[Vision2020] Fwd: Correspondence from Senator Crapo

[Tom Hansen]

What a pile of CRAP?

Senators Crapo and Risch could have been true heroes to veterans by simply taking the floor of the US Senate and announcing that they support our veterans  and, as such, voted in favor of Senate Bill 3457 (The Veterans Job Corps Act of 2012).  Instead, they voted against it and the bill failed 50-48.

If this bill had been enacted, financing of the bill would have been accomplished via penalties levied against late tax filings and funds received from long overdue multi-year tax filings.

Well, at least we know where Crapo and Risch stand when it comes to our veterans.

EFF 'em ! ! !

Seeya at the polls, Moscow, because . . .

"Moscow Cares"
http://www.MoscowCares.com
  
Tom Hansen
Moscow, Idaho

"We're a town of about 23,000 with 10,000 college students.  The college students are not very active in local elections (thank goodness!)."

- Dale Courtney (March 28, 2007)
 

Begin forwarded message:

> From: <correspondence_reply at crapo.senate.gov>
> Date: October 2, 2012, 7:07:11 AM PDT
> To: <thansen at moscow.com>
> Subject: Correspondence from Senator Crapo
> Reply-To: <correspondence_reply at crapo.senate.gov>
> 
> 
>  
> October 2, 2012
>  
>  
> Tom Hansen
> 451 North Adams Street
> Moscow, ID 83843-2640
>  
> Dear Tom:
>  
> Thank you for contacting me regarding the Veterans Job Corps Act (S. 3457). I appreciate hearing from you and welcome the opportunity to respond.
>  
> As you may know, S. 3457 was introduced by Senator Bill Nelson (D- Florida) on July 30, 2012, and would require the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to establish a veteran jobs corps to employ veterans in conservation, resource management, and historic preservation projects on public lands and maintenance and improvement projects for cemeteries under the jurisdiction of the National Cemetery Administration. Additionally, the job corps would employ veterans as firefighters and law enforcement officers, requiring priority employment for veterans who served on active duty on or after September 11, 2001.
>  
> As you may know, the unemployment rate for veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan, 10.9 percent, is higher than that of the general population. In response, Congress, November 2011, enacted the Vow to Hire Heroes Act and, in July 2012, enacted the Veterans Skills to Jobs Act. Both of those measures were aimed at encouraging the hiring of veterans in long term employment positions.
>  
> As these new programs are implemented, Congress should continuously evaluate veterans’ benefits and retraining programs for effectiveness and needed improvements. Veterans have unique skills and employment requirement, and Congress should undertake its oversight responsibilities to ensure existing and new proposals meet their particular circumstances. Unfortunately, S. 3457 has not been subject to the review of the Senate Veterans Committee and given the opportunity for those most affected to offer advice and improvements.
>  
> As we are in the middle of a debt crisis that threatens the very future of our country, we must watch every penny of taxpayer money that the federal government seeks to spend. Congress has an obligation to be a diligent advocate for veterans and ensure programs are cost-effective and avoid duplication. It is irresponsible to promote veterans legislation without the full knowledge that it is best prioritization of veterans needs.
>  
> Like you, I am a strong supporter of our nation’s veterans and I recognize the importance of ensuring the federal government takes the steps necessary to address their needs. Our nation is indebted to those individuals who have served in the Armed Forces and we must keep our commitments to these brave men and women. As we now confront new challenges relating to military and veterans’ benefits, I continue to approach such problems with that longstanding respect and admiration for America’s service men and women. Please be assured that I will continue to work with my colleagues to improve the benefits and programs available to our nation’s veterans in a fiscally responsible manner.
>  
> Again, thank you for contacting me. Please feel free to contact me in the future on this or other matters of interest to you. For more information about the issues before the U.S. Senate as well as news releases, photos, and other items of interest, please visit my Senate website, http://crapo.senate.gov.
>  
> Sincerely,
> 
> Mike Crapo
> United States Senator
>  
> MDC:SF
>  
> 
> 
>       
> 
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