[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 112 (Friday, July 25, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1615]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




INTRODUCTION OF LEGISLATION IN SUPPORT OF DESIGNATION AND GOALS OF HIRE 
                             A VETERAN WEEK

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                           HON. RUSH D. HOLT

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 24, 2003

  Mr. HOLT. Mr. Speaker, as our nation honors and supports the ongoing 
efforts of our troops in Iraq and prays for the safety of all of our 
uniformed men and women still in the Gulf and Afghanistan, now is also 
an opportune time for Congress to do more to help our nation's new and 
old veterans in need. To this end, I am introducing legislation to urge 
the establishment of a ``National Hire a Veteran Week'' and to urge a 
presidential proclamation calling upon employers, labor organizations, 
veterans service organizations, and federal, state, and local 
governmental agencies to employ more veterans.
  In spite of the best efforts of the U.S. Departments of Defense, 
Labor, and Veterans Affairs, imposing barriers continue to impede many 
deserving veterans from securing employment and achieving self-
sufficiency. Unfortunately, many veterans struggle to find jobs, even 
with opportunities for increased training and education offered through 
government programs. Little more than half of our nation's veterans are 
employed today. Most startlingly, according to the 2000 Census, nearly 
20 percent of Gulf War veterans are unemployed.
  Moreover, it is troubling and shameful that so many of our veterans 
who risked their own lives to defend our freedom can't find jobs and 
must endure homelessness and lives of poverty after they return home. 
Indeed, American veterans comprise one-third of the homeless male 
population in America, while an estimated 250,000 veterans live on our 
city streets. In fact, the number of homeless Vietnam War veterans 
today exceeds the number of service persons who died during that war.
  Mr. Speaker, even as we tend to the well-being of our men and women 
currently on active duty, we cannot forget those who have already 
served their country and deserve more assistance in moving to the next 
phase of their civilian lives. A presidential proclamation of 
``National Hire a Veteran Week'' would provide an effective and more 
focused way to do more to help all of our veterans find good jobs and 
ensure better living standards for themselves and their families. I 
hope that all of my colleagues will support this legislation and will 
take one more step to help repay the debt we owe to all of our nation's 
defenders. I also hope it can be promptly enacted and signed into law 
in the next few weeks.

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