Veterans Fellowship Act

I 117TH CONGRESS 1ST SESSION H. R. 2391 To direct the Assistant Secretary of Labor for Veterans’ Employment and Training to carry out a pilot program on short-term fellowship programs for veterans. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES APRIL 8, 2021 Mr. CAWTHORN (for himself, Mr. BANKS, Mr. MANN, Ms. TENNEY, and Mr. MOORE of Alabama) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs A BILL To direct the Assistant Secretary of Labor for Veterans’ Employment and Training to carry out a pilot program on short-term fellowship programs for veterans. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa- 1 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 2 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 3 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Veterans Fellowship 4 Act’’. 5 SEC. 2. PILOT PROGRAM ON SHORT-TERM FELLOWSHIP 6 PROGRAMS. 7 (a) AUTHORITY.—The Assistant Secretary of Labor 8 for Veterans’ Employment and Training shall carry out 9 VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:51 Apr 27, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H2391.IH H2391 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS 2 •HR 2391 IH a pilot program under which a State may use a grant or 1 contract under section 4102A(b)(5) of title 38, United 2 States Code, to carry out a short-term fellowship program. 3 (b) LOCATIONS; AGREEMENTS.—The Secretary shall 4 select at least three, but not more than five, States to 5 carry out a short-term fellowship program pursuant to 6 subsection (a). Each such State shall enter into an agree- 7 ment with a non-profit organization to carry out such pro- 8 gram. 9 (c) SHORT-TERM FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM.—Each 10 short-term fellowship program carried out by a State pur- 11 suant to subsection (a) shall— 12 (1) consist of veterans participating as fellows 13 with an employer for a period not exceeding 20 14 weeks; 15 (2) provide to such veterans a monthly stipend 16 during such period; and 17 (3) provide to such veterans an opportunity to 18 be employed on a long-term basis with the employer 19 following such period. 20 (d) COMPTROLLER GENERAL REPORT.—Not later 21 than four years after the date on which the pilot program 22 commences under this section, the Comptroller General of 23 the United States shall submit to the Committees on Vet- 24 VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:51 Apr 27, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H2391.IH H2391 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS 3 •HR 2391 IH erans’ Affairs of the House of Representatives and the 1 Senate a report on the pilot program. 2 (e) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—In addi- 3 tion to funds made available under section 4102A(b)(5) 4 of title 38, United States Code, there is authorized to be 5 appropriated to the Assistant Secretary to carry out the 6 pilot program under this section $10,000,000 for each of 7 fiscal years 2021 through 2025. 8 Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:51 Apr 27, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\H2391.IH H2391 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS