Congressman Mike Garcia, R-Santa Clarita, co-sponsored the “Veterans Economic Recovery Act of 2021,” which is meant to help unemployed veterans affected by the economic impact of COVID-19.
On Friday, Garcia announced that he is co-sponsoring the bill, which aims to help veterans who are unemployed due to COVID-19 by providing them with training in high-demand job fields.
“I am proud to co-sponsor this bill that will help provide economic opportunity for the many veterans who have lost their job as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic,” Garcia said in a statement Friday. “It can be difficult enough for veterans transitioning into civilian life and COVID-19 has made it even more difficult for many veterans.”
Originally introduced by House Veterans’ Affairs Committee Ranking Member Mike Bost, the act would provide unemployed veterans, members of the National Guard, and reservists with training for jobs that are in very high demand, according to officials.
See Related: Garcia Calls On Biden Administration To ‘Vaccinate Americans Before Alleged Terrorists’
“As a combat veteran, I know that we must do all we can to ensure veterans receive the services and support they deserve, especially during these trying times,” Garcia said. “Allowing veterans increased opportunity to get back on their feet is crucial not only financially but also for their mental health.”
In 2019, officials estimate that the veteran unemployment rate was 3.1 percent, the lowest it had been in 19 years. As of December 2020, it had risen to 5.3 percent. This bill looks to help bring the veteran unemployment rate back down again to pre-pandemic levels.
If passed, the Veterans Economic Recovery Act of 2021 would create a “rapid retraining program” to provide unemployed veterans with up to 12 months of education benefits so that they can pursue training in high-demand jobs.
These benefits would be equivalent to those provided under the Post-9/11 GI Bill, which provided free school and job training to those who served in active duty after the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001.
“These veterans have been looking for jobs for so long,” said Jeff Stabile, Director of Business Development for the SCV Veteran Collaborative, a local nonprofit. “They have to get information to learn that they are not limited to one specific field and can expand their capabilities that they picked up in the military into other job fields.”
There are several criteria for a veteran to be eligible under the proposed bill:
- Be between the ages of 22 and 66
- Be unemployed
- Have an honorable or other than dishonorable discharge
- Not be eligible for any other veteran education benefits, or enrolled in another Federal or State job training program, receiving disability compensation for reasons that have led to unemployment, or in receipt of any unemployment benefit when they begin training under this program
For more information on the bill, click here.
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