Improving Transition Programs for All Veterans Act

The rate of unemployment for women veterans is higher than the rate for male veterans. In 2015, the unemployment rate for women veterans remained relatively unchanged at 5.4 percent, while the rate for male veterans declined to 4.5 percent.

Women veterans, on average, earn less than male veterans. In 2013, the median income for women veterans was $35,264, while the median income for male veterans was $41,310.

Women veterans and veterans with disabilities are more likely to become homeless.

Service-connected disabled veterans with relatively high disability ratings have a higher unemployment rate than those with relatively low disability ratings. In 2015, the unemployment rate for veterans with a service-connected disability rating of 60 percent or higher was 9.6 percent, much higher than the 4.0 percent rate for veterans with a service-connected disability rating of 30 percent or lower.

In 2013, American Indian and Alaska Native veterans had the lowest median personal incomes of any group of minority veterans.

In 2013, American Indian and Alaska Native veterans were less likely to have finished an advanced degree than other veterans.

American Indian and Alaska Native veterans were more likely to have a service-connected disability rating compared to all other veterans. In 2013, the rate of American Indian and Alaska Native veterans with a service-connected disability rating was about 26 percent compared to 18.2 percent for all other veterans.

There is a lack of data on, and an understanding of, the challenges and needs of veterans who are residents of a territory of the United States and veterans who are part of the indigenous population of a territory of the United States.

Study— The Secretary of Veterans Affairs, in coordination with the Secretaries of Labor and Defense, shall carry out a study to evaluate programs to assist veterans of the Armed Forces in their transition to civilian life. Such study shall be designed to determine the effectiveness of current programs, especially in regards to the unique challenges faced by women veterans, veterans with disabilities, Native American veterans, veterans who are residents of a territory of the United States, veterans who are part of the indigenous population of a territory of the United States, and other groups of minority veterans identified by the Secretaries, including whether such programs—

Report— Eighteen months after the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit a report to the Committees on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and House of Representatives regarding the findings and recommendations of the study required under subsection (a) of this section.