Measures will strengthen veterans' employment protections, enhance mortgage safeguards, and block deceptive targeting of vets by educational institutions
Washington, D.C. - A package of three bipartisan bills authored by Rep. Bruce Braley (IA-01), dubbed the "Blueprint for Veterans Opportunity," were approved by a US House panel earlier today. The measures will help improve economic opportunities and job protections for America's military veterans. Braley is the highest ranking Democrat on the panel, the House Veterans' Affairs Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity.
Braley's "Blueprint" will strengthen employment protections for veterans seeking medical treatment for service-related injuries, enhance protections from home foreclosures against veterans, and target deceptive marketing practices of some educational institutions by providing veterans with standard information about available higher education options.
"The 'Blueprint for Veterans Opportunity' advanced by the subcommittee today will strengthen protections for veterans' jobs, homes, and educational benefits," said Braley. "This is a step forward for America's returning veterans. I'm encouraged that these proposals attracted such strong support from members of both parties. It shows what's possible when we put aside party labels and work together to do good for men and women who have sacrificed so much for us."
The three bills passed with the overwhelming bipartisan support of the panel, chaired by Republican Rep. Marlin Stutzman (IN-03). Braley and Stutzman have worked closely together for months on numerous legislative proposals to improve economic prospects for veterans. In October 2011, Braley and Stutzman hosted a field hearing on reducing the unemployment rate among returning National Guard veterans in Waterloo, Iowa.
More detailed summaries of the components of Braley's "Blueprint for Veterans Opportunity" follow:
HR 3524, Disabled Veterans Employment Protection Act. Introduced November 2011 by Braley. Version adopted today provides military and National Guard veterans up to 4 weeks of unpaid leave each calendar year for treatment for a service-related injury without fear of losing their jobs. More information: http://go.usa.gov/vJ0
HR 5747, Military Veteran Home Protection Act. Introduced May 2012 by Rep. Elijah Cummings (MD-07). Braley version introduced and adopted today expands and improves protections from home foreclosures against military veterans and surviving spouses of servicemembers who died while serving our country.
HR 4057, Improving Transparency of Education Opportunities for Veterans Act. Introduced February 2012 by Rep. Gus Bilrakis (FL-09). Braley version introduced and adopted today targets aggressive and deceptive marketing to service members and veterans by some educational institutions and provides veterans with standard information about post-secondary institutions to help vets make more informed choices about college.
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