House subcommittee hears split views on TAP overhaul in ETS Act

Chairman Van Orden convened the House Veterans' Affairs Subcommittee hearing to consider HR 33 87, the Enhancing the Transitioning Service Members Experience Act (ETS Act), a bill that would change how the Defense Department's Transition Assistance Program (TAP) delivers pre-separation counseling and post-separation support.

The measure would expand personalized TAP tracks, better integrate spouses, create a TAP resource website and authorize repeat participation in pre-separation counseling. Proponents said TAP already provides broad support but needs further modernization to meet the diverse needs of service members; DOD called TAP “best in class” while highlighting flexibility and individualized counseling.

The bill matters because TAP is the primary federal program that prepares service members for civilian life. Dr. Liz Clark, acting director of the Defense Support Service Center at the Department of Defense, told the subcommittee that TAP now provides “approximately 200,000 service members” annually and operates at “over 200 locations around the globe,” and that the program has moved from a one-size-fits-all model toward individualized tracks.

DOD testimony emphasized three priorities for TAP: effective counseling, service-member buy-in, and meaningful post-transition connections. Clark said TAP’s interagency design allows counselors to tailor services, and she described mandatory pre-separation counseling beginning 365 days before separation (730 days for retirees) as the current statutory balance between operational readiness and transition support.

The Department of Veterans Affairs expressed support for the ETS Act’s intent but raised “significant concerns” about specific sections that VA said would be problematic to implement without additional funding or clarification. Nick Pamperin, Executive Director of Veterans Readiness and Employment at the Department of Veterans Affairs, said VA “supports the bill’s overall intent, specifically the personalized support for at-risk service members and creating a TAP resource website,” but opposed provisions such as unannounced audits of pre-separation counseling and expanded after-hours counseling for military spouses because of resource and logistical constraints.

Members of Congress pressed both agencies on details. Representative Delia Ramirez and others urged TAP be culturally competent and trauma-informed and asked DOD whether individualized tracks could better serve women, LGBTQ+ service members and service members of color. Clark said individualized counseling paths and warm handovers to appropriate federal or local resources are part of current TAP practice and that TAP has evolved since the FY 2019 NDAA mandated more individualized approaches.

Several witnesses and lawmakers also asked the agencies to clarify how TAP serves reserve component members, who may experience multiple transitions. The Reserve Organization of America supported ETS Act provisions that create a tailored TAP track for reservists and allow repeat participation when appropriate.

The hearing closed with agencies and lawmakers agreeing to continue technical work. DOD and VA told the subcommittee they welcome follow-up conversations to resolve implementation details and resource questions before markup.

Follow-up: committee staff and agency witnesses agreed to provide technical details and implementation cost estimates to the subcommittee for suggestions and possible amendments.