Mike Bost U.S. House of Representatives from Illinois's 12th district | Official U.S. House Headshot
Mike Bost U.S. House of Representatives from Illinois's 12th district | Official U.S. House Headshot
Rep. Derrick Van Orden, the Chairman of the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity, addressed a hearing focused on reforming the Transition Assistance Program (TAP). The aim is to improve coordination between the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), the Department of Defense (DoD), and the Department of Labor to facilitate servicemembers' transition to civilian life.
During his opening remarks, Rep. Van Orden emphasized his personal connection to the issue as a former Navy SEAL. He highlighted that over 200,000 military personnel leave service annually, facing either new opportunities or significant challenges during their transition. He noted that those with job prospects or support networks are less likely to face homelessness or mental distress.
Van Orden pointed out shortcomings in TAP, referencing a report indicating only 52% of servicemembers attend TAP sessions on time. "Although good progress is being made," he stated, "only in the federal government would 52% be counted as a success." He stressed that improvements are necessary to prevent veterans from "falling through the cracks."
He recounted insights from a recent oversight trip where issues with leadership's commitment to TAP were discussed. According to Van Orden, when DoD leaders do not prioritize TAP, VA must compensate for gaps in reducing homelessness and unemployment among veterans.
The hearing also revisited past efforts from 2019 aimed at modernizing TAP. However, discrepancies between congressional intentions and DoD implementation have persisted. Van Orden revealed that nearly half of servicemembers do not start their transition process a year in advance as mandated by Congress.
To address these issues, Van Orden introduced legislation called the ETS Act last year and is currently working on further proposals to streamline processes and ensure accountability within DoD.
He concluded by expressing his desire for collaborative efforts between agencies and Congress to enhance support for all who serve in the military.
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