[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 183 (Tuesday, December 8, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2904]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                PROMOTING JOBS FOR VETERANS ACT OF 2009

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                            HON. STEVE BUYER

                               of indiana

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, December 8, 2009

  Mr. BUYER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to introduce the Promoting 
Jobs for Veterans Act of 2009.
  Last week the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that during 
the month of November there were over one million unemployed veterans 
in this country. The report also showed that the unemployment rate 
among our newest cohort of veterans ages 18-24 remains extremely high 
at 20 percent. Moreover, 700,000 of that million are between the ages 
of 35 and 64, the years of both the highest earning power and the 
highest financial needs to pay mortgages and tuitions. I ask unanimous 
consent that the relevant page from the December Bureau of Labor 
Statistics Report be included in the Record with my remarks.
  These numbers paint a very disturbing picture of the obstacles 
veterans face. These men and women have put their lives on the line in 
the defense of freedom and democracy around the globe, so we must do a 
better job of helping these warriors find suitable employment 
opportunities when they return home.
  That is why I have introduced the Promoting Jobs for Veterans Act of 
2009. The first title of this bill focuses on providing funding and 
incentives for veterans to pursue training and education that would 
provide employment opportunities for them in the new economy. It would 
create a new troops to teachers program to pay new teachers who are 
veterans and are teaching in a rural area $500 a month stipend. It 
would also provide a zip code based housing stipend for unemployed 
veterans who are participating in a VA approved OJT/Apprenticeship 
Program.
  The second title of the bill focuses on promoting and expanding 
veteran owned and service disabled veteran owned small businesses. It 
would reauthorize the VA Veteran Owned Small Business Loan Guaranty 
Program which would guarantee loans for veteran owned small businesses 
up to $500,000. It would also allow VA to enter into sole source 
contracts with veteran owned small businesses in the same way they can 
with 8(a) firms.
  According to the U.S. Small Business Administration, firms with fewer 
than 500 employees accounted for 64 percent--or 14.5 million--of the 
22.5 million net new jobs between 1993 and the third quarter of 2008. I 
firmly believe that veteran owned small businesses can become a driving 
force in this nation's recovery and this bill will help make that a 
reality.
  Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to co-sponsor this needed 
legislation.

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