Sheila Jackson Lee: “I thank the sponsor of this legislation for really tapping into something that every single Member must face with their…”

“I thank the sponsor of this legislation for really tapping into something that every single Member must face with their veterans, and certainly those who have been out of the military for a period of time, and then all of our new veterans who are coming in from some of the more recent conflicts that we have had, and wars that we have had. Just about a week or so ago, I was meeting with veterans from a certain battalion that had flown into Houston to share with us their concerns about the state of mind and the increasing amount of suicides among veterans, but, in addition to those conversations and ones that I have had, the idea of a Veterans Economic Opportunity and Transition Administration and the Under Secretary of Veterans Economic Opportunity and Transition of the Department of Veterans Affairs to oversee vocational rehabilitation employment, educational assistance, veterans housing loans, and the verification of small businesses. {time} 1715 I think this is important because veterans want to know that they can fully integrate into society when they return home. One of the initiatives that I had was to ensure that their service- related professions, whatever their assignments were in the military, would equate in civilian life and that they would be respected for their hierarchy of rank and also responsibility. Having an office like this one helps those veterans with creative minds who want to start small businesses.…”