TIA loudly applauded Congress for passing the "Putting Veterans to Work Act of 2011" (HR 674).

The bill has been sent on to the president to be signed into law.

According to TIA president Larry Brandt, "the just passed legislation would increase an existing tax credit for businesses to hire veterans and help them provide real opportunity during our economic recovery."

With more and more servicemen and women returning to civilian life after drawdowns in Iraq and Afghanistan, tens of thousands will be looking for jobs.

"These tax credits will make a difference in lives of many hard working returning soldiers, sailors, airmen and their families, and would be an important way for America to say ‘thank you’ for their shared sacrifice,” said Roy Littlefield, TIA executive vice president.

Putting Veterans to Work Act of 2011 provides for:

• Tax credit for companies of up to $5,600 for hiring veterans who have been looking for a job for more than six months, as well as a $2,400 credit for veterans who are unemployed for more than four weeks, but less than six months.
 
• Tax credit for companies of up to $9,600 for hiring veterans with service-connected disabilities who have been looking for a job for more than six months.

• Expands education and training opportunities for older veterans by providing 100,000 unemployed veterans of past eras and wars with up to one-year of additional Montgomery GI benefits to go toward education or training programs at community colleges or technical schools.

• Provides disabled veterans up to one-year of additional vocational rehabilitation and employment benefits.
 
• Allows service members to begin the federal employment process prior to separation in order to facilitate a truly seamless transition from the military to jobs at VA, Homeland Security, or the many other federal agencies in need of our veterans.