1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the “Veterans’ Job Corps Act”.
Veterans’ Job Corps Act
A BILL
To authorize the President to establish the Veterans’ Job Corps as a means of providing gainful employment to unemployed veterans and widows of veterans through the performance of useful public works, and for other purposes.
2. Establishment and operation of Veterans' Job Corps
Establishment and purpose— In order to provide employment opportunities to veterans and widows and to provide for the restoration of depleted natural resources in the United States and the advancement of an orderly program of useful public works, the President may establish and operate a Veterans' Job Corps to employ veterans and widows who are otherwise unemployed, in the construction, maintenance, and carrying on of works of a public nature in connection with—
the forestation of lands belonging to the United States or a State;
the prevention of forest fires, floods, and soil erosion;
public safety;
plant pest and disease control;
the construction, maintenance, or repair of paths, trails, and fire-lanes in units of the National Park System, public lands, and other lands under the jurisdiction of the Secretary of the Interior and units of the National Forest System; and
such other work on Federal or State land incidental to or necessary in connection with any projects of the character enumerated in paragraphs (1) through (5) that the President determines to be desirable.
Role of Federal agencies— To operate the Veterans' Job Corps, the President may use existing Federal departments and agencies, including the Department of the Interior, the Department of Agriculture, and the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Inclusion of other lands— The President may extend the activities of the Veterans' Job Corps to lands owned by a political subdivision of a State and lands in private ownership for the purpose of conducting such kinds of cooperation work authorized by law in preventing and controlling forest fires and the attacks of forest tree pests and diseases and such work as is necessary and in the public interest to control floods.
Contract authority— The President may enter into such contracts or agreements that may be necessary to carry out this Act.
Acquisition of real property— The President, or the head of any department or agency authorized by the President to construct any project or to carry on any public works under this Act, may acquire real property for such project or public work by purchase, donation, or otherwise.
3. Administration of Veterans' Job Corps
Employment preference— The President shall employ individuals in the Veterans' Job Corps in the following order of preference:
Unemployed veterans.
Widows who, immediately before employment in the Veterans' Job Corps, are eligible for unemployment compensation payable under any State law or Federal unemployment compensation law, including any additional compensation or extended compensation under such laws.
Housing and care of employees— The President may provide housing for individuals employed in the Veterans' Job Corps and furnish them with such subsistence, clothing, medical attendance and hospitalization, and cash allowance, as may be necessary, during the period they are so employed.
Transportation— The President may provide for the transportation of individuals employed in the Veterans' Job Corps to and from the places of employment.
Exclusion— The following individuals may not be employed under the provisions of this Act:
An individual convicted of a felony.
A veteran who was discharged from the Armed Forces under dishonorable conditions.
4. Use of funds
Use of unobligated funds appropriated for public works—
Use of existing funds— In addition to any amounts appropriated to carry out this Act, the President may use any moneys previously appropriated for public works and unobligated as of the date of the enactment of this Act to establish and operate a Veterans' Job Corps under this Act.
Use to relieve unemployment— Not less than 75 percent of the funds used pursuant to paragraph (1) shall be used to provide for the employment of individuals under this Act.
Duration of availability— Amounts appropriated to carry out this Act or made available under subsection (b) shall remain available until expended.
5. Definitions
In this Act:
The term veteran has the meaning given that term in section 101(2) of title 38, United States Code.
The term widow—
means the spouse of a veteran who has not remarried after the death of such veteran; and
includes widowers.
6. Termination
The authority of the President to establish and operate a Veterans' Job Corps under this Act expires on September 30, 2024.