thedrifter
12-05-06, 08:46 PM
December 05, 2006
Hunter urges more help for wounded war veterans
By Rick Maze
Staff writer
A resolution calling on private companies to hire wounded war veterans passed the House of Representatives Tuesday by a 403-0 vote.
Sponsored by Rep. Duncan Hunter, R-Calif., the House Armed Services Committee chairman, the resolution does not have the force of law, and offers neither incentives for employers to hire wounded veterans nor special assistance in helping the veterans land jobs.
But Hunter, who has formed an exploratory committee for a possible presidential bid, said he still sees the resolution, H Res 1070, as important even if it just expresses the wishes of Congress.
“For as much as we in the House have done to support the men and women of the Armed Forces, I believe that more should be done, especially for those who have been wounded in defense of this nation, and who, as a result of their wounds, are leaving the service,” Hunter said.
“Beyond the fact that getting involved is the right thing for members [of Congress] to do, members need to get more directly involved in helping wounded service members transition to civilian life because young veterans — those aged 20 through 24 — are experiencing a jobless rate three times the national average, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics,” Hunter said. “We have all seen too many Vietnam-era homeless veterans in our districts — a reflection that the nation then did not fully step up to doing what was necessary for those who served the nation. We must not repeat the same mistake.”
The House Veterans’ Affairs Committee will hold a hearing on Thursday afternoon to look at programs that help service members transition from military to civilian life, with a goal of getting a status report on what is working and what is not.
Hunter said Congress has been trying to help, to include efforts to improve health care for military members, including the more than 22,900 troops wounded in combat in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Ellie
Hunter urges more help for wounded war veterans
By Rick Maze
Staff writer
A resolution calling on private companies to hire wounded war veterans passed the House of Representatives Tuesday by a 403-0 vote.
Sponsored by Rep. Duncan Hunter, R-Calif., the House Armed Services Committee chairman, the resolution does not have the force of law, and offers neither incentives for employers to hire wounded veterans nor special assistance in helping the veterans land jobs.
But Hunter, who has formed an exploratory committee for a possible presidential bid, said he still sees the resolution, H Res 1070, as important even if it just expresses the wishes of Congress.
“For as much as we in the House have done to support the men and women of the Armed Forces, I believe that more should be done, especially for those who have been wounded in defense of this nation, and who, as a result of their wounds, are leaving the service,” Hunter said.
“Beyond the fact that getting involved is the right thing for members [of Congress] to do, members need to get more directly involved in helping wounded service members transition to civilian life because young veterans — those aged 20 through 24 — are experiencing a jobless rate three times the national average, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics,” Hunter said. “We have all seen too many Vietnam-era homeless veterans in our districts — a reflection that the nation then did not fully step up to doing what was necessary for those who served the nation. We must not repeat the same mistake.”
The House Veterans’ Affairs Committee will hold a hearing on Thursday afternoon to look at programs that help service members transition from military to civilian life, with a goal of getting a status report on what is working and what is not.
Hunter said Congress has been trying to help, to include efforts to improve health care for military members, including the more than 22,900 troops wounded in combat in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Ellie