text: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
  
      This Act may be cited as the ``Veterans Conservation Corps 
  Authorization Act''.
  
  SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.
  
      In this Act:
              (1) Corps.--The term ``corps'' means the veterans 
          conservation corps established under section 3(a).
              (2) Eligible veteran.--The term ``eligible veteran'' means 
          a veteran (as the term is defined in section 101 of title 38, 
          United States Code) that, as of the date on which the 
          application for the corps is submitted--
                      (A) is unemployed;
                      (B) is not enrolled in any other Federal training 
                  program; and
                      (C) meets any other criteria that the Secretary 
                  determines to be appropriate.
              (3) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
          of the Interior.
  
  SEC. 3. VETERANS CONSERVATION CORPS.
  
      (a) Establishment.--The Secretary, in cooperation with the 
  Secretary of Veterans Affairs and the Secretary of Commerce, shall 
  establish a veterans conservation corps--
              (1) to provide training and employment to eligible 
          veterans;
              (2) to assist eligible veterans in the transition from 
          service in the Armed Forces to civilian life; and
              (3) to assist the Federal Government in maintaining Federal 
          land and water.
      (b) Employment of Eligible Veterans.--
              (1) Long-term employment.--
                      (A) Initial period.--The Secretary shall employ in 
                  the corps eligible veterans for a 1-year period to 
                  carry out work projects assigned under subsection (c).
                      (B) Extension of employment.--The Secretary may, on 
                  a case-by-case basis and as the Secretary considers 
                  appropriate, extend the employment of an eligible 
                  veteran under subparagraph (A) for an additional 1-year 
                  period.
              (2) Temporary employment for student veterans.--
                      (A) In general.--The Secretary may establish a 
                  program in the corps for the short-term employment of 
                  eligible veterans that are attending institutions of 
                  higher education.
                      (B) Terms.--The employment of an eligible veteran 
                  under subparagraph (A) shall not exceed 16 weeks in 
                  total.
              (3) Compensation.--An eligible veteran employed by the 
          corps under paragraph (1) or (2) shall receive a stipend and 
          living allowance in an amount to be determined by the 
          Secretary, in consultation with Secretary of Veteran Affairs.
      (c) Work Projects.--
              (1) Assignment.--Each eligible veteran employed under 
          subsection (b)(1) shall be assigned to a work project that--
                      (A) furthers the purposes described in subsection 
                  (a); and
                      (B) falls within 1 or more of the following 
                  categories:
                              (i) Transportation improvements, such as 
                          improving wilderness trails.
                              (ii) Erosion control.
                              (iii) Landscape and recreation.
                              (iv) Habitat protection and restoration, 
                          including removal of invasive species.
                              (v) Data collection.
                              (vi) Any other specific project category 
                          identified under paragraph (2).
              (2) Specification of additional project categories.--Not 
          later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, 
          the Secretary and the Secretary of Commerce shall identify 
          additional project categories that the Secretary and the 
          Secretary of Commerce consider appropriate to further the 
          purposes described in subsection (a).
              (3) Leveraging of military skills.--To the maximum extent 
          practicable, an eligible veteran in the corps shall be assigned 
          to a work project under paragraph (1) that enables the eligible 
          veteran to use the skills that the eligible veteran developed 
          as a member of the Armed Forces.
              (4) Development and supervision of work projects.--The 
          Secretary and the Secretary of Commerce shall develop and 
          supervise the work projects under the corps that relate to the 
          respective jurisdiction of the Secretary and the Secretary.
      (d) Education and Training.--
              (1) In general.--The Secretary, in cooperation with the 
          Secretary of Veterans Affairs and the Secretary of Commerce, 
          shall establish a program as part of the corps to provide to 
          eligible veterans employed under the corps any education or 
          training that is necessary to enable the eligible veterans to 
          carry out the work projects assigned under subsection (c)(1).
              (2) Use of existing facilities.--To the maximum extent 
          practicable, the Secretary, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, 
          and the Secretary of Commerce shall use existing facilities of 
          the Federal Government to provide the education and training 
          required under paragraph (1).
target: Veterans Conservation Corps Authorization Act - Directs the Secretary of the Interior to establish a veteran conservation corps (corps) to: (1) provide training and employment to unemployed veterans not enrolled in any other federal training program, (2) assist veterans in their transition from military service to civilian life, and (3) assist the government in maintaining federal land and water. Directs the Secretary to employ such veterans for a one-year period, with an option for employment for an additional one-year period.
  
  Allows the Secretary to establish a corps program for the short-term employment of veterans attending institutions of higher education.
  
  Directs the Secretary to establish a program to provide to such veterans any education or training necessary to carry out assigned work projects.
feat_title: A bill to direct the Secretary of Interior to establish a veterans conservation corps, and for other purposes.