Thursday, Jul 7 2011 3:29PM
Senator Tester's bill aims to make employment counseling more available for veterans living in rural communities.
Senator Jon Tester of Montana has proposed legislation to help veterans living in rural communities throughout the state have greater access to employment opportunities.
According to Tester, the
U.S. Department of Labor's job counselors who work with veterans are assigned to states based on population without taking into consideration a state's size. In Montana, there are only six counselors covering 22,600 square miles each.
Tester's legislation would allow the
DOL to hire additional employment experts for veterans in rural states, and provide one counselor for every 5,000 square miles. Veterans living in Montana would then have access to 23 full-time counselors.
"The needs of veterans in rural Montana are far different from the needs of a veteran in an urban area," said Tester. "My bill is a step towards making sure that Montana's veterans have equal access to the resources available as they look for work after their military service."
The senator is also working to pass another veteran employment bill called the Hiring Heroes Act, which would help lower the unemployment rate for rural veterans through certification programs, job training and improved federal hiring practices.