Chairman Murray Introduces Landmark Veterans Employment Legislation

Press Conference

Thank you all so much for coming out today.

I first want to thank Senators Tester, Begich, and Coons for joining us today to speak about this critical issue in their states and across the nation.

I'd also like to say a special thank you to Senator Murkowski who couldn't be here today, but who has joined a growing list of sponsors and has helped to bring support from across the aisle to an effort that should certainly never be partisan.

I also want to thank Eric Smith for coming here from Baltimore to tell all of you a first-hand account of what it's like to come home from two tours in Iraq serving our nation, only to have to fight every day to find work.

And finally I want to thank all of the veterans service organizations and their representatives that are joining us to help introduce this landmark bill -- they include the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA), the Military Officers Association of America (MOAA), the Disabled American Veterans (DAV), the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), and the American Legion

Today, with the help of everyone here, we are taking a huge step forward in rethinking the way we treat our men and women in uniform after they leave the military.

For too long in this country we have invested billions of dollars in training our young men and women with new skills to protect our nation - only to ignore them once they left the military. For too long, at the end of their career we patted our veterans on the back for their service and then pushed them out into the job market alone.

And where has that left us today?

Today, we have an unemployment rate of over 27% among young veterans coming home from Iraq and Afghanistan. That is over one in five of our nation's heroes who can't find a job to support their family, don't have an income that provides stability, and don't have work that provides them with the self-esteem and pride that is so critical to their transition home.

And all too often we read about the results of veterans who come home - often with the invisible wounds of war --who can't find the dignity and security that work provides. We read about it in skyrocketing suicide statistics, problems at home, substance abuse, and even in rising homelessness among our young veterans.

But I also have heard about it first-hand from the veterans that we've failed to provide better job support to. I've had veterans tell me that they no longer write the fact that they're a veteran on their resume because they fear the stigma that they believe employers attach to the invisible wounds of war. I've heard from medics who return home from treating battlefield wounds who can't get certifications to be an EMT or to drive an ambulance. I've talked to veteran after veteran who've said they didn't have to go through the military's job skills training program, or that they were never taught how to use the vernacular of the business world to describe the benefits of their experience.

These stories are as heartbreaking as they are frustrating. But more than anything they're a reminder that we have to act now.

The bill we are introducing today allows our men and women in uniform to capitalize on their service, while also ensuring the American people capitalize on the investment we have made in them.

For the first time, it would require broad job skills training for every service member as they leave the military as part of the military's Transition Assistance Program.

Today, nearly one-third of those leaving the Army don't get this training.

This bill would also allow service members to begin the federal employment process prior to separation in order to facilitate a truly seamless transition from the military to jobs at the VA, Homeland Security, or the many other federal agencies in need of our veterans.

This bill will also require the Department of Labor to take a hard look at what military skills and training should be translatable into the civilian sector, and will work to make it simpler to get the licenses and certification our veterans need.

All of these are real, substantial steps to put our veterans to work.

And all of them come at a pivotal time for our economic recovery and our veterans.

You know, I grew up with the Vietnam War - and I have dedicated much of my Senate career to helping to care for the veterans we left behind at that time.The mistakes we made then have cost our nation and our veterans dearly and have weighed on the conscience of this nation. Today we stand on the brink of repeating those mistakes.

We can't let that happen. Our nation's veterans are disciplined, team players who have proven they can deliver under pressure like no one else.

It's time for us to deliver for them.

Thank you.

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