This past Thursday, President Barack Obama addressed a joint session of Congress and spoke about putting America back to work. The President unveiled “The American Jobs Act”. I was particularly excited about the sections which focus on helping our returning Veterans find employment.
President Obama is proposing a Returning Heroes Tax Credit of up to $5,600 for business that hire an unemployed Veteran who has been looking for a job for more than six months. President Obama is also creating a Wounded Warriors Tax Credit of up to $9,600 for businesses that hire unemployed Veterans with service connected disabilities who have been looking for a job for more than six months. The American Jobs Act will also create a new task force to maximize career readiness of service members.
With unemployment among young veterans at nearly 27%, this act will greatly assist young veterans in their job search. This section of the Presidents speech was one of the only parts of the address that received bipartisan applause. I commend the President for having the vision to help our nations Veterans get back to work.
Our Veterans have risked their lives to defend our freedom, ensuring that they have an easier time finding a job upon return home is the least we can do as a nation. I urge all members of the Young Democrats of America to call your members of Congress and urge them to pass The American Jobs Act RIGHT AWAY!
Matthew Silverstein
YDA Veterans & Military Affairs Caucus Chair
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