Fighting for Job Creation for Our Veterans

On Veterans Day, our nation will honor the men and women who have served in the armed forces of the United States for their courage and sacrifices. The nationwide ceremonies are an important reminder of our duty to our veterans who have fought tirelessly for our freedoms.

Although I am grateful that President Obama announced an end to all combat operations in Iraq by the end of this year, many of our veterans return to a jobs crisis. The unemployment rate for veterans who ended their active duty after 2001, primarily veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan, currently exceeds 12 percent, compared with an unemployment rate of 9 percent for the population as a whole.

Democrats in Washington, D.C. have been working to resolve the problem. President Obama proposed the American Jobs Act, which would provide businesses a tax credit of $9,000 for hiring a disabled veteran who had been unemployed for more than six months, a $5,600 tax credit for hiring any veteran unemployed for at least six months and a $2,400 tax credit for hiring a veteran unemployed for at least a month.

Unfortunately, the political gridlock in Washington is blocking initiatives presented by President Obama that focus on legislation that would increase employment, particularly for our veterans. As a result, we need to develop alternative methods of assisting the many veterans in our communities who need jobs. These men and women have served the United States and its people in wartime. As civilians who have returned to their communities, these veterans want to have an opportunity to participate in growing our economy.

For this reason, I along with Representatives Peter King, Eliot Engel, Carolyn Maloney, Ed Towns, Michael Grimm and Joe Crowley will hold a  forum for veterans who want to start or grow a small business in NYC in order to create jobs and expand our economy. The event will take place on Saturday, December 10 at Brooklyn Borough Hall, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

It will include presentations by federal agencies, elected officials and local veteran small business owners on how to gain access to capital, get into the procurement game and what technical assistance programs are available to start or grow a small business.

It is our veterans from all wars who most valiantly fought for our country. They served our country with honor and dignity that will never be forgotten. They were trained to be ready at a moment’s notice to defend our nation and its values that we hold so true. Therefore, I ask that you come out to serve your country once more, not to defend us against tyranny, but to utilize your talents and expertise to create jobs and bring our economy and our country back to greatness.