Rep. Cisneros, Cook, and Kim Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Help Returning Veterans Find Work

Statement

Representative Gilbert R. Cisneros, Jr. (D-CA-39) joined Representative Paul Cook (R-CA-08) and Representative Andy Kim (D-NJ-08) to introduce the bipartisan Veteran Employment Transition (VET) Act. The VET Act would help veterans identify employment opportunities as they transition back to civilian life.

"As a Navy veteran I understand the difficulties our veterans face as they attempt to transition back to civilian life and find work," said Rep. Cisneros. "Our veterans develop critical technical and leadership skills during the course of their service, and we must do more to help them find opportunities to put those skills to work in our modern economy. I'm proud to join Congressmen Kim and Cook in this bipartisan legislation to empower VSOs to step up outreach on employment opportunities and ensure our veterans have the support they need to successfully transition back into our communities."

"Veterans who serve our country honorably shouldn't struggle to find employment upon returning home," said Rep. Cook. "This legislation would provide crucial improvements to veterans' employment outreach programs across the country. It's important that we do all we can to support organizations that strive every day to support our veterans. I thank Congressman Kim for his leadership on this issue and look forward to working with him to get this bill passed."

"There's no better way we can thank our returning veterans than by giving them every opportunity for a good paying job," said Rep. Kim. "That opportunity starts with information. By empowering great organizations like the American Legion and VFW to reach out directly to returning veterans, we can fulfill our promise to those who served. I want to thank Congressman Cook and Congressman Cisneros for their partnership in this effort and look forward to working with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to get this done."

The VET Act allows data collected through the Department of Defense's Transition Assistance Program to be shared with qualified veteran service organizations such as the American Legion, Vietnam Veterans of America and the Veterans of Foreign Wars. Sharing this data will empower these organizations to engage in outreach to returning veterans, sharing information employment opportunities and local veteran employment events. The bill, formally endorsed by the Student Veterans of America and the Veterans of Foreign Wars, would also provide privacy protections for veteran's information and an option for veterans to opt-out of communication from veteran service organizations.

Rep. Cisneros is a Navy veteran and serves on the House Veterans Affairs Committee and House Armed Services Committee. Rep. Cisneros also introduced the bipartisan Navy SEAL Chief Petty Officer William "Bill" Mulder (Ret.) Transition Improvement Act of 2019, to improve the Transition Assistance Program (TAP) for servicemembers returning to civilian life. He is also a member of the bipartisan Work for Warriors Caucus and co-led a bipartisan provision in the House-passed FY 2020 NDAA to build on the successful Work for Warriors model and that will enable states across the country to provide job placement assistance and related employment services for members of the National Guard and Reserves in active duty status, veterans, and Gold Star Family members.

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