Washington, D.C. – Congressman Dan Lungren on Wednesday voted to support employment and training services for veterans, in favor of HR-2433, the “Veterans Opportunity to Work Act of 2011.”
Lungren, (R-Gold River), said: “Today, I voted to help America’s veterans find jobs. Our men and women in uniform – past and present – are all that is good with America. When they leave the battlefield, transitioning back to civilian life, we must do all we can to help them with this important life change.”
HR-2433 passed the House on a 418-6 vote Wednesday and is now headed to the Senate. Robert Ehlert, Lungren’s senior field representative said the bill “creates or modifies programs that provide employment and training services to veterans and service members separating from active duty. The bill will also make changes to programs that offer home loan guarantees, ambulance services and pension payment to qualifying individuals.”
Lungren said the bill “provides resources to our troops so they may feel a sense of security as they become productive members of society. I am happy to support this bill and our nation’s Veterans.”
HR-2433 “has four pillars,” Ehlert said. First is “Expanding Education and Training,” temporarily providing “100,000 unemployed veterans of past eras and wars with up to one year of Montgomery GI Bill benefits to qualify for jobs in high-demand sectors, from trucking to technology.”
The bill also would improve the “Transition Assistance Program,” making it “mandatory for most service members transitioning to civilian status, upgrading career counseling options, and resume writing skills, as well as ensuring the program is tailored for the 21st Century job market.”
Ehlert said the bill also would simplify licensing and certification, and “will break down the barriers for transitioning service members to find meaningful employment in their military occupation.”
The bill would also protect the National Guard and Reserve, 14 percent of whom are currently unemployed, Ehlert said.
Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
