Derrick Van Orden: “as chairman of the Economic Opportunity Subcommittee, it has been a great privilege to get important bills like H.R.…”

“as chairman of the Economic Opportunity Subcommittee, it has been a great privilege to get important bills like H.R. 913, the SAFE Veterans Act of 2025, and H.R. 1793, the Veterans Readiness and Employment Transparency Act of 2025, over the finish line. I thank my friends, the gentleman from California (Mr. Obernolte) and the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Hamadeh), for their work alongside me to modernize the Veteran Readiness and Employment process. I also thank the gentleman from California (Mr. Takano) and our Democratic colleagues for understanding the importance of this program. Mr. Speaker, this is a good VA education and job training program. It works, but we have to continue to improve it. Veterans currently have to wait up to 7 months to complete the VR&E program intake and processing procedures. My bill, H.R. 980, the Veterans Readiness and Employment Improvement Act, would update the requirements for the VA's VetSuccess on Campus officers, or VSOCs, by closing an unnecessary loophole that right now requires a master's degree to qualify for these positions.”