Tillis, Brown present legislation to improve employment opportunities for veterans

The Wounded Warrior Employment Improvement Act of 2015, designed to assist veterans with service-connected disabilities find and keep quality jobs, was introduced by U.S. Sens. Thom Tillis (R-NC) and Sherrod Brown (D-OH) last week.

The legislation would require the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Veterans’ Affairs (VA) to create and publish a detailed plan of action for making improvements to the VA’s Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (VR&E) Program.

A companion bill previously was introduced in the House.

“The men and women who served our nation deserve all opportunities possible to successfully transition into civilian careers after their service,” Tillis said. “Veteran support and counsel is a vital step in that transition process, and we must ensure the VA has the resources they need to improve training and rehabilitation.”

Tillis and Brown, both members of the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, have worked together on several occasions to advocate for service members, veterans and their families.

As such, the Wounded Warrior Employment Improvement Act is endorsed by a number of influential organizations, including the Wounded Warrior Project, The American Legion, the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, and the American Federation of Government Employees.

“Veterans injured while serving their country deserve our help in building careers when they return home and transition to civilian life,” Brown said. “This bill would ensure that the Department of Veterans Affairs can continue to provide wounded warriors with exceptional care, training, and support.”

The legislation includes a number of important benchmarks, including steps to remedy workload management at VA regional offices and to reduce the caseload per VR&E counselor; analysis of why so few veterans who have served post-September 11, 2001, have chosen to participate in VA rehabilitation programs; steps to increase VA rehabilitation program participation for veterans; and the creation of a national staff training program for vocational rehabilitation counselors that covers post-traumatic stress disorder, mental health conditions and traumatic brain injury.