TBR--Washington, D.C.
United States Senate Democratic
Steering and Outreach Committee
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Mark Begich (D-Alaska), Chairman of the Senate Democratic Steering and Outreach Committee, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Chair of the U.S. Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee, U.S. Senator Jon Tester (D-Mont.), U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) and U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-Wash.) joined veterans and veterans’ service organizations from around the country on a conference call to discuss the VOW to Hire Heroes Act of 2011. The bill, which offers a tax credit for companies that hire unemployed veterans and provides job training skills for all service members transitioning to civilian life, is fully paid for.
“Fully honoring our commitment to our veterans means both while they are serving abroad and when they return home – and putting our veterans back to work is a critical part of that promise,” said Senator Begich. “Helping small businesses hire unemployed veterans is just common sense. It eases our veterans’ transition back to civilian life, helps our small businesses, and grows our economy and that why I’m pleased to see so much support for this program.”
“For too long, at the end of their career we patted our veterans on the back for their service and then pushed them out into the job market alone,” said Senator Murray. “The VOW to Hire Heroes Act will give our veterans the job skills to get their foot in the door and incentivize employers to make sure that door is open to them.”
“Veterans risked their lives for this country and it’s our responsibility to make sure they have access to jobs and quality health care when they come home,” said Senator Tester. “It’s our responsibility to make that transition as seamless as possible by connecting veterans with businesses. This bill goes a long way in fulfilling that responsibility and I look forward to the jobs it will create for America’s veterans.”
“Today, the unemployment rate for young veterans is nearly 22 percent—which is simply unacceptable,” said Senator Brown. “Our commitment to our service members shouldn’t end when they return home as skilled, experienced civilians. From leadership experience to technical and scientific skills, veterans are critical to our nation’s economic competitiveness.”
“No veteran should stand at the back of any unemployment line. When we say ‘support our troops’ that can't just be lip-service, we must support them through action,” said Senator Stabenow. “Congress shouldn’t just pass a resolution honoring Veterans Day this week—it should take real action to help America’s one million unemployed veterans get back to work.”
The discussion emphasized Democrats’ commitment to create jobs for veterans and ensure a seamless transition from service in the military to meaningful employment at home.
The unemployment rate for veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan has risen to 12.1% over the last year, representing a quarter of a million veterans. Of those, two thirds are younger than 35 years old. Additionally, it is the youngest group of veterans having the hardest time finding work. In 2010, young male veterans who served during the Gulf War-era II had an unemployment rate of 21.9%.
The VOW to Hire Heroes Act would boost employment opportunities for veterans and help address these issues. Key provisions include:
• Tax credit of up to $5,600 for hiring veterans who have been looking for a job for more than six months, as well as a $2,400 credit for veterans who are unemployed for more than 4 weeks, but less than 6 months.
• Tax credit of up to $9,600 for hiring veterans with service-connected disabilities who have been looking for a job for more than six months.
• Makes the Transition Assistance Program (TAP)—an interagency workshop coordinated by Departments of Defense, Labor and Veterans Affairs—mandatory for service members moving on to civilian life to help them secure 21st Century jobs through resume writing workshops and career counseling.
• Expands education and training opportunities for older veterans by providing 100,000 unemployed veterans of past eras and wars with up to 1-year of additional Montgomery GI benefits for education or training programs at community colleges or technical schools.
• Provides disabled veterans up to 1-year of additional Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment Benefits.
• Allows service members to begin the federal employment process prior to separation in order to facilitate a truly seamless transition from the military to jobs at VA, Homeland Security, or the many other federal agencies in need of our veterans.
For more information on the VOW to Hire Heroes Act of 2011, visit http://democrats.senate.gov/news/.
About the Senate Democratic Steering & Outreach Committee
The Senate Democratic Steering and Outreach Committee is dedicated to fostering dialogue between Senate Democrats and community leaders from across the nation. Each year, the Steering Committee hosts several meetings with advocates, policy experts, and elected officials to discuss key priorities and enlist their help in the development of the Democratic agenda in the Senate. We are committed to serving as a liaison between Senate Democratic offices and advocacy groups and intergovernmental organizations. The Steering Committee is one of three Democratic Leadership Committees in the Senate. The Steering Committee is chaired by Senator Mark Begich (AK) and vice chaired by Senator Daniel K. Akaka (HI).
CONTACTS:
Begich: Julie Hasquet, (907) 258-9304
Murray: Matt McAlvanah, (202) 224-2939
Tester: Andrea Helling, (202) 228-0371
Brown: Meghan Dubyak, (202) 224-3978
Stabenow: Cullen Schwarz, (202) 379-6775
DSOC: Betsy McManus, (202) 228-1805
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United States Senate Democratic
Steering and Outreach Committee
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Mark Begich (D-Alaska), Chairman of the Senate Democratic Steering and Outreach Committee, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Chair of the U.S. Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee, U.S. Senator Jon Tester (D-Mont.), U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) and U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-Wash.) joined veterans and veterans’ service organizations from around the country on a conference call to discuss the VOW to Hire Heroes Act of 2011. The bill, which offers a tax credit for companies that hire unemployed veterans and provides job training skills for all service members transitioning to civilian life, is fully paid for.
“Fully honoring our commitment to our veterans means both while they are serving abroad and when they return home – and putting our veterans back to work is a critical part of that promise,” said Senator Begich. “Helping small businesses hire unemployed veterans is just common sense. It eases our veterans’ transition back to civilian life, helps our small businesses, and grows our economy and that why I’m pleased to see so much support for this program.”
“For too long, at the end of their career we patted our veterans on the back for their service and then pushed them out into the job market alone,” said Senator Murray. “The VOW to Hire Heroes Act will give our veterans the job skills to get their foot in the door and incentivize employers to make sure that door is open to them.”
“Veterans risked their lives for this country and it’s our responsibility to make sure they have access to jobs and quality health care when they come home,” said Senator Tester. “It’s our responsibility to make that transition as seamless as possible by connecting veterans with businesses. This bill goes a long way in fulfilling that responsibility and I look forward to the jobs it will create for America’s veterans.”
“Today, the unemployment rate for young veterans is nearly 22 percent—which is simply unacceptable,” said Senator Brown. “Our commitment to our service members shouldn’t end when they return home as skilled, experienced civilians. From leadership experience to technical and scientific skills, veterans are critical to our nation’s economic competitiveness.”
“No veteran should stand at the back of any unemployment line. When we say ‘support our troops’ that can't just be lip-service, we must support them through action,” said Senator Stabenow. “Congress shouldn’t just pass a resolution honoring Veterans Day this week—it should take real action to help America’s one million unemployed veterans get back to work.”
The discussion emphasized Democrats’ commitment to create jobs for veterans and ensure a seamless transition from service in the military to meaningful employment at home.
The unemployment rate for veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan has risen to 12.1% over the last year, representing a quarter of a million veterans. Of those, two thirds are younger than 35 years old. Additionally, it is the youngest group of veterans having the hardest time finding work. In 2010, young male veterans who served during the Gulf War-era II had an unemployment rate of 21.9%.
The VOW to Hire Heroes Act would boost employment opportunities for veterans and help address these issues. Key provisions include:
• Tax credit of up to $5,600 for hiring veterans who have been looking for a job for more than six months, as well as a $2,400 credit for veterans who are unemployed for more than 4 weeks, but less than 6 months.
• Tax credit of up to $9,600 for hiring veterans with service-connected disabilities who have been looking for a job for more than six months.
• Makes the Transition Assistance Program (TAP)—an interagency workshop coordinated by Departments of Defense, Labor and Veterans Affairs—mandatory for service members moving on to civilian life to help them secure 21st Century jobs through resume writing workshops and career counseling.
• Expands education and training opportunities for older veterans by providing 100,000 unemployed veterans of past eras and wars with up to 1-year of additional Montgomery GI benefits for education or training programs at community colleges or technical schools.
• Provides disabled veterans up to 1-year of additional Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment Benefits.
• Allows service members to begin the federal employment process prior to separation in order to facilitate a truly seamless transition from the military to jobs at VA, Homeland Security, or the many other federal agencies in need of our veterans.
For more information on the VOW to Hire Heroes Act of 2011, visit http://democrats.senate.gov/news/.
About the Senate Democratic Steering & Outreach Committee
The Senate Democratic Steering and Outreach Committee is dedicated to fostering dialogue between Senate Democrats and community leaders from across the nation. Each year, the Steering Committee hosts several meetings with advocates, policy experts, and elected officials to discuss key priorities and enlist their help in the development of the Democratic agenda in the Senate. We are committed to serving as a liaison between Senate Democratic offices and advocacy groups and intergovernmental organizations. The Steering Committee is one of three Democratic Leadership Committees in the Senate. The Steering Committee is chaired by Senator Mark Begich (AK) and vice chaired by Senator Daniel K. Akaka (HI).
CONTACTS:
Begich: Julie Hasquet, (907) 258-9304
Murray: Matt McAlvanah, (202) 224-2939
Tester: Andrea Helling, (202) 228-0371
Brown: Meghan Dubyak, (202) 224-3978
Stabenow: Cullen Schwarz, (202) 379-6775
DSOC: Betsy McManus, (202) 228-1805
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It was an honor to be involved with this ground breaking bill! Veterans are an intricate part of our society and should be treated with honor and respect! L. Bradford Editor-in-Chief TBR
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