Helping Our Veterans Find Work

November 13, 2011 | Posted by Speaker Boehner's Press Office

“The men and women who wear the uniform of our Armed Forces deserve our full support when they serve and after they come home, especially now in the middle of a tough economy," said Speaker Boehner this weekend in a tribute to America's veterans. That's why Congress has passed bipartisan legislation breaking down bureaucratic barriers that prevent veterans from finding work. Rep. Joe Heck (R-NV), a colonel in the Army Reserve with more than 20 years of service, highlights this legislation and more in the Weekly Republican Address: Economists Back GOP Strategy for Creating a Better Environment for Private-Sector Job Growth More than 130 economists said a plan focused on halting excessive government regulations and fixing the tax code to help private-sector job creators - like the Republican Plan for America's Job Creators - is a better strategy for job growth than billions of dollars in new 'stimulus' spending. The bipartisan Veterans Opportunity to Work Act, for example, would "break down bureaucratic barriers preventing [veterans] from finding work," says Dr. Heck. "It's smart legislation that members of both parties support, and I'm pleased the Senate passed it." Speaker Boehner and Rep. Bob Gibbs (R-OH) wrote an op-ed highlighting another House-passed bill that would have stopped job-crushing government regulations on farmers and ranchers. As Speaker Boehner told ABC, there are at least 20 bipartisan House-passed jobs bills like this one that remove obstacles to job creation (rather than more 'stimulus,' higher taxes, or more regulations) that are still stuck in the Democratic-controlled Senate. "With unemployment still much too high," said Dr. Heck in the weekly address, "We just can't wait to take bipartisan action that will help put Americans back to work." President Obama Remains More Focused on Campaigning As His Administration Makes It Harder for Entrepreneurs to Create New Jobs Unfortunately, President Obama and his Treasury Secretary remain disengaged from the legislative process and more focused on campaigning than on jobs. The Hill reported that a majority of independent voters (53-37 percent) believe President Obama is more interested in “campaigning against Republicans in Congress to win reelection” than “working with Republicans to get things done.” The Obama administration also outlined a new plan this week that would close off most of the outer continental shelf (OCS) to energy production that would create new American jobs. No wonder an NBC/WSJ survey found that "just two in 10 think [the president's] economic policies have helped the economy," and by a two-to-one margin believe "the federal government has too many regulations that make it harder to create jobs." Don’t forget to watch the weekly Republican address by Rep. Heck, and be sure to stay connected with the Office of the Speaker on Facebook, Twitter, Flickr, YouTube, and Speaker.gov. Thank you! - Speaker Boehner’s Press Office