Bill Text: NJ AR259 | 2020-2021 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Urges Congress to pass "Veterans Economic Recovery Act of 2021."
Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Democrat 10-2)
Status: (Passed) 2021-06-24 - Filed with Secretary of State [AR259 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2020-AR259-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Assemblywoman LISA SWAIN
District 38 (Bergen and Passaic)
Assemblyman P. CHRISTOPHER TULLY
District 38 (Bergen and Passaic)
Assemblywoman CLEOPATRA G. TUCKER
District 28 (Essex)
SYNOPSIS
Urges Congress to pass "Veterans Economic Recovery Act of 2021."
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Assembly Resolution urging Congress to pass the "Veterans Economic Recovery Act of 2021."
Whereas, The coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic has caused millions of Americans to lose their jobs through no fault of their own, and many of the job losses are permanent; and
Whereas, In 2020, the unemployment rate among veterans rose to 6.5 percent, after having been just 3.1 percent in 2019; and
Whereas, Of the 462,000 veterans unemployed at the beginning of 2021, more than 81 percent are of prime working age, between 22 and 66 years old; and
Whereas, The "Veterans Economic Recovery Act of 2021" (H.R. 637) would create a program to retrain unemployed veterans and members of the National Guard or Reserve with up to 12 months of education benefits to pursue training in high-demand occupations; and
Whereas, These benefits would be equivalent to the benefits provided under the post-9/11 GI Bill, focusing on veterans who are not currently eligible for those GI Bill benefits; and
Whereas, Members of the National Guard or Reserve who were mobilized on federal orders to assist with State responses to the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic would also be eligible for the training program; and
Whereas, According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the unemployment rate for veterans in New Jersey in 2020 was 8.1 percent, higher than the national average; and
Whereas, This legislation would therefore be of particular benefit to the population of unemployed veterans who call New Jersey home; and
Whereas, It is fitting and proper for the United States to provide these benefits to veterans who have lost their jobs as a result of the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, and to National Guard or Reserve members who have given up their t ime and safety to serve the public during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic; now, therefore,
Be It Resolved by the General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. The United States Congress is urged to pass the "Veterans Economic Recovery Act of 2021" to provide unemployed veterans and members of the National Guard and Reserves with education benefits to pursue training in high-demand occupations.
2. Copies of this resolution, as filed with the Secretary of State, shall be transmitted by the Clerk of the General Assembly to the presiding officers of the Congress of the United States and each member of the United States Congress elected from the State of New Jersey.
STATEMENT
This Assembly resolution urges the United States Congress to pass the "Veterans Economic Recovery Act of 2021," to provide unemployed veterans and members of the National Guard and Reserves with education benefits to pursue training in high-demand occupations.
As of December 2020, the unemployment rate among veterans rose to 6.5 percent, after having been just 3.1 percent in 2019, and of the 462,000 veterans unemployed at the beginning of 2021, more than 81 percent are of prime working age, between 22 and 66 years old. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the unemployment rate for veterans in New Jersey in 2020 was 8.1 percent, higher than the national average.
The "Veterans Economic Recovery Act of 2021" would create a program to retrain unemployed veterans and members of the National Guard or Reserve with 12 months of education benefits to pursue training in high-demand occupations. These benefits would be equivalent to the benefits provided under the post-9/11 GI Bill, focusing on veterans who are not currently eligible for those GI Bill benefits. Members of the National Guard or Reserve who were mobilized on federal orders to assist with state responses to the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic would also be eligible for the training program.
