Blog post

IAVA Helps Unveil Veterans Employment Act
Posted by Michelle McCarthy on April 20 2010

On Tuesday, IAVA joined Senator Patty Murray, Senator Amy Klobuchar, and Senator Mark Begich at a press conference on Capitol Hill to introduce the Veterans Employment Act of 2010, legislation to address the 14.7 % unemployment rate among Iraq and Afghanistan-era veterans. The bill includes a series of proposals that expand employment, training, skills transition, education, small business assistance programs and placement services for veterans.

At the press conference, IAVA's Online Community Manager Jason Hansman and IAVA Member Veteran Joe Tyron of Arlington, VA testified about their own difficulies finding work in the civilian workforce upon returning from Iraq and Afghanistan.

“I entered the job market after serving in Iraq, assuming I had an advantage with my eight years of Army experience and bachelor’s degree. I was wrong. I waited nearly 5 months for my first interview and, only after exhausting my savings, did my search end with a job,” said IAVA Community Manager Jason Hansman. “I am one of the lucky ones. Too many veterans continue to come up empty in their search for work. This new legislation will go a long way towards helping the thousands of veterans who are in the position I was.”