Good afternoon.

The last time we met to discuss VR&E was to hear from VA and representatives of companies that contracted for counseling services.  At that hearing, Ms. Fanning testified that VA would,“….solicit new contracts in the Fall of 2009.”  I believe those contracts are not yet in place and I believe VA is still negotiating with vendors to close out costs related to the counseling contracts terminated last summer.  At the same time, VA proposed to put temporary contracts in place until the new national acquisition contracts were awarded.  I look forward to hearing from Ms. Fanning on the Department’s progress in both the short and long term counseling contracts.

The VR&E program is possibly the most flexible of all VBA benefit programs.  Counseling staffs have great latitude on how they design a rehabilitation program and therein lies both the positives and negatives of the program.  On the positive side, veterans are eligible for a nearly limitless approach to returning to the workforce or enrollment in Independent Living.  On the down side, there are sometimes unrealistic expectations by veterans on what they believe should their course of rehabilitation.  In short, Iam very concerned about the time it takes to enter into rehabilitation.

According to VA data, it takes on average, about 54 days to determine eligibility, 118 days to develop a rehabilitation plan, and 200 days to find a job following completion of the customized rehabilitation program.  That’s 372 days.  That does not include the average of 615 days spent completing the rehabilitation program which brings the total average time in rehabilitation to employment to 987 days.  Since about 90 percent of VR&E participants are enrolled in degree programs, I understand the effect of long term education or training on the average of 615 days in rehabilitation.  But since the vast majority of veterans are in college, I hope she will explain why it take 118 days to send someone to school.  Unfortunately, the VBA annual benefits report does not show rehabilitation data by track and I encourage Ms. Fanning and her bosses to make that change in the FY 2010 report.

I understand the staff has requested a post hearing briefing on some details that Ms. Fanning has indicated in her written testimony are not available.  I hope the Department will put that briefing together expeditiously.  I yield back.