Let's Continue Progress Made to Better Lives of Veterans

Floor Speech

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Mr. BUDD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak on H.R. 433, the Veterans' Entry to Apprenticeship Act, which I introduced 2 weeks ago.

While a lot of progress has been made over the past few years in reducing the number of unemployed veterans in America, the latest data shows that around 370,000 remain unemployed as of 2017.

Last year, the House of Representatives passed several bills that improved the lives of our veterans specifically related to healthcare. My bill would keep this momentum going.

Here is the short of it: Right now, veterans are not allowed to use their GI Bill benefits to cover the cost of Department of Labor-approved pre- apprenticeship programs, such as training in welding or training in carpentry. This bill would change that and allow those who have served our country to learn skills that will better prepare them for apprenticeships and, ultimately, the workforce.

This bill will continue the progress we have made to better the lives of veterans who have served this country honorably, and I ask my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to join me in this effort.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Source