Veterans Job Caucus | Bluefield Daily Telegraph

With combat operations coming to an end in Iraq, and with American forces expected to come home soon from Afghanistan, the region and the nation must be prepared to meet the needs of our returning veterans. 

That’s why we are seeing a continued push on the local level for a new veterans clinic in Mercer County. But many veterans returning home from Iraq and Afghanistan will also be searching for new employment. That’s why a new bipartisan Senate Veterans Jobs Caucus announced last week by U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., and U.S. Sen. Mark Kirk, R-Ill, is welcomed. The goal of the caucus is simple. The group will work to decrease the unemployment rate of the nation’s 857,000 veterans who are currently looking for employment. Sen. Jon Tester, D-Mont., has also joined the caucus. 

The Senate Veterans Jobs Caucus will also work to reduce unemployment among members of the National Guard and Reserve, who have faced similar challenges in finding work, according to Manchin. 

“As you know, one of the few issues that unifies Congress is giving veterans the benefits and respect they have earned and deserve,” Manchin wrote in a letter last week to his Senate colleagues, encouraging them to join the caucus. “We have a great opportunity to come together and show that we value the skills, talents, and abilities of our veterans and to show that they will always have this country’s gratitude.” 

In order to address employment related issues among veterans, the caucus has identified four objectives: • Hold monthly member or staff-level events to share information on veterans employment initiatives. 

• Monitor veterans employment issues by working with constituents, government and ser vice organizations to help provide solutions. 

• Develop a robust Senate “I Hire Veterans” program, which will invite senators to display the “I Hire Veterans” logo if they have a veteran or a current ser ving member of the National Guard and Reserves on their personal, state or committee staff. 

• Work with local, state and national employers on a comparable “I Hire Veterans” program. 

A number of veterans groups have already endorsed the Senate Veterans Jobs Caucus, including the American Veterans (AMVETS), Army Aviation Association of America (AAAA), Association of the United States Army (AUSA), Association of the United States Navy (AUSN), Fleet Reser ve Association, Military Officers Association of America (MOAA), Military Order of the Purple Heart (MOPH), National Association for Uniformed Services (NAUS), National Guard Association of the United States (NGAUS), National Military Family Association (NMFA), Non Commissioned Officers Association of the United States of America and the Retired Enlisted Association (TREA). 

Although Congress is currently a house divided by partisan politics, it is our hope that helping our returning veterans is something that all lawmakers can agree on. We applaud Manchin, Kirk and Tester for advancing this important caucus. 

As a nation and a region, we must do everything in our power to accommodate and assist our veterans. 

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The Senate Veterans Jobs Caucus will also work to reduce unemployment among members of the National Guard and Reserve, who have faced similar challenges in finding work ... 

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