Hire Veterans Act
Hire Veterans Act
Plain Language Summary
# Hire Veterans Act Summary **What It Does:** The Hire Veterans Act would create a five-year pilot program to help military veterans find jobs with federal land management agencies like the National Park Service and Bureau of Land Management. The program would have the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) test veterans' relevant skills and abilities, then allow these agencies to hire qualified veterans directly without going through the standard competitive hiring process. Veterans who don't pass the initial tests would be offered training and the chance to retake them. **Who It Affects:** This bill primarily benefits military veterans seeking federal employment and federal land management agencies looking to fill positions. It could also indirectly affect the general public by potentially improving staffing at national parks and public lands.
The program is limited to a five-year trial period, so its long-term impact would depend on results. **Current Status:** The bill is currently in committee (HR 1242, sponsored by Rep. Elijah Crane of Arizona) and has not yet been voted on by Congress. It remains in the early stages of the legislative process.
CRS Official Summary
Hire Veterans ActThis bill requires the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) to establish a five-year pilot program to recruit veterans with relevant strengths and abilities and refer them to positions in federal land management agencies (e.g., the National Park Service).OPM shall conduct tests of certain strengths and abilities for veterans participating in the program. After testing, federal land management agencies may offer non-competitive career-conditional appointments to such veterans demonstrating necessary strengths and abilities. Such agencies may also refer veterans not demonstrating sufficient strengths and abilities in the tests to training programs, and then re-administer such tests until the veteran qualifies for a non-competitive career-conditional appointment.
Latest Action
Referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, and in addition to the Committees on Natural Resources, and Agriculture, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.