[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 109 (Thursday, September 7, 2006)]
[Senate]
[Pages S9126-S9127]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. BAUCUS:
  S. 3865. A bill to provide incentive for employers to hire service-
connected disabled veterans and to improve adjustment assistance and 
job-training transition for injured and disabled veterans, and for 
other purposes; to the Committee on Finance.
  Mr. BAUCUS. Mr. President, I wish to talk about one tribute we can 
make to the brave men and women who have put their lives on the line 
and returned home wounded. We need to ensure that those who have 
sacrificed for our country receive their due benefits. We need to see 
that they are taken care of when they return home.
  As of July 2006, nearly 20,000 members of our Armed Forces have been 
wounded in action in Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring 
Freedom. Many of these soldiers are now permanently disabled. Of these 
brave soldiers who have been wounded, nearly 5,000 are members of the 
National Guard and Reserves. Our National Guard and Reserves are 
carrying a huge burden in our current conflicts abroad.
  Ninety-five percent of America's National Guard combat battalions and 
special operations have been mobilized since September 11, 2001.
  Many of these wounded soldiers come from rural States such as my home 
State of Montana. In Montana, we have the highest proportion of 
veterans per capita of any State. According to the most recent census, 
veterans account for nearly one out of every six people in Montana. And 
veterans and families of veterans constitute a significant portion of 
the population in rural States throughout the country.
  When not deployed, many National Guardsmen and reservists in my home 
State support their families with second and even third jobs. At any 
time, they can be deployed overseas, to our borders, or even to aid 
with national disasters such as hurricanes or forest fires. If they are 
injured or disabled, however, many become unable to perform the jobs 
they did before deployment. They will need to transition into

[[Page S9127]]

a new job or career. It is our duty to provide the proper means for 
soldiers to make that transition. It is our duty to help them to live 
as independent citizens. It seems that the opposite is true.
  Since August 2002, the share of veterans collecting unemployment 
insurance has nearly doubled. During any given year, half a million 
veterans across the Nation experience homelessness. We are not 
providing enough resources for veterans looking for work. We are too 
often failing our injured and our disabled veterans.
  Many seriously injured and disabled veterans simply do not know what 
they are going to do once they return home. We need to help these young 
men and women. That is why today I offer a special tribute.
  Today I am introducing the Help Our Patriots Employment Act of 2006, 
and I call it the HOPE Act. The HOPE Act would provide a tax incentive 
to employers to hire service-connected disabled veterans, and the HOPE 
Act would increase funding for job training transition services for 
injured and disabled veterans.
  The work opportunity and the welfare-to-work tax credits expired at 
the end of 2005. We all hope these credits can be extended soon. They 
have gone without extension for too long now. In addition, I introduced 
legislation that would permanently extend and improve upon the work 
opportunity and welfare-to-work tax credits.
  My HOPE Act provides employers with a graduated tax credit equal to 
25 percent of wages for disabled veterans working between 120 hours and 
399 hours, and a 40-percent tax credit on wages for disabled veterans 
working more than 400 hours, on up to $12,000 in wages per employee. In 
addition to this tax credit for businesses, my bill would increase 
funding for the Veterans' Employment and Training Service Program, the 
VETS Program, under the Department of Labor.
  In my home State of Montana, the VETS Program has two staff members 
to cover the entire State. Montana covers more than 145,000 square 
miles. It is simply not possible for this essential program to reach 
every veteran who needs career help--not with two people.
  For many injured veterans, it will be a long journey simply to get 
back on their feet. My legislation will not address all their needs, 
but it will help. One thing is clear: This problem is not going away. 
It is getting worse. That is why we need to make sure we are doing 
everything we can to help injured and disabled veterans.
  These heroes have given so much for our country--so much. They have 
sacrificed so much on the battlefield. They return to a life much 
different from the one they left. We need to ensure they are given the 
resources to transition and succeed in life when they return home.
  Mr. President, let me close where I began. Let me honor those who 
have made the ultimate sacrifice for our country. I close by reading 
the names of those from Montana who have died fighting for our country 
since September 11:
  PVT Krostofor Stonesifer, SGT Michael Bews, LT Edward Saltz, PVT Owen 
Witt, LTC Benjamin Watson, CPL Dean Pratt, CPL Kane Funke, SGT Aaron 
Holleyman, CPL Nathan Wood, SGT Robbie McNary, CPL Bill Ellingham, CPL 
Josh Timmerman, SGT Jack Tankersly, CPL Steve Slavik, CPL Nicholas 
Bloem, LT Josh Hyland, SGT Travis Arndt, PVT Andrew Bedard, CPT Michael 
MacKinnon, CPL Raleigh Smith, and CPL Phillip Baucus.
  May their memory be a blessing in the lives of all of our families. 
May our Nation never forget their sacrifice. And may we always honor 
those who have fought to defend our freedom.
                                 ______