OFFICIALS LEGISLATION INTEREST GROUPS PUBLIC STATEMENTS COMMITTEES VETOES

Rep. Cook's HIRE Vets Act Signed into Law

Press Release

By: Paul Cook
By: Paul Cook
Date: May 5, 2017
Location: Washington, DC
Issues: Business and Consumers Veterans Legislative Branch

Rep. Paul Cook (R-Apple Valley) announced that President Trump has signed into law his bill, HR 244, the HIRE Vets Act of 2017. The bill passed the House of Representatives overwhelmingly in February and passed the Senate on unanimous consent in March. Rep. Cook had reintroduced this bipartisan bill earlier this year.

The HIRE Vets Act will promote private sector recruiting, hiring, and retaining of men and women who served honorably in the U.S. military through the voluntary participation of employers. Specifically, the measure creates an awards program recognizing the meaningful and verifiable efforts undertaken by employers -- both large and small -- to hire and retain veterans. The program is designed to be self-funded.

Through the U.S. Department of Labor, the HIRE Vets Act would allow businesses to display "HIRE Vets Medallions" on products and marketing materials. These medallions would be awarded as part of a two-tiered system --Gold and Platinum -- associated with specific hiring and retention goals each year.

The program also establishes similar tiered awards for small and mid-sized businesses with less than 500 employees. To ensure proper oversight, the Secretary of Labor would be required to provide Congress with annual reports on the success of the program with regard to veteran employment and retention results.

Rep. Cook said, "I'm thrilled this bill has been signed into law. This is a big win for veterans and the companies who are truly making an effort to attract and hire more veterans. With passage of the HIRE Vets Act, we'll be able to see which companies truly live up to the employment promises they make to veterans. Veterans who serve this country honorably shouldn't struggle to find employment, and this bill creates an innovative system to encourage and recognize employers who make veterans a priority in their hiring practices. I'm grateful for the overwhelming support this bipartisan bill has received and look forward to its implementation."


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