Today we have a full schedule that includes eleven bills before us that would address the unique needs of our veteran population.  The bills before us today seek to: expand existing laws to provide certain family members with a leave of absence from work when a servicemember is called up for active duty service; modernize fees payable to Institutions of Higher Learning for certifying student veterans; expand education entitlements under Title 38; reauthorize existing law to prevent the foreclosure of a veteran’s home; amend on-the-job training requirements to encourage businesses to hire military veterans in a tough economy; make available housing loans to construct or modify energy efficient homes; provide protections under the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act to servicemembers going through child custody arrangements; and create energy related job opportunities for military veterans.

Included in today’s hearing is H.R. 3484, which I introduced to reauthorize existing law that affords certain student veterans with a work-study allowance while they are enrolled in school.  Under the current work-study program, veterans that qualify for the VA work-study program are limited to working on VA related work such as processing VA paperwork, performing outreach services, and assisting staff at VA medical facilities or the offices of the National Cemetery Administration.

The current work-study program is scheduled to expire on June 30, 2010.  My legislation would simply reauthorize this important program to June 30, 2014 allowing our student veterans to gain valuable skills in an approved work environment while completing their studies.

Providing our student veterans with work-study opportunities is an issue that I take seriously.  Earlier this year the House successfully passed H.R. 1037, the Pilot College Work Study Programs for Veterans Act of 2009. This legislation includes language to direct the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to conduct a five-year pilot project on expanding existing work-study activities for veterans.  Rest assured that I will continue to push for enactment of this important legislation in the remainder of the 111th Congress.