To authorize a competitive grant program to assist members of the National Guard and Reserve and former and current members of the Armed Forces in securing employment in the private sector, and for other purposes.
Mr. KERRY (for himself, Mr. BOND, Mr. BAUCUS, Mrs. BOXER, Mr. CASEY, Mr. DODD, and Ms. STABENOW) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services
To authorize a competitive grant program to assist members of the National Guard and Reserve and former and current members of the Armed Forces in securing employment in the private sector, and for other purposes.
(a) Findings- Congress finds that--
(1) the unemployment rate of former members of the Armed Forces who served in Iraq or Afghanistan exceeds the national average unemployment rate; and
(2) career training and employment services dedicated to providing former members of the Armed Forces with professional skills and technical competency in various trades have shown remarkable levels of success and are helping to ameliorate the high unemployment rate among former members of the Armed Forces.
(b) Sense of Congress- It is the sense of Congress that the Federal Government should support private sector employment initiatives for military personnel in order to help ensure that those who serve or have served in the Armed Forces have access to gainful employment.
(c) Award of Grants-
(1) IN GENERAL- The Chief of the National Guard Bureau may, utilizing amounts authorized to be appropriated by subsection (h), award grants to nonprofit organizations to assist individuals described in paragraph (2) in securing employment in the private sector. The nonprofit organizations to be awarded grants shall be determined on a competitive basis.
(2) COVERED INDIVIDUALS- An individual described in this paragraph is any individual as follows:
(A) A member of the National Guard or Reserve.
(B) A member of the Armed Forces who is nearing separation, discharge, or release from the Armed Forces.
(C) A former member of the Armed Forces.
(3) GRANT TERM- A grant under paragraph (1) may be for a term of one or more years, as determined by the Chief of the National Guard Bureau.
(4) EXPENDITURE OF FUNDS- The Chief of the National Guard Bureau may specify in any grant under paragraph (1) dates by which specific percentages of funds under the grant shall be expended.
(5) EMPLOYMENT IN PARTICULAR AREAS OF ECONOMY- It is the sense of Congress that the Chief of the National Guard Bureau should, in awarding grants under this section, consider nonprofit organizations that partner with entities and associations in the private sector involved in construction, energy, transportation, aerospace, domestic security, and other areas of the economy in which the employment of individuals having past military service would be of particular utility.
(d) Utilization of Grant Amounts-
(1) IN GENERAL- A nonprofit organization awarded a grant under subsection (c) may utilize the grant for operating expenses, job training, public information activities, and such other activities as the Chief of the National Guard Bureau determines appropriate.
(2) EXCEPTION FOR SALARIES- The Chief of the National Guard Bureau shall determine the percentage of amounts received by a nonprofit organization pursuant to a grant awarded under subsection (c) that may be used to provide salaries to employees of the organization. Any such determination shall be made on a case-by-case basis.
(e) Fiscal Control, Accountability, and Program Performance- The Chief of the National Guard Bureau shall establish fiscal control, accountability, and program performance measures for nonprofit organizations awarded grants under subsection (c) in the administration of such grants.
(f) Reports-
(1) PROGRESS REPORT- Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Chief of the National Guard Bureau shall submit to the congressional defense committees a report setting forth the following:
(A) An assessment of the progress made toward implementing the requirements of this section.
(B) A description of any grants awarded under subsection (c).
(2) ANNUAL REPORT- Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, the Chief of the National Guard Bureau shall submit to the congressional defense committees a report containing a description of each grant awarded under subsection (c) during the preceding fiscal year.
(g) Congressional Defense Committees Defined- The term `congressional defense committees' has the meaning given that term in section 101(a)(16) of title 10, United States Code.
(h) Funding- There is authorized to be appropriated for each of fiscal years 2008 through 2012 for the Department of Defense for operation and maintenance for the Army National Guard, $25,000,000 to carry out this section.
U.S. Congress - Text of S.1971 as Introduced in Senate Hire a Hero Act
