Press Releases

Today, the Chairman of the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, Rep. Jeff Miller discussed the importance of the urgent need to pass legislation to curb the rising rates of unemployment among America’s veteran population in the Hill.

“60,000 veterans were added to the unemployment rolls in June. That brought the total number of America’s out-of-work veterans to over 1 million – a staggering figure. That is why I have introduced the Veteran Opportunity to Work Act of 2011 (H.R. 2433), or the VOW Act. All of us have an obligation to find solutions to get America’s veterans back to work. These men and women have defended our nation, only to return home to stand in an unemployment line. That is not the homecoming we promised them.

“Having a job provides a sense of self-worth and accomplishment. It is our workforce that makes America strong. It makes us exceptional and it averts perils such as homelessness – and the best prescription is meaningful employment. Veterans have the leadership, integrity and ingenuity employers often seek. But in today’s job market, there is a disconnect translating the experiences that hail from the battlefield to Main Street USA.” Read more here.

Also today, at the Committee’s legislative hearing on the VOW Act and other bills, which was unfortunately cut short due to House votes, the Chairman extended his appreciation to the Veterans Service Organizations (VSO) for providing testimony on the VOW Act.

“I would like to thank all the Veterans Service Organizations who joined us this morning to discuss the important subject of combating veteran unemployment,” stated Miller. “We appreciate your dedication and commitment to America’s veterans, and we value your opinion on legislative issues. I encourage everyone to visit our website to read the testimony provided to the Committee by our VSO partners.”  

To read the testimony and Statements for the Record, please click here. To learn more about the VOW Act and view the latest VOW Act video, please visit: /jobs.