Gardner’s bipartisan bill supports U.S. service members transitioning to civilian life

U.S. Sen. Cory Gardner (R-CO) reintroduced a bipartisan bill to reform the Transition Assistance Program (TAP), which provides pre-separation counseling, training and assistance to members of the U.S. Armed Forces who are returning to civilian life.

“When I speak to veterans across Colorado, they often express concerns with the adequacy of preparation and guidance provided to transitioning service members,” Sen. Gardner said. “This bipartisan legislation will honor the immeasurable debt we owe to our military members and ensure our heroes receive training that will help them thrive outside of the military.”

Sen. Gardner on May 21 introduced the Improving Preparation and Resources for Occupational, Vocational, and Educational (IMPROVE) Transition for Servicemembers Act, S. 1555, with bill sponsor U.S. Sen. Mike Crapo (R-ID) and cosponsor U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-MI).

If enacted, S. 1555 would establish commencement and completion deadlines for TAP participation to ensure service members have enough time to use the available services, and maximize in-person over online participation in TAP. The bill would also direct the U.S. Department of Defense and the Department of Veterans Affairs to enter into agreements with state veterans services agencies to develop a database of and connect service members to supportive services and organizations in their communities, according to summaries provided by the lawmakers’ offices.

Among numerous other provisions, S. 1555 would make mandatory several currently optional two-day specialized courses in entrepreneurship, career technical training and higher education, and would require a ratio of at least one full-time TAP employee per 250 transitioning members and their spouses at an installation to ensure enough full-time personnel are available to meet service members’ needs during transition, according to the summaries.

S. 1555 has been referred for consideration to the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee.