[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 78 (Thursday, May 22, 2014)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E831-E832]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




HOWARD P. ``BUCK'' McKEON NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR FISCAL 
                               YEAR 2015

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                          HON. JERRY McNERNEY

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, May 21, 2014

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the state of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 4435) to 
     authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2015 for military 
     activities of the Department of Defense and for military 
     construction, to prescribe military personnel strengths for 
     such fiscal year, and for other purposes:

  Mr. McNERNEY. Madam Chair, I want to thank Chairman McKeon and 
Ranking Member Smith for their work on this critical legislation, The 
National Defense Authorization Act.
  I believe that it is our sacred obligation to help the men and women 
who served our country find good-paying jobs in today's economy and 
transition seamlessly from active duty to the civilian labor market. 
The men and women in the U.S. Armed Forces receive first class training 
in the military and develop skills that are valuable in the civilian 
workforce. Too often, they return home and find it challenging to 
obtain employment.
  The underlying bill authorizes a pilot program to connect civilian 
employing agencies with service members who are leaving the military 
and entering the civilian workforce. I offered an amendment that 
requires the Secretary of Defense to consider how those agencies will 
work with state and county Veterans Affairs offices, as well as 
National Guard offices.
  Some of the most valuable resources and information that troops and 
veterans receive come from their local VA and National Guard offices. 
Their dedicated professionals have experience and expertise on the 
front lines and understand the unique needs of service members and 
veterans.
  By coordinating these services, we can more fully assist veterans in 
a seamless transition from military service to civilian life--and we 
can start that by helping them find good wage jobs.
  Our veterans have earned the thanks of a grateful nation when they 
return home, and employers can and will benefit from the skills, 
discipline, and professionalism veterans possess.
  I want to thank the Chairman and Ranking Member for including my 
amendment in this en bloc package.

[[Page E832]]



                          ____________________