IAVA Statement on President's Call for Veteran Jobs in Health Care

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, October 20, 2011

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IAVA Applauds President's Call for Veteran Jobs in Health Care

President introduces series of measures to encourage veteran employment in Health Care fields

NEW YORK - Today, Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA), the nation’s first and largest nonprofit, nonpartisan organization for veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, applauded the President for introducing new measures to help reduce veteran unemployment.

"President Obama is once again following through on a promise he made when he announced his veterans jobs initiative. This time, Community Health Centers across the country are being called on to participate in the Community Health Center Veterans Hiring Challenge. As capable veterans come home looking to continue to serve, the White House’s initiative will also make it easier for veterans to use their military training to become physician assistants,” said IAVA Founder and Executive Director Paul Rieckhoff.

“At 11.7% in September, new veteran unemployment remains substantially higher than the civilian population. While there is no silver-bullet solution for veteran unemployment, IAVA is pleased to see the President continue to send a clear message to the nation: if you want to support veterans, hire them. IAVA is pleased to work with the White House and corporate leaders, who are stepping up to hire vets, to tackle this challenge. But we need another ally in this fight and IAVA is calling on Senator Reid to bring The Hiring Heroes Act of 2011 and the tax break for employing veterans from the American Jobs Act to the Senate floor and to the President’s desk before Veterans Day."