H.R. 244: Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2017

115th Congress

To encourage effective, voluntary investments to recruit, employ, and retain men and women who have served in the United States military with annual Federal awards to employers recognizing such efforts, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Rep. Paul Cook — R — CA

In May 2017, this bill became the vehicle for passage of the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2017, the bill that would fund the government for the remainder of fiscal year 2017, that is, through the end of September 2017. Prior to becoming the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2017, this bill was the Honoring Investments in Recruiting and Employing American Military Veterans Act of 2017. The summary below is from the Republican Policy Committee: H.R. 244, as amended, would require the Department of Labor (DOL) to establish the HIRE Vets Medallion Program, within two years of enactment, to annually recognize private and public sector businesses for their efforts to employ veterans. DOL would make awards to employers, on a voluntary basis, who recruit, employ, and retain veterans; and provide community and charitable services supporting the veteran community. Employers would earn either platinum or gold status based on requirements related to the number of veterans hired each year, if they provide pay equity for Guardsmen and Reserve employees who were called up to active military service, and if certain other requirements are met. Beginning two fiscal years after the program is established, the bill would require DOL to assess fees on employers that apply to the program to cover the complete costs of the program. Those fees would be available without further appropriation to operate the program.

View the full vote history of this bill on GovTrack.us.