WASHINGTON, DC—U.S. Senator Bob Casey released the following statement in recognition of servicemembers and veterans:
“As we celebrate the 4th of July, I want to recognize the brave men and women who have continued to fight for our freedoms. We are grateful for the safe homecoming of every single man and woman who has served in harm’s way. Our joy at their return should be reflected in our commitment to helping those who have served, especially those who are coping with devastating physical and psychological injuries and illnesses as a result of their service.
“I wanted to highlight a few issues I’m working on to help veterans across Pennsylvania. As Chair of the Joint Economic Committee I recently released a report that examines the employment situation of our veterans. Currently, veterans have a significantly higher rate of unemployment than the national average. This is frankly unacceptable. As we continue to grow and build the economy we must continue to take into consideration the brave men and women that fought for our county. This is why I became an original cosponsor of S. 951, the Hiring Heroes Act of 2011, which was introduced by Senator Patty Murray, Chair of the Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs. This bill provides reimbursement to employers that provide on the job training to veterans. This is the first bill of its kind that provides extensive job training for all returning service members.
“To help veterans returning to civilian life, I introduced S. 1104, the Transition Assistance Program Audit Act of 2011. This bill ensures that our veterans are getting the assistance they need under the Transition Assistance Program (TAP). My legislation calls for an independent third party to audit the program’s effectiveness every three years to ensure that it is providing up-to-date, effective services that are helping match veterans to employers. TAP helps veterans navigate the transition between military service and civilian employment. The courageous men and women who have sacrificed so much for our country, living in towns and cities across the Commonwealth and in every corner of our nation, deserve first-rate employment services to help them transition back to civilian life.
“We also must continue to improve healthcare for all veterans. I look forward to working with the Department of Veterans Affairs to ensure that all of our men and women who served our country have the services they need. We must guarantee that these services remain available and affordable to all veterans and their families.
“I look forward to continuing to hear from you about how I can help veterans across Pennsylvania.”
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