Lungren vote will reduce job hurdles for Vets

Lungren Supports Employment and Training Services for Veterans

Washington DC: Today Congressman Dan Lungren (R-Gold River- CA) voted in favor of H.R. 2433 – the Veterans Opportunity to Work Act of 2011 (VOW). The bill creates or modifies programs that provide employment and training services to veterans and service members separating from active duty. The bill will also make changes to programs that offer home loan guarantees, ambulance services and pension payment to qualifying individuals. Congressman Lungren gave the following statement:

“Today, I voted to help America’s veterans find jobs. Our men and women in uniform - past and present - are all that is good with America. When they leave the battlefield, transitioning back to civilian life, we must do all we can to help them with this important life change. The Veterans Opportunity to Work Act provides resources to our troops so they may feel of sense of security as they become productive members of society. I am happy to support this bill and our nation’s Veterans. ”


The VOW Act has four pillars:
·         Expanding Education & Training: The VOW Act temporarily provides 100,000 unemployed veterans of past eras and wars with up to 1-year of Montgomery GI Bill benefits to qualify for jobs in high-demand sectors, from trucking to technology.
·         Improving the Transition Assistance Program (TAP): The VOW Act will make TAP mandatory for most service members transitioning to civilian status, upgrading career counseling options, and resume writing skills, as well as ensuring the program is tailored for the 21st Century job market.
·         Simplifying Licensing & Certification: Working with governors and the states, the VOW Act will break down the barriers for transitioning service members to find meaningful employment in their military occupation (e.g., combat medics and aircraft technicians).

·         Protecting our National Guard & Reserve: Fourteen percent of our National Guard and Reserve are currently unemployed. The VOW Act will strengthen the protections provided by the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployments Rights Act (USERRA) to clarify that hostile work environments violate the employment rights of our citizen soldiers.