On the recordMay 18, 2016
I thank the gentleman for yielding. I rise in support of an amendment I offered along with Mrs. Comstock. It seeks to expand the SkillBridge job training program by directing unit commanders to encourage participation by departing servicemembers. It also directs the DOD to form a comprehensive study so that they can evaluate and improve the program as needed. The SkillBridge initiative helps returning veterans by providing them with job training and apprenticeship programs in areas that span every sector of the workforce. This program has already trained around 4,500 servicemembers, and the 18 SkillBridge programs claim to have an employment success rate of 100 percent. Encouraging participation will help more of our veterans find employment when they reenter civilian life, which is something we need to do all we can to promote. I thank Chairman Thornberry and Ranking Member Smith for supporting this amendment in this bloc. I urge my colleagues to support the bloc.
