SENSE OF CONGRESS AND REPORT REGARDING EMPLOYMENT OF VETERANS TO WORK ON MILITARY CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS.

SEC. 2805. SENSE OF CONGRESS AND REPORT REGARDING EMPLOYMENT OF VETERANS TO WORK ON MILITARY CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS.(a) Sense of Congress.—It is the sense of Congress that the Secretary of Defense should establish a Veterans to Work program to provide an opportunity for apprentices, who are also veterans, to work on military construction projects.(b) Report.—(1) Report required.—Not later than 180 days after enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the congressional defense committees a report that includes at a minimum the following:(A) An assessment of the number of unemployed apprentices, who are also veterans, with data presented by appropriate age groupings.(B) An evaluation of benefits to be derived from establishing a program to employ apprentices, who are also veterans, in military construction projects, including the impacts of the program on the following:(i) Workforce sustainability.(ii) Workforce skills enhancement.(iii) Short- and long-term cost-effectiveness.(iv) Improved veteran employment in sustainable wage fields.(C) Any challenges, difficulties, or problems projected in recruiting apprentices, who are also veterans.124 STAT. 4461(2) Consultation.—The Secretary of Defense shall prepare the report in consultation with the Secretary of Labor and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs.(c) Definitions.—In this section:(1) The term “apprentice” means an individual who is employed pursuant to, and individually registered in, a qualified apprenticeship program.(2) The term “qualified apprenticeship program” means an apprenticeship or other training program that qualifies as an employee welfare benefit plan, as defined in section 3(1) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (29 U.S.C. 1002(1)).(3) The term “veteran” has the meaning given such term in section 101(2) of title 38, United States Code.