[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 48 (Thursday, March 25, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E501]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      ENERGY JOBS FOR VETERANS ACT

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                               speech of

                         HON. CHARLES B. RANGEL

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, March 22, 2010

  Mr. RANGEL. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of our brave men 
and women in the Armed Forces who are returning to our nation in 
increased numbers to find that their prospects are limited because they 
have chosen to fight for our security and safety. I would also like to 
commend the Honorable Bob Filner in the House Veterans' Affairs 
Committee for his commitment to recognizing the importance of our 
veterans' military sacrifices and patriotism.
  It is our duty as a nation and government to protect those who have 
so valiantly fought for our freedoms. Our objectives should be to 
ensure that they are included in the process of growing our economy in 
the most vital way possible: procuring employment. Not only should we 
fight for their inclusion but also provide them tools they need to 
compete in the job market, whether it be psychological counseling for 
the traumas they experience while in combat or job training to bolster 
the unique skill sets they have acquired during their time in the 
service.
  The House Veterans' Affairs Committee has embarked on the process of 
increasing the employment prospects for our veterans through the 
National Guard Employment Protection Act of 2009 and H.R. 4592, which 
funds the establishment of a pilot program encouraging veteran 
employment in energy-related positions. Not only do these pieces of 
legislation affect veterans but also their families and those that 
depend on them. The cost of living in this country is on the rise, and 
important pieces of legislation like the Veterans' Compensation Cost of 
Living Adjustment Act of 2010 would make sure veterans' compensation 
keeps apace. Our veterans are men and women who have chosen to give up 
their lives, jobs and seeing their families for the sake of serving and 
defending our nation. It is unseemly that when they return they face 
unemployment.
  The fact that unemployment is currently at an all-time high has not 
been lost to our veterans returning home. Instead of being welcomed 
with open arms by this country, they are faced with the double fear of 
not finding employment while worrying about how to keep their homes and 
pay their mortgages. The Veterans' Affairs Committee has sought to 
remedy this situation by introducing the Helping Heroes Keep their 
Homes Act of 2009, which aims to stem the tide of veterans losing their 
homes, and worse, ending up homeless.
  At any given time, our nation is faced with 107,000 homeless 
veterans. While this number is considerably lower than it was a few 
years ago, any one homeless veteran is one too many. It is a disservice 
to our veterans for us not to assist them in acquiring permanent homes. 
The End Veteran Homelessness Act of 2010 seeks to rectify this 
important issue by increasing the funding available for helping our 
homeless veterans. I believe that the passage of this legislation would 
substantially improve the plight of our homeless veterans and 
potentially place them on the track to having a place to call home. Our 
veterans deserve the most from us and I am committed to working with 
Congress to get the job done.

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