Section 1 Short title
This Act may be cited as the “Veterans Economic Opportunity Administration Act of 2013”.
Veterans Economic Opportunity Administration Act of 2013
A BILL
To amend title 38, United States Code, to establish in the Department of Veterans Affairs a Veterans Economic Opportunity Administration, and for other purposes.
Sec. 2 Establishment of Veterans Economic Opportunity Administration of Department of Veterans Affairs
Economic Opportunity Administration— Part V of title 38, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new chapter:
“80 Veterans Economic Opportunity Administration
“8001. Organization of Administration
“(a) Veterans Economic Opportunity Administration—There is in the Department of Veterans Affairs a Veterans Economic Opportunity Administration. The primary function of the Veterans Economic Opportunity Administration is the administration of the programs of the Department which provide assistance related to economic opportunity to veterans and their dependents and survivors.
“(b) Under Secretary for Economic Opportunity—The Veterans Economic Opportunity Administration is under the Under Secretary for Veterans Economic Opportunity, who is directly responsible to the Secretary for the operations of the Administration.
“8002. Functions of Administration
“The Veterans Economic Opportunity Administration is responsible for the administration of the following programs of the Department:
“(1) Vocational rehabilitation and employment programs.
“(2) Educational assistance programs.
“(3) Veterans’ housing loan and related programs.
“(4) Veterans small business programs, including the program under section 8127 of this title.”
Clerical amendments— The tables of chapters at the beginning of title 38, and of part V of title 38, are each amended by inserting after the item relating to chapter 79 the following new item:
Sec. 3 Under Secretary for Veterans Economic Opportunity
Under Secretary— Chapter 3 of title 38, United States Code, is amended by inserting after section 306 the following new section:
“306A. Under Secretary for Veterans Economic Opportunity
“(a) Under Secretary—There is in the Department an Under Secretary for Veterans Economic Opportunity, who is appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate. The Under Secretary for Veterans Economic Opportunity shall be appointed without regard to political affiliation or activity and solely on the basis of demonstrated ability in—
“(1) information technology; and
“(2) the administration of programs within the Veterans Economic Opportunity Administration or programs of similar content and scope.
“(b) Responsibilities—The Under Secretary for Veterans Economic Opportunity is the head of, and is directly responsible to the Secretary for the operations of, the Veterans Economic Opportunity Administration.
“(c) Vacancies
“(1) Whenever a vacancy in the position of Under Secretary for Veterans Economic Opportunity occurs or is anticipated, the Secretary shall establish a commission to recommend individuals to the President for appointment to the position.
“(2) A commission established under this subsection shall be composed of the following members appointed by the Secretary:
“(A) Three persons representing education and training, vocational rehabilitation, employment, real estate, mortgage finance and related industries, and survivor benefits activities affected by the Veterans Economic Opportunity Administration.
“(B) Two persons representing veterans served by the Veterans Economic Opportunity Administration.
“(C) Two persons who have experience in the management of private sector benefits programs of similar content and scope to the economic opportunity programs of the Department.
“(D) The Deputy Secretary of Veterans Affairs.
“(E) The chairman of the Veterans’ Advisory Committee on Education formed under section 3692 of this title.
“(F) One person who has held the position of Under Secretary for Veterans Economic Opportunity, if the Secretary determines that it is desirable for such person to be a member of the commission.
“(3) A commission established under this subsection shall recommend at least three individuals for appointment to the position of Under Secretary for Veterans Economic Opportunity. The commission shall submit all recommendations to the Secretary. 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 appropriate. Thereafter, the President may request the commission to recommend additional individuals for appointment.
“(4) 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 subsection.
“(d) Qualifications of recommended individuals—Each individual recommended to the President by the commission for appointment to the position of Under Secretary for Veterans Economic Opportunity shall be an individual who has held a senior level position in the private sector with responsibilities relating to at least one of the following:
“(1) Education policy.
“(2) Vocational rehabilitation.
“(3) Employment.
“(4) Home loan finance.
“(5) Small business development.”
Clerical amendment— The table of sections at the beginning of such chapter is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 306 the following new item:
Conforming amendments— Such title is further amended—
in section 7701(a), by inserting after “assistance” the following: “, other than assistance related to economic opportunity,”;
in section 7703, by striking paragraphs (2) and (3) and redesignating paragraphs (4) and (5) as paragraphs (2) and (3), respectively;
in section 306(c)(2), by striking subparagraphs (A) and (E) and redesignating subparagraphs (B), (C), (D), and (F), as subparagraphs (A) through (D), respectively;
in section 317(d), by inserting after “Under Secretary for Benefits” the following: “, the Under Secretary for Veterans Economic Opportunity,”;
in section 318(d)(2), by inserting after “Under Secretary for Benefits” the following: “, the Under Secretary for Veterans Economic Opportunity,”;
in section 516(e)(2)(C), by striking “Health and the Under Secretary for Benefits” and inserting “Health, the Under Secretary for Benefits, and the Under Secretary for Veterans Economic Opportunity”;
in section 541(a)(2)(B), by striking “Health and the Under Secretary for Benefits” and inserting “Health, the Under Secretary for Benefits, and the Under Secretary for Veterans Economic Opportunity”;
in section 542(a)(2)(A)(iii), by striking “Health and the Under Secretary for Benefits” and inserting “Health, the Under Secretary for Benefits, and the Under Secretary for Veterans Economic Opportunity”;
in section 544(a)(2)(B)(vi), by striking “Health and the Under Secretary for Benefits” and inserting “Health, the Under Secretary for Benefits, and the Under Secretary for Veterans Economic Opportunity”; and
in section 709(c)(2)(A), by inserting after “Under Secretary for Benefits” the following: “, the Under Secretary for Veterans Economic Opportunity,”.
Full-Time employees— For fiscal year 2014, the aggregate number of full-time equivalent employees authorized for the Veterans Benefit Administration and the Veterans Economic Opportunity Administration, as established under chapter 80 of title 38, United States Code, as added by section 2, may not exceed 20,851.