House Passes Legislation to Assist Veterans

Hochul Supports Employment Assistance and Compensation Measures

WASHINGTON, D.C. – This evening, Representative Kathy Hochul (NY-26) supported the passage of two bills that will help veterans transition back into civilian life - The Veteran Skills to Jobs Act and the Veterans’ Compensation Cost–of–Living Adjustment Act of 2012.

“I am pleased to join my colleagues in supporting these bills that will help our veterans transition back into civilian life. The Veteran Skills to Jobs Act – similar to legislation I introduced - will go a long way toward helping our Western New York veterans get jobs when they return home. Service members who have put their lives on the line deserve our gratitude, and the legislation passed today is a step toward ensuring veterans receive the support they deserve,” Rep. Hochul said.

After returning from Afghanistan and meeting with local veterans, Rep. Hochul introduced a bill similar to the Veteran Skills to Jobs Act called the Vocational Employment and Technical Skills Act (VETS Act), which would also make it easier for veterans to receive professional certification in skills they performed while members of the armed services.

Rep. Hochul is also a co-sponsor of other legislation to encourage the hiring of veterans, including the Hiring Heroes Act that modernizes and improves programs to assist our veterans with the transition from service member to civilian life.  She voted in support of the Veterans Opportunity to Work Act of 2011 – a bill that received bipartisan support – that provides assistance to older, unemployed veterans and provides active duty service members with transition and employment assistance.

The Veterans’ Compensation Cost–of–Living Adjustment Act allows for increases to the rates of veterans' disability compensation, dependent compensation, and indemnity compensation for surviving spouses and children.

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