Sanford Bishop

By proposing a cut of more than $300 million the Administration not only threatens the most successful exploration program in NASA history, it also imperils what is certainly the world's most specialized workforce, engineers and scientists…

H.R. 1941, Hiring Heroes Act of 2011, is supported by Bishop.

I would like to thank Chairman Miller, Ranking Member Filner, and the rest of the House Veterans Affairs Committee for inviting me to testify today on behalf of the Hiring Heroes Act of 2011.

This legislation would provide rehabilitation and vocational benefits to severely wounded members of the armed forces.

Let's get Labor, Defense, VA all together so that all, whatever amount of money we are going to have is used the right way.

I hope that we will do the right thing for our veterans as this Committee has always done over the years.

I think that it is a very sound investment long term and short term and it is the right thing to do.

It creates a Competitive Grant Program for nonprofit organizations that provide mentorship and job training programs that are designed to lead to job placements.

They paid the price for the freedoms that we enjoy in this country. And we owe them that debt.

Obviously gainful employment is extremely, extremely important to veterans. The lack of gainful employment often contributes to homelessness as well as joblessness.

I think the most important component is being able to coordinate the efforts of all of the Federal agencies to make sure that the veterans have a seamless transition.

I am proud to have introduced with the help of Ranking Member Filner, Chairman Bill Young... the House companion bill to Senator Murray's legislation.

This situation is really unacceptable and it represents a failure of us here in Congress to really help our Nation's veterans.

Veterans, especially those who have served in Iraq and Afghanistan, are facing an unemployment rate of over 27 percent after leaving the service.

The current economic environment has left millions of Americans out of work and has made it exceptionally difficult to find jobs.

The Hiring Heroes Act has already passed favorably... out of the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee.

I am sure, Mr. Chairman, that Mr. Fattah and other Members will be very, very appreciative of you. We thank you for your comments, and we look forward to working with all of our colleagues to support our veterans and their families.

I thank the gentleman for yielding. We have, I think, presented a good bill, with the caveats that have been expressed by Ranking Member Dicks and myself, along with Mr. Farr. At this time, we are prepared to entertain the amendments. I…

I am delighted to yield 2\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. Farr), ranking member of the Agriculture Subcommittee of Appropriations but who is a longtime member of this MilCon-VA subcommittee.

I am delighted to yield 4 minutes to the distinguished ranking member of the Defense Subcommittee and of the full Appropriations Committee, the gentleman from Washington (Mr. Dicks).

It is, right now, if you look at the 'millions of participants' that are getting services through the workforce investment system, roughly 250,000 of them annually are participating in job training services.

The greatest barrier to individuals in this country right now getting access to postsecondary education and job training is financial.

I will just say very quickly again if the goal of job training that is funded by the Federal Government is to help people get skills and credentials, then I think there are two overarching things that must happen.

The President's budget includes an increase for ESEA Title I, but it is not targeted to those students and schools with the greatest need, again.

I know for a fact that in our districts, I know members of the Congressional Black Caucus' districts, these earmarks leverage private funding and foundation funding.