Sean Reyes: “I thank Chairman Smith, Democratic Ranking Member Evans, and the Chairman of our Subcommittee, Mike Simpson, for their…”

“I thank Chairman Smith, Democratic Ranking Member Evans, and the Chairman of our Subcommittee, Mike Simpson, for their work on H.R. 4015. This bill is the product of a lot of hard work by our present Benefits Subcommittee as well as its former Chairman, Jack Quinn, and Ranking Member Bob Filner. When enacted, this measure will result in increased and improved job placements for veterans who use the public labor exchange and receive assistance from Disabled Veterans Program Outreach and Local Veterans Employment Representatives. Mr. Speaker, during our hearing on this bill, I was particularly disturbed that March 2002, data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) indicated a very high rate of unemployment for young male veterans, especially minority veterans. In March 2002, male veterans aged 20 to 24 had an unemployment rate of 26 percent compared to 12 percent of all males. For African Americans, the rate was 54 percent and for Hispanic veterans, 30 percent. At this point in time, it is not clear if the data from March 2002, which is considerably worse than that reported during all of Fiscal Year 2001, is an anomaly or a trend. I expect the Department of Labor, under the provisions of this bill, to pay special attention to areas where minority veterans are disproportionately represented in the unemployed labor force. I hope that by providing more flexibility to the States, intensive services will be directed to such veterans.”