Honoring Investments in Recruiting and Employing American Military Veterans Act of 2016

Floor Speech

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Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 3286, as amended, the Honoring Investments in Recruiting and Employing American Military Veterans Act of 2016, or the HIRE Vets Act. I thank my colleague and fellow Inland Empire and California Representative Colonel Paul Cook for introducing this innovative bill.

The HIRE Vets Act directs the Department of Labor's Veterans' Employment and Training Services, otherwise known as DOL VETS, to establish a HIRE Vets Medallion Program. This program will solicit voluntary information from private sector employers who successfully recruit, employ, and retain veterans, and allow these employers to display on their marketing materials a recognized medallion as a symbol of their commendable hiring practices. Employers who provide community and charitable services supporting veterans will also be eligible to display a HIRE Vets Medallion.

Hiring veterans isn't just the right thing to do from a moral perspective; it also makes good business sense. The men and women who served in our military received invaluable training and experience that has been proven to help them thrive in postmilitary employment, whether in the public or private sectors.

Fortunately, we have been seeing encouraging trends in veterans' employment. Thanks to the hard work of DOL VETS, combined with efforts within the private sector and Federal and State governments, the veterans' unemployment rate in October was 4.3 percent. That is lower than the national unemployment rate, which was 4.9 percent. This continues a 24-month trend, with only a single exception.

We can all be very proud of the progress we have made in making sure more veterans are able to find quality, good-paying jobs upon transitioning into civilian life. That said, we want to remain vigilant to make sure that the men and women who signed up to defend our Nation enjoy opportunities for growth and prosperity when they return home.

Again, I want to thank my colleague, Colonel Cook, for offering this legislation to provide a uniform, recognizable medallion to show our appreciation to companies that hire and retain veteran employees. I am proud to be a cosponsor of this bill and to stand in support of its passage today.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

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Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers. I yield myself such time as I may consume.

It just strikes me, Colonel Cook, I know we have named this act the HIRE Vets Act, and knowing of your service in Vietnam, and so many of the Vietnam veterans that live in the Inland Empire, we could also call this the Welcome Home Act because nothing is more welcoming than a job.

I share your passion for caring about our veterans in the Inland Empire, and in California, of course, all over our country, and I certainly honor your service to our country.

So I urge all my colleagues to support--to join me in passing H.R. 3286, and I look forward to seeing those medallions in many businesses across your district and mine in California.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

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