I 112th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 3355 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES November 3, 2011 Mr. Luján (for himself and Mr. Heinrich) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned A BILL To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish a grant program to assist veterans find employment, to make permanent and modify the work opportunity tax credit with respect to unemployed veterans, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Heroes Hiring Heroes Act of 2011.

2.

Veteran employment assistance grant program

(a)

Establishment

Subject to the availability of appropriations for such purpose, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall establish a program to award grants to States to assist the employment of veterans. (b)

Eligibility

The Secretary may award a grant under this section to a State that— (1)is carrying out a program to assist the employment of veterans; or (2)was carrying out such a program but does not have sufficient funding to continue the program. (c)

Use of grant

A State may use a grant awarded under this section to provide veterans with— (1)quarterly job fairs or other similar forums in which the State assists veterans in meeting potential employers; (2)employment resources on an Internet Web site, including through maintaining or establishing a Web site containing job listings, a resume bank, or employment advice or other information; (3)in-person employment assistance, including resume-building and job-placement services; (4)workshops or seminars that cover business or office conduct, the job interview process, how to apply for a job, and other similar information; and (5)training of technology skills, including training with respect to the Internet and widely used word-processing, spreadsheet, and presentation software. (d)

Number and amount of grants

(1)

Number

The Secretary may award more than one grant under this section to a State. (2)

Amount

A grant awarded under this section may not exceed $100,000. (e)

Application

To be eligible for a grant under this section, a State shall submit to the Secretary an application at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require. (f)

Authorization of Appropriations

There is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry out this section a total of $5,000,000.

3.

Extension and modification of work opportunity tax credit for certain veterans

(a)

Temporary extension and increase

Subparagraph (A) of section 51(d)(14) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended— (1)by striking unemployed veteran or, (2)by inserting , or any unemployed veteran who begins work for the employer after December 31, 2011, and before January 1, 2017, after or 2010, and (3)by inserting before the period at the end the following: , and subsection (b)(3) shall be applied with respect to any such unemployed veteran by substituting $14,000 for $6,000. (b)

Permanent rule for veteran-Owned business

Paragraph (14) of section 51(d) of such Code is amended by adding at the end the following new subparagraph: (C)

Special rule for veteran-owned employer

(i)

In general

In the case of an unemployed veteran who begins work for a veteran-owned employer after December 31, 2016, and was hired through a State job fair or forum described in section 2(c)(1) of the Heroes Hiring Heroes Act of 2011— (I)such unemployed veteran shall be treated as a member of a targeted group for purposes of this subpart, and (II)subsection (a) shall be applied by increasing by 20 percent the percentage applicable to the qualified first-year wages of such employee. (ii)

Veteran-owned employer

The term veteran-owned employer means any employer who is a person listed in the database maintained by the Secretary of Defense under section 8127(f) of title 38, United States Code, as a small business concern which is owned and controlled by veterans. . (c)

Conforming amendment

Paragraph (4) of section 51(c) of such Code is amended by adding at the end the following new flush sentence: The preceding sentence shall not apply to wages paid or incurred to an unemployed veteran.. (d)

Effective date

The amendments made by this section shall apply to individuals who begin work for the employer after December 31, 2011.