“What we did is bring together Republican and Democrat, House and Senate, congressional and administration ideas in putting this package forward. I think it uses the best of everyone's ideas and will make a real difference for veterans. Veterans are not a partisan issue. They are something we can all get behind,” said Sen. Patty Murray (D-Washington), chairwoman of the Senate Committee on Veteran's Affairs.
The proposal promises to make veterans more competitive in the job market. If it is passed, all service members will receive job skills training as a part of the transition into civilian life. Furthermore, older veterans would be eligible for additional Montgomery GI benefits, making it possible to attend community college or technical school training programs.
The most significant part of the proposal offers as much as $2,400 in credits to any business that hires a veteran who has been unemployed for more than four weeks, up to $5,600 for employing a veteran who has been out of work for more than six months, and as much as $9,600 credit for hiring an injured veteran who has been in searching for employment for more than six months.
According to Tester, the bill will serve to ensure that military experience is valued in civilian fields and will also provide certification opportunities for jobs, thus making veterans more marketable in this tough economy.
