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For
Immediate Release Contact: Betsy Hart
June 19, 2008 (202) 226-8555
HERSETH SANDLIN WORKS TO EASE TRANSITION OF VETERANS ON COLLEGE CAMPUSES
AND IN THE WORKPLACE
Congresswoman’s legislation expands relief to veterans terminated due
to military service; Increases work study opportunities for veterans
on college campuses
June
19, 2008, Washington D.C.- Today, the House Veterans’ Affairs
Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity chaired by Rep. Herseth Sandlin
held a hearing on legislation pending before the committee including
two bills introduced by Rep. Herseth Sandlin: the Pilot College Work
Study Programs for Veterans Act and the Injunctive Relief for Veterans
Act. Both bills would ease the transition of men and women who have
served in uniform into civilian life following their service to their
country.
Currently, veterans utilizing their GI Bill benefits who qualify for
work-study may only hold positions related to VA work. The Pilot College
Work Study Programs for Veterans Act, H.R. 6224, directs the Secretary
of Veterans Affairs to conduct a five-year pilot project to test the
feasibility of expanding qualifying work-study activities to include
positions in academic departments such as tutoring or assisting with
researching, teaching and lab work as well student services such as
positions in career centers, financial aid, orientation, cashiers, admissions,
records and registrations offices.
“Our veterans have proven their skills and abilities in a diverse range
of activities and challenges in the defense of our country. It makes
sense that we should also allow them to perform a wide variety of work-study
duties on college campuses to fully take advantage of what they can
offer,” Rep. Herseth Sandlin said. “Expanding the work-study options
available to veterans will further enhance their educational experience
while utilizing the skills they have cultivated during their service
to contribute to the campus experience and the institution as a whole.”
The second piece of legislation considered during the hearing was H.R.
6225, the Injunctive Relief for Veterans Act. Rep. Herseth Sandlin introduced
this bill to help protect veterans from losing their jobs due to military
service. The legislation is in response to a court case surrounding
the plight of Dr. Carlos Bedrossian, who, in addition to his military
service in the Air Force Reserves, was employed as a physician and professor
at Northwestern Memorial Hospital. The Hospital sought to fire Dr. Bedrossian
because of the inconvenience caused by his military service.
Rep. Herseth Sandlin said, “Veterans who have bravely served and sacrificed
deserve to be honored upon their return to civilian life. That any employer
would seek to terminate employment due to the inconvenience caused by
military service ignores the demands our country makes on our men and
women in uniform during times of conflict. Providing this protection
ensures that those who are willing to serve on behalf of their country
are not punished for doing so.”
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