Manchin, Blunt Introduce Bipartisan HIRE Vets Act
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Joe Manchin (D-WV) and Roy Blunt (R-MO), members of the Congressional Veterans Jobs Caucus, recently introduced the Honoring Investments in Recruiting and Employing (HIRE) Veterans Act. The measure establishes a tiered recognition program within the Department of Labor to award employers based on their contributions to veteran employment.
“Over the past couple of years, many American businesses both small and large have joined the effort to hire veterans and are now doing their part in the fight to reduce our veterans’ unemployment rate,” Senator Manchin said. “This is tremendous news, but while many employers claim to be veteran-friendly, there is no nationally recognized standard for employers to aspire to, or for future veteran employees to seek out. This bill will change that, and it is one more step we can take toward making it easier for our service men and women to find opportunities for good-paying jobs. Five years ago, I was proud to form the bipartisan Congressional Veterans Jobs Caucus, which has worked diligently to reduce the veterans unemployment rate. I will continue to work with the caucus and my colleagues on this important issue.”
“America’s service members and veterans have the knowledge, skills, and leadership training that provide a tremendous asset to private-sector employers,” Senator Blunt said. “I’ve been encouraged to see employers in Missouri and across the nation working to expand opportunities for our military men and women as they transition to the civilian workforce. My hope is that this bill will help connect more veterans with the businesses that offer benefits and opportunities geared toward veterans’ hiring and career development, and give these businesses the recognition they deserve. I urge all of my colleagues to support this measure so we can take another step toward fulfilling our commitments to those who have served.”
The HIRE Vets Act would recognize qualified employers for meeting certain criteria designed to encourage veteran-friendly businesses, including: what percentage of new hires, or the overall workforce, is made up of veterans; what types of training and leadership development opportunities are made available; what other benefits and resources are offered, such as tuition assistance; and other factors that demonstrate a commitment to supporting veterans throughout their post-military careers. The recognition would come in the form of a Medallion Certificate, awarded at the platinum and gold levels. Manchin and Blunt introduced similar legislation in the previous congress.
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