Improving Transition Programs for All Veterans Act

Floor Speech

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Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from Florida for yielding.

I rise in support of my bill, H.R. 5212, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, the initial transition from military to civilian life is often the most difficult time for returning veterans. The Federal Transition Assistance Program, otherwise known as TAP, is designed to ease that shift by teaching veterans about their benefits and preparing them to enter the workforce, attend school, or both.

As the ranking member noted, the program has largely been successful. Veteran unemployment is at a 7-year low.

However, supporting transitioning veterans requires more than a one- size-fits-all program. There are more than 135,000 former servicemembers in my district, and just one approach cannot meet the needs of every individual. Certain veteran communities are still being left behind.

Women veterans, Native American veterans, veterans from the U.S. territories, and veterans with disabilities face challenges and aspire to jobs that differ from the broader population of returning servicemembers. We cannot be satisfied with a program that allows large groups of veterans to slip through the cracks.

The Improving Transition Programs for All Veterans Act is a bipartisan bill that requires the VA to launch a research program examining if and how the current program meets the needs of minority veterans groups.

In collaboration with the Departments of Labor and Defense, the bill would require the VA to recommend changes to TAP that would address barriers and better serve these veterans in their pursuit of meaningful employment following their military service.

More than ever before, our military reflects America's diverse mix of people and cultures. Each of these transitioning servicemembers, regardless of gender, race, or disability, has made the same commitment to defending this Nation.

All of them deserve our full support when they return home.

I am proud to have introduced this bill with the gentlewoman from American Samoa (Mrs. Radewagen).

I want to thank Mr. Wenstrup, chair of the Economic Opportunity Subcommittee, and Chairman Miller for their support in moving this forward.

Mr. Speaker, I call on my colleagues to promptly pass this legislation.

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