New Jersey State AFL-CIO

PRESS RELEASE

New Jersey State AFL-CIO Statement on Veterans’ Jobs BillBlocked in the U.S. Senate

TRENTON – There is no justification for those Senators who voted to block a veterans’ jobs bill in the U.S. Senate yesterday. This was a commonsense piece of legislation, based on our shared values that would have helped approximately 20,000 American veterans, who have courageously defended our nation, find work in their communities.
Despite an unemployment rate of nearly 11 percent for returning service men and women, only five Republican Senators voted to advance this jobs bill. This sort of blatant partisanship is always inexcusable, but it is reprehensible when it blocks a program to create jobs for our military veterans.
It is hypocritical and contrived for politicians to complain about the lack of jobs in our country and at the same time vote against bills that would remedy the problem. When members of Congress vote on a bill and their only concern is whether it will help or hurt the President, they are violating their responsibility as elected officials, and doing our entire country a disservice as we see from the outcome of this bill.
The labor movement believes strongly that providing job opportunities for veterans is the least we can do to recognize them for their bravery and sacrifice. That is why unions support the ‘Helmets to Hardhats’ program, which allows our returning troops to acquire the skills needed to obtain a quality career in the building and construction trades industry, transitioning them from defending our nation to building our nation.
In Unity,
Charles Wowkanech, President
Laurel Brennan, Secretary-Treasurer

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