Sires Votes For Veterans Bills

Press Release

This week, Congressman Sires joined his colleagues in the House of Representatives in passing a series of veterans bills that work to fight homelessness, increase job training opportunities, and prevent foreclosures. In these challenging economic times, veterans are particularly vulnerable to hardship and these bills work to provide for veterans' basic needs. All the bills passed through the House of Representatives with overwhelming bipartisanship support.

"Today marks an important step toward securing our veterans the rights and services that they deserve, said Congressman Sires. "I can think of no better way to honor their bravery and sacrifice."

In particular, H.R. 4810, the End Veteran Homelessness Act of 2010 works to arm the VA with better tools to fight and end homelessness. This legislation would strengthen successful programs for homeless veterans through investments, require housing counselors to generate more housing opportunities at each VA medical center with housing services, strengthen permanent housing programs and focus on the needs of homeless women veterans and veterans with children.

"It is unacceptable that so many of our brave veterans are homeless," said Congressman Sires. "I am pleased that today we honor those men and women who have fought bravely for our country by giving the VA valuable resources to give our heroes homes."

This legislative package would also work to increase employment opportunities for veterans. H.R. 4592, the Energy Jobs for Veterans Act, would increase on-the-job training opportunities in the energy sector for veterans while H.R. 1879, the National Guard Employment Protection Act of 2010, would extend key reemployment rights to all of those called up for full-time National Guard duty. Additionally, these bills would prevent mortgage lenders from foreclosing on a veteran's home after their service through H.R. 3976, the Helping Heroes Keep Their Homes Act of 2010 and ensure that payments for disabled veterans keep pace with the cost of living through H.R. 4667, the Veterans' Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2010.

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