Derrick Van Orden (R-WI)
Veterans Readiness and Employment Improvement and Accountability Act
A Republican bill with no cosponsors
Last activity — Committee Hearings Held
In committee
Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.
The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
The Veterans Readiness and Employment Improvement and Accountability Act aims to amend title 38 of the United States Code. It seeks to improve rehabilitation programs for veterans with service-connected disabilities and establishes new rules for benefit eligibility. The bill creates a bar to certain benefits for individuals convicted of offenses against Department of Veterans Affairs employees. It also adjusts vocational rehabilitation program limits, requirements for equipment payments, and eligibility criteria. Additionally, the legislation addresses subsistence allowances based on location and mandates the employment of employment counselors.
Yes· 3 of 6
- Scored +3
Does this increase the pay, pensions or support veterans receive?
The bill increases the rehabilitation program cap and provides for employment counselors and extended training eligibility.
- Scored +2
Would veterans be better off under this, taking everything together?
The bill enhances vocational rehabilitation through increased funding caps, employment counselors, and extended eligibility periods.
- Scored +2
Does this make college cost less?
The bill clarifies subsistence allowances which can assist with the costs of educational training.
The opposite
- Scored -3
Does this reduce what the federal government spends?
The bill limits disability compensation for those participating in vocational rehabilitation programs.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Extended Eligibility for Training: Veterans may remain eligible for programs if they have not obtained employment in their trained occupation during the one-year period following training. (Section 3)
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Increased Program Funding Cap: The bill sets a maximum of $250,000 for rehabilitation programs, with a provision that this amount will be increased annually starting October 1, 2026. (Section 5)
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Enhanced Oversight of Equipment Costs: Requiring Secretary approval for equipment payments exceeding $5,000 ensures oversight of large expenditures. (Section 4)
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Improved Accessibility via Counseling: The bill directs the Secretary to employ employment counselors at each regional office to carry out certain duties. (Section 8)
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Clarified Subsistence Allowance Basis: The bill clarifies that subsistence allowances can be based on the veteran's residence if it is more than 25 miles from the institution. (Section 7)
Potential Negative Impacts for People
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Loss of Benefits due to Criminal Convictions: The Secretary may bar individuals convicted of assaulting, resisting, or impeding a Department of Veterans Affairs officer or employee from receiving benefits under chapters 30, 31, 33, 35, or 36. (Section 2)
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Restrictions on Disability Compensation: A veteran participating in a vocational rehabilitation program is ineligible to receive disability compensation rated as total on the basis of individual unemployability. (Section 9)
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would veterans be better off under this, taking everything together? — The bill enhances vocational rehabilitation through increased funding caps, employment counselors, and extended eligibility periods. Would households on low incomes be better off under this? — The bill clarifies subsistence allowance calculations based on residence distance.
- National Security And Foreign Policy
- Does this increase the pay, pensions or support veterans receive? — The bill increases the rehabilitation program cap and provides for employment counselors and extended training eligibility.
- Education And Technology
- Does this make college cost less? — The bill clarifies subsistence allowances which can assist with the costs of educational training.
- Economy And Finance
- Is this likely to create jobs? — The bill improves vocational rehabilitation and employment counseling to help veterans enter the workforce. Does this reduce what the federal government spends? — The bill limits disability compensation for those participating in vocational rehabilitation programs.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Is this likely to lift people out of poverty? — The bill expands eligibility for training and provides clearer subsistence allowance rules for veterans.
- 5/20/2026
- Committee Hearings Held
- 3/18/2026
- Committee Hearings Held
- 12/18/2025
- Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
- Introduced in House