REID STATEMENT ON SENATE PASSAGE OF VETERANS' JOBS BILL

Washington, D.C.—Nevada Senator Harry Reid issued today the following statement after the Senate approved the VOW to Hire Heroes Act by vote of 94-1. This bill encourages businesses to hire unemployed veterans and creates training programs to help them transition into the civilian workforce. The bill is part of President Obama’s jobs agenda.

“This Veterans Day Congress pays tribute to those who have put their lives on the line to defend our country with deeds as well as words. I am glad Senate Republicans joined us to pass legislation that will help spur hiring among the nearly 900,000 out-of-work veterans in this country and in Nevada. This includes a quarter of a million young veterans of the global fight against terrorism. The best way for the House to honor our troops on Veterans Day would be to pass this bill tomorrow. Our soldiers, sailors, airmen and marines fighting overseas should be focused on the job at hand, not how they’ll find a job when they come home.

“While we need to do more to maintain our commitment to our nation’s heroes, today’s vote was an important step in the right direction. Now that we have begun the important task of putting veterans back to work, I hope Republicans will cooperate with us as we focus on putting the rest of America back to work as well.”