Congresswoman Torres Introduces Servicemember Equal Recognition & Transition Support (SERTS) Act
Washington, D.C. –– Today, Congresswoman Norma J Torres (CA-35) – a senior member of the House Appropriations Committee, introduced the Servicemember Equal Recognition & Transition Support (SERTS) Act, legislation that would build on efforts to assist veterans in transferring trade and skill certifications acquired during military service, such as airplane mechanics, into civilian jobs.
"Many veterans across the Inland Empire and the nation were trained in specialized trades during active duty service but struggle to find jobs when transitioning back to civilian life, despite their qualifications and skills," said Congresswoman Torres. "Whether it is more veterans working as airplane mechanics at the Ontario International Airport or elsewhere, we must do more to connect the dots and help specially trained vets find jobs in the trades where they have expertise, be it logistics, mechanics, or even healthcare. My SERTS Act aims to create data on the number of Veterans who successfully transfer their certifications to civilian jobs to determine the effectiveness of the Department of Defense’s credentialing program and the Department of Veterans Affairs transition programs. It is vital that we understand how effective these programs are so we can ensure our troops have a smooth transition to civilian life."
Background: Congresswoman Torres bill would direct the Secretary of the Department of Defense, with consultation from the Secretaries of the Department of Veterans Affairs and Department of Labor, to submit a report to Congress outlining:
- The number of Veterans who successfully transferred their certifications to civilian jobs without additional costs.
- Which types of certifications were most commonly transferred into civilian jobs.
- What other barriers to Veterans face to transferring acquired certifications to civilian jobs.
Full bill text here.
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