[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 156 (2010), Part 12] [House] [Pages 16774-16775] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]CHANGING CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS FOR VA COUNSELORS Mr. FILNER. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 5630) to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for qualifications for vocational rehabilitation counselors and vocational rehabilitation employment coordinators employed by the Department of Veterans Affairs. The Clerk read the title of the bill. The text of the bill is as follows: H.R. 5630 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. QUALIFICATIONS FOR VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION COUNSELORS AND VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION EMPLOYMENT COORDINATORS EMPLOYED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS. (a) In General.--Chapter 31 of title 38, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new section: ``Sec. 3123. Qualifications for vocational rehabilitation counselors and vocational rehabilitation employment coordinators ``(a) Vocational Rehabilitation Counselors.--Each individual employed by the Department as a vocational rehabilitation counselor shall-- ``(1) have completed a masters degree in vocational rehabilitation counseling before being so employed; ``(2) by not later than five years after the individual is first so employed, obtain certification by an accredited certifying body recognized by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies; and ``(3) as a condition of continued employment, maintain such certification. ``(b) Vocational Rehabilitation Employment Coordinators.-- Each individual employed by the Department as a vocational rehabilitation employment coordinator shall-- ``(1) have completed a bachelors degree in the relevant field, as designated by the Secretary, before being so employed; ``(2) by not later than five years after the individual is first so employed, obtain certification by an accredited certifying body recognized by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies; and ``(3) as a condition of continued employment, maintain such certification. ``(c) Remediation Plan.--If an individual employed by the Department as a vocational rehabilitation counselor or a vocational rehabilitation employment coordinator fails to meet a condition of employment applicable to such individual under subsection (a) or (b), the Director of the Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment Service shall develop a remediation plan for such individual. If the individual fails to complete the remediation plan, such failure shall be cause for termination.''. (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the beginning of such chapter is amended by adding at the end the following new item: ``3123. Qualifications for vocational rehabilitation counselors and vocational rehabilitation employment coordinators.''. (c) Applicability.-- (1) Individuals hired after date of enactment.--Section 3123 of title 38, United States Code, as added by subsection (a), shall apply with respect to an individual hired by the Department of Veterans Affairs after the date of the enactment of this Act. (2) Individuals hired before date of enactment.--In the case of an individual hired as a vocational rehabilitation counselor or a vocational rehabilitation employment coordinator by the Department of Veterans Affairs before the date of the enactment of this Act, such individual is required to have the qualifications described in section 3123 of title 38, United States Code, as added by subsection (a), for the position held by the individual by not later than five years after the date of the enactment of this Act. The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from California (Mr. Filner) and the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Buyer) each will control 20 minutes. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from California. General Leave Mr. FILNER. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous material on H.R. 5630. The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from California? There was no objection. Mr. FILNER. I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I would like to commend the gentleman from Arkansas, Representative John Boozman, for introducing this bill, which seeks to set minimum educational and training standards for certain employees of the Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment program operated by the Department of Veterans Affairs. This would, of course, help veterans while they set their employment goals. I reserve the balance of my time. Mr. BUYER. I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 5630, a bill which would set certain requirements for professional level jobs at the Department of Veterans Affairs' Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment program. In 2009, the Government Accountability Office reported that one-third of the VA's regional offices reported that their VRE staffs did not have the skills needed to properly serve the disabled veterans who come to them for help. Although it is our understanding the VA currently hires counselors with at least a master's degree in vocational rehabilitation counseling, it does not require counselors to obtain and maintain certification in their field from a national certifying organization. There are also no educational qualifications for VRE employment coordinators. To ensure that the VA rehabilitation counselors are the best qualified in their field, H.R. 5630 would set a minimum hiring standard at a master's degree and would require counselors to obtain national certification within 5 years of hiring and to maintain these qualifications. Employment coordinators would be required to have a relevant bachelor's degree, to obtain certification within 5 years, and to maintain these qualifications. Counselors and coordinators who fail to comply with these standards will be subject to termination. Mr. Speaker, these are commonsense provisions which are designed to ensure that our disabled veterans are receiving the best vocational rehabilitation and employment services possible. I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 5630, and I yield back the balance of my time. Mr. FILNER. I yield back the balance of my time. The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the gentleman from California (Mr. Filner) that the House suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 5630. The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the [[Page 16775]] rules were suspended and the bill was passed. A motion to reconsider was laid on the table. ____________________