Sen. Carper Joins Bipartisan Veterans Jobs Caucus

WASHINGTON – Today, Sen. Tom Carper (D-Del.), a veteran, joined the Senate Veterans Jobs Caucus, a bipartisan caucus focused on reducing the number of our nation’s 857,000 unemployed veterans seeking work. The jobless rate among post-9/11 veterans continues to be higher than the national average, and women veterans have one of the highest unemployment rates in the nation. The Senate Veterans Jobs Caucus was formed earlier this month by Sens. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) and Mark Kirk (R-Ill.).

Other caucus members include Sens. Jon Tester (D-Mont.), Dean Heller (R- N.V.), Jay Rockefeller (D-W.Va.), Scott Brown (R-Mass.), Mark Begich (D-Alaska), Max Baucus (D-Mont.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.)

“As a veteran, I know the sacrifices our service members make by defending our nation, and we have a responsibility to ensure that our heroes have the proper resources and support to re-enter the workforce once they arrive home,” said Sen. Carper. “I am proud to pledge my support to this important cause and to help find solutions to lower the disturbingly-high veteran unemployment rate. As we continue to focus on job creation for our nation’s unemployed, we must not overlook the need to get Delaware’s – and our nation’s – veterans back to work.”

Members of the Senate Veterans Jobs Caucus make four commitments to increase veteran hiring and reduce unemployment rates among our nation’s heroes:

• Develop a Senate “I Hire Veterans” Program, which will invite Senators to display the “I Hire Veterans” logo if they have a veteran or a current serving member of the National Guard and Reserves on their personal, state or committee staff. The logo can be displayed in a Senate office, on business cards, or anywhere that Senators choose;
• Hold monthly Member or staff-level events to share information on veterans’ employment initiatives.
• Monitor veterans employment issues by working with constituents, government and service organizations.
• Work with state, local and nation employers on comparable “I Hire Veterans” program.

The following groups have endorsed the Senate Veterans Jobs Caucus: Air Force Association, American Veterans (AMVETS), Army Aviation Association of America (AAAA), Association of the United States Army (AUSA), Association of the United States Navy (AUSN), Easter Seals, Fleet Reserve Association, Military Officers Association of America (MOAA), Military Order of the Purple Heart (MOPH), National Association for Uniformed Services (NAUS), National Association of State Approving Agencies for Veterans Education and Training (NASAA), National Guard Association of the United States (NGAUS), National Military Family Association (NMFA), Non Commissioned Officers Association of the United States of America, Reserve Officers Association (ROA), The Retired Enlisted Association (TREA), Veterans Across America, Veterans of Modern Warfare , West Virginia State Council of Vietnam Veterans of America, and West Virginia Vietnam Veterans Foundation.

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