Plan for hiring vets tacked on stimulus bill
The Associated Press
Posted : Friday Feb 6, 2009 17:35:47 EST
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — An amendment worked into the national economic stimulus bill would expand tax incentives to employers who hire veterans of Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Sen. Tom Udall, D-N.M., said the measure is needed because the current generation of soldiers and sailors are returning home after military discharge to find a shrinking work force.
The amendment was approved Friday as the Senate worked on the recovery package. The measure would apply to veterans who are discharged from September 2001 through December 2010.
To qualify for the tax credit, employers would need to hire a post-9/11 veteran who has received unemployment benefits for at least four weeks within the past year. The veteran would need to work at least 120 hours for the employer to be eligible.
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I applaud Congress for thinking about veteran hiring but why restrict it to "new veterans" there are many Gulf War One veterans and even older Vietnam War Veterans that are having an even harder time finding work in these trying times and for older veterans many employers won't even look at them due to their age, and the fact that older men have medical issues and family issues that make them less desirable as younger employees. Congress should quit trying to make a 2 tier veterans assistance programs, they do not play well in the veteran community.
Monday, February 9, 2009
Plan for hiring vets tacked on stimulus bill
