[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 2]
[House]
[Pages 2642-2647]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                          HIRE A VETERAN WEEK

  Mr. HOLT. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the 
concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 5) expressing support for the 
designation and goals of ``Hire a Veteran Week'' and encouraging the 
President to issue a proclamation supporting those goals.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                             H. Con. Res. 5

       Whereas the people of the United States have a sincere 
     appreciation and respect for the military personnel who serve 
     in the Armed Forces of the United States;
       Whereas veterans possess special qualities and skills that 
     make them ideal candidates for employment, but many veterans 
     encounter difficulties in securing employment;
       Whereas it would be inconsistent, inconsiderate, and 
     contrary to the economic competitiveness of the United States 
     to neglect the post-military needs of the military personnel 
     who have served in the Armed Forces of the United States;
       Whereas many of the brave men and women who have served the 
     United States so gallantly and selflessly in the war on 
     terrorism and the war in Iraq since September 11, 2001, are 
     beginning to return home to be reunited with their loved ones 
     and will be re-entering the workforce or searching for their 
     first jobs outside of military service; and
       Whereas the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Department 
     of Labor, the Office of Personnel Management, and many State 
     and local governments administer veterans programs and have 
     veterans employment representatives both to ensure that 
     veterans receive the services to which they are entitled and 
     to promote employer interest in hiring veterans: Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 
     concurring),  That Congress--
       (1) recognizes the importance of the men and women who have 
     served or who currently serve in the Armed Forces of the 
     United States;
       (2) supports the designation of an appropriate week as 
     ``Hire a Veteran Week''; and
       (3) encourages the President to issue a proclamation 
     calling upon employers, labor organizations, veterans service 
     organizations, and Federal, State, and local governmental 
     agencies (including such agencies in the several States, the 
     District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and 
     any other territory or possession of the United States) to 
     lend their support to increase employment of the men and 
     women who have served in the Armed Forces of the United 
     States.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from New 
Jersey (Mr. Holt) and the gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Boozman) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New Jersey.


                             General Leave

  Mr. HOLT. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may 
have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks 
and to include extraneous material on H. Con. Res. 5.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from New Jersey?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. HOLT. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  I want to thank my colleagues for allowing this bill to come to the 
floor. I want to thank my partner in the bill, Mr. Brown of South 
Carolina, for his work and support on the measure, and also the 
chairman and ranking members of the House Veterans' Affairs Committee 
and the Armed Services Committee.
  The bill calls upon the President to establish a permanent ``Hire a 
Veteran Week'' to help promote employment of veterans in a more 
concentrated fashion. Last year the House passed this bill by a voice 
vote. The bill enjoyed overwhelming support on both sides of the aisle 
because all of us understood that we had a lot more to do to help our 
veterans find jobs, start businesses on their own and get ahead as 
employees; and we still do have much more to do. I am grateful that the 
House leadership has allowed this bill to come forward today.
  One of the reasons I am glad we are doing this is, we need to change 
the paradigm of how we think about veterans. Too often we spend a 
couple of days a year, Memorial Day, Veterans Day, thinking about 
veterans. But for too many Americans, these have simply become 
additional days to go shopping instead of recognizing the courage, the 
service, the sacrifice of those who have worn the uniform of our 
Nation, and that needs to change.
  Since September 11, 2001, America has been creating the largest new 
pool of veterans since the Vietnam era. Hundreds of thousands of 
Americans have passed through Iraq and Afghanistan, including tens of 
thousands in our Guard and Reserve. All of these veterans are returning 
home and many, many of them, need help in obtaining and sustaining 
employment.
  The most basic thing we can do is remind employers on a regular basis 
that veterans make great employees. It is not just that we owe it to 
them, although we do. It is not just that it is a matter of fairness, 
although it is. It is also that they are good workers with real, very 
real, life experience.
  Some companies are making an effort to do this. One of them, in my 
district, Facile Corporation, has offices at Fort Monmouth, also in 
Camden, Brooklyn, Philadelphia, Washington, Arlington, Colorado Springs 
and in, Madam Speaker, the State of California as well. Facile is a 
diversified company providing a range of services to military and 
civilian clients, information technology services and so forth.
  But what makes this company special for me is the fact that 26 
percent of its workforce nationwide is comprised of veterans. This 
didn't just happen. The employer made a conscious and conscientious 
effort to do so, to hire these veterans.
  Last November, just before Veterans Day, I had the privilege of 
meeting with employees of Facile and learning how this effort to hire 
veterans truly was a win/win proposition for the company and for the 
veterans. I came away more convinced than ever that we need to 
institutionalize that kind of outreach, which is why I am proud to 
cosponsor this bill with a number of other colleagues here.

                              {time}  1430

  We face many difficult days ahead. Those wearing the uniform of the 
United States, the various uniforms who are serving in harm's way to 
defend us, face many difficult days ahead. They should not face more 
difficulties when they come home. One thing we can all agree on is that 
we need to give our veterans every opportunity to achieve the American 
Dream. That is the point of this legislation, to create the Hire a 
Veteran Week and to encourage the President to support the goal of Hire 
a Veteran Week.
  Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. BOOZMAN. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  The resolution before us today is identical to H. Con. Res. 125, 
passed by the House in the 109th Congress on July 24, 2006. I want to 
thank Congressman Holt and Congressman Brown for bringing forward this 
very, very important resolution.
  Vince Lombardi said: ``The harder you work, the harder it is to 
surrender.'' Maybe that is why the men and women on the front lines 
today, who have sacrificed the most to achieve a success, remain 
dedicated to achieving victory in the face of adversity. And it is this 
determination and dedication that make our veterans such outstanding 
employees when they return to civilian life.
  American veterans, especially those who serve the Nation during 
challenging times, understand the value of work. When these men and 
women return to civilian life, they only ask that the Nation, through 
her employers, recognize the value of their experience as members of 
our Armed Forces.

[[Page 2643]]

  Today, our Nation is honored by the service of millions of volunteer 
service men and women, including hundreds of thousands who have served 
in Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom. By putting 
these veterans to work in our factories, our offices, construction 
sites, and all types of industries, we give them the opportunity to 
continue contributing to the Nation they have so honorably defended in 
uniform.
  Today, diversity is a common goal of employers. I would offer that 
one facet of diversity can only be provided by a veteran, that 1 
percent of society that protects and defends the other 99 percent.
  I also want to thank those businesses who are proactively working to 
hire veterans today. I am working with many Arkansas-based businesses. 
In fact, in my situation and Congresswoman Herseth's situation, we are 
working with businesses all over the country, both large and small, to 
encourage additional veterans outreach. I urge my colleagues to take 
the initiative in reaching out to businesses in your communities as 
well.
  To the Nation's employers, large and small, I say hire a veteran. You 
will get an employee who understands honor and commitment, who is 
skilled and drug free and loyal. You can't do any better than that.
  I strongly urge my colleagues to support this resolution.
  Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. HOLT. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from 
South Dakota (Ms. Herseth).
  Ms. HERSETH. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of House 
Concurrent Resolution 5, a resolution endorsing the designation and 
goals of Hire a Veteran Week. I would like to thank my friends, the 
gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Holt) and the gentleman from South 
Carolina (Mr. Brown), for introducing this important resolution.
  As the chairwoman of the House Veterans' Affairs Economic Opportunity 
Subcommittee, which maintains jurisdiction over veterans employment and 
re-employment matters, I have been working with the ranking member and 
former chairman of the subcommittee, Mr. Boozman, to explore the 
perceptions, activities, employment practices, and entrepreneurship 
opportunities for former servicemembers.
  The men and women serving in the military today are professional, 
highly trained, and motivated. And if given the opportunity, they would 
be valuable additions to our workforce and overall economy.
  As we all know, this is a key transitional period for many members of 
our Armed Forces serving overseas. Increasing numbers of service men 
and women are expected to return home from Iraq and Afghanistan. The 
men and women in uniform who defend this country and make our economic 
and political systems possible have earned a fair opportunity to 
successfully transition from military service to civilian life and 
employment.
  We have asked hundreds of thousands of our best and brightest, 
including a great number of National Guard and Reservists from South 
Dakota and across the country, to serve overseas in Operations Iraqi 
Freedom and Enduring Freedom.
  We owe these brave men and women and their families a great deal for 
their sacrifice during these difficult times. We owe them the 
opportunity to make good on the American Dream they have fought to 
defend. Indeed, our Nation's employers would serve their business, 
their customers, and their bottom line well by hiring a veteran of the 
United States military.
  H. Con. Res. 5 helps recognize the achievements of veterans and 
benefits of their employment. I ask my colleagues to support all 
veterans by supporting this resolution.
  Mr. BOOZMAN. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from 
South Carolina (Mr. Brown), one of the gentlemen working with Mr. Holt 
that was able to bring this resolution forward.
  Mr. BROWN of South Carolina. Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support 
of this resolution, which will do so much to highlight the 
contributions made by so many veterans even after they have stopped 
wearing the uniform.
  I want to especially call attention to the hard work of my colleague 
Mr. Holt. During the last Congress, I was proud to work with him on 
this resolution and am glad to see it come to the floor so early in 
this Congress.
  Leadership, teamwork, integrity: these are all skills and qualities 
that employers today are looking for in order to compete in today's 
fast-paced and complex business environment. Thankfully, these are all 
attributes our Nation's veterans bring to the table. Their training in 
our Nation's military and experience working under pressure have 
provided them with skills and qualities that should put them at the top 
of any hiring list.
  However, many veterans still find getting a job after they leave our 
military a challenge. Veterans may not understand how their military 
skills can translate into civilian life, and employers may not 
recognize the benefit of focusing on hiring veterans. This resolution 
highlights some of the ways we are trying to help both veterans and 
employers.
  One tool out there is the Web site HireVetsFirst.gov, which is a 
comprehensive career Web site for hiring veterans of America's 
military. The Web site contains dedicated resources for matching 
employment opportunities with veterans. I urge Members to highlight 
this Web site as much as possible in the coming weeks.
  In closing, Madam Speaker, I want to thank Mr. Holt for introducing 
this resolution and thank Chairman Filner and Mr. Buyer for their work 
to bring it to the floor. It says a lot that we are considering such an 
important resolution so early in the 110th Congress.
  Mr. HOLT. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman from South Carolina 
for his good words.
  Madam Speaker, now I would like to yield 2 minutes to the gentleman 
from Colorado (Mr. Salazar), member of the Veterans' Affairs Committee 
and himself a military veteran.
  Mr. SALAZAR. Madam Speaker, I would like to thank the gentleman for 
yielding, and I want to thank him for bringing this important 
resolution forward.
  Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of House Concurrent Resolution 
5, the designation of Hire a Veteran Week. I encourage the President to 
issue a proclamation supporting this designation.
  I would once again like to thank Mr. Holt for offering this 
resolution and thank the committee on Veterans' Affairs, Mr. Boozman, 
who has been a strong leader on veterans affairs issues. I am proud to 
be a member of that committee.
  As a Member and as a veteran of the United States Army, I understand 
the important and sometimes difficult adjustments that face our 
soldiers when they return home from their tour of duty. Securing 
employment should not be one of those difficult tasks.
  Many are not aware that the men and women of the United States 
military have amazing skills that translate perfectly into civilian 
occupations. Veterans also have the ability to learn new skills and 
concepts and can enter the workforce with those skills proven in real-
world situations. Veterans know what it means to do ``an honest day's 
work.'' Employers know that they are gaining someone with a track 
record of integrity.
  Madam Speaker, we must take care of veterans when they return home. 
We value the commitment that veterans have shown to this great country. 
We value what veterans have learned from their military experience. 
Together, we can use that experience to continue our country's 
prosperity and the individual prosperity of our service men and women. 
There is no better way to send this message than by hiring a veteran.
  I would like to encourage my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to 
support this important resolution.
  Mr. BOOZMAN. Madam Speaker, I would like to yield 1\1/2\ minutes to 
the gentlewoman from Oklahoma (Ms. Fallin).
  Ms. FALLIN. Madam Speaker, Oklahoma has a proud tradition of men and

[[Page 2644]]

women who serve in our military and put their lives on the line to 
defend our freedoms. We have over 350,000 military veterans and more 
than one in 10 Oklahomans who serve in the military. And we are very 
proud of our veterans, Madam Speaker, and we believe that the men and 
the women returning from the war on terror deserve our honor and our 
respect and a hero's welcome home.
  It is, however, an unfortunate truth that the military men and women 
returning to duty do not always return to the jobs that they deserve. 
In fact, military veterans of various ages, both men and women, face 
considerably higher unemployment rates than their civilian 
counterparts. Madam Speaker, this is what I believe is an injustice. 
America's heroes should not return home from the battlefield to face 
unemployment and hardships.
  It is for this reason I wholeheartedly support the creation of a Hire 
a Veteran Week. The resolution before us today is an important chance 
for Congress to encourage our employers to help our war veterans 
returning home by lending them a helping hand in finding employment and 
supporting their families. We must reaffirm our commitment to our men 
and women who have served our great Nation.
  Mr. HOLT. Madam Speaker, I am pleased to yield 2 minutes to the 
gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Walz), a member of the Veterans' Affairs 
Committee and himself a retired command sergeant major in the Minnesota 
National Guard.
  Mr. WALZ of Minnesota. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman from New 
Jersey for giving me this opportunity.
  Madam Speaker, I rise in enthusiastic support of House Concurrent 
Resolution 5 on Hire a Veteran Week. This resolution will recognize the 
importance of our service men and women by designating an appropriate 
week as Hire a Veteran Week and will encourage the President to make a 
proclamation encouraging all employers to hire veterans.
  I spent 24 years in the Army National Guard and did retire as a 
command sergeant major. Having recruited, trained, deployed with, and 
returned home with soldiers of many different ages, I know how 
difficult it can be to reintegrate into everyday civilian life. These 
veterans, who have sacrificed so much and asked for so little, deserve 
to return home to a solid job market and solid finances for their 
family. We owe it to them to use the power of this body to recognize 
those sacrifices and encourage our employers nationwide to hire 
veterans whenever possible.
  These soldiers are truly the hardest working, noblest Americans we 
have, and any employer should be fortunate to call these veterans 
employees.
  Madam Speaker, I ask the support, the unanimous support, of the 
entire House in creating a Hire a Veteran Week and encouraging this 
great Nation to work to employ its veterans. It is the very least we 
can do for them when they have given so much to us.
  Mr. BOOZMAN. Madam Speaker, I am pleased to yield 1\1/2\ minutes to 
Mr. David Davis of Tennessee.
  Mr. DAVID DAVIS of Tennessee. Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support 
of this resolution.
  Tennessee is known as the Volunteer State because we have 
consistently been willing to go and to serve. There are approximately 
70,000 veterans in the First District of Tennessee. My district is also 
the home of the James H. Quillen VA Medical Center, a 500-bed teaching 
medical facility located in northeast Tennessee.
  Veterans possess special qualities and skills such as a strong work 
ethic, training, discipline, and dedication to make the ideal 
candidates for employment. Our dedicated men and women have sacrificed 
so much for us. Now it is our turn to support them.
  I would like to encourage President Bush to issue a proclamation 
calling upon employers, veterans service organizations, and Federal and 
State and local government agencies to lend their support for an 
increase in employment for the men and women who have served in the 
Armed Forces of the United States.
  Mr. HOLT. Madam Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I 
reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. BOOZMAN. Madam Speaker, I am pleased to yield 1\1/2\ minutes to 
Mr. Roskam of Illinois.
  Mr. ROSKAM. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding.
  Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of House Concurrent 
Resolution 5, which we have heard spoken about frequently in the past 
few minutes; but it is deeply personal to me.
  My life was influenced greatly, Madam Speaker, in 1944, and it was 
actually 17 years before I was born. A fellow named George Jenkins took 
the beach at Normandy and was killed there. He was an Iowan. And his 
mother and dad, Roy and Ella Jenkins, decided to do something with his 
life insurance money. They took it and they chose a young man, who 
happened to be my father, V.R. Roskam from Iowa, and they plucked him 
out of adversity and plucked him out of a bad situation. And they paid 
his tuition, room, board, books, fees, spending money; and they even 
bought him this class ring that I have on my hand today.

                              {time}  1445

  Madam Speaker, it was the generosity of the Jenkins family in 
honoring a veteran that literally changed my life and the trajectory of 
our family, even before I was born, even before I was thought of. And 
so I rise in proud support today of this notion of singling out 
veterans.
  It is an area where so many times in our public life today there is a 
great deal of strife, it seems, among us. But it is this group of 
people that we can universally come together and honor and celebrate 
and hold up high.
  Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of this resolution.
  Mr. HOLT. Madam Speaker, I continue to reserve the balance of my 
time.
  Mr. BOOZMAN. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from 
Florida (Mr. Bilirakis).
  Mr. BILIRAKIS. I thank the gentleman for yielding.
  Madam Speaker, as a member of the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, I 
rise today in support of H. Con. Res. 5 which expresses support for 
Hire a Veteran Week. I could not agree more with this resolution or 
with the initiative it expresses support for. I believe it should be 
the goal of all businesses, whenever feasible, to hire a veteran.
  Madam Speaker, America's brave men and women put their lives, both 
personal and professional, on hold to serve this country and defend 
freedom. The very least we can do as a body is endorse initiatives 
intended to help with the transition back into society. I am proud to 
join Members on both sides of the aisle in supporting this legislation 
and encouraging the President to issue a proclamation supporting the 
goals of ``Hire a Veteran.''
  Madam Speaker, I am an ardent supporter of America's veterans, having 
already sponsored three pieces of legislation intended to improve 
veterans' benefits. As such, I will continue to support legislation 
intended to improve the lives of our veterans and their families.
  Mr. HOLT. Madam Speaker, with no more speakers present, I reserve the 
balance of my time.
  Mr. BOOZMAN. Madam Speaker, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to Congressman 
Reichert of Washington.
  Mr. REICHERT. I thank the gentleman for yielding.
  Madam Speaker, as a veteran of the United States Air Force Reserve, I 
am pleased to rise in support of this resolution. It is our 
responsibility to provide for all of our veterans' needs, whether they 
are on the front lines of global conflict or in the communities to 
which they return in civilian life.
  Our efforts must be proactive in their outreach and comprehensive in 
their scope. In a few short weeks, I will be holding a veterans 
resource fair to further assist Washington State veterans to discover 
new jobs and job training opportunities. I encourage all of my 
colleagues to conduct similar events in their districts.
  We must forge partnerships between the public and private sectors to 
help veterans find jobs. I am proud to work with Labor Ready, the 
Nation's leading provider of temporary labor to support

[[Page 2645]]

the creation of thousands of jobs and opportunities for jobs for 
National Guard members and reservists across this country.
  This resolution is just one of many measures that we must pass in 
support of those among us who have made individual sacrifices to 
preserve our freedom. I hope that we will continue to work together in 
a bipartisan way to protect and promote meaningful benefits for our 
veterans.
  Mr. HOLT. Madam Speaker, I continue to reserve the balance of my 
time.
  Mr. BOOZMAN. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from 
Florida (Ms. Ginny Brown-Waite), the ranking member of the Oversight 
Subcommittee of Veterans' Affairs.
  Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Florida. Madam Speaker, I rise today in very 
strong support of House Concurrent Resolution 5.
  When men and women of our country separate from the military, they 
leave with some of the best training and discipline in the whole wide 
world. While one would think that the private sector employers would 
jump at the opportunity to hire those individuals, that unfortunately 
is not always the case. In fact, recently discharged veterans see a 
higher unemployment rate than the national average.
  Today's bill supports the goals of Hire a Veteran Week and sends an 
important message to support both our Nation's veterans and employers.
  Moreover, employers will receive a strong reminder of the highly 
motivated and skilled segment of our labor force that is sometimes 
overlooked.
  Listen up, America; it is time to help our veterans find jobs as they 
transition back from the military. I urge my colleagues to support this 
important measure.
  Mr. HOLT. Madam Speaker, I continue to reserve the balance of my 
time.
  Mr. BOOZMAN. Madam Speaker, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentlewoman 
from Colorado (Mrs. Musgrave).
  Mrs. MUSGRAVE. I thank the gentleman from Arkansas.
  Madam Speaker, I come today with many other colleagues on both sides 
of the aisle to support House Concurrent Resolution 5, expressing our 
support for Hire a Veteran Week. Many people go into the military and 
gain incredible life experiences and discipline. They have so many 
skills to offer when they come home, and many of them come home wanting 
to resume a normal life. An important part of a normal life is having a 
job.
  I really believe that the public sector and the private sector can 
express our gratitude for the sacrifices that these veterans have made 
on our behalf. Many of these men and women have made economic 
sacrifices while they have been serving this country, and they need to 
come home and have encouragement from all of us. So a great way to say 
thank you is to promote the Hire a Veteran Week.
  I am encouraging the President to issue a proclamation in support of 
this. This is very personal to me. My father-in-law is a veteran, my 
uncle was a World War II veteran that was captured during the Battle of 
the Bulge, and my son and daughter-in-law are currently serving in the 
military.
  And I think so many families are affected by this that we benefit, 
and the veterans and their families will benefit, if we encourage this.
  Mr. BOOZMAN. Madam Speaker, in closing, I just want to thank Mr. Holt 
for his efforts, and Mr. Brown, in bringing this forward. I can only 
echo what has being said in this Chamber about the value of hiring 
veterans and how important this is. We are a nation at war, and these 
men and women and their families sacrifice greatly.
  And so, again, I know that certainly my efforts, I think Congress and 
their efforts through doing things like this, all of our efforts in 
trying to solve the problem of putting our veterans back to work.
  Again, thank you very much, and a special thanks to the staff for 
their hard work in bringing this forward.
  Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. HOLT. Madam Speaker, I yield myself the balance of our time.
  Madam Speaker, I thank those who have spoken today. I, too, thank the 
staff of the majority and minority on the Veterans' Committee for 
preparing this legislation.
  Madam Speaker, our veterans returning from Afghanistan and Iraq will 
require a range of services and assistance in making the transition 
back to civilian life. We will take up many issues related to those 
veterans. We will take up issues of war and peace here on the floor.
  In the meantime, we should remind all employers, both in the 
government sector and in the private sector that hiring veterans is a 
smart choice. Their discipline, their work ethic, their prior service 
to our Nation make them excellent employees. I know. I have a couple 
working for me. They are superb.
  We should pass this legislation for Hire a Veteran Week because we 
owe it to those who have borne the battle. We owe it to our country. 
Employers owe it to their stockholders and their clients and their 
customers, and they owe it to themselves.
  I urge my colleagues to support this legislation that I hope will 
become a reality soon so that we will have a Hire a Veteran Week in 
America.
  Mr. ISSA. Madam Speaker, today as we prepare to pass House Concurrent 
Resolution 5, which will express support for the designation of Hire a 
Veteran Week, I would like to highlight two people, who have built a 
Web site that has assisted many of the military heroes and veterans 
from my Congressional District find employment upon their return home 
from Iraq and Afghanistan.
  In February, 2005, Mark and Tori Baird created the Web site 
www.hiremarines.com to serve Marines at Camp Pendleton, CA, who were 
seeking to find either part-time or full employment after bravely 
serving our Nation. This site quickly caught on with local employers 
and media, and soon the Baird's received e-mails from military 
personnel across the country that wanted to use their site. After 6 
months, www.hiremarines.com was expanded to included servicemen from 
all branches of the Armed Forces, both in Southern California and 
beyond, and the name of the site was changed to www.hirepatriots.com.
  As a U.S. Army veteran, I have a sincere appreciation and respect for 
the military personnel who serve in our Armed Forces. Veterans posses 
special qualities and skills that make them ideal candidates for 
employment, and the Congress should do everything that it can to 
encourage more employers to hire them.
  Many of the brave men and women who have served the United States so 
gallantly and selflessly in the war on terrorism and the war in Iraq 
since September 11, 2001, are beginning to return home to be reunited 
with their loved ones. They will soon be reentering the workforce or 
searching for their first jobs outside of military service.
  H. Con. Res. 5 is an important effort to highlight this issue. I hope 
it will encourage other citizens to follow in the example of Mark and 
Tori in either hiring veterans, or providing assistance to those that 
are currently seeking jobs.
  This is a small thing to do for these brave men and women who defend 
our safety and freedom.
  Mr. EMANUEL. Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H. Con. 
Res. 5, a bill expressing our commitment to expanding employment and 
business opportunities for our Nation's veterans.
  H. Con. Res. 5 will establish Hire a Veteran Week, and encourages the 
President to issue a proclamation supporting those goals. Our Nation's 
veterans must be given the opportunities they deserve to make a 
successful transition to civilian life, and build a successful future 
for themselves and their families.
  There are now more than 25 million living veterans in the United 
States. These dedicated men and women are among our Nation's greatest 
citizens. Many of our Nation's leading figures in both the private and 
public sectors are military veterans.
  Military service provides valuable training in a variety of 
specialized fields, and helps build leadership, problem solving and 
management skills. Military veterans have also proven their dedication 
to the service of their Nation and their communities, and are eager for 
the opportunity to continue serving the public good in whichever field 
they enter after leaving the military. The opportunities we provide 
veterans today will benefit our Nation for many years to come.
  Madam Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to join me in thanking our 
Nation's

[[Page 2646]]

veterans for their service and supporting H. Con. Res. 5, establishing 
Hire a Veteran Week, and I encourage all members of the American 
business community to recognize the value of hiring veterans and 
contracting with veteran-owned businesses.
  Mr. SHAYS. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H. Con. Res. 5.
  Providing our veterans with the resources necessary to make their 
transition to civilian life as effortless and successful as possible is 
a goal all members of Congress share. This resolution reiterates the 
need for employers to hire veterans.
  We must make a commitment as a Nation to ensure the men and women who 
put on a uniform to protect and defend our Nation have the ability to 
find employment within the government or private sector upon their 
return.
  While the previous Congress enacted several pieces of legislation to 
improve Veterans' benefits, there is still more to be done. This 
resolution takes another step toward focusing our country on the need 
to increase veteran's employment.
  I urge my colleagues to support this resolution.
  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of 
H. Con. Res. 5, to express support for the designation and goals of 
Hire a Veteran Week. This concurrent resolution serves to recognize the 
men and women in our Armed Forces by encouraging support for them when 
they come home.
  One of the biggest items on the agenda of the Democratic majority 
this Congress is to bring the troops home, because we believe that this 
is the best way we can support them. At the same time, it is equally 
critical to continue supporting them once they are home and no longer 
in active duty, by providing them and their families with the resources 
they need.
  American veterans make up over a third of our Nation's homeless 
population, and about 250,000 live on our city streets. Madam Speaker, 
it is shameful that those who served our Nation heroically must endure 
such conditions.
  Last year, the U.S. Labor Department found that 15.6 percent of 
America's youngest veterans, aged 20 to 24 years old, were unemployed, 
as opposed to 8.7 percent of non-veterans at that age. This rate has 
since fallen slightly, perhaps due to the efforts of the U.S. Labor 
Department's Veterans' Employment and Training Service, VETS. It is 
important that we join them in recognizing that veterans need and 
deserve our support at home too.
  I commend the gentleman from New Jersey, Mr. Holt, for introducing 
this resolution to establish Hire a Veteran Week and to encourage 
employers to remember our Nation's heroes. I urge my colleagues to join 
me in supporting H. Con. Res. 5, a truly outstanding piece of 
legislation that reflects the best of our values.
  Mr. BUYER. Madam Speaker, this resolution expresses the support for 
the designation and goals of Hire a Veteran Week, and calls upon the 
President to issue a proclamation supporting these goals. It is 
identical to the legislation passed by the House in the 109th Congress 
on July 24, 2006.
  America's veterans deserve special employment opportunity more than 
any other sector of society. These men and women have volunteered to 
put themselves in harm's way to preserve the Nation's way of life and 
economic system. They have worn the uniform from pole to pole, often 
risking their lives not only in combat, but also in exploring, 
rebuilding infrastructures devastated by natural disasters, providing 
medical care in remote locations, and transporting refugees from 
genocide. They answer the Nation's call to duty, asking in return only 
our support and our thanks.
  Veterans are the most diverse communities in America. They come from 
every major ethnic and socioeconomic group. Today's veterans are goal-
oriented, physically fit, know how to take and give orders, and are 
comfortable with technology. The best way to say thanks to veterans for 
their service is to give them the opportunity to prove their worth in 
the workplace.
  I also want to thank Congressman John Boozman and Congresswoman 
Stephanie Herseth for their very effective work during the 109th 
Congress to improve employment opportunities for veterans, and 
particularly disabled veterans, and I look forward to their continuing 
efforts during the 110th Congress.
  Madam Speaker, I thank you for allowing this legislation to come to 
the floor for consideration, and ask that my colleagues support the 
bill, H. Con. Res. 5.
  Mr. BACA. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to address the House 
for 1 minute.
  Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Con. Res. 5, which would 
direct the President to establish Hire a Veteran Week.
  As a veteran, I want to thank my colleague, Representative Holt, for 
introducing this resolution on behalf of our brave troops who fight for 
our freedom.
  Madam Speaker, unemployment rates for veterans in their twenties are 
almost twice as high as their civilian peers.
  This is unacceptable.
  We're sending 18- and 19-year-olds to fight in a mistaken war in 
Iraq.
  The least we can do is make sure that they have a good job when they 
come home.
  The system is broken, Madam Speaker. And our veterans are paying the 
price.
  Our veterans show us excellence in the battlefield--they will show us 
excellence in the workplace.
  I urge my colleagues to support this resolution and to give our 
veterans the dignity and respect they deserve.
  Mr. SALI. Madam Speaker, it is an honor to join with my colleagues 
this week in support of the ``Hire a Veteran Week'' resolution.
  Scripture tells us, ``Greater love has no one than this, that he lay 
down his life for his friends.'' Few things could better characterize 
the conduct of so many of our Nation's veterans.
  The men and women who have worn the uniform of our country have been 
willing to place themselves in harm's way on our behalf. They have 
offered to lay down their lives for us. They have shown us the greatest 
love.
  Not only have our veterans demonstrated the greatest love to us, they 
also have demonstrated a quality of character that should inspire us 
all.
  How can we show them the same kind of commitment? By treating current 
service personnel well on the battlefield, making sure they have the 
equipment needed to get the job done well. We must make every benefit 
of technology and the full wealth of our Nation available to our 
military to ensure our soldiers, sailors, air personnel and Marines 
have what they need to do their jobs.
  We need to treat them well when they return: We need to keep faith in 
providing them with the benefits they need to show our gratitude for 
their sacrifice.
  And we need to treat those they love well: We need to care for the 
families of the fallen, their widows and orphaned children.
  The measure before us ``encourages the President to issue a 
proclamation calling upon employers, labor organizations, veterans' 
service organizations, and Federal, State, and local governmental 
agencies . . . to lend their support to increase employment of the men 
and women who have served in the Armed Forces of the United States.''
  The ability of our veterans to contribute is not limited to their 
time in uniform. They are also men and women with specialized skills 
and bring exceptional training to the marketplace. Hiring a veteran is 
a sound economic investment.
  Madam Speaker, that's something all Americans can support, and I look 
forward to voting for H. Con. Resolution 5, ``expressing support for 
the designation and goals of `Hire a Veteran Week' and encouraging the 
President to issue a proclamation supporting those goals,'' when it 
comes before the House.
  Mrs. DRAKE. Madam Speaker, I rise today to lend my support for House 
Concurrent Resolution 5--supporting the designation of ``Hire a Veteran 
Week.''
  In each and every generation, a class of men and women stand out 
amongst their peers for their courage, their dedication and their 
patriotism. They have willfully defended our Nation and our principles 
when they were threatened, all the while reminding us about what is 
good about our Nation through their compassion and their citizenship. 
Although they have accomplished great things while in uniform, I 
support this measure not for what they have done to protect our past, 
but for what they are capable of doing to build our future. Our 
veterans have gained the kind of working skills and on-the-job training 
that is beyond comparison. They possess the qualities that any employer 
would find desirable: dedication, commitment and honor. I hope that my 
colleagues will join me in supporting House Concurrent Resolution 5 and 
help bring attention to this worthy endeavor.
  Mr. REYES. Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of H. Con. Res. 5, 
expressing Congressional support for ``Hire-A-Veteran Week,'' and 
encouraging the President to issue a proclamation calling upon 
employers to increase employment of men and women who have served 
honorably in the U.S. Armed Services.
  As a U.S. Army veteran and a longtime member of the House Armed 
Services and Veterans' Affairs Committees, I know of the challenges 
awaiting our service members when transitioning from military service 
to the civilian workforce. While this resolution will not

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solve the problems of unemployment within the veterans community, it is 
a strong message that we as members of Congress should send to anyone 
in a position to hire qualified veterans.
  According to the U.S. Department of Labor, younger veterans have a 
significantly higher unemployment rate than those of the general 
population in the same age range. Madam Speaker, I find this situation 
unacceptable and I believe most Americans would agree that our country 
should do more to assist these veterans in transitioning from active 
duty to the civilian workforce.
  Furthermore, as a strong advocate of hiring qualified veterans, I 
practice what I preach. Having hired military veterans in both my El 
Paso, Texas and Washington, D.C. offices, I know of the exceptional 
training the Armed Forces provides our service members, and 
wholeheartedly encourage any employer to consider hiring those veterans 
who have served our country.
  Madam Speaker, I ask all my colleagues to join me in supporting our 
Nation's veterans by voting in favor of H. Con. Res. 5.
  Mr. HOLT. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Holt) that the House suspend the rules 
and agree to the concurrent resolution, H. Con. Res. 5.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds of 
those voting have responded in the affirmative.
  Mr. HOLT. Madam Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the 
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this question will 
be postponed.

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