WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) met with Clark County native and U.S. Marine Sgt. Mathew Demers in Washington this week to discuss efforts to put veterans back to work. Sgt Demers, originally from Springfield, is currently based at Marine Corps Base Quantico in Virginia and has deployed to Iraq twice.
“The unemployment rate for young veterans is unacceptably high,” Brown said. “Our commitment to our service members shouldn’t end when they return home as skilled, experienced civilians. From leadership experience to technical and scientific skills, veterans are critical to our nation’s economic competitiveness.”
In November 2011, the Senate passed the VOW to Hire Heroes Act of 2011, a bill to provide tax credits to companies that hire unemployed veterans. It includes legislation cosponsored by Brown—the Hiring Heroes Act—that would ensure that all servicemembers transitioning to civilian life receive the job training skills they need to find employment.
Brown, a member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs, has convened field hearings around Ohio to examine how the U.S. Department of Veterans’ Affairs (VA) can better serve veterans in rural areas and cities across Ohio. He is the author of several legislative initiatives that would strengthen our nation's commitment to veterans by improving education reimbursements and expanding employment protection for former service members.
Brown has held more than 200 community events since being sworn into office in 2007—holding at least one roundtable discussion with community leaders in each of Ohio's 88 counties. Many of Brown's legislative priorities, including his jobs initiatives, originated from these discussions.
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