,,ii #aacth ,,congress #ast ,session ,s4 #f ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,january #bb 7legislative day1 ,january #c71 #bjac ,mr4 ,reid 7for himself1 ,mr4 ,sanders1 ,mr4 ,durbin1 ,mr4 ,schumer1 ,mr4 ,udall of ,new ,mexico1 ,mr4 ,baucus1 ,mr4 ,brown1 ,mr4 ,schatz1 ,mr4 ,tester1 ,mr4 ,menendez1 ,mr4 ,warner1 ,mr4 ,cardin1 ,ms4 ,hirono1 ,mr4 ,begich1 ,mr4 ,casey1 ,mrs4 ,boxer1 ,mr4 ,nelson1 ,mr4 ,blumenthal1 ,mr4 ,coons1 ,mr4 ,levin1 and ,mr4 ,heinrich7 introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,veterans' ,affairs ,a ,,bill ,to reauthorize the ,,vow to ,hire ,heroes ,act of #bjaa1 to provide assistance to small businesses owned by veterans1 to improve enforcement of employment and reemployment rights of members of the uniformed services1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title2 table of contents 7a7 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,putting ,our ,veterans ,back to ,work ,act of #bjac4 7b7 ,table of contents ,the table of contents for this ,act is as follows3 ,sec4 #a4 ,short title2 table of contents4 ,,title ,i--,renewing our vow to hire heroes ,sec4 #aja4 ,reauthorization of veterans retraining assistance program4 ,sec4 #ajb4 ,extension of authority of ,secretary of ,veterans ,affairs to provide rehabilitation and vocational benefits to members of ,armed ,forces with severe injuries or illnesses4 ,sec4 #ajc4 ,extension of additional rehabilitation programs for persons who have exhausted rights to unemployment benefits under ,state law4 ,sec4 #ajd4 ,reauthorization of collaborative veterans' training1 mentoring1 and placement program4 ,,title ,,ii--,building on our vow to hire heroes ,sec4 #bja4 ,unified employment portal for veterans4 ,sec4 #bjb4 ,grants to hire veterans as first responders4 ,sec4 #bjc4 ,employment of veterans as evaluation factor in the awarding of ,federal contracts4 ,,title ,,iii--,improving employment and reemployment rights of members of the uniformed services ,sec4 #cja4 ,enforcement of rights of members of uniformed services with respect to ,states and private employers4 ,sec4 #cjb4 ,suspension1 termination1 or debarment of contractors for repeated violations of employment or reemployment rights of members of uniformed services4 ,sec4 #cjc4 ,subpoena power for ,special ,counsel in enforcement of employment and reemployment rights of members of uniformed services with respect to ,federal executive agencies4 ,sec4 #cjd4 ,issuance and service of civil investigative demands by ,attorney ,general4 ,i ,renewing our vow to hire heroes #aja4 ,reauthorization of veterans retraining assistance program 7a7 ,extension ,subsection 7k7 of section #baa of the ,,vow to ,hire ,heroes ,act of #bjaa 7,public ,law #aab-ef2 #ch ,u4,s4,c4 #dajj note7 is amended by striking ,march #ca1 #bjad and inserting ,march #ca1 #bjaf4 7b7 ,number of eligible veterans ,subsection 7a77#b7 of such section is amended-- 7#a7 in subparagraph 7,a71 by striking and at the end2 7#b7 in subparagraph 7,b71 by striking the period at the end and inserting a semicolon2 and 7#c7 by adding at the end the following new subparagraphs3 7,c7 #ej1jjj during the period beginning ,april #a1 #bjad1 and ending ,march #ca1 #bjae2 and 7,d7 #ej1jjj during the period beginning ,april #a1 #bjae1 and ending ,march #ca1 #bjaf4 4 7c7 ,clarification of limitation on aggregate amount of assistance ,subsection 7b7 of such section is amended by striking up to #ab months of retraining assistance provided by the ,secretary of ,veterans ,affairs and inserting an aggregate of not more than #ab months of retraining assistance provided by the ,secretary of ,veterans ,affairs under this section4 #ajb4 ,extension of authority of ,secretary of ,veterans ,affairs to provide rehabilitation and vocational benefits to members of ,armed ,forces with severe injuries or illnesses 7a7 ,in general ,section #afca7;b77#b7 of the ,wounded ,warrior ,act 7title ,,xvi of ,public ,law #aaj-aha2 #aj ,u4,s4,c4 #ajga note7 is amended by striking ,december #ca1 #bjad and inserting ,december #ca1 #bjaf4 7b7 ,report 7#a7 ,in general ,not later than #ahj days after the date of the enactment of this ,act1 the ,secretary of ,veterans ,affairs shall submit to the appropriate committees of ,congress a report on the benefits provided by the ,secretary under section #afca7;b7 of such ,act4 7#b7 ,appropriate committees of congress ,in this subsection1 the term appropriate committees of ,congress means-- 7,a7 the ,committee on ,armed ,services and the ,committee on ,veterans' ,affairs of the ,senate2 and 7,b7 the ,committee on ,armed ,services and the ,committee on ,veterans' ,affairs of the ,house of ,representatives4 #ajc4 ,extension of additional rehabilitation programs for persons who have exhausted rights to unemployment benefits under ,state law ,section #cajb7;b77#d7 of title #ch1 ,united ,states ,code1 is amended by striking ,march #ca1 #bjad and inserting ,march #ca1 #bjaf4 #ajd4 ,reauthorization of collaborative veterans' training1 mentoring1 and placement program ,subsection 7e7 of section #dajd;,a of title #ch1 ,united ,states ,code1 is amended to read as follows3 7e7 ,authorization of appropriations ,there are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section amounts as follows3 7#a7 #d1ejj1jjj for the period consisting of fiscal years #bjab and #bjac4 7#b7 #d1ejj1jjj for the period consisting of fiscal years #bjad and #bjae4 4 ,,ii ,building on our vow to hire heroes #bja4 ,unified employment portal for veterans ,section #daje of title #ch1 ,united ,states ,code is amended by adding at the end the following3 7c7 7#a7 ,the ,secretary shall develop a single1 unified ,federal web-based employment portal1 for use by veterans1 containing information regarding all ,federal programs and activities concerning employment1 unemployment1 and training to the extent the programs and activities affect veterans4 7#b7 ,the ,secretary shall work with representatives from the ,department of ,defense1 the ,department of ,veterans ,affairs1 the ,small ,business ,administration1 and other ,federal agencies and organizations concerned with veterans' issues1 to determine an appropriate platform and implementing agency for the portal4 ,the ,secretary shall enter into an agreement with the other ,federal agencies for the implementation of the portal4 4 #bjb4 ,grants to hire veterans as first responders 7a7 ,grants for firefighters ,the ,secretary of ,homeland ,security shall award grants under section #cd of the ,federal ,fire ,prevention and ,control ,act of #aigd 7#ae ,u4,s4,c4 #bbbi;a7 to hire veterans as firefighters4 7b7 ,grants for law enforcement officers ,the ,attorney ,general shall award grants under part ,q of title ,i of the ,omnibus ,crime ,control and ,s,afe ,streets ,act of #aifh 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #cgif;dd et seq47 to hire veterans as law enforcement officers4 7c7 ,priority ,in awarding grants under this section to hire veterans1 the ,secretary of ,homeland ,security and the ,attorney ,general shall give priority to the hiring of veterans who served on active duty in the ,armed ,forces on or after ,september #aa1 #bjaa4 7d7 ,authorization of appropriations ,there is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section #bej1jjj1jjj4 #bjc4 ,employment of veterans as evaluation factor in the awarding of ,federal contracts 7a7 ,civilian contracts 7#a7 ,in general ,chapter #cc of title #da1 ,united ,states ,code1 is amended by adding at the end the following new section3 #ccab4 ,employment of veterans as evaluation factor ,the head of each executive agency shall consider favorably as an evaluation factor in solicitations for contracts and task or delivery order valued at or above #be1jjj1jjj the employment by a prospective contractor of veterans constituting at least #e percent of the contractor's workforce4 4 7#b7 ,clerical amendment ,the table of sections at the beginning of such chapter is amended by adding after the item relating to section #ccaa the following new item3 #ccab4 ,employment of veterans as evaluation factor4 4 7b7 ,defense contracts 7#a7 ,in general ,chapter #acg of title #aj1 ,united ,states ,code1 is amended by adding at the end the following new section3 #bccf4 ,employment of veterans as evaluation factor ,the head of each agency shall consider favorably as an evaluation factor in solicitations for contracts and task or delivery order valued at or above #be1jjj1jjj the employment by a prospective contractor of veterans constituting at least #e percent of the contractor's workforce4 4 7#b7 ,clerical amendment ,the table of sections at the beginning of such chapter is amended by adding after the item relating to section #bcce the following new item3 #bccf4 ,employment of veterans as evaluation factor4 4 7c7 ,regulations ,not later than #ahj days after the date of the enactment of this ,act1 the ,federal ,acquisition ,regulatory ,council shall amend the ,federal ,acquisition ,regulation to carry out the provisions of section #ccac of title #da1 ,united ,states ,code1 and section #bccf of title #aj1 ,united ,states ,code1 as added by subsections 7a7 and 7b71 respectively4 ,,iii ,improving employment and reemployment rights of members of the uniformed services #cja4 ,enforcement of rights of members of uniformed services with respect to ,states and private employers 7a7 ,action for relief ,subsection 7a7 of section #dcbc of title #ch1 ,united ,states ,code1 is amended-- 7#a7 in paragraph 7#a7-- 7,a7 by striking appear on behalf of1 and act as attorney for1 the person on whose behalf the complaint is submitted and2 7,b7 by striking for such person2 7,c7 by striking the fourth sentence2 and 7,d7 by adding at the end the following3 ,the person on whose behalf the complaint is referred may1 upon timely application1 intervene in such action1 and may obtain such appropriate relief as is provided in subsections 7d7 and 7e742 7#b7 by striking paragraph 7#b7 and inserting the following new paragraph 7#b73 7#b7 7,a7 ,not later than #fj days after the date the ,attorney ,general receives a referral under paragraph 7#a71 the ,attorney ,general shall transmit1 in writing1 to the person on whose behalf the complaint is submitted-- 7i7 if the ,attorney ,general has made a decision to commence an action for relief under paragraph 7#a7 relating to the complaint of the person1 notice of the decision2 and 7ii7 if the ,attorney ,general has not made such a decision1 notice of when the ,attorney ,general expects to make such a decision4 7,b7 ,if the ,attorney ,general notifies a person that the ,attorney ,general expects to make a decision under subparagraph 7,a77ii71 the ,attorney ,general shall1 not later than #cj days after the date on which the ,attorney ,general makes such decision1 notify1 in writing1 the person of such decision4 2 7#c7 by redesignating paragraph 7#c7 as paragraph 7#d72 7#d7 by inserting after paragraph 7#b7 the following new paragraph 7#c73 7#c7 ,whenever the ,attorney ,general has reasonable cause to believe that a ,state 7as an employer7 or a private employer is engaged in a pattern or practice of resistance to the full enjoyment of any of the rights and benefits provided for under this chapter1 and that the pattern or practice is of such a nature and is intended to deny the full exercise of such rights and benefits1 the ,attorney ,general may commence an action for relief under this chapter4 2 and 7#e7 in paragraph 7#d71 as redesignated by paragraph 7#c71 by striking subparagraph 7,c7 and inserting the following new subparagraph 7,c73 7,c7 has been notified by the ,attorney ,general that the ,attorney ,general does not intend to commence an action for relief under paragraph 7#a7 with respect to the complaint under such paragraph4 4 7b7 ,standing ,subsection 7f7 of such section is amended to read as follows3 7f7 ,standing ,an action under this chapter may be initiated only by the ,attorney ,general or by a person claiming rights or benefits under this chapter under subsection 7a74 4 7c7 ,conforming amendment ,subsection 7h77#b7 of such section is amended by striking under subsection 7a77#b7 and inserting under paragraph 7#a7 or 7#d7 of subsection 7a74 #cjb4 ,suspension1 termination1 or debarment of contractors for repeated violations of employment or reemployment rights of members of uniformed services 7a7 ,in general ,subchapter ,,iii of chapter #dc of title #ch1 ,united ,states ,code1 is amended by adding at the end the following new section3 #dcbh4 ,suspension1 termination1 or debarment of contractors 7a7 ,grounds for suspension1 termination1 or debarment ,payment under a contract awarded by a ,federal executive agency may be suspended and the contract may be terminated1 and the contractor who made the contract with the agency may be suspended or debarred in accordance with the requirements of this section1 if the head of the agency determines that the contractor as an employer has repeatedly been convicted of failing or refusing to comply with one or more provisions of this chapter4 7b7 ,effect of debarment ,a contractor debarred by a final decision under this section is ineligible for award of a contract by a ,federal executive agency1 and for participation in a future procurement by a ,federal executive agency1 for a period specified in the decision1 not to exceed #e years4 4 7b7 ,clerical amendment ,the table of sections at the beginning of chapter #dc of such title is amended by inserting after the item relating to section #dcbg the following new item3 #dcbh4 ,suspension1 termination1 or debarment of contractor4 4 7c7 ,regulations ,not later than #ahj days after the date of the enactment of this ,act1 the ,federal ,acquisition ,regulatory ,council shall amend the ,federal ,acquisition ,regulation to carry out section #dcbh of title #ch1 ,united ,states ,code1 as added by subsection 7a74 7d7 ,effective date ,section #dcbh of title #ch1 ,united ,states ,code1 as added by subsection 7a71 shall apply with respect to failures and refusals to comply with provisions of chapter #dc of such title occurring on or after the date of the enactment of this ,act4 7e7 ,annual report ,section #dccb7;a7 of such title is amended-- 7#a7 by redesignating paragraph 7#aj7 as paragraph 7#aa72 and 7#b7 by inserting after paragraph 7#i7 the following new paragraph 7#aj73 7#aj7 ,the number of suspensions1 terminations1 and debarments under section #dcbh of this title1 disaggregated by the agency or department imposing the suspension or debarment4 4 #cjc4 ,subpoena power for ,special ,counsel in enforcement of employment and reemployment rights of members of uniformed services with respect to ,federal executive agencies ,section #dcbd of title #ch1 ,united ,states ,code1 is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection3 7e7 7#a7 ,in order to carry out the ,special ,counsel's responsibilities under this section1 the ,special ,counsel may require by subpoena the attendance and testimony of ,federal employees and the production of documents from ,federal employees and ,federal executive agencies4 7#b7 ,in the case of contumacy or failure to obey a subpoena issued under paragraph 7#a71 upon application by the ,special ,counsel1 the ,merit ,systems ,protection ,board may issue an order requiring a ,federal employee or ,federal executive agency to comply with a subpoena of the ,special ,counsel4 7#c7 ,an order issued under paragraph 7#b7 may be enforced by the ,merit ,systems ,protection ,board in the same manner as any order issued under section #abjd of title #e4 4 #cjd4 ,issuance and service of civil investigative demands by ,attorney ,general 7a7 ,in general ,section #dcbc of title #ch1 ,united ,states ,code1 is amended-- 7#a7 by redesignating subsection 7i7 as subsection 7j72 and 7#b7 by inserting after subsection 7h7 the following new subsection 7i73 7i7 ,issuance and service of civil investigative demands 7#a7 ,whenever the ,attorney ,general has reason to believe that any person may be in possession1 custody1 or control of any documentary material relevant to an investigation under this subchapter1 the ,attorney ,general may1 before commencing a civil action under subsection 7a71 issue in writing and serve upon such person1 a civil investigative demand requiring-- 7,a7 the production of such documentary material for inspection and copying2 7,b7 that the custodian of such documentary material answer in writing written questions with respect to such documentary material2 or 7,c7 the production of any combination of such documentary material or answers4 7#b7 ,the provisions of section #cgcc of title #ca governing the authority to issue1 use1 and enforce civil investigative demands shall apply with respect to the authority to issue1 use1 and enforce civil investigative demands under this section1 except that1 for purposes of applying such section #cgcc-- 7,a7 references to false claims law investigators or investigations shall be considered references to investigators or investigations under this subchapter2 7,b7 references to interrogatories shall be considered references to written questions1 and answers to such need not be under oath2 7,c7 the definitions relating to false claims law shall not apply2 and 7,d7 provisions relating to qui tam relators shall not apply4 4 7b7 ,effective date ,subsection 7i7 of such section1 as added by subsection 7a77#b71 shall take effect on the date of the enactment of this ,act and shall apply with respect to violations of chapter #dc of such title alleged to have occurred on or after such date4 7c7 ,annual reports ,section #dccb7;b77#b7 of such title is amended-- 7#a7 by striking ,not later than and inserting the following3 7,a7 ,in general ,not later than 2 and 7#b7 by adding at the end the following new subparagraph3 7,b7 ,annual supplement on civil investigative demands 7i7 ,in general ,the ,attorney ,general shall include with each report submitted under subparagraph 7,a7 for the last quarter of each fiscal year a report on the issuance of civil investigative demands under section #dcbc7;i7 of this title during the most recently completed fiscal year4 7ii7 ,elements ,each report submitted under clause 7i7 shall include the following for the fiscal year covered by the report3 7,i7 ,the number of times that a civil investigative demand was issued under section #dcbc7;i7 of this title4 7,,ii7 ,for each civil investigative demand issued under such section with respect to an investigation1 whether such investigation resulted in a settlement1 order1 or judgment4 4