Stearns Offers Legislation Providing Veterans More Information to Improve Job Training

Press Release

STEARNS OFFERS LEGISLATION PROVIDING VETERANS MORE INFORMATION TO IMPROVE JOB TRAINING

ADDRESSES SITUATIONS WHERE VETERANS JOB TRAINING DOES NOT MATCH LOCAL JOB MARKET

WASHINGTON, SEPT. 25, 2007 - "Service members returning home face many uphill struggles, including the transition from active duty to finding other meaningful employment," said Rep. Cliff Stearns (R-Ocala). "Many times, these brave men and women need job training for entirely different careers, but in some cases, the job training does not match the local job market. Mr. Jeffrey Askew is Director of the Marion County Veterans' Service Center in my hometown of Ocala, Florida. He said many veterans have used their Federal job training benefit for Information Technology (IT) career training. However, Ocala has little demand for IT professionals, and veterans often are advised to move elsewhere for more opportunities."

Stearns has offered legislation, H.R. 3646, directing the Secretary of Veterans Affairs and the Secretary of Labor to conduct a joint study on the greatest employment needs in various job markets around the country and post the results on the VA website. Explained Stearns, "With this tool, veterans could plug in their zip code and see a list of the jobs that are most in demand, and use their federal job training most effectively. The Department of Labor already has the infrastructure in place for this kind of research, so this is a practical, low cost solution." The initial review of this legislation by the Congressional Budget Office found that it would have "insignificant" costs.

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