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United States · Law · S

S. 1021 (105th)

Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998

enactedUnited States· United States Congress· EN

Introduced

16 July 1997

Last action

31 October 1998 · President

Status

Became Public Law No: 105-339.

Sponsors

Sen. Hagel, Chuck [R-NE], Sen. Cleland, Max [D-GA], Sen. Hutchinson, Tim [R-AR], Sen. Dorgan, Byron L. [D-ND], Sen. Burns, Conrad R. [R-MT], Sen. Roth Jr., William V. [R-DE], Sen. Faircloth, Lauch [R-NC], Sen. Helms, Jesse [R-NC], Sen. Moynihan, Daniel Patrick [D-NY], Sen. Landrieu, Mary L. [D-LA], Sen. Reid, Harry [D-NV], Sen. Campbell, Ben Nighthorse [R-CO], Sen. McCain, John [R-AZ], Sen. Biden, Joseph R., Jr. [D-DE], Sen. Lott, Trent [R-MS], Sen. Kerrey, J. Robert [D-NE], Sen. Inhofe, James M. [R-OK], Sen. Warner, John [R-VA], Sen. Daschle, Thomas A. [D-SD], Sen. Murray, Patty [D-WA], Sen. Torricelli, Robert G. [D-NJ], Sen. Frist, William H. [R-TN], Sen. Hutchison, Kay Bailey [R-TX], Sen. Bingaman, Jeff [D-NM], Sen. DeWine, Mike [R-OH], Sen. Snowe, Olympia J. [R-ME], Sen. Robb, Charles S. [D-VA]

Subjects

Defence, Aviation, Postal service

Source updated

7 April 2025

Defence · Aviation · Postal service

Official sourceDownload fileView documentsShare

Summary

Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1997 - Provides that a veterans' preference eligible (PE) or an individual who has been separated from military service under honorable conditions after three or more years of active duty shall not be denied the opportunity to compete for a vacant position within a Federal agency, either in the competitive or excepted service, by reason of: (1) not having acquired competitive status; or (2) not being an employee of such agency. Requires each agency to notify the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) and U.S. employment offices of each vacant position for which competition is restricted to employees or individuals having competitive service. Requires OPM, at least every two years, to submit to the Congress and the President a report detailing for the prior period the number of such vacant positions in the Federal Government and the number of PE or separated individuals referred or appointed to such positions. Directs OPM to establish and keep current a comprehensive list of all announcements of vacant positions within each agency for which competition is so restricted. Applies such PE requirements to the Postal Service, with exceptions for certain collective bargaining positions. Prohibits, during a Federal reduction in force (RIF), a position occupied by a PE from being placed in a single-position competitive level if the PE is qualified to perform the essential functions of any other position at the same grade in the competitive area (defined as being able to perform such functions within 150 days). Entitles a PE whose current or latest performance rating is at least fully successful to be assigned during a RIF to any position for which he or she is qualified that is within: (1) the PE's commuting area and is currently occupied by an individual placed in such position within six months before the RIF; or (2) the PE's competitive area and is not more than three grades below the position from which the PE was released (with an exception). Authorizes a PE to challenge the classification of any position to which the PE asserts assignment rights in an action before the Merit Systems Protection Board. Requires each agency to establish an agency-wide priority placement program to facilitate employment placement for PEs who are scheduled to be or who are separated from service due to a RIF and who have received a rating of at least fully successful at their last performance evaluation or who occupy positions excluded from a performance appraisal system. Allows an individual to designate a different local commuting area in order to exercise reemployment rights if there are no alternative positions within the most local area. Requires an agency to place qualified present and former employees in retention order by PE subgroup and tenure group. Makes an individual eligible for reemployment for two years after a RIF. Provides conditions under which an individual loses eligibility for such reemployment. Provides administrative and judicial redress and remedies for any PE or other individual who alleges that an agency has violated such individual's veterans' preference or related rights. Extends the veterans' preference to: (1) employment within the General Accounting Office; (2) appointments made to the Office of the President (with an exception when the President certifies that the position is a confidential, policy-making, or political position); and (3) appointments to the legislative branch (with specified exclusions). Establishes administrative remedies and procedures for PE and separated individuals with respect to appointments within the legislative or judicial branches of the Federal Government. Requires the Judicial Conference of the United States to prescribe regulations to provide for: (1) veterans' preference in the consideration of applicants for employment, and in the conduct of any RIF, within the judicial branch; and (2) redress procedures for alleged violations of any rights of such individuals. Requires the Conference to: (1) consult with specified congressionally chartered veterans' service organizations when considering such regulations; and (2) provide specified congressional committees with a copy of such regulations. Extends the veterans' preference to RIFs in the Federal Aviation Administration. Includes among PE veterans those who served during a military operation in a qualified hazardous duty area under requirements prescribed by the Secretary of Defense. Prohibits any employee authorized to take personnel actions from knowingly taking, or failing to take, any personnel action if such taking or failure would violate a PE requirement.

This text is taken from the official record. PoliticalRepo does not editorialize.

Timeline

  1. 16 July 1997

    Introduced

    Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S7603-7604)

    Source: IntroReferral

  2. 16 July 1997

    Introduced

    Introduced in Senate

    Source: IntroReferral

  3. 16 July 1997

    Introduced

    Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans Affairs.

    Source: IntroReferral

  4. 24 March 1998

    Committee

    Committee on Veterans Affairs. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 105-949.

    Source: Committee

  5. 28 July 1998

    Reported

    Committee on Veterans Affairs. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.

    Source: Committee

  6. 21 September 1998

    Calendars

    Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 592.

    Source: Calendars

  7. 21 September 1998

    Reported

    Committee on Veterans Affairs. Reported to Senate by Senator Specter with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 105-340.

    Source: Committee

  8. 21 September 1998

    Reported

    Committee on Veterans Affairs. Reported to Senate by Senator Specter with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 105-340.

    Source: Committee

  9. 5 October 1998

    Floor

    Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent. (consideration: CR S11506-11509)

    Source: Floor

  10. 5 October 1998

    Passed

    Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.

    Source: Floor

  11. 6 October 1998

    Floor

    Held at the desk.

    Source: Floor

  12. 6 October 1998

    Floor

    Message on Senate action sent to the House.

    Source: Floor

  13. 6 October 1998

    Floor

    Received in the House.

    Source: Floor

  14. 8 October 1998

    Passed

    Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

    Source: Floor

  15. 8 October 1998

    Passed

    On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote.

    Source: Floor

  16. 8 October 1998

    Passed

    Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote.

    Source: Floor

  17. 8 October 1998

    Floor

    DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate.

    Source: Floor

  18. 8 October 1998

    Floor

    Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H10185-10190)

    Source: Floor

  19. 8 October 1998

    Floor

    Mr. Mica moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.

    Source: Floor

  20. 20 October 1998

    Floor

    Presented to President.

    Source: Floor

  21. 20 October 1998

    President

    Presented to President.

    Source: President

  22. 31 October 1998

    Became law

    Became Public Law No: 105-339.

    Source: President

  23. 31 October 1998

    Became law

    Signed by President.

    Source: BecameLaw

  24. 31 October 1998

    President

    Signed by President.

    Source: President

Votes

No vote records are attached yet.

Versions

Documents

13 official files

Enrolled Bill (text)

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  • Enrolled Bill (text)

    Enrolled Bill · EN

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  • Enrolled Bill (PDF)

    Enrolled Bill · EN

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  • Public Law (text)

    Public Law · EN · 31 October 1998

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  • Public Law (PDF)

    Public Law · EN · 31 October 1998

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  • Engrossed in Senate (text)

    Engrossed in Senate · EN · 5 October 1998

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  • Engrossed in Senate (PDF)

    Engrossed in Senate · EN · 5 October 1998

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  • Passed Senate amended

    summary · EN · 5 October 1998

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  • Reported to Senate (text)

    Reported to Senate · EN · 21 September 1998

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  • Reported to Senate (PDF)

    Reported to Senate · EN · 21 September 1998

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  • Reported to Senate with amendment(s)

    summary · EN · 21 September 1998

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  • Introduced in Senate (text)

    Introduced in Senate · EN · 16 July 1997

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  • Introduced in Senate (PDF)

    Introduced in Senate · EN · 16 July 1997

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  • Introduced in Senate

    summary · EN · 16 July 1997

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