House panel looks at future of vets programs

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House panel looks at future of vets programs
By Rick Maze - Staff writer
Posted : Saturday Feb 23, 2008 8:22:42 EST

As a House subcommittee reviews expired and expiring veterans programs, veterans groups are urging the lawmakers to strengthen employment and re-employment rights programs, extend an option for adjustable-rate veterans’ home loans, and restore a $100 cut in monthly payments for apprenticeships and on-the-job training.

Although 13 programs are being re-evaluated, the one getting the most attention is a lapsed test program that had top government lawyers involved in resolving employment and re-employment rights complaints from federal workers who also serve in military reserve components.

Under the test, the Office of Special Counsel, an independent federal agency, helped the Labor Department with employment rights cases. It ended with praise for the results but disagreement about whether the concept was worth continuing. The Labor Department says it doesn’t need the help, while the Office of Special Counsel says there is much more to be done and wants to stay involved.

Testifying in February before the House Veterans’ Affairs economic opportunity panel, Charles Ciccolella, assistant secretary of labor for veterans’ employment and training, said the test program that began in February 2005 had the Office of Special Counsel handle 312 claims by federal employees of violations of the Uniformed Services Employment and Re-employment Rights Act. That is about 7 percent of all complaints received by Ciccolella’s office.

He said the test improved the ability of federal investigators to look at what he described as “mixed” cases — complaints that involved potential violations of federal civil service laws as well as guarantees for employment and reinstatement. But he sees no reason to extend the program.


Rest of article at: http://www.armytimes.com/news/2008/02/military_230208_expire_w/