[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 27 (Wednesday, February 15, 2017)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E203]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           BOOSTING RATES OF AMERICAN VETERAN EMPLOYMENT ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                        HON. SHEILA JACKSON LEE

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                       Monday, February 13, 2017

  Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 974, 
``Boosting Rates of American Veteran Employment Act.'' ``BRAVE Act'' 
authorizes the Department of Veterans Affairs to give preference to 
companies with high concentrations of veteran employees when awarding 
VA contracts.
  I support this bipartisan bill because it provides an incentive to 
companies to actively hire veterans.
  H.R. 974 will spur the hiring of veterans into coveted positions 
within large government contractors.
  The BRAVE Act also gives the VA authority to debar contracting for at 
least five years of any company determined to have willfully and 
intentionally misrepresented the veteran status of its employees.
  One of the biggest problems facing our veterans right now is finding 
good jobs in civilian life, especially those who served in Iraq and 
Afghanistan.
  Our veterans have received the best training in the world.
  They have unique skills and experience that cannot be acquired 
anywhere but in the United States military.
  They have what it takes to excel in the civilian workforce; they do 
not need charity, just opportunity.
  With this bill, we urge private companies to hire highly-trained, 
highly-skilled veterans who know how to get the job done, whatever job 
it may be.
  I ask my colleagues to join me in supporting H.R. 974.

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