On the recordMay 23, 2016
Today I rise to discuss bipartisan efforts to improve the work our Nation does to care for our veterans. Next week we will be honoring those who gave their lives for this country on Memorial Day. We will commemorate the lives and the sacrifices of those who died while wearing the uniform of the United States of America. We will rightly recognize their courage and commitment, but we must also ensure we continue to recognize the same courage and dedication found in our veterans and Active-Duty personnel and the challenges that many of them face as they transition into civilian life. The Improving Transition Programs for All Veterans Act will allow Congress, the VA, and the Departments of Labor and Defense to better understand these challenges. The study created by this bill will allow us to understand what is working, what is not working, and how veterans can best be placed in a position to succeed once they transition to civilian life. It will allow us to better understand the challenges, the unique challenges, faced by the growing number of female veterans in our population, a group that generally has a higher unemployment rate and lower post-military salaries than their male counterparts. Mr.…
