Baucus Announces Vets Jobs Bill Headed to the Senate Floor
Press Release
Montana's senior U.S. Senator Max Baucus announced today that a tax credit for businesses to hire veterans, which he has championed, will be headed to the Senate floor next week with plans for a vote. Baucus authored the creation of the original credit in 2009 and introduced the VETs Jobs bill, or Veteran's Employment Transition Act, in May of 2010 to extend and improve it. At 20.1 percent, Montana currently has the 4th highest unemployment rate among Iraq and Afghanistan veterans in the nation.
"The unemployment level we are seeing among our veterans is a disgrace, and it hits home especially hard in Montana, because we have more vets per capita than almost anywhere else. This bill will make it easier for businesses to hire veterans and help make veterans more competitive in the job market - it's a win for our economy and the right thing to do for our veterans," Baucus said. "Creating jobs is my number one priority, and there is no better place to start than with our veterans - especially right now with thousands of troops set to return home from Iraq by the end of the year. Montanans answered the call of duty at greater rates than anywhere else in the country after 9/11, and now it's time for us to live up to our duty and make sure they have access to good-paying jobs when they come home."
Baucus joined the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans for America back in March to rally support for the VETs Jobs bill among members of Congress.
"Senator Baucus has been a fantastic partner of IAVA, working with us on many of our key issues. He led the charge for mandatory mental health screenings and is spearheaded efforts to secure employment opportunities for veterans. His proposal will reward employers who hire veterans with a tax credit and will make it easier to apply for those credits. This is incredibly important for veterans returning home to such a tough economy. IAVA thanks Senator Baucus for his commitment to the newest generation of veterans - and hopes that all his hard work will pay off with a unanimous vote next week in the Senate," said IAVA Founder and Executive Director Paul Rieckhoff.
President Obama recently announced support for the proposals in Baucus' VETs Jobs Bill, and included a similar provision in his American Jobs Act. The bill announced today includes a version of Baucus' tax credit for businesses that hire veterans, along with the Hiring Heroes Act, which Baucus co-sponsored along with Montana Senator Jon Tester. The tax cut piece will provide a $5,600 tax credit for hiring long term unemployed veterans, $2,400 for hiring short term unemployed veterans, and credits up to $9,600 for hiring unemployed veterans with service-related disabilities.
The Hiring Heroes act will help make veterans more marketable to civilian employers by requiring that the military, Veterans Affairs and Department of Labor work together to expand job training resources and make it easier for military certifications to apply in the civilian job market.
Baucus' original bipartisan VETs Jobs Bill has nearly 80 bipartisan co-sponsors across both the House and the Senate, along with the support of the Montana American Legion, Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA), the National Guard Association, and the Veterans of Foreign Wars.
Baucus' original proposal also included a provision to simplify the process to make it easier for businesses to get the tax credit. Baucus will continue working to boost today's legislation by cutting red tape to make it easier for businesses to get the credit.
Today, Baucus is speaking at the Grateful Nation Montana (GNM) Fallen Soldier Memorial Unveiling at the University of Montana in Missoula.
Further background on Baucus' work to tackle veteran unemployment:
* Sept 21, 2011-Baucus Talks VETs Jobs Bill with American Legion
* Sept 8, 2011 -Baucus Ready to Act on Jobs - Senator Calls on Colleagues to Pass Ready and Waiting Vets Jobs Bill
* Aug 5 , 2011 -Baucus: Now is the Time to Pass Vets Jobs Bill
* June 7, 2011 -Baucus Introduces Bill to Support Veteran-Owned Small Businesses, Boost Montana Jobs- Senator's Legislation Increases Transparency to Pressure Federal Agencies to Follow through on Awarding Contracts to Small Businesses Owned by Disabled Veterans
* May 12, 2011 -Baucus Introduces Bill to Bolster His Bipartisan Vets Jobs Act- Senator Continues Efforts to Tackle Rising Veteran Unemployment with New Bill to Make it Easier for Veterans to Get Jobs
* March 28, 2011 -Baucus Joins Iraq, Afghanistan Veterans to Push for Bipartisan Vets Jobs Bill
* Feb 9, 2011 -Baucus, Tester Call for Answers on Fixing Veteran Unemployment- Senators Request New Report as Part of Continued Effort to Help Montana Veterans Find Good-Paying Jobs
* Jan 26, 2011-Baucus Continues Jobs Agenda with Bipartisan Bill to Boost Employment for Vets- Senator Reintroduces VETs Jobs Act in the New Congress
* May 24, 2010 -Baucus Introduces Bill to Boost Vet Employment- Veterans Employment Transition Act Provides Tax Credits for Businesses Hiring Veterans
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