A HOUSE RESOLUTION encouraging the United States
Congress to enact legislation requiring the United States
Department of Veterans Affairs to certify all licensure
conductor trainee programs for GI Bill benefits as prescribed by
the Post 9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2010.
Whereas, Hoosier veterans returning home from Iraq and
Afghanistan will be seeking employment;
Whereas, Railroads typically are among Indiana's top
employers that hire veterans;
Whereas, Many returning veterans are eligible for monthly on-the-job training (OJT) stipends from their GI Bill under the Post 9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2010;
Whereas, All railroad conductor programs in Indiana
currently are considered "On the Job Training (OJT)" and fall
beneath the minimum length of training threshold;
Whereas, These federal standards disqualify veterans
training as railroad conductors from accessing their earned GI
Bill benefits;
Whereas, Effective January 1, 2012, all railroad conductor
positions must now be licensed under the federal 2008 Railroad
Safety Improvement Act;
Whereas, This new federal licensure standard qualifies all
conductor trainee programs in Indiana for benefits under the
Post 9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2010; and
Whereas, Until the United States Department of Veterans
Affairs acknowledges the new licensure criteria and adopts a
blanket program encompassing all railroad conductor trainee
programs, Hoosier veterans training as railroad conductors
will not be able to access their earned GI Bill benefits:
Therefore,
HR 1549/DI 84