The Democratic-controlled Senate passed a comprehensive measure aimed at helping veterans find jobs Nov. 10, after reaching agreement with the Republican-controlled House. The bill now heads to the White House for President Obama’s signature. Among the key provisions:
* Extends Montgomery GI Bill benefits to 100,000 older veterans who qualify for education and training programs under the older program;
* Makes participation in Transition Assistance Programs (TAPs) mandatory;
* Gives an additional year of vocational rehabilitation and employment benefits to disabled veterans;
* Calls for cooperation with states to develop licensing and credentialing standards;
* Allows service members to begin the process of finding and applying for federal government jobs before they leave the service;
* Enhances protections against hostile work environments for National Guard and Reserve members;
* Gives employers a $5,600 tax credit if they hire veterans who have been looking for a job for more than six months, and $2,400 for hiring veterans unemployed for more than four weeks but less than six months, and $9,600 for hiring veterans who have service-connected disabilities who have been looking for a job for more than six months.
