Janice Hahn: “I thank my friend from Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to thank Chairman Culberson and Ranking Member Bishop for…”

“I thank my friend from Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to thank Chairman Culberson and Ranking Member Bishop for working with me to include two much-needed provisions in this Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations report. This bill makes important steps in fulfilling the promise that we have made to our veterans by providing job search assistance and offering homeless assistance to veterans displaced by domestic violence. The unemployment rate for veterans is 9 percent compared to 6.7 percent nationwide, and it is even higher for women veterans. The unemployment rate for our women veterans is 9.6 percent. And after fighting for this country, we should ensure that they have a job and a place to live. Veterans have skills our businesses need, and the VA should assist in matching potential employers with job-seeking veterans. My provision will encourage the VA and the Department of Labor to create a job placement service. Also, I am very pleased that the chairman included language covering veterans displaced by domestic violence. Due to an oversight in our current law, the legal definition of ``homeless veteran'' differs significantly from the standard civilian definition of ``homeless person.'' This means veterans fleeing from domestic violence could be excluded from receiving the benefits available to other homeless veterans. The language included updates the definition of ``homeless veteran'' to bring it into line with the rest of the law.…”