[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 27 (Friday, February 18, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E313]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         INVEST IN OUR VETERANS

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. BOB FILNER

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, February 18, 2011

  Mr. FILNER. Mr. Speaker, I recently learned that the unemployment 
rate for veterans ages 18-24 in the U.S. is 22 percent, double the rate 
for civilians, and up from about 14 percent three years ago. This is 
unacceptable! It is because of this alarming trend that I have recently 
reintroduced my bill, the Let's Re-Up the Troops-to-Cops Program Act 
(H.R. 715).
  This legislation authorizes grant funds to be used for the Troops-to-
Cops Program, a grant program that provides funds to local law 
enforcement agencies for the hiring of recently separated members of 
the Armed Forces to serve as law enforcement officers. The Troops-to-
Cops program was one of several grant programs available through the 
Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) program that was authorized 
in 1994 under the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994 
and administered through the U.S. Department of Justice through 1999, 
when it was disbanded.
  Despite an increase in job training programs, employer education 
efforts and post-9/11 GI Bill improvements, unemployment for veterans 
is still too high. According to the Department of Veterans Affairs, the 
root of the problem is lack of experience and ability to effectively 
translate military skills. Many skills acquired in the military can be 
transferred to civilian law enforcement and security jobs.
  My bill will provide local law enforcement agencies funding to 
recruit, train and hire honorably discharged members of the Armed 
Forces to serve as career law enforcement officers. With thousands of 
troops set to return this year, it is essential that we be prepared to 
give them an opportunity to serve their communities. I urge all my 
colleagues to join me in reaffirming our nation's commitment to care 
for our servicemembers and veterans by supporting this bill.
  Our veterans have invested in our country and this legislation 
invests in our veterans!

                          ____________________