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Eatontown, NJ – Rep. Rush Holt (NJ-12) today joined local government, business, and veteran leaders in a press conference calling on the Congress to pass and the President to sign legislation mandating a nation “Hire A Veteran Week.”
“Veterans make excellent employees—I know because I have two working for me,” said Holt. “Our challenge is to help all employers—governments, nonprofits, and the private sector—understand that fact and act on it. I’m reiterating my call today for the Senate to pass my “Hire A Veteran Week” bill when Congress returns next week, and for the President to sign it into law as quickly as possible.”
Earlier this year, the Labor Department noted that America’s youngest veterans—men 18 to 24 years old—had a higher jobless rate than non-veterans (17.2 versus 10.4 percent). To help address this and other employment problems affecting veterans, Rep. Holt introduced a bill in 2005 calling on the President to issue a proclamation calling upon employers, labor organizations, veterans service organizations, and federal, state, and local governmental agencies to lend their support to increase employment of the men and women who have served in the Armed Forces of the United States. The House passed Holt’s bill on July 24, and it now awaits action in the Senate.
To highlight the kind of outreach the bill would promote, Holt invited a local, veteran-friendly employer, Phacil Corporation, to discuss their company’s commitment to hiring veterans.
"Phacil is thrilled to be here today with Congressman Holt in support of veterans in the workforce," stated Rafael Collado, CEO and Chairman. "We're particularly proud of Phacil's commitment and track record to those that have served our country, as over 26% of our employees are veterans. We will continue to build on this commitment by Phacil to those that have so selflessly served our country."
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