New VA transition administration to be established under Wenstrup-sponsored bill

U.S. Rep. Brad Wenstrup (R-OH) on April 13 sponsored bipartisan legislation that would establish the Veterans Economic Opportunity and Transition Administration within the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). 

“I’m proud to lead this bipartisan, bicameral effort,” Rep. Wenstrup said after introducing the Veterans’ Education, Transition, and Opportunity Prioritization Plan (VET OPP) Act of 2021, H.R. 2494, with cosponsor U.S. Rep. Mike Levin (D-CA). U.S. Sens. Marco Rubio (R-FL) and Maggie Hassan (D-NH) also on April 13 introduced the companion bill, S. 1093, in their chamber.

Currently, the Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) is responsible for all VA benefits provided to U.S. military veterans outside of healthcare and cemetery services. While there are myriad benefits provided by the VBA, most of the staffing and resources are used to handle disability compensation and pension claims, resulting in a lack of attention on the administration of other VBA benefits, such as the Forever GI Bill, Vocational Rehabilitation, Home Loan benefits, and the VA’s portion of the Transition Assistance Program, according to Rep. Wenstrup’s office.

If enacted, the VET OPP Act would address this issue by realigning transition, education and employment programs at the VA under the new Veterans Economic Opportunity and Transition Administration, which would be accountable to a presidentially appointed undersecretary. The new administration would not add bureaucracy or personnel, Rep. Wenstrup’s office said.

“The men and women I served with in Iraq were incredibly skilled and experienced. Some of them, however, struggled to fully utilize their talents when transitioning back to civilian life,” said Rep. Wenstrup. “We’ve made great strides in improving veteran care by cutting through red tape with strong, bipartisan laws, like the VA MISSION Act. Now, we must continue addressing our veterans’ needs by aligning transition, education, and employment programs in a fourth administration within the VA to help streamline organization and better serve those who served us in uniform.”

The measure has garnered support from Paralyzed Veterans of America, Student Veterans of America, the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States, and Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America.