[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 143 (Wednesday, September 21, 2016)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1319]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





 FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION VETERAN TRANSITION IMPROVEMENT ACT OF 
                                  2016

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                         HON. FRANK A. LoBIONDO

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                      Tuesday, September 20, 2016

  Mr. LoBIONDO. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 5957, the Federal Aviation 
Administration Veteran Transition Improvement Act, allows an important 
federal benefit to be extended to newly hired veterans at the FAA. This 
commonsense piece of legislation corrects an oversight in the Wounded 
Warriors Federal Leave Act that was passed last year. This act 
inadvertently excluded FAA employees from coverage.
  One out of three veterans who served after September 11th report 
having a service-connected disability and more than two-thirds of those 
disabilities are rated 30 percent or higher. Mr. Speaker, just in my 
district, there are more than 40,000 veterans, of whom many have the 
skill-sets and aviation background needed to succeed in highly 
technical FAA positions.
  This bill can help ensure that a veteran's service will not become an 
obstacle for future employment. I appreciate the leadership and 
partnership of Mr. Larsen on this simple, important fix to an 
employment barrier for veterans in our nation.
  I urge my colleagues to support the passage of H.R. 5957.

                          ____________________