Bob Filner: “I want to commend, Mr. Speaker, Congresswoman Stephanie Herseth Sandlin for introducing H.R. 5360, also known as the…”

“I want to commend, Mr. Speaker, Congresswoman Stephanie Herseth Sandlin for introducing H.R. 5360, also known as the HELP Veterans Act of 2010. For the last 4 years, as the chair of the Economic Opportunities Subcommittee, the Congresswoman has held hearings to investigate the needs raised by veterans, worked directly with veterans service groups to craft solutions and advance important policy to respond. This is a comprehensive bill that addresses the critical issues facing veterans: housing, education, employment. It is a collaboration amongst a number of Members working together to make an impact and strengthen the economic opportunities for veterans. Mr. Speaker, we know that in today's terrible 10 percent unemployment rate for the Nation, veterans as a whole are almost double that, and recently returned veterans are almost triple that. We, as a body and as a Nation, need to far more directly confront this issue. This is not a way to say 'thank you' to our veterans who have served us, and this is one bill that will help make an improvement in all this.”