WHEREAS:

The Bush Administration has proposed transferring the LVER (Local Veterans Employment Representatives) and DVOP (Disabled Veterans Outreach Program) from the Department of Labor to the Department of Veterans Affairs; and

WHEREAS:

The DVOP and LVER programs have been administered by the Department of Labor for many years; and

WHEREAS:

The one?stop service for providing job services is primarily driven by the Department of Labor and the Department of Health and Human Services, and the transfer of DVOP and LVER programs to the Department of Veterans Affairs would cause a fragmentation by the introduction of a third federal agency into providing job services; and

WHEREAS:

The Department of Labor has demonstrated its expertise in providing job services to veterans; and

WHEREAS:

There is no guarantee of funding for these programs in the Department of Veterans Affairs or the provision of adequate support staff to run these programs for more than one year; and

WHEREAS:

The Department of Veterans Affairs has an abysmal record in providing services to veterans, including a backlog of over 400,000 claims for veterans benefits; and

WHEREAS:

The Bush Administration has provided no substantial basis for transferring these programs based on data.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED:

That AFSCME oppose the break-up and transfer of the LVER and DVOP programs from the U. S. Department of Labor to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

SUBMITTED BY:

Ronald C. Alexander, President and Delegate
Vanessa Tolliver, Secretary/Treasurer and Delegate
OCSEA/AFSCME Local 11
Ohio

ADOPTED BY IEB