL’s data, we did obtain program information on grantees, participants,
performance measures, and goals.Starting with finding jobs for homeless
veterans, DOL sat and entered employment goal is 58 percent for HVRP in
fiscal years 2004 and 2005. In other words, DOL expects its grantees
to place at least 58 percent of homeless veterans in jobs as a result
of HVRP services.
They reported to us that for program year 2003, the most current year
for which data are available, the actual job placement rate was 63
percent overall, which exceeds the current performance goal as well as
the planned 61 percent performance goal included in DOL’s fiscal year
2006 budget. DOL also recognizes that sustained employment is another
key measure of program effectiveness. In its March 2005 grant
solicitation, for example, DOL states that 90 and 180 day follow ups
with veterans after they enter employment are fundamental to assessing
the success of the program. They emphasize that grantees must obligate
sufficient funds prior to the end of the grant performance period to
ensure that follow up activities are completed as well as reported.
Two weeks ago, Mr. Chairman, you held another hearing on VA’s
vocational rehabilitation and employment program, and for that program,
we also discussed the importance of measuring program effectiveness in
terms of job retention, not just job placement.
In fact, DOL, VA and other agencies are working together on common
measures of job retention for up to 270 days.
DOL’s requirement for grantees to measure job retention is an important
step, but the Department has not yet established a performance goal for
this outcome. Consequently, it’s difficult to know what success is.
That is what percent of those homeless veterans does DOL expect to
retain employment and for how long?
For program year 2003, DOL data showed that almost 60 percent of veterans
placed in jobs were still working after 90 days, but at 180 days, the
reported job retention rate had dropped to about 35 percent.
Our earlier work on homeless veterans could help explain this drop at
least in part. For example, homeless veterans with substance abuse
problems are likely to have high recidivism rates that could
contribute to lower job retention over time.
In addition, economic self support may not be a reasonable goal for all
homeless veterans, such as those with serious mental illnesses that
cannot be controlled with medication.
Understanding the effects of factors like these on job retention could
help DOL develop a basis for establishing reasonable performance goals
in the future.
DOL does plan to set a job retention performance goal for fiscal year
2007, which could provide grantees with incentives to ensure that
veterans receive longer term follow up services to help them retain
their employment. The Congress has specifically recognized the
importance of assessing the outcomes of services provided to homeless
veterans by requiring DOL to report every two years on the effectiveness
of HVRP.
DOL has not met this reporting requirement, but told us that it plans
to issue its first report by the end of this fiscal year.
This report and an assessment of DOL’s progress in establishing its
employment retention goal should help facilitate congressional
oversight of this important program.
That finishes my remarks, and I would be happy to answer any of your
questions.
[The statement of Cynthia A. Bascetta appears on p. 91]
Mr. Boozman. Thank you.
Mr. Duehring?
STATEMENT OF CRAIG W. DUEHRING
Mr. Duehring. Thank you, Mr. Chairman, Madam Ranking Member, thank you
very much for allowing me to come here today.
Bottom line up front, the Department of Defense supports enactment of
the Servicemembers Health Insurance Protection Act of 2005 and the
Servicemembers Taxation Protection Act of 2005, both of which would
amend several provisions of the SCRA to reflect our experience with
SCRA during the first 17 months.
There are three areas. First, the Servicemembers Taxation Protection
Act of 2005 would amend Section 511 (c) of the SCRA to make clear that a
tax jurisdiction may not impose a sales, use, excise or similar tax on
the personal property of a non-resident servicemember when the laws of
the tax jurisdiction failed to provide a credit against such sales, use,
excise or similar taxes previously paid on the same personal property
to another tax jurisdiction.
This technical correction is needed to protect servicemembers from
double taxation. The problem was most notable when we had significant
forces assigned to military installations in the Commonwealth of Puerto
Rico. It also exists in other state and local jurisdictions.
The Servicemembers Health Insurance Protection Act of 2005 addresses
problems we have noted in the SCRA and in USERRA, both relating to
health insurance.
Section two of that Act would amend Section 704 of the SCRA to prevent
unfair rate increases in a returning servicemember’s health insurance.
The SCRA and USERRA both guarantee to a servicemember who is returning
to civilian life the right to reinstate civilian health insurance
policies he or she may have had before departing for military service.
The SCRA is silent, however, as to the rate at which such reinstated
coverage is available. Section two of the Servicemembers Health
Insurance Protection Act would require reinstated coverage to be made
available at either the same rate as pre-service coverage or at a rate
no higher than general increases charged by the carrier for similar
health insurance.
Finally, Section three of the Servicemembers Health Insurance Protection
Act of 2005 offers a technical correction to address two groups of
servicemembers who fall into gaps in coverage provided by USERRA’s right
to immediate reinstatement of health coverage.
First, some Reservists who are notified or alerted that they may be
called to active duty choose to terminate their employer sponsored
health coverage early. That is before entering military service, and
then enroll in the military TRICARE plan immediately upon notification.
Since such Reservists technically have no employer sponsored health
coverage when they actually leave to perform military duty, they are
not entitled to immediate reinstatement when they return from military
service.
Second, other Reservists who are notified or alerted they may be called
to active duty are not ultimately brought onto active duty. Under
existing law, such Reservists who terminate employer sponsored health
coverage are not entitled to elect immediate reinstatement since they
actually do not go onto active duty.
The right of immediate reinstatement is predicated upon serving on
military duty for some length of time.
Section three of the bill corrects these gaps in coverage and makes
clear that both these groups of Reservists are entitled to immediate
reinstatement in employer sponsored health care plans under Title 38
U.S.C., paragraph 4317.
Immediate reinstatement under 4317 is important because it prevents
gaps in coverage and the potential exclusions for so-called preexisting
conditions that such gaps in coverage may create.
The Department of Defense defers to the Department of Labor with regard
to H.R. 419, the Hire Veterans Act of 2004, and to the Department of
Labor and Veterans’ Affairs with regard to the Homeless Veterans
Re-Integration Program Reauthorization Act of 2005.
I stand ready to take any questions that you have.
[The statement of Craig W. Duehring appears on p. 103]
Mr. Boozman. Thank you.
Mr. O’Mahoney?
STATEMENT OF T.P. O’MAHONEY
Mr. O’Mahoney. Good afternoon, Chairman Boozman and Ranking Member
Herseth. My name is Terry O’Mahoney. I am the Chairman of the
President’s National Hire Veterans Committee, and it is my honor to
appear before you today and discuss the mission, the goals, and the
accomplishments of the President’s National Hire Veterans Committee.
I appreciate the issues connected with transitioning from the military
and the challenges our veterans face every day searching for employment.
I, too, am a veteran.
Also, I had the opportunity to appear before the House Veterans’
Affairs Committee in support of the Jobs for Veterans Act in 2002,
the very Act that created the President’s National Hire Veterans
Committee.
The House Veterans’ Affairs Committee was right in understanding and
raising the awareness of employers as to the benefits in hiring
veterans, it was needed then and it is needed today, and will still
be important tomorrow.
The President’s National Hire Veterans Committee has been busy promoting
veterans as the employee of choice to our nation’s businesses since
its beginning.
We have launched a national campaign to promote the hiring of veterans
and transitioning of servicemembers. The strategy focuses on key
decision makers and hiring authorities in business and the public
sector. The strategy takes an unique approach rather than focusing on
patriotic duty, it emphasizes veterans as a highly valued workforce
asset.
My experience as the Commissioner of Labor for the State of Texas, when
I talked to employers, they wanted two things. Trained or trainable
employees. That is exactly what the veteran gives them.
The core of our campaign is the www.hirevetsfirst.gov website, which
offers special zones for employers and veterans. The website and the
value of hiring veterans has been promoted in banner ads on electronic
job board websites and a series of advertisement in Business Week and
HR Magazine for the value of veterans as a first employee of choice.
Concurrent with the launch of a national marketing campaign, Committee
members and staff have worked closely with state officials, local
workforce boards, career one stop centers and veterans’ groups
explaining the mission of the Committee, and the nature of the campaign.
Coordinating through the veteran employment and training services
regional and state directors, we encourage the issuance of proclamations
by individual state governors for a Hire Vets First Month, and I would
like to report to both the Chairman and Madam Herseth that the
governors have signed those proclamations.
Through the end of calendar year 2004, 16 governors proclaimed a Hire a
Veteran Month and so far in 2005, we have 12 more state proclamations
issued and others pending.
This year, we expect all states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico
and the Virgin Islands to issue a proclamation promoting Hire Veterans
Month. We are on track to achieve this goal. Among our currently
appointed Committee members, we have representatives from Home Depot,
General Motors, Boeing, Regions Bank, Leo Burnett and Medco Health,
as well as several small businesses.
The Committee has held regional meetings with strong comments about
hiring veterans from Ford, Diamler Chrysler, CALPINES, CISCO Systems
and UPS. Also, the Committee has received significant assistance from
our ex officio members from the Department of Defense, Department of
Veterans Affairs, the Postal Service, the Small Business Association,
and especially from the Office of Personnel Management.
Our designated representatives from the VSOs, the SGR, the state and
local workforce boards, have provided meaningful insight in our mission.
In particular, we have already taken notice of our Committee member,
Nick Bacon, who was a top notch soldier and has been absolutely an
excellent member of our Committee.
If I may, I would like to mention one incident that highlights the
unique experience that we have had in placing veterans, and in this
instance, a disabled Iraqi veteran, Sergeant Alfred Kalous.
I think if you look at the GI Jobs Magazine, the article in particular
is Leave No Man Behind, Corporate America Hiring Wounded and Injured
Soldiers.
Sergeant Kalous was severely wounded in March of 2003 in Iraq and lost
his left leg. While he was back recuperating in Walter Reed Hospital,
the local DVOP interviewed him. Sergeant Kalous wanted to return to
Manhattan, Kansas where he could be an automobile mechanic. The Walter
Reed DVOP contacted the Manhattan, Kansas DVOP and they arranged for
Sergeant Kalous to be hired by Lear Seigler who had a maintenance
contract at Ft. Riley.
The unfortunate thing about it was that Sergeant Kalous didn’t have
any tools. His grand daddy’s tool kit had just about given out, so he
needed some tools. At that time, Mac Tools, the largest distributor
of quality tools, had become a Hire Vet First employer. That
designation was picked up off our website.
I called Roger Spee, who was the marketing director for Mac Tools, to
see if he couldn’t help us out. Mac Tools announced they would award
Sergeant Kalous a $13,000 full mechanic tool kit, and they also
announced that they would hire a similar veteran each quarter through
the remainder of 2005.
This is just one of many stories which we have been able to generate
through the Committee. I fully support the work of this Committee. In
closing, I commend you for your support in this initiative and the
President’s National Hire Veterans Committee continues to look forward
to a strong partnership with the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee and
this subcommittee in its pursuit of creating more job opportunities
for our nation’s veterans. I look forward to your questions.
[The statement of T.P. O’Mahoney appears on p. 110]
Mr. Boozman. Thank you, sir.
Mr. McWilliam?
STATEMENT OF JOHN M. McWILLIAM
Mr. McWilliam. Thank you. Chairman Boozman, Ranking Member Herseth,
it is my honor to appear before this Subcommittee today on behalf of
Secretary Elaine Chao. I am the first career Deputy Assistant Secretary
for the Veterans’ Employment and Training Service. My position was
created by the Jobs for Veterans Act.
H.R. 419 would extend the President’s National Hire Veterans Committee
through December 31, 2008. As you know, this Committee was authorized
by the Jobs for Veterans Act to furnish information to employers with
respect to the training and skills of veterans and disabled veterans,
and to facilitate employment of veterans and disabled veterans through
participation in the national labor exchange.
We believe it is imperative to connect veterans and employers through
the use of a nationwide network of one stop career centers.
The mission of the Department of Labor’s Veterans’ Employment and
Training Service is to help veterans get jobs, get good jobs, and the
training needed for those jobs. We must commit our resources to best
serve veterans.
We constantly strive to do that. We believe that the President’s Hire
Veterans Committee is fulfilling its mandates of raising employer
awareness and improving the connectivity of employers with the one stop
career centers.
If the Committee decides to reauthorize the President’s Hire Committee,
we will continue to take it in the direction intended by the Congress.
Having said that, Mr. Chairman, the Administration has not taken a
position on this legislation. I do want to reiterate that the
Department of Labor believes in the work of the Committee. We appreciate
the foresight of this Committee to introduce the Homeless Veterans
Re-Integration Program Reauthorization Act, and we fully support the
extension of this program.
As you know, HVRP is the only Federal employment program designed
specifically to address the employment problems faced by our nation’s
homeless veterans.
We at the Department of Labor share your commitment to the goal of
ending chronic homelessness. Like you, we are deeply disturbed by the
high number of veterans among the homeless population.
The Department of Labor has made helping homeless veterans a top
priority. HVRP is our hallmark homeless program within the Department.
This intervention program provides counseling, job placement and
training services, as well as helping deliver other funding streams
that provide supportive services.
While DOL is proud of the services it is providing to homeless veterans,
we know that we cannot do it alone. Successful HVRP programs focus on
partnering with the Departments of Housing and Urban Development,
Veterans’ Affairs, and Health and Human Services, as well as local
based and community based organizations, social service agencies,
veterans’ service programs, and private organizations.
Concerning the Servicemembers Health Insurance Protection Act of 2005,
we would like to offer to provide technical assistance to the Committee
on this issue, to clarify the protection from unfair rate increases and
to ensure that any amendment addresses both the front end and back end
issues relating to extended TRICARE coverage.
Concerning the Servicemembers Taxation Protection Act of 2005, the
Department of Labor generally supports appropriate legislation to
benefit servicemembers but respectfully defers to the Departments of
Defense and Veterans Affairs on this matter.
Mr. Chairman, that concludes my testimony. I am pleased to respond to
any questions.
[The statement of John M. McWilliam appears on p. 123]
Mr. Boozman. Thank you all very much for your testimony. We appreciate
you being here.
You mentioned the Puerto Rico situation, the double taxation issue
there. Can you give us some other examples where the double taxation
has come up under current law?
Mr. Duehring. I asked our folks that very question. They said it is
resident in Puerto Rico right now. Apparently, there are some other
states. I can’t give them to you, where this could occur but it has
never happened to our knowledge.
As I mentioned in my testimony, with the decrease in the number of
soldiers that are going through Puerto Rico nowadays, the problem is
actually very, very small, almost to non-existent. It’s a possibility
it could happen, but there is really no track record now that I can
point to.
Mr. Boozman. What does the DOD recommend for an effective date for the
USERRA amendment to limit premium increases on reinstated health
insurance?
Mr. Duehring. Mr. Chairman, we see two options on that. One is to
implement it as of the date of enactment of the legislation. The
other is to go back to the date of the effective date of order
provision, which I think is November 24, 2003. That is the legislation
that actually opened the gap that we are trying to close.
Mr. Boozman. Ms. Herseth?
Ms. Herseth. Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and thank you for your testimony.
Mr. Duehring, I thank you for your testimony and I appreciate your
support of the Servicemembers Health Insurance Protection Act, but on a
related note, I think it was last week or the week before, the
subcommittee held a hearing on VA’s vocational, rehabilitation and
employment services that relates to seriously injured servicemembers.
At the hearing, the VA testified that a memorandum of understanding
would be signed shortly that dealt with collaboration between DOD and
the VA, and it would improve the relief and recovery of our seriously
injured servicemembers.
I am wondering since the memorandum of understanding spells out the
policies and procedures to allow the VA access to disabled service
members for purposes of providing early rehabilitation and recovery
services, if you know the status of that memorandum of understanding.
Mr. Duehring. I’m aware of the existence, but I’d like to defer to the
Department of Labor to see if they have any information on it. If not,
I’d like to take that question back and give you a proper answer.
[DoD/VA Memorandum of Understanding appears on p. 132]
Ms. Herseth. Thank you. If you could, I think the representative from
the VA was going to do the same.
Ms. Bascetta. I have some information. I received a letter today from
the Deputy Secretary at VA acknowledging our January report. It was
their 60 day letter reporting on how they would comply with the
recommendation, and in that letter, he indicated that as of the 25th of
April, the MOU has still not been signed. I believe it is at VHA at
this time.
Ms. Herseth. Has DOD signed it?
Ms. Bascetta. I’m not sure.
Ms. Herseth. If we could ask you to follow up and then we will ask VHA
to give us an update as well.
Mr. O’Mahoney, if you could, just a couple of things. We received some
information on the statement of income and expenses for the Hire
Committee that was provided by the Department of Labor staff.
I am wondering if either you or Mr. McWilliam could brief us. It’s not
very instructive. It doesn’t provide as much detail perhaps that would
be useful.
A lot of the money here, out of the total resources for fiscal year
2004 and anticipated expenditures for 2005, come under marketing and
contract services and travel. I am wondering if you could spell a
little bit of this out in terms of how the Hire Committee is utilizing
its resources to fulfill the mission of the Committee. Mr. McWilliam.
The marketing and contract services are just that. They are a contract
with a contractor that was awarded on a competitive basis to provide
marketing services to the Committee.
I will ask T.P. to explain a little bit more of that.
Mr. O’Mahoney. The contract was let with TMP for less than $500,000.
With that, we were able to create the website. We were able to bring
up the Business Week Wraps. We were able to go ahead and produce the
folders which you had today.
I would say that TMP has been about as gracious and efficient
contractor I have ever worked with, and I think we are more than
getting our money’s worth.
Ms. Herseth. Mostly public relations, publications and documents?
Mr. O’Mahoney. Yes, ma’am.
Ms. Herseth. The travel, I see a significant increase in terms of
anticipated expenditures from last year at $30,000, nearly $31,000,to
this year at $116,000.
Mr. McWilliam. Ma’am, I believe the $116,000 is an over estimate of
the travel for the remainder of the year for the Committee meetings.
That should be somewhere around $40,000. We submitted that in error.
The next line down, the next $40,000 of the DVOP/LVER row, is for the
travel of marketing representatives that we have.
Ms. Herseth. We may want to seek some clarification after this hearing,
just to spell this out a little bit more for us.
On the lines of the DVOP and LVER programs, given the concerns that
the first panel expressed as advocates on behalf of veterans, if the
Committee is reauthorized, some of the additional funding would come
from these chronically under funded programs that serve our veterans
quite well.
Mr. McWilliam, what are your thoughts on that? If you could also talk
maybe about why -- you alluded to the fact that the Administration hasn’t
taken a position on the extension, but is that why the Department of
Labor didn’t request full funding for the Committee, and then also, if
the Committee isn’t reauthorized, do you think the Department of Labor
and the Veterans’ Employment and Training Service could continue as
part of its own mission the work of the Committee in light of the prior
existing relationship with the one stop career centers?
Mr. McWilliam. Congresswoman, we see the work that is done by the
Committee as extending the work, the business outreach work of the
LVERs who are at the career one stop centers. It takes it from the
grassroots level to the national level.
The funding for the President’s Hire Committee has come as we submitted
currently from the state grants of approximately $500,000 a year, and
the remainder from other internal sources that we have within Vets.
The $500,000 from the DVOP and LVER program from the state grants, each
year the states are unable to obligate 100 percent of the funds that we
allocate to them through the service. The $500,000 represents about
three-tenths of one percent, and we don’t feel that has a significant
impact upon the funding for that program.
Ms. Herseth. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Mr. Boozman. Thank you.
Looking at the financial report of the program and listening to
Ms. Herseth and counsel, I think what I would like to see, and I think
they would also, is a much more detailed report of this.
If you all could provide that, it would be very helpful.
Mr. McWilliam. We can, Mr. Chairman, certainly.
Mr. Boozman. Thank you very much.
The previous panel, one of the individuals, and if you all have any
input into this, one of the things that came up was one of the gentlemen
said he felt like it was difficult to provide services in such a way
that he could really -- you almost really had to treat the whole person.
That kind of resonated with me. It does seem like it is difficult to
perform this part of the function and then somebody else is doing this,
and yet, all that ties together with what is going on with them.
Can anybody comment on that?
Mr. McWilliam. Mr. Chairman, I think for the homeless programs, as you
heard today from the two HVRPs that are very successful, they are
masters at doing that, and integrating mental health, addiction
problems, housing, and then finally, employment. They are real keys on
that. We think there is a lot to be learned from these best practices
from these certain HVRPs, and we are putting together a manual so that
when we have our annual meeting of all the grantees, that we can
provide the best practices to them.
During the break, we were talking with your staff on exactly how to
approach that and how to package that so that the really good best
practices from these HVRPs can be used by all of them.
Ms. Bascetta. I would agree with that. In our work not only on homeless
veterans but on temporary assistance for needy families, other people
with disabilities who are in programs to help them achieve self
sufficiency, a case management approach where a team of people with
different sets of expertise works together and help a person along all
the milestones seems to be one of the most effective ways to achieve
the goals.
Mr. Boozman. Ms. Bascetta, you mentioned the absence of performance
measures. When will the Department complete the requirements?
Ms. Bascetta. They do have measures. They have job placement measures and
they are actually measuring job retention at 90 and 100 days. What
they don’t have yet is a goal for retention, which means that in terms
of overall performance, what percentage of the individuals who obtain
jobs were able to retain that employment over some period of time.
I believe they have indicated they are going to set such a goal for the
2007 program year.
Mr. Boozman. We certainly appreciate all of the panels being here today
and appreciate your testimony. It has been very, very helpful.
I want to remind the Committee that we will have a mark-up in the
morning. It shouldn’t take very long at all.
The meeting stands adjourned. Thank you very much.
[Whereupon, at 4:40 p.m., the subcommittee was adjourned.]