Senate Democrats Fight For Veterans' Employment

Senate Democrats Wednesday championed a bill to put veterans back to work, as the veteran unemployment rate reached 12.1 percent in October.

“These men and women, who have served our country, literally put their lives on the line, endured many, many long periods of separation from their families in order to protect our country - but the problem right now is that these veterans have a higher unemployment rate than our civilian population,” Kagan said.

Because North Carolina has the third largest military footprint in the country, this is an especially pressing issue for Kagan’s constituents.

Sen. Bob Casey (D-Pa.) echoed Kagan’s sentiments and touted veterans skills and qualification that could benefit employers.

“These are individuals that possess enormous capability - great skills, the ability to complete very difficult assignments under the most excruciating pressure,” Casey said during a conference call with reporters. “Also that they have a discipline and a work ethic and a focus that you can rarely find in a broad cross-section of workers.”

Over the next two days, the Senate will look at the component of President Obama’s “American Jobs Act” aimed at spurring veterans’ employment growth.

Such a bill will provide a tax credit of up to $5,600 for hiring veterans and up to $9,600 for hiring wounded warriors. The bill will also implement a transition assistance program that will facilitate workshops for veterans meant to emphasize their skills that can be taken into civilian life.

Attached to this bill is another bill that Kagan is supportive of that will repeal the requirement that federal, state and local governments withhold three percent of federal contracts to ensure no outstanding tax links will be associated with that contract.

“If you withhold three percent out of a small business contract with the federal government, that will definitely have a significant impact on the cash flow to the small businesses,” Kagan explained.

While Veteran’s Day is only two days away, Kagan expressed hope that this bill will be passed by a bipartisan vote in time for the holiday.

“As we pause to honor our veterans and reflect on their sacrifices - we will do that on Friday- but getting them back to work truly needs to be a priority 365 days a year,” Kagan concluded. “There isn’t one veteran who should be standing in an unemployment line and I am going to fight for their jobs and their families just like they fought fought for our family and our freedom.”

Obama Moves Forward With Items To Help Jobless Vets

By Andrea Salazar

President Obama is using his executive authority to try and put veterans back to work with new tools to connect returning soldiers to civilian jobs.

Obama announced those tools during a Rose Garden speech today in which he called on Congress to pass two parts of his American Jobs Act - the Returning Heroes and Wounded Warriors Tax Credits.

“We’re here today to try to take some steps to better serve today’s veterans in a rough economy,” he said. “These are the kinds of Americans who every company should want to hire. And yet…more than 850,000 veterans remain unemployed.”

The White House initiatives include an online veteran’s jobs bank, a Veteran’s Gold Card that gives veterans six months of personalized counseling and case management and My Next Move For Veterans -  a website connecting veterans with civilian jobs.

“Having served and defended our nation, it just doesn’t make sense that many of these well-trained, highly-skilled and motivated individuals can’t find a job worthy of their incredible talent,” said Matt Flavin, director of Veterans and Wounded Warrior Policy, on the increasing number of unemployed post-9/11 veterans.

Aneesh Chopra, U.S. chief technology officer, said Monday that the initiatives would use existing resources and would reduce veteran unemployment.

“These particular technology initiatives are meant to reduce the time it takes for a veteran to find an available job,” Chopra said. “That would reduce the unemployment rate, even if it hasn’t increased the net number of new jobs.

Flavin, however, emphasized that the initiatives are “not a substitute for robust congressional action” that would create jobs.

The Senate will debate the tax credits this week. The measures would give businesses up to $5,600 for hiring veterans who have been unemployed for longer than six months and up to $9,600 for hiring disabled veterans.

House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) followed the president’s remarks by saying that the House passed a veterans job training bill in October, which Senate has yet to act on it.

Sen. Lieberman Shows Support At Rally To End ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’

By Justine Rellosa- Talk Radio News Service

Senator Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.) made an appearance at a rally Tuesday morning held by gay and lesbian veterans who hope to convince members of Congress to repeal "Don't Ask, Don't Tell," the controversial policy barring gay Americans from openly serving in the military, this year.

“The repeal of 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' is consistent with our country’s best values and it is consistent with the best interests of the United States military, and therefore, Americans' national security,” Lieberman said. “We have justice on our side ... we really can, and I believe will, repeal 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' this year.”

The veterans and Lieberman converged on the steps of the U.S. Capitol. Following the rally, the veterans planned on going inside the Congressional office buildings and talking to members and their staffs directly.

“We need to repeal 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' now ... this legislation is sending good people out of the military," said Joe Lazzerini, a member of the Army Reserve from Massachusetts. "I want to be able to continue serving my country, not because I’m gay, but because I do like serving my country.”

In the coming weeks, Congress will take on the Defense Authorization Bill. Opponents of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" are expected to attempt to add an amendment to repeal the policy.

House Republicans Urge Congress To Listen To Afghanistan Vets

By Laura Smith - University of New Mexico/Talk Radio News Service

A collection of Republican Representatives urged Congress Thursday to listen to soldiers who have served in Afghanistan.

“This is about Congress being informed about how our decisions affects those people out there fighting ... this is not a partisan deal,” said Hunter during a press appearance with the organizations Vets For Freedom. “This is about winning in Afghanistan and then bringing our troops home victoriously. That’s what this is all about.”

Rep. Joe Wilson (R-S.C.), who joined Hunter, said the appearance was held to back up President Obama, and not in opposition, noting that when Obama was campaigning for President he offered support to the families of those overseas.

“As he was campaigning, he made it very clear that the best way to protect American families was to defeat the terrorists in Afghanistan,” Wilson said.

Pete Hegseth, Chairman and Executive Director of Vets for Freedom, said his organization had one non-partisan message, and that was to “support and listen to the commanders on the ground.”

“You’ve appointed General McCrystal. He’s the smartest guy we’ve got on Afghanistan. He’s lead the counter-terrorism fight for the last five years in Iraq and Afghanistan. If there’s anybody that who knows how to kill bad guys, it’s General Stan McCrystal,” said Hegseth.

“Our message today on the Hill is: ‘Let’s give that commander the assets and resources he needs to finish the job. It’s a very simple message. Give him what he needs to finish the job,” Hegseth added.

Wounded Warriors can once again serve their country

By Suzia van Swol, University of New Mexico-Talk Radio News Service
At a news conference which took place on the steps of the Capitol, concerning the House Wounded Warriors Program, Speaker of the U.S. House, Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), Democratic Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD), and Members of Congress, announced the initial hiring to include nine of the twenty-five wounded warriors who will continue to serve America as staff of members of Congress. The U.S. House established the Wounded Warriors Program last year to provide employment for wounded and disabled veterans within the House of Representatives.

“For us this is a very, very proud day. But the Wounded Warrior program is only one part of the new direction congress; of our sustained commitment to meeting the needs of America’s veterans,” Pelosi said.

Hoyer stated that this program opens the doors of Congress to our Veterans when they return home, as they have served so deeply overseas, and they defended our country, they will now serve their country in another capacity. “It provides a unique opportunity for Veterans to pursue an interest in public service and gain valuable experience working on Capito Hill that will open doors for employment and future opportunities,” Hoyer said.

Dan Lasko, a fellow in the Wounded Warrior program, now works for Congresswoman Allyson Schwartz (D-PA). Lasko said that, “I saw this as a great opportunity once again to serve my country, and especially our nations hero’s.”