Secretary Ray LaHood
Veterans Transportation and Community Living
Grant Roll Out—Press Call
Monday July 2, 2012

• Good morning, everyone. Thank you for joining us.
• I’m very pleased to announce today that DOT is awarding a second round of grants through the Veterans Transportation and Community Living Initiative.
• We’re making $29 million available for 64 projects in 33 states to improve access to the transportation services that our veterans, military families, and wounded warriors greatly need to connect with jobs, education, medical services, and other opportunities in their communities.
• President Obama has rightfully noted that today’s generation of heroes has made the United States safer and more respected around the world.
• And he has asked that we serve our veterans as well as they’ve served us. Giving opportunities to incredibly talented and skilled veterans is the least we can do.
• At DOT, we are answering the President’s challenge with this latest round of grants – and with the new web portal we recently launched with our friends at VA, to help veterans find jobs in the private sector.
• As tens of thousands of our military personnel return home, we must reward their sacrifices, and those of their families, with the services they need to seamlessly rejoin their communities as quickly as possible.  
• After all, our veterans have the skills and real life experience that we need to help rebuild America.
• So let’s remove some of the barriers that stand in the way of their success – including the ability to get to a worksite or job training center.
• And now I’ll turn the call over to Dr. Petzel, VA Under Secretary for Health. He will tell you more about how these grants will help veterans.
• Thank you.