JAMES N. MAGILL, DIRECTOR BEFORE THE SUBCOMMITTEE ON OVERSIGHT AND
INVESTIGATIONS WITH RESPECT TO Washington DC Mr. Chairman and members of the Subcommittee: On behalf of the 1.9 million men and women of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States, I appreciate the opportunity to participate in today’s hearing to evaluate the U.S. Department of Labor’s Veterans Employment and Training Service’s effectiveness and strategic planning. The relationship between veterans, disabled veterans, and employment is vital to public policy and today’s environment. Veterans, and particularly disabled veterans, often encounter barriers to their entry into the workforce. Many have difficulty obtaining appropriate training, education, and job skills. These in turn contribute to low income levels, low labor force participation rates and high levels of reliance on public benefits. The stated mission of the Veterans Employment and Training Service (VETS) is to help veterans, reservists, and National Guard Members in securing employment, training, and the rights and benefits associated with their military service. The key elements of VETS’ mission are Enforcement; Veterans Preference; Employment and Training Assistance; Public Information Service; Inter Agency Liaison, and Training. In reviewing the strategic plan of VETS we see a commitment that reflects the Department’s Strategic Goals: a Prepared Workforce; a Secure Workforce; and Quality Workforce. What may very well be the cornerstone of the strategic plan is ensuring that Veterans get the maximum employment and training opportunities within the workforce. This effort should extend beyond the priority of services provided by the federal public employment service system and the efforts of the Disabled Veterans Outreach Program and Local Veterans Employment Representatives staffs. Efforts to identify federal contractors and subcontractors, the Transition Assistance Program, marketing to employers, ensuring that veterans preference is given for federal jobs, and facilitating use of knowledge, skills and abilities of separating service members in the civilian labor market do not show in traditional Departmental information collections. Thus vets under the plan will strive to continue interventions that result in progress showing in Bureau of Labor Statistics civilian labor force data and has set objectives to match the interventions planned. VETS goal for a Secure Workforce will strive to assist veterans, reservations and National Guard member so that they do not lose private (non- VA) pension rights or benefits because of military service or required training. VETS also will strive to provide quality workplaces by reducing discrimination towards veterans because of military service, service-connected disability or National Guard and reserve training. Mr.Chairman, the VFW commends VETS for a strategic plan that will improve veterans employment opportunities to the level they deserve and have earned; however, as the name implies this is a "plan." We expect VETS to implement this plan to the fullest extent as VETS must be held accountable for its success. We also hold accountable the Congress to provide VETS with the necessary funding to ensure VETS success. Past administrations have not proposed adequate budgets to support the Disabled Veterans Outreach Program Specialists and the Local Veterans Employment Representatives. Likewise, the Congress has not appropriated the necessary dollars to fully fund these crucial programs. Without the support of the Administration and Congress, the veterans will be the ultimate losers. Mr. Chairman, again I want to thank you and the subcommittee for the opportunity to express our vision. |
