[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 121 (Wednesday, July 29, 2015)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1167]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                         HIRE VETS ACT OF 2015

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. PAUL COOK

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, July 29, 2015

  Mr. COOK. Mr. Speaker, as a combat veteran, I'm deeply concerned that 
the men and women of our military continue to struggle to find 
employment upon reentering civilian life. These individuals have not 
only displayed great courage but have acquired distinctive skills that 
make them ideal candidates for employment. Veterans who serve this 
country honorably shouldn't struggle to find employment, which is why 
I'm introducing the HIRE Vets Act of 2015.
  The HIRE Vets Act is a bipartisan bill that would promote private 
sector recruiting, hiring, and retaining of men and women who served 
honorably in the U.S. military through a voluntary and effective 
program. Specifically, it would create an awards program recognizing 
the meaningful, verifiable efforts undertaken by employers--both large 
and small--to hire and retain veterans.
  This program, designed to be self-funded and within the U.S. 
Department of Labor, will allow employers to proudly display one of 
four Presidential Awards on their products and marketing materials. 
These ``HIRE Vets Medallions''--Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Platinum--
would be awarded to employers that achieve specific hiring and 
retention goals each year.
  The program also establishes similar tiered awards for small and mid-
sized employers with fewer than 500 employees. To ensure proper 
oversight, the Secretary of Labor would be required to provide Congress 
with annual reports on the success of the program and the hiring and 
retention levels of veterans.
  This bill goes beyond simply recognizing that a business hires 
veterans. The HIRE Vets Act is an opportunity for Americans to see 
which companies truly live up to the employment promises they make to 
veterans. It is our duty to ensure veterans are given the benefits and 
resources they've earned through their service to this country, and 
this includes encouraging meaningful job opportunities. This bill 
creates an innovative system to encourage and recognize employers who 
make veterans a priority in their hiring practices, incentivizing the 
creation of thousands of jobs for veterans.

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