Panel OKs Veterans’ Corps

The Register-Mail

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The House Education and Labor Committee passed Rep. Phil Hare’s, D-Rock Island, legislation to create a Veterans’ Corps.

It was included as part of the Generations Invigorating Volunteerism and Education Act.

The Veterans Engaged for Tomorrow Corps Act was coauthored by Hare and Rep. John Sarbanes, D-Md., his former colleague on the Education and Labor Committee.

It would establish an organization for veterans by veterans, similar to AmeriCorps or Senior Corps.

“President Obama has called for a renewed commitment to national service,” Hare said. “A Veterans’ Corps can be one of the great pillars in that effort.”“Vet Corps provides veterans an opportunity to continue their tremendous service to our nation,” said Sarbanes. “It will also help mitigate the disproportionately high levels of unemployment in the veteran population and provide tangible benefits for disabled or older veterans, as well as the greater community. It is only natural that veterans would be the first to answer President Obama’s call to community service. Vet Corps will allow them to participate in a meaningful way and help smooth their transition back to civilian life.”

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The primary mission of the Veterans’ Corps will be to recruit and mobilize veterans to serve the needs of their fellow servicemen and women.

It will collaborate with Veterans Service Organizations, Department of Veterans Affairs and other groups to provide education, job training and mentoring to veterans.

“No one understands the challenges facing our veterans better than those who have walked in the very same shoes,” Hare said.

The Veterans’ Corps will be overseen by the Corporation of National and Community Service.

It would be the first of its kind.