Noteboom The Law Firm

Senate Passes Veterans Employment Opportunities Act

December 21, 2010 - Congress passed laws years ago designed to help veterans gain employment. Twelve years later they finally included themselves in those employers that must help veterans find jobs. The Senate passed the Veterans Employment Opportunities Act regulations last week by unanimous vote. The House Administration Committee will likely pass an accompanying bill before Congress lets out for the year.

Capitol Hill excused itself from having to comply with the regulations of the previous veteran employment bill, according to a summer study performed by the Office of Compliance. Those regulations concern veterans finding employment in federal positions, except for the Legislative branch. Now that those regulations will apply to Capitol Hill, jobs for veterans will likely be found in:

• The Capitol police force;
• The Office of Compliance;
• Senate and House support staff positions;
• The Architect of the Capitol; and
• The Congressional Budget Office.

The initial bill creatively bent the rules it was designed to enforce when it came to veterans finding employment on the Hill. Along with the Office of Compliance, many veteran advocacy groups criticized the Hill exempting themselves as they did.

So Capitol Hill is finally on par with the requirements of the law they passed. With the exception of the Legislative branch, every other branch has been in full compliance with the original law. Passing this act was a long time coming.