H.R.980 — Veterans Readiness and Employment Improvement Act of 2025
House Roll Call
H.R.980
| Bill | H.R.980 — Veterans Readiness and Employment Improvement Act of 2025 |
|---|---|
| Vote question | On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, as Amended |
| Vote type | 2/3 Yea-And-Nay |
| Result | Passed |
| Totals | Yea 402 / Nay 2 / Present 0 / Not Voting 27 |
| Party | Yea | Nay | Present | Not Voting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| R | 201 | 1 | 0 | 16 |
| D | 201 | 1 | 0 | 11 |
| I | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Research Brief
On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, as Amended
Bill Analysis
HR 980 – Veterans Readiness and Employment Improvement Act of 2025
HR 980 amends Title 38, United States Code, to expand and modernize the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Veterans Readiness and Employment (VR&E, formerly Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment) program for disabled veterans.
Substantive changes to VR&E services:
- Increases or clarifies the duration and scope of VR&E benefits, including counseling, training, and employment services for veterans with service-connected disabilities.
- Updates eligibility and entitlement rules to better align with contemporary labor-market needs and post-9/11–era disability patterns, potentially easing access for certain categories of disabled veterans.
- Strengthens requirements for individualized rehabilitation plans, including measurable employment goals and closer coordination with employers, training institutions, and other VA education programs (e.g., GI Bill).
- May authorize expanded use of remote or hybrid counseling and case management to improve access for rural, homebound, or highly disabled veterans.
Program administration and oversight:
- Directs VA’s Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA), which runs VR&E, to adopt improved performance metrics (such as employment outcomes, earnings, and long-term job retention) and to report these to Congress.
- Requires updated staffing, training, or caseload standards for VR&E counselors to improve service quality and timeliness.
- Mandates data collection and periodic reports to the House and Senate Committees on Veterans’ Affairs on program utilization, outcomes, and any identified barriers to participation.
Funding and authorities:
- Provides or clarifies authorization of appropriations for VR&E enhancements, subject to annual funding in VA appropriations acts.
- Grants VA explicit authority to implement new tools (e.g., modern IT systems, outreach initiatives, or pilot projects) to improve service delivery and track outcomes.
Beneficiaries and timelines:
- Primary beneficiaries are veterans with service-connected disabilities eligible for VR&E, including those seeking retraining, higher education, apprenticeships, or supported employment.
- Secondary beneficiaries include employers participating in veteran hiring and training partnerships.
- Most provisions would take effect upon enactment, with specific deadlines (often 180 days to 1 year) for VA to issue regulations, update procedures, and submit required reports to Congress.
Yea (402)
K
Ken Calvert
J
Jason Crow
L
Lloyd Doggett
S
Scott Franklin
J
John Garamendi
J
John Mannion
L
Lucy McBath
L
Lisa McClain
J
John Rutherford
D
David Schweikert
P
Pete Sessions
E
Eric Swalwell
R
Rashida Tlaib
N
Nydia Velázquez
D
Debbie Wasserman Schultz
Nay (2)
Not Voting (27)
