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Washington, D.C. — The Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity heard testimony today on a number of bills covering diverse issues facing veterans and their families.

Subcommittee Ranking Member John Boozman (R-Ark.) expressed his support for the concept of retraining veterans whose military occupations did not have skills transferable to the civilian job market and suggested that VA’s on-the-job-training program may offer the ideal venue to pursue that goal.  “This is a worthy goal and I support it,” Boozman said.

In addition to H.R. 6221, seven other bills were discussed; H.R. 4255, H.R. 3786, H.R. 2721, H.R. 6070, H.R. 6272, H.R. 6224, and H.R. 6225. 

H.R. 4255, introduced by Committee Chairman Bob Filner (D-Calif.),  would amend title 38, United States Code, would authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to provide assistance to the Paralympic Program of the United States Olympic Committee.

H.R. 3786, introduced by Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif.), would amend the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act to allow individuals called to military service to terminate telecommunications contracts entered into before the individual receives notice of a permanent change of station or deployment orders.

H.R. 2721, introduced by Rep. Dennis Cardoza (D-Calif.),  would require DoD to distribute a compact disc containing information on veterans benefits to members of the Armed Forces upon their discharge or release from active duty,.

H.R. 6070, introduced by Rep, John R. Carter (R-Texas),  would amend the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act to guarantee the residency of spouses of military personnel.

H.R. 6272, introduced by Rep. Peter Welch (D-Vt.), would authorize discretionary appropriations to carry out the Service Members Occupational Conversion and Training Act of 1992.

H.R. 6224, introduced by Subcommittee Chairwoman Stephanie Herseth-Sandlin (D-S.D.), would direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to conduct a five-year pilot project to test the feasibility and advisability of expanding the scope of certain qualifying work-study activities under title 38, United States Code.

H.R. 6225, introduced by Subcommittee Chairwoman Stephanie Herseth-Sandlin (D-S.D), would amend title 38, United States Code, relating to equitable relief with respect to a State or private employer.