Rahall Co-Sponsors Veterans' Bill

• {Washington, D.C.}...The Bureau of Labor Statistics says the unemployment rate for veterans who have served since September 2001 is higher than that of the general civilian population. U.S. Representative Nick Rahall, the top Democrat on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, has joined Republican Representative Tom Petri of Wisconsin in sponsoring a bill aimed at helping veterans land jobs. The Mobilizing Opportunities for Veterans Employment Act would require states and other agencies that get federal highway funding to give preference to hiring veterans as construction contractors. It would also apply to public transit agencies and capital grants for those types of projects. The MOVE Act is supported by the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars and American Veterans.