Bill > HR3615

This bill, titled the "Careers for Heroes Act," aims to improve the hiring of veterans within the federal government by requiring federal agencies, excluding the Department of Defense (DOD) and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), to create and implement plans over a five-year period to utilize their authority to hire veterans. Specifically, these plans must focus on using "veterans recruitment appointments," a hiring authority designed to streamline the process for veterans, and authorities granted under the "Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998," which provides certain hiring preferences and protections for veterans. The Director of the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), a government agency responsible for federal personnel management, will oversee these plans and ensure that a minimum of 15,000 qualified "covered veterans" are hired into existing vacancies during this five-year timeframe. "Covered veterans" are broadly defined to include those who are disabled, recently separated from service, served during wartime or in authorized campaigns, or participated in military operations for which an Armed Forces service medal was awarded. The bill also mandates that the OPM submit a report outlining its plan to implement these changes.