§ 1144. Employment assistance, job training assistance, and other transitional services: Department of Labor
(a)
In General.—
(1)
The Secretary of Labor, in conjunction with the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of Homeland Security, and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, shall establish and maintain a program to furnish counseling, assistance in identifying employment and training opportunities, help in obtaining such employment and training, and other related information and services to members of the armed forces under the jurisdiction of the Secretary concerned who are being separated from active duty and the spouses of such members. Such services shall be provided to a member within the time periods provided under paragraph (3) of section
1142
(a) of this title, except that the Secretary concerned shall not provide preseparation counseling to a member described in paragraph (4)(A) of such section.
(b)
Elements of Program.—
In establishing and carrying out a program under this section, the Secretary of Labor shall do the following:
(2)
In providing information under paragraph (1), use experience obtained from implementation of the pilot program established under section 408 of Public Law 101–237.
(3)
Provide information concerning Federal, State, and local programs, and programs of military and veterans’ service organizations, that may be of assistance to such members after separation from the armed forces, including, as appropriate, the information and services to be provided under section
1142 of this title.
(4)
Inform such members that the Department of Defense and the Department of Homeland Security are required under section
1143
(a) of this title to provide proper certification or verification of job skills and experience acquired while on active duty that may have application to employment in the civilian sector for use in seeking civilian employment and in obtaining job search skills.
(5)
Provide information and other assistance to such members in their efforts to obtain loans and grants from the Small Business Administration and other Federal, State, and local agencies.
(6)
Provide information about the geographic areas in which such members will relocate after separation from the armed forces, including, to the degree possible, information about employment opportunities, the labor market, and the cost of living in those areas (including, to the extent practicable, the cost and availability of housing, child care, education, and medical and dental care).
(7)
Work with military and veterans’ service organizations and other appropriate organizations in promoting and publicizing job fairs for such members.
(8)
Provide information regarding the public and community service jobs program carried out under section
1143a of this title.
(c)
Participation.—
The Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Homeland Security shall encourage and otherwise promote maximum participation by members of the armed forces eligible for assistance under the program carried out under this section.
(d)
Use of Personnel and Organizations.—
In carrying out the program established under this section, the Secretaries may—
(1)
provide, as the case may be, for the use of disabled veterans outreach program specialists, local veterans’ employment representatives, and other employment service personnel funded by the Department of Labor to the extent that the Secretary of Labor determines that such use will not significantly interfere with the provision of services or other benefits to eligible veterans and other eligible recipients of such services or benefits;
(2)
use military and civilian personnel of the Department of Defense and the Department of Homeland Security;