TOPICS
TOPICS
Military bill to help vets move to civilian jobs
The House Veterans Affairs Economic Opportunity Subcommittee approved a bill this week designed to help military veterans transition into civilian jobs.
The measure (H.R. 5220) would authorize the Secretary of Labor to establish a pilot project to help soldiers transition from active duty to civilian employment.
The legislation, sponsored by Rep. Ginny Brown-Waite, R-Fla., calls for the Assistant Secretary for Veterans Employment and Training to identify at least 10 specialized military occupations that could lead to equivalent credentials in the civilian job market. The assistant secretary would then work with states to match up civilian and military skills and training in an effort to reduce employment barriers for servicemen.
Brown-Waite noted that unemployment rates tend to be higher among military veterans than they do among the general population.
"For far too long, employers have overlooked one of the most skilled sectors of the nation's workforce: military veterans," she said. The bill would authorize $1 million a year for fiscal 2007 through 2009 for the demonstration project.
The bill was reported favorably to the full committee, where members hope to see the legislation addressed before Memorial Day. Subcommittee Chairman John Boozman, R-Ark., said that the legislation has earned wide bipartisan support, and he does not foresee any problems with future passage.
COMMENTS
- Frank, I owe you an apology. My prior, distasteful and unwarranted e-mail about you was unnecessary and in poor taste. I guess I got carried away and I am sorry I spoke that way about you. So, I would ask your forgiveness for that and hope you accept this apology in good faith. I deeply and sincerely apologize for what I said. I definitely had no right to do that. Charlie Posted May 24, 2006 8:56 PM
- This mentality reflects the atmosphere surrounding the draft -- not an all volunteer military! There is no more reason to help a "vet" than there is to help out of work bankers, lawyers (politicians) or truck drivers. Today’s vets chose the military occupation and should not receive any aid in moving to the private sector when they want to leave the military -- we already overpay them tremendously! If this government subsidy continues into the private world for ex-military we should go back to a draft. Vets received the benefits because the country required them to forgo two years in their lives to serve the county. Today’s vets chose to serve the country because they generally cannot find any other job that pays as well and covers college, health insurance, pension and travel as well and requires such little work. Also remember that only about 10 percent of these people ever enter a battle zone or as the politicians who want the military vote say "stand in harms way." We should eliminate the military vote for federal and state offices because it represents a tremendous conflict of interest. We also should stop the military from sponsoring NASCARs worth millions of my tax revenues -- there is an Air Force car, a National Guard car and an Army car. I have not seen a Navy car -- I wonder why? Taxpayer Posted May 17, 2006 7:17 AM
- Oh Frank, oh Frank ...You obviously have never served your country and it's a darn good thing you didn't. Being the veteran that I am and having worked with hundreds (if not thousands) of fellow veterans during my civil service career, I truly hope you work for DoD and on a military installation. If so, I think you can count on life getting a tad bit harder for you when all the veterans see your slanderous post. Tsk, tsk, tsk...shame on you! GovExec.com reader Posted May 17, 2006 8:35 AM
