Legion-supported veterans jobs bill introduced in Senate

Sens. Pat Toomey, R-Pa., and Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., have introduced a bipartisan bill that would restore the full services of veterans job-search coaches who were restricted by the Department of Labor in April.

The Veterans Employment & Training Services Act, which has the full support of the Legion, would restore the services of Local Veterans Employment Representatives and Disabled Veterans Outreach Specialists. In April, DoL issued a guidance memo restricting the services of these federally funded job specialists who provide job-search services to veterans.

Congress has provided full funding for these jobs specialists despite budget cuts from sequestration. The bill would restore the job specialists to their same capacities prior to the DoL action.

The Legion not only supports the bill, but was involved in its authoring, providing input on the issue to both sponsoring senators.

“It doesn’t make sense for the Department of Labor to further restrict the types of veterans who are eligible for intensive employment services," National Commander Michael D. Helm said. "DoL’s decision to deny a majority of our unemployed veterans admission to veterans’ employment services is counterproductive. That is why we are supporting the Protect VETS Act, because it would neutralize misguided efforts at DoL to restrict such important services and restore the original policy.”