US Senate Oks job bill for veterans
November 11th, 2011 - 9:29 am ICT by IANSWashington, Nov 11 (IANS) The US Senate has approved a bill to help unemployed war heroes.
Thursday’s 95-0 vote paved the way of a legislation of tax credits of up to $9,600 to companies that hire disabled veterans who have been job-hunting for at least half a year.
It will also strengthen employment counselling and training programmes for troops about to leave the military, as well as expand education and job training benefits for veterans.
The House is expected to approve the bill resoundingly next week, which would send it to Obama for signing into law, Xinhua reported.
It would be the first piece of Obama’s $447-billion jobs package to be enacted. The White House estimated that the tax credits would cost $90 million over the next decade.
“No veteran who fought for our nation should have to fight for a job when they come home,” Obama said in a statement after the Senate passed the bill. He also urged the Congress to pass additional jobs proposals in the weeks ahead to help the unemployed Americans.
Aiming to tackle near double digit unemployment and to spur the sluggish economy, Obama laid out on Sep 8 the American Jobs Act to provide tax cuts and credit, extend unemployment benefits and increase investment in infrastructure.
- US economy needs 'jolt right now', says Obama - Oct 06, 2011
- Obama unveils new plans to help veterans get jobs - Nov 08, 2011
- Biden presses Congress to pass Obama's jobs bill - Nov 05, 2011
- Obama presses jobs plan passage to bridge income gap - Oct 30, 2011
- White House takes new moves to spur private hiring - Oct 29, 2011
- Job creation, economic growth Obama's top priority - Aug 06, 2011
- US Congress extends tax cut, jobless benefits - Feb 18, 2012
- Republicans reject tax breaks cut for wealthy - Sep 13, 2011
- U.S. Congress passes $858 billion tax-cut extension - Dec 18, 2010
- President Barack Obama Signs Unemployment Benefits Bill - Jul 23, 2010
- Republicans cave in, hand Obama big victory - Dec 23, 2011
- Midnight tax-cut vote makes Obama 'new Comeback Kid' - Dec 18, 2010
- US Congress clears tax cut deal to hand Obama a big win - Dec 17, 2010
- Americans face tax hike amid Congressional impasse - Dec 21, 2011
- Jobs bill exposes divide between Congress and White House - Oct 05, 2011
Tags: congress, counselling, disabled veterans, double digit unemployment, infrastructure, job hunting, legislation, next decade, proposals, sluggish economy, tax credits, tax cuts, unemployed americans, unemployment benefits, us senate, veteran, vote, war heroes, white house, xinhua