Congressman McNerney Fights For Jobs For Veterans

Press Release

A bill authored by Congressman Jerry McNerney (CA-11) to make sure veterans have access to good job opportunities passed the U.S. House of Representatives today with bipartisan support. McNerney's bill, The Veterans Employment Promotion Act, H.R. 2243, was included in H.R. 2302, which passed the House with broad support through a voice vote.

"No one is more deserving of jobs generated by federal contracts than the men and women who have served our country so bravely and honorably. By making sure that our veterans have resources readily available to help them find these opportunities, we will help our returning heroes to find good jobs back home," said Rep. McNerney.

H.R. 2243, the Veterans Employment Promotion Act, requires the Secretary of Labor to establish a website with information about the number of veterans employed by federal contractors. Current law requires contractors to file reports with the Secretary on the number of veterans they hire and employ, but this information is not easily accessible to the public.

"I'm glad that the bill passed with bipartisan support and I'll keep working to ensure that our veterans have access to the best opportunities that we can provide," said Rep. McNerney.

A 2009 hearing by the Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity examined federal contractor compliance with veterans' employment laws. During this hearing, representatives of several Veterans Service Organizations recommended better enforcement and oversight. Testimony from this hearing can be viewed here.

H.R. 2302 will now move to the Senate for consideration.

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