Today’s hearing will provide us an opportunity to: review existing programs to help homeless veterans become employed, review barriers to employment; discuss hiring authorities; and learn about possible causes to high unemployment rates among younger veterans and female veterans.

Furthermore, we will hear from an array of distinguished panelists who will highlight the shortfalls of federal programs while providing recommendations for us to consider regarding veteran employment opportunities.  While the high unemployment rates among veterans is disturbing, we will also receive timely updates from administration officials highlighting their initiatives to address the concerns of our veterans’ population.

I would like to commend President Obama for implementing Executive Order 13518 to strengthen veteran employment opportunities within the federal workforce.  I would also like to commend the various agencies who have initiated new veteran programs that required no Congressional intervention. These include the Office of Personnel Management’s new feds hire vets Web site and the Department of Labor’s initiative to expand Job Corps participation to military veterans.