President Obama is meeting with veterans’ groups to help veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan find jobs in a gloomy economy and urging Congress to approve tax credits for businesses hiring former military members.
A meeting on Monday, Nov. 14, will detail steps the Obama administration will take to aid veterans who have struggled finding work.
Before the 2012 election, congressional Republicans opposed Obama’s job legislation. The actions by the White House are aimed to highlight their efforts like executive orders intended to augment jobs.
The package proposed by the administration includes a maximum $5,600 tax credit to companies that hire an unemployed veteran of six months and a $9,600 credit for companies that hire an injured vet unemployed for six months.
Also according to the AP, a “Veteran Gold Card” granted by the Labor Department will allow former military members to receive six months of career counseling, personalized case management and assessment. Estimations from the White House conclude the card will help more than 200,000 unemployed veterans who served after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
Veterans will be able to find specific jobs they qualify for on a new government website. A job bank will list openings from companies looking to hire veterans. Twelve percent of veterans who served in the military since 9/11 are unemployed, according to the Labor Department. This rate is higher than the national average of nine percent.
“I think this it’s great our government has finally set a system up that helps veterans coming home from the military to find jobs,” said senior Government and Politics major Lizzy Davidson. “I only wonder what took so long for this to be instituted.”
Some companies fear that former military members face mental health issues or are concerned about redeployment, especially troops in the National Guard Reserve. Returning soldiers may struggle with translating their skills into the civilian work force, according to veteran advocate groups.
“One of the most important things about finishing the job overseas is that we take care of our veterans that come home,” said junior psychology major Shannon Coveney. “I really hope this works.”
Vote proposals have been scheduled by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev.