H.R. 1242: Hire Veterans Act

This bill, known as the Hire Veterans Act, aims to establish a pilot program to enhance employment opportunities for veterans within Federal land management agencies. Here are the key components of the bill:

1. Purpose of the Pilot Program

The main objective of the pilot program is to identify and refer veterans for potential job openings at Federal land management agencies. This is intended to facilitate the hiring process and ensure that veterans are considered for positions that match their skills and experiences.

2. Key Definitions

Several terms are defined within the bill:

• Director: Refers to the Director of the Office of Personnel Management.
• Federal land management agency: Includes agencies such as the Forest Service, National Park Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Bureau of Land Management, and Bureau of Reclamation.
• Noncompetitive appointment: An appointment made without adhering to the typical competitive hiring processes.
• Veteran: Defined as per the relevant U.S. code.

3. Program Establishment

Within one year of the bill's enactment, the Director, while consulting with the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, the Secretary of the Interior, and the Secretary of Agriculture, will establish the pilot program. This program will focus on recruiting veterans who possess relevant strengths and abilities for employment in Federal land management roles.

4. Public Information and Application Process

The Director is responsible for publicizing the pilot program on the Office of Personnel Management's website. Veterans interested in participating must submit an application to the Director, providing the requested information.

5. Testing for Strengths and Abilities

Within 180 days of the bill's passage, guidance will be issued to develop individual tests that assess veterans' capabilities in specific career fields within Federal land management. The areas covered may include:

• Outdoor recreation management
• Management of volunteers
• Fire planning and analysis
• Firefighting
• Aviation
• Forest engineering
• Landscape restoration
• Ecology and biology
• Geospatial data analysis

6. Appointment and Referral Process

After a veteran has undergone testing, if they demonstrate the necessary strengths and abilities, the head of a Federal land management agency can make a noncompetitive career-conditional appointment to a job opening. If they do not meet the required standards, that veteran may be referred to a training program to help them improve their skills.

7. Reporting Requirements

The Director must submit reports on the pilot program to Congress annually for five years, beginning one year after the program's initiation. These reports will detail the program's progress and effectiveness in recruiting veterans.

8. Termination of the Pilot Program

The pilot program will end five years after it is established unless further actions are taken to extend it.

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