CHAIRMAN BUYER SUPPORTS FUNDING VETERANS EMPLOYMENT

CHAIRMAN BUYER SUPPORTS FUNDING VETERANS EMPLOYMENT

H.R. 3010, Department of Labor Appropriations Bill Passes House

Washington, D.C. Today, Chairman Steve Buyer of the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs urged colleagues to recognize the importance of getting veterans good jobs by supporting two programs that have proven beneficial to our returning servicemembers and homeless veterans.

I thank Chairman Ralph Regula of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor/HHS and Education for his amendment to the Department of Labor Appropriations Bill to add $3 million dollars to the $22 million proposed by President Bush to support The Homeless Veterans Reintegration Act (HVRP).  Grants for the Homeless Veterans Reintegration Act provide for safe living quarters and supportive services to our veterans who have hit bottom and are seeking a way out of what may have been decades of homelessness. 

This additional funding will provide opportunities for hundreds more homeless veterans.  According to the Veterans Employment and Training staff, three million dollars will fund nine to 12 new programs and serve over 1000 more homeless veterans.  This is a worthy cause, said Chairman Buyer.

Chairman Regula also recognized the need to increase training opportunities for state employment service staff responsible for focusing on providing veterans with good jobs, so he is providing an additional $500,000 to increase training at the National Veterans Employment and Training Services Institute (NVTI) in Denver.  NVTI is run by the University of Colorado, under contract to the Department of Labor, and trains Disabled Veteran Outreach Program Specialists and Local Veterans Employment Representatives (DVOPS and LVERs) on how to place veterans seeking employment.  DVOPS and LVERs also lead Transition Assistance Program workshops for servicemembers leaving the military and their skills are a critical to a successful seamless transition, Buyer said, and I appreciate Chairman Regula’s interest in veterans’ issues.

These funds allow for a 20-percent increase in training of veterans.  This is an excellent way to assist veterans’ in their return to the workforce through specialists trained in case management, job coaching and transition assistance, said Chairman Buyer. 

More information about hearings, legislation, and other activities of the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs can be found on our award-winning Website: www.veterans.house.gov