Vet News: Veterans Job Bill Heads to President's Desk
WASHINGTON, D.C. – H.R. 4015, dubbed the "Jobs for Veterans Act," is on its way to the President’s desk after the House of Representatives and Senate approved it unanimously.
"This bill will dramatically improve job training programs for Veterans. America’s sons and daughters who serve in our military are resourceful, diligent, and loyal - characteristics that any employer would want in an employee," said its chief sponsor, Congressman Mike Simpson, chairman of the Veterans Affairs Subcommittee on Benefits.
The bill is designed to reform what its proponents consider an outdated system while enhancing current job-training programs. The legislation provides priority Veterans in any job-training program funded in whole or part by the Department of Labor. The bill also requires the assistant secretary of labor for Veterans’ Employment and Training to establish and implement a comprehensive performance accountability system to measure the performance of Veterans’ employment and training staff that is funded through a $200 million grant to the states.
Accountability is a major priority for the bill, Rep. Simpson maintains. It creates a program of financial and non-financial incentives administered by the states to recognize exemplary work of Job Service staff in placing Veterans in employment. States will also have more flexibility in managing the grants, which staff the Disabled Veterans Outreach Program and Local Veterans Employment Representative programs.
The bill also requires that the Secretary of Labor establish a one-stop job training and placement service for military personnel and Veterans. "Whether the service member is stationed at the 38th parallel in Korea, on a nuclear sub in the South Pacific, or at a base right here in the United States, this initiative will put jobs or job training right at their finger tips," Simpson said.
According to Simpson, about 215,000 service members separate from the military each year.
SOURCE: Press release from Congressman Simpson via Veterans News and Information Service
