By MARY CAROLINE POWERS

PEF has taken its fight against privatization to the nation's capital.
Dennis Beagle, a PEF Executive Board member and PEF co-chair of the state Department of Labor's statewide Labor-Management Committee, testified in late October before a U.S. House subcommittee considering a proposal to privatize some veterans' services.

Several suggested legislative initiatives for veterans' services for the 21st century being considered by the Subcommittee on Veterans' Benefits, support the notion that a variety of competing employment and training services, both public and private, can serve veterans.

"PEF feels that this concept will fragment and confuse a national program aimed at common goals," Beagle told committee members.
He argued for Congress and the federal administration to retain control of the process of providing assistance to veterans

"Veterans returning to the workforce need a standard program of assistance in all 50 states under a uniform administration. If some programs are outsourced and others are administered by states, localities or other entities, a very confusing array of options will confront our veterans," Beagle testified. "By not outsourcing, we can let veterans continue to serve veterans."

The testimony phase was triggered by a report issued in January that was critical of Veterans' Employment and Training Service (VETS) and suggested replacing both local veterans employment representatives (LVERs) and disabled veterans outreach program specialists (DVOPs), with a case manager and facilitator from the private sector. Both LVER and DVOP positions in New York are represented by PEF.

Beagle recommended enhancing the LVER and DVOP programs with incentives and technical innovations, rather than discarding them.
On the issue of technological enhancements, such as using computer access to create "virtual" job fairs, Beagle urged caution. He drove home the idea that there is no substitute for personal service on a continuing basis for the veteran population transitioning to civilian life.

Some of the initiatives being considered are endorsed by PEF. They include a program that would "market" veterans to employers on a sustained basis, and another that would provide financial assistance to returning veterans to off set the cost of testing for state and local licensing required for a variety of jobs.

Testimony also included statements from James Hartman, NYS Director for Veterans Employment and Training, administered by the Department of Labor, and PEF member John Hall, who works for the state Labor Department in its New York City Disabled Veterans' Outreach Program.

Follow-up hearings are expected to be scheduled for late December or January as the subcommittee continues to develop veterans' employment and training legislation. Beagle said he will continue to be involved in the process.

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