Senator Sullivan Joins Veterans Jobs Caucus

Press Release

U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan (R-AK) announced today that he will serve as a co-chair of the Congressional Veterans Jobs Caucus for the 115th Congress. Originally founded by Representatives Jeff Denham (R-CA) and Tim Walz (D-MN), and Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV), the caucus aims to shed light on the challenges Active Duty, Reserve and Guard members face as they transition to civilian life.

"Veterans and members of our military pick up many incredible skill sets during their service in the armed forces," said Sen. Sullivan. "Unfortunately, upon returning home and transitioning back into civilian life, their valuable skills sometimes go untapped or unrecognized by prospective employers. As co-chair of the Congressional Veterans Jobs Caucus, I remain committed to working with veteran service organizations, federal agencies and private sector employers to help our veterans secure jobs and succeed at them. I look forward to collaborating with my colleagues in this bipartisan, bicameral caucus."

"While we can never fully repay the men and women who fought for our freedoms, we have a responsibility as leaders to ensure that our veterans are taken care of," said Rep. Denham. "I'm proud to welcome Senator Sullivan, a veteran himself, as a co-chair of the Congressional Veterans Jobs Caucus and look forward to working together to assist and empower the servicemembers who bravely wore the cloth of this nation."

"It is my pleasure to welcome Senator Dan Sullivan as Co-Chair of the bipartisan Congressional Veterans Jobs Caucus," said Rep. Walz. "I know Sen. Sullivan to be a powerful advocate dedicated to delivering results for our nation's 22 million veterans and their families. As a Marine himself, Senator Sullivan brings the perspective necessary to help our caucus improve the lives of veterans transitioning to civilian life. I look forward to working closely with him as we work to remove and prevent employment barriers that veterans often face after service to our nation."

"I am happy to welcome my colleague Senator Sullivan to the Congressional Veterans Jobs Caucus," Sen. Manchin said. "One of the few issues that unifies Congress is recognizing the patriotism and service of our nation's veterans, and helping them find meaningful employment after they've left the military. When we formed the bipartisan Congressional Veterans Jobs Caucus five years ago, I said if you want to help a vet, hire a vet. I'm proud of the work that we've done to decrease the unemployment rate for veterans, and thankful for the opportunities that partnering companies have opened up for veterans. I look forward to working with Senator Sullivan, members of the caucus and our colleagues in the Senate and the House to show veterans that we value the skills, talents, and abilities of our veterans -- and to show that they will always have this country's gratitude."

The caucus engages executive branch agencies, educational institutions and the private sector to help identify ways to carry out its mission of decreasing the unemployment rate of the nation's 495,000 veterans (as of December 2015) seeking work. Currently, the caucus boasts 68 members in the House and 35 members in the Senate.