Assemblymember Brindisi Sponsors Legislation to Encourage Businesses to Hire Veterans

May 25, 2012

Assemblymember Anthony J. Brindisi (D-Utica) announced his sponsorship of legislation to establish a returning heroes tax credit for businesses that hire veterans and wounded veterans returning from war (A.8933). This bill was created to combat the high level of unemployed veterans in New York State by encouraging and rewarding local businesses that hire them.

The national unemployment rate for veterans who served on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces beginning in September 2001 was at 12.1 percent in 2011.ⁱ

Qualified businesses who hire veterans or wounded veterans returning from war can earn a tax credit of:

• $2,400 per short-term unemployed veteran;
• $4,800 per long-term unemployed veteran;
• $4,800 per short-term unemployed wounded veteran; and
• $9,600 per long-term unemployed wounded veteran.

The legislation defines “short-term unemployed veterans” as veterans who have been unemployed for longer than four weeks but less than six months, and “long-term unemployed veterans” as those who have been unemployed six months or longer. Businesses can receive a maximum of $15,000 in tax credits.

“When veterans return to civilian life we should be there to help them make the transition,” said Assemblymember Brindisi. “They served and defended our nation, making countless sacrifices for our freedom and safety. They deserve, at the very least, to find meaningful employment. This bill would help those veterans who have had a tough time finding work.”

Assemblymember Brindisi is also sponsoring a bill to create a veterans’ job bank (A.8932-A). This bill would require the Division of Veterans’ Affairs to maintain a veterans’ employment portal on its website. The portal would provide information regarding employment resources available to assist veterans on the state and national level.

Brindisi said he is looking to build upon the, “Hiring our Heroes” initiative started by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce last year. It is a national movement to combat the high unemployment rates of newly returning veterans and their spouses. In their first 12 months, Hiring our Heroes hosted 134 job fairs around the country, and has a goal of hosting four hundred more in their second 12 months.ⁱⁱ Earlier this month there was a Hiring our Heroes event at Mohawk Valley Community College.

Terésa Fava-Schram, Project Director of Central New York Veteran’s Outreach Center said, “Searching for employment can be a daunting task, so I commend Assemblyman Brindisi for recognizing the need to make sure that employment services are more easily accessible to Veterans. It is time for the Veteran community, as well as the general public, to look to the Veterans Administration for more than just healthcare. The VA has made great strides in the services that they offer to returning Veterans and I feel that this is an important step towards the realization of a more holistic approach to the Veteran community.”

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i. www.bls.gov/news.release/vet.nr0.htm

ii. www.uschamber.com/sites/default/files/veterans/HOH%20Overview_0.pdf

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