,,ii #aadth ,,congress #ast ,session ,s4 #afjc ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,june #ag1 #bjae,mr4 ,flake 7for himself1 ,mr4 ,johnson1 ,mr4 ,mc,cain1 and ,mr4 ,schumer7 introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,homeland ,security and ,governmental ,affairs ,a ,,bill ,to actively recruit members of the ,armed ,forces who are separating from military service to serve as ,customs and ,border ,protection ,officers4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,border ,jobs for ,veterans ,act of #bjae4 #b4 ,findings ,congress finds the following3 7#a7 ,customs and ,border ,protection ,officers at ,united ,states ports of entry carry out critical law enforcement duties associated with screening foreign visitors1 returning ,united ,states citizens1 and imported cargo entering the ,united ,states4 7#b7 ,it is in the national interest for ,united ,states ports of entry to be adequately staffed with ,customs and ,border ,protection ,officers in a timely fashion1 including meeting the congressionally funded staffing target of #bc1gge officers for fiscal year #bjae4 7#c7 ,an estimated #bej1jjj to #cjj1jjj members of the ,armed ,forces separate from military service every year4 7#d7 ,recruiting efforts and expedited hiring procedures should be undertaken to ensure that individuals separating from military service are aware of1 and partake in1 opportunities to fill vacant ,customs and ,border ,protection ,officer positions4 #c4 ,expedited hiring of appropriate separating servicemembers 7a7 ,identification of transferable qualifications ,not later than #fj days after the date of the enactment of this ,act1 the ,secretary of ,homeland ,security1 in conjunction with the ,secretary of ,defense1 shall jointly identify ,military ,occupational ,specialty ,codes1 ,air ,force ,specialty ,codes1 ,naval ,enlisted ,classifications and ,officer ,designators1 and ,coast ,guard ,competencies that are transferable to the requirements1 qualifications1 and duties assigned to ,customs and ,border ,protection ,officers4 7b7 ,hiring ,the ,secretary of ,homeland ,security shall consider hiring qualified candidates with the ,military ,occupational ,specialty ,codes1 ,air ,force ,specialty ,codes1 ,naval ,enlisted ,classifications and ,officer ,designators1 and ,coast ,guard ,competencies identified as transferable under subsection 7a7 who are eligible for veterans recruitment appointment authorized under section #dbad of title #ch1 ,united ,states ,code4 #d4 ,establishing a program for recruiting servicemembers separating from military service for ,customs and ,border ,protection ,officer vacancies 7a7 ,in general ,not later than #ahj days after the date of the enactment of this ,act1 the ,secretary of ,homeland ,security1 in conjunction with the ,secretary of ,defense1 shall establish a program to actively recruit members of the ,armed ,forces who are separating from military service to serve as ,customs and ,border ,protection ,officers4 7b7 ,elements ,the program established under subsection 7a7 shall-- 7#a7 include ,customs and ,border ,protection ,officer opportunities in relevant job assistance efforts under the ,transition ,assistance ,program2 7#b7 place ,u4,s4 ,customs and ,border ,protection officials or other relevant ,department of ,homeland ,security officials at recruiting events and jobs fairs involving members of the ,armed ,forces who are separating from military service2 7#c7 provide opportunities for local ,u4,s4 ,customs and ,border ,protection field offices to partner with military bases in the region2 7#d7 conduct outreach efforts to educate members of the ,armed ,forces with ,military ,occupational ,specialty ,codes1 ,air ,force ,specialty ,codes1 and ,naval ,enlisted ,classifications and ,officer ,designators that are transferable to the requirements1 qualifications1 and duties assigned to ,customs and ,border ,protection ,officers2 7#e7 require the ,secretary of ,defense and the ,secretary of ,homeland ,security to work cooperatively to identify shared activities and opportunities for reciprocity related to steps in hiring ,u4,s4 ,customs and ,border ,patrol officers with the goal of minimizing the time required to hire qualified applicants2 7#f7 require the ,secretary of ,defense and the ,secretary of ,homeland ,security to work cooperatively to ensure the streamlined interagency transfer of relevant background investigations and security clearances2 and 7#g7 include such other elements as may be necessary to ensure that members of the ,armed ,forces who are separating from military service are aware of opportunities to fill vacant ,customs and ,border ,protection ,officer positions4 #e4 ,report to ,congress 7a7 ,in general ,not later than #ahj days after the date of the enactment of this ,act1 and by ,december #ca of each year thereafter1 the ,secretary of ,homeland ,security and the ,secretary of ,defense shall jointly submit a report to the appropriate congressional committees that includes a description and assessment of the program established under section #d4 7b7 ,content ,the report required under subsection 7a7 shall include-- 7#a7 a detailed description of the program established under section #d1 including-- 7,a7 programmatic elements2 7,b7 goals associated with those elements2 and 7,c7 a description of how the elements and goals will assist in meeting statutorily mandated staffing levels and agency hiring benchmarks2 7#b7 a detailed description of the program elements that have been implemented under section #d2 7#c7 a detailed summary of the actions taken under section #d to implement such program elements2 7#d7 the number of separating servicemembers made aware of ,customs and ,border ,protection ,officer vacancies2 7#e7 the ,military ,occupational ,specialty ,codes1 ,air ,force ,specialty ,codes1 ,naval ,enlisted ,classifications and ,officer ,designators1 and ,coast ,guard ,competencies identified as transferable under section #c7;a7 and a rationale for such identifications2 7#f7 the number of ,customs and ,border ,protection ,officer vacancies filled with separating servicemembers2 7#g7 the number of ,customs and ,border ,protection ,officer vacancies filled with separating servicemembers under veterans recruitment appointment authorized under section #dbad of title #ch1 ,united ,states ,code2 and 7#h7 the results of any evaluations or considerations of additional elements included or not included in the program established under section #d4 #f4 ,rules of construction ,nothing in this ,act may be construed-- 7a7 as superseding1 altering1 or amending existing ,federal veterans' hiring preferences or ,federal hiring authorities2 or 7b7 as authorizing the appropriation of additional amounts to carry out this ,act4