A bill including a proposal from two North Florida congressmen--Republican U.S. Rep. John Rutherford and Democrat U.S. Rep. Al Lawson--to help veterans transition out of the service and into civilian careers cleared the U.S. House on Tuesday.
Back in October, Rutherford and Lawson unveiled the “Veterans Armed for Success Act” which creates a grant matching program for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to support organizations that help veterans enter the private sector through job training programs and other training to help them enter the civilian workforce. Rutherford’s and Lawson’s proposal was included in similar legislation from U.S. Rep. Jodey Arrington, R-Texas, which passed the House on voice vote on Tuesday.
“The men and women who have served our nation deserve all the resources they need to restart civilian life on the right path,” said Rutherford after the vote. “The U.S. military teaches service members many important skills that translate well into a variety of careers. But unfortunately, when they leave active duty, all too often they do not receive the job readiness they need to turn those skills into long-term, stable employment. We need to do more to help these men and women who have proven themselves to be reliable, dedicated, and hard-working. Many organizations throughout our country, like Operation New Uniform in Jacksonville, give veterans greater opportunities to transition into a career. We must fight for a better life for the people who fought for us, and this bill goes a long way to continue that fight. I thank my colleagues for supporting the men and women who served in our armed forces, and I look forward to continuing to work with my colleagues in Congress to make further strides to helping our service members transition back into civilian life.”
“As Americans, it is our responsibility to ensure that our brave men and women in uniform have the support they need to transition back into the civilian workforce,” Lawson said. “H.R. 5649 supports our veterans by providing grants for programs that train them in job readiness and help them launch their careers. America is stronger and safer because of veterans, and I am proud to have worked on this legislation. I am pleased to have worked with Rep. Rutherford on the Veterans Armed for Success Act and will continue to fight to create more opportunities for our nation’s veterans.”
The find bill expands the VA’s Transition Assistance Program (TAP) and includes Rutherford’s proposal for a five year $10 million program to “provide matching grant funds to community providers that offer wraparound transition services to veterans and transitioning servicemembers". The bill also ensures veterans and their families will continue to receive education payments if their schools are closed due to natural disasters for up to four months.
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