,,ii #aafth ,,congress #ast ,session ,h4 ,r4 #bjde ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,may #bb1 #bjai,received ,,an ,,act ,to amend title #ch1 ,united ,states ,code1 to establish in the ,department the ,veterans ,economic ,opportunity and ,transition ,administration1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,establishment of ,veterans ,economic ,opportunity and ,transition ,administration 7a7 ,veterans ,economic ,opportunity and ,transition ,administration 7#a7 ,in general ,part ,v of title #ch1 ,united ,states ,code1 is amended by adding at the end the following new chapter3 #hj ,veterans ,economic ,opportunity and ,transition ,administration ,sec4 #hjja4 ,organization of ,administration4 #hjjb4 ,functions of ,administration4 #hjjc4 ,annual report to ,congress4 #hjja4 ,organization of ,administration 7a7 ,veterans ,economic ,opportunity and ,transition ,administration ,there is in the ,department of ,veterans ,affairs a ,veterans ,economic ,opportunity and ,transition ,administration4 ,the primary function of the ,veterans ,economic ,opportunity and ,transition ,administration is the administration of the programs of the ,department that provide assistance related to economic opportunity to veterans and their dependents and survivors4 7b7 ,under ,secretary for ,economic ,opportunity and ,transition ,the ,veterans ,economic ,opportunity and ,transition ,administration is under the ,under ,secretary for ,veterans ,economic ,opportunity and ,transition1 who is directly responsible to the ,secretary for the operations of the ,administration4 #hjjb4 ,functions of ,administration ,the ,veterans ,economic ,opportunity and ,transition ,administration is responsible for the administration of the following programs of the ,department3 7#a7 ,vocational rehabilitation and employment programs4 7#b7 ,educational assistance programs4 7#c7 ,veterans' housing loan and related programs4 7#d7 ,the verification of small businesses owned and controlled by veterans pursuant to subsection 7f7 of section #habg of this title1 including the administration of the database of veteran-owned businesses described in such subsection4 7#e7 ,the ,transition ,assistance ,program under section #aadd of title #aj4 7#f7 ,any other program of the ,department that the ,secretary determines appropriate4 #hjjc4 ,annual report to ,congress ,the ,secretary shall include in the annual report to the ,congress required by section #ebi of this title a report on the programs administered by the ,under ,secretary for ,veterans ,economic ,opportunity and ,transition4 ,each such report shall include the following with respect to each such program during the fiscal year covered by that report3 7#a7 ,the number of claims received4 7#b7 ,the number of claims decided4 7#c7 ,the average processing time for a claim4 7#d7 ,the number of successful outcomes 7as determined by the ,secretary74 7#e7 ,the number of full-time equivalent employees4 7#f7 ,the amounts expended for information technology4 4 7#b7 ,clerical amendments ,the tables of chapters at the beginning of title #ch1 ,united ,states ,code1 and of part ,v of title #ch1 ,united ,states ,code1 are each amended by inserting after the item relating to chapter #gi the following new item3 #hj4 ,veterans ,economic ,opportunity and ,transition ,administration#hjja 4 7b7 ,effective date ,chapter #hj of title #ch1 ,united ,states ,code1 as added by subsection 7a71 shall take effect on ,october #a1 #bjbj4 7c7 ,authorization for appropriations for ,veterans ,benefits ,administrations ,there is authorized to be appropriated for fiscal year #bjbj for the ,general ,operating ,expenses account of the ,veterans ,benefits ,administration #c1jbe1jjj1jjj4 7d7 ,labor rights ,any labor rights1 inclusion in the bargaining unit1 and collective bargaining agreement that affects an employee of the ,department of ,veterans ,affairs who is transferred to the ,veterans ,economic ,opportunity and ,transition ,administration1 as established under chapter #hj of title #ch1 ,united ,states ,code1 as added by subsection 7a71 shall apply in the same manner to such employee after such transfer4 #b4 ,under ,secretary for ,veterans ,economic ,opportunity and ,transition 7a7 ,under ,secretary 7#a7 ,in general ,chapter #c of title #ch1 ,united ,states ,code1 is amended by inserting after section #cjf the following new section3 #cjf;,a4 ,under ,secretary for ,veterans ,economic ,opportunity and ,transition 7a7 ,under ,secretary ,there is in the ,department an ,under ,secretary for ,veterans ,economic ,opportunity and ,transition1 who is appointed by the ,president1 by and with the advice and consent of the ,senate4 ,the ,under ,secretary for ,veterans ,economic ,opportunity and ,transition shall be appointed without regard to political affiliation or activity and solely on the basis of demonstrated ability in-- 7#a7 information technology2 and 7#b7 the administration of programs within the ,veterans ,economic ,opportunity and ,transition ,administration or programs of similar content and scope4 7b7 ,responsibilities ,the ,under ,secretary for ,veterans ,economic ,opportunity and ,transition is the head of1 and is directly responsible to the ,secretary for the operations of1 the ,veterans ,economic ,opportunity and ,transition ,administration4 7c7 ,vacancies 7#a7 ,whenever a vacancy in the position of ,under ,secretary for ,veterans ,economic ,opportunity and ,transition occurs or is anticipated1 the ,secretary shall establish a commission to recommend individuals to the ,president for appointment to the position4 7#b7 ,a commission established under this subsection shall be composed of the following members appointed by the ,secretary3 7,a7 ,three persons representing education and training1 vocational rehabilitation1 employment1 real estate1 mortgage finance and related industries1 and survivor benefits activities affected by the ,veterans ,economic ,opportunity and ,transition ,administration4 7,b7 ,two persons representing veterans served by the ,veterans ,economic ,opportunity and ,transition ,administration4 7,c7 ,two persons who have experience in the management of private sector benefits programs of similar content and scope to the economic opportunity and transition programs of the ,department4 7,d7 ,the ,deputy ,secretary of ,veterans ,affairs4 7,e7 ,the chairman of the ,veterans' ,advisory ,committee on ,education formed under section #cfib of this title4 7,f7 ,one person who has held the position of ,under ,secretary for ,veterans ,economic ,opportunity and ,transition1 if the ,secretary determines that it is desirable for such person to be a member of the commission4 7#c7 ,a commission established under this subsection shall recommend at least three individuals for appointment to the position of ,under ,secretary for ,veterans ,economic ,opportunity and ,transition4 ,the commission shall submit all recommendations to the ,secretary4 ,the ,secretary shall forward the recommendations to the ,president and the ,committees on ,veterans' ,affairs of the ,senate and ,house of ,representatives with any comments the ,secretary considers appropriate4 ,thereafter1 the ,president may request the commission to recommend additional individuals for appointment4 7#d7 ,the ,assistant ,secretary or ,deputy ,assistant ,secretary of ,veterans ,affairs who performs personnel management and labor relations functions shall serve as the executive secretary of a commission established under this subsection4 4 7#b7 ,clerical amendment ,the table of sections at the beginning of such chapter is amended by inserting after the item relating to section #cjf the following new item3 #cjf;,a4 ,under ,secretary for ,veterans ,economic ,opportunity and ,transition4 4 7b7 ,conforming amendments ,title #ch1 ,united ,states ,code1 is further amended-- 7#a7 in section #cjf7;c77#b71 by striking subparagraphs 7,a7 and 7,e7 and redesignating subparagraphs 7,b71 7,c71 7,d71 and 7,f71 as subparagraphs 7,a7 through 7,d71 respectively2 7#b7 in section #cag7;d77#b71 by inserting after ,under ,secretary for ,benefits1 the following3 the ,under ,secretary for ,veterans ,economic ,opportunity and ,transition12 7#c7 in section #cah7;d77#b71 by inserting after ,under ,secretary for ,benefits1 the following3 the ,under ,secretary for ,veterans ,economic ,opportunity and ,transition12 7#d7 in section #eaf7;e77#b77;,c71 by striking ,health and the ,under ,secretary for ,benefits and inserting ,health1 the ,under ,secretary for ,benefits1 and the ,under ,secretary for ,veterans ,economic ,opportunity and ,transition2 7#e7 in section #eda7;a77#b77;,b71 by striking ,health and the ,under ,secretary for ,benefits and inserting ,health1 the ,under ,secretary for ,benefits1 and the ,under ,secretary for ,veterans ,economic ,opportunity and ,transition2 7#f7 in section #edb7;a77#b77;,b77iii71 by striking ,health and the ,under ,secretary for ,benefits and inserting ,health1 the ,under ,secretary for ,benefits1 and the ,under ,secretary for ,veterans ,economic ,opportunity and ,transition2 7#g7 in section #edd7;a77#b77;,b77vi71 by striking ,health and the ,under ,secretary for ,benefits and inserting ,health1 the ,under ,secretary for ,benefits1 and the ,under ,secretary for ,veterans ,economic ,opportunity and ,transition2 7#h7 in section #gji7;c77#b77;,a71 by inserting after ,under ,secretary for ,benefits1 the following3 the ,under ,secretary for ,veterans ,economic ,opportunity and ,transition12 7#i7 in section #ggja7;a71 by inserting after assistance the following3 1 other than assistance related to ,economic ,opportunity and ,transition12 and 7#aj7 in section #ggjc1 by striking paragraphs 7#b7 and 7#c7 and redesignating paragraphs 7#d7 and 7#e7 as paragraphs 7#b7 and 7#c71 respectively4 7c7 ,effective date ,section #cjf;,a of title #ch1 ,united ,states ,code1 as added by subsection 7a71 and the amendments made by this section1 shall take effect on ,october #a1 #bjbj4 #c4 ,transfer of services 7a7 ,report to ,congress ,not later than #ahj days after the date of the enactment of this ,act1 the ,secretary of ,veterans ,affairs shall submit to the ,committees' on ,veterans ,affairs of the ,senate and ,house of ,representatives a report on the progress toward establishing the ,veterans ,economic ,opportunity and ,transition ,administration1 as established under section #hjja of title #ch1 ,united ,states ,code1 as added by section #d1 and the transition of the provision of services to veterans by such ,administration4 7b7 ,certification ,the ,secretary of ,veterans ,affairs may not transfer the function of providing any services to veterans to the ,veterans ,economic ,opportunity and ,transition ,administration1 as established under section #hjja of title #ch1 ,united ,states ,code1 as added by section #d until the ,secretary submits to the ,committees' ,veterans ,affairs of the ,senate and ,house of ,representatives certification that-- 7#a7 the transition of the provision of services to such ,administration will not negatively affect the provision of such services to veterans2 7#b7 such services are ready to be transferred4 7c7 ,deadline for certification ,the ,secretary shall submit to the ,committees' on ,veterans ,affairs of the ,senate and ,house of ,representatives the certification required by subsection 7b7-- 7#a7 no earlier than ,april #a1 #bjbj2 and 7#b7 no later than ,september #a1 #bjbj4 7d7 ,failure to certify ,if the ,secretary fails to submit the certification required by subsection 7b7 by the date specified in subsection 7c77#b71 the ,secretary shall submit to the ,committees on ,veterans' ,affairs of the ,senate and ,house of ,representatives a report that includes-- 7#a7 the reason why the certification was not made by such date2 and 7#b7 the estimated date when the certification will be made4 ,passed the ,house of ,representatives ,may #ba1 #bjai4;,cheryl ,l4 ,johnson1,clerk4