[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 111 (Tuesday, July 24, 2012)]
[House]
[Page H5138]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                VETERANS TRANSITIONING TO CIVILIAN LIFE

  (Ms. HOCHUL asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Ms. HOCHUL. Mr. Speaker, exactly 2 months ago, I was in Afghanistan 
breaking bread with our troops, and I asked them, What is your biggest 
worry? What keeps you awake at night? I thought it had to be the 
Taliban lurking in the nearby mountains. Well, it wasn't. Their biggest 
fear--and I heard this over and over--was the fear of coming back to 
this country and not finding a job.
  At this point in our country, over 30 percent is the rate of 
unemployment for recently returning veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan. 
That is absolutely unacceptable. We've taken some steps in Congress. 
The tax credit for employers is a good start, and I introduced the VETS 
bill, which will help veterans receive professional certification for 
the training and skills they've already acquired abroad.
  I also want to recognize that the VA and DOD are recognizing that we 
need to do much more to help these individuals transition into civilian 
society. In fact, tomorrow we are having a joint hearing with the Armed 
Services and Veterans' Affairs Committees to address these matters.
  As I told many veterans groups, we didn't get it right after Vietnam. 
We have to do so much more to help them reintegrate into society and 
help them heal their wounds. I say instead of just giving them a thank-
you, let's give our veterans a job.

                          ____________________