Overview
Title
To direct the Secretary of Defense to submit to Congress a report on transitioning military acquired credentials to the civilian workforce.
ELI5 AI
The SERTS Act is a plan to help soldiers use the skills they learned in the military to get jobs in the regular world, and it asks the Defense boss to tell Congress how many soldiers can already do this and what gets in their way.
Summary AI
H.R. 8511, known as the "Servicemember Equal Recognition and Transition Support Act" or the "SERTS Act," requires the Secretary of Defense to submit a report to Congress about how military-acquired credentials can be used in the civilian workforce. This report, due within 180 days of the Act's enactment, will examine the number of veterans who can transfer their military credentials to civilian jobs, highlight the certifications most used in civilian employment, and identify any obstacles veterans encounter when getting state recognition for their military skills. The Secretary of Veterans Affairs and the Secretary of Labor will assist in preparing this report to improve the effectiveness of existing credentialing programs for veterans.
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AnalysisAI
Summary of the Bill
H.R. 8511, introduced in the 118th Congress, aims to enhance the integration of military-acquired credentials into the civilian workforce. The bill, titled “Servicemember Equal Recognition and Transition Support Act” (SERTS Act), mandates that the Secretary of Defense submit a report to Congress detailing the transition process. This report should focus on how well military-trained skills and certifications are recognized by state-level civilian workforces, identifying commonly used certifications, and examining barriers faced by veterans in obtaining state certifications for military mechanical skills.
Significant Issues
One key issue is the absence of any allocated budget or resources for compiling the required report. This could lead to inefficiencies or delays. Furthermore, the language used in the bill is sometimes vague, particularly regarding the "other barriers" veterans face in transitioning their skills. This lack of specificity may hinder effective identification and resolution of issues.
Another point is the implicit definitions of certain terms, which might cause confusion. For instance, terms like "eligible professional credential" and "applicable licensing authority" are mentioned but not clearly defined, potentially leading to varying interpretations.
Additionally, the bill references a 2018 report titled “DoD Credentialing Utilization” but fails to outline how this new report should expand upon or differ from the earlier findings. This lack of clarity might impact the report’s effectiveness.
Potential Impacts on the Public
Broadly, this bill could facilitate smoother transitions for veterans from military to civilian employment, potentially reducing unemployment rates among veterans. By recognizing military credentials more effectively, states would allow veterans to enter the workforce quicker and with roles suited to their skills, benefiting the economy as a whole.
Impacts on Specific Stakeholders
Veterans: This bill has the potential to significantly ease the transition for veterans into civilian life, thus improving their employment outcomes and overall well-being. By addressing the barriers in recognizing military credentials, veterans may find job opportunities that align more closely with their skills and experience.
State Licensing Authorities: State licensing boards might need to adapt their processes to better accommodate military credentials. This could initially lead to increased administrative work or require changes in regulation, but it ultimately aims to streamline integration and enhance workforce readiness.
Department of Defense and Other Federal Agencies: These entities are tasked with gathering and analyzing data for the report. Without a specified budget, there might be impacts on their operations or resource allocation, potentially leading to burdens on these departments.
Overall, while the intent of the bill is positive and aims to recognize the skills of those who serve the country, attention to detail regarding budget allocation and definitions would enhance its effectiveness and clarity.
Issues
The bill mandates the Secretary of Defense to submit a report within 180 days, but it does not allocate any specific budget or resources for this task. This omission could lead to potential financial issues or inefficiencies in fulfilling the requirements outlined in Section 2.
The language used in Section 2(b)(3) is vague regarding the 'other barriers' veterans face in transferring military mechanical skills to State certifications. This lack of specificity could hinder the identification and resolution of significant barriers faced by veterans.
The bill implicitly defines terms such as 'eligible professional credential' and 'applicable licensing authority' in Section 2(c). Explicit definitions would enhance clarity and understanding of the bill's scope and intentions.
Section 2(a) references the "DoD Credentialing Utilization" report from 2018, but does not provide a clear connection or guidance on how this report should inform the new report, potentially impacting the report's effectiveness and usefulness.
The bill under Section 1 includes a short title but lacks substantive detail on the Act itself, which may cause confusion or misinterpretation about the contents and intentions of the legislation.
Sections
Sections are presented as they are annotated in the original legislative text. Any missing headers, numbers, or non-consecutive order is due to the original text.
1. Short title Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
The first section of the act specifies that it may be officially called the “Servicemember Equal Recognition and Transition Support Act” or simply the “SERTS Act.”
2. Report on the number of veterans who have their military acquired credentials recognized at the State-level for the civilian workforce Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
The section mandates that within 180 days from the law's enactment, the Secretary of Defense must work with the Secretaries of Veterans Affairs and Labor to report to Congress on how well military credentials are recognized for civilian jobs. The report should assess how many veterans successfully use their military credentials in civilian jobs, identify common certifications used in this transition, and examine any barriers veterans face in getting state certifications for military mechanical skills. Definitions for key terms like “applicable licensing authority,” “eligible professional credential,” and “State” are also provided.