January 24, 2019 - Issue: Vol. 165, No. 15 — Daily Edition116th Congress (2019 - 2020) - 1st Session

[Pages H1175-H1176]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        LET'S CONTINUE PROGRESS MADE TO BETTER LIVES OF VETERANS

  (Mr. BUDD asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. BUDD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak on H.R. 433, the 
Veterans' Entry to Apprenticeship Act, which I introduced 2 weeks ago.
  While a lot of progress has been made over the past few years in 
reducing the number of unemployed veterans in America, the latest data 
shows that around 370,000 remain unemployed as of 2017.
  Last year, the House of Representatives passed several bills that 
improved the lives of our veterans specifically related to healthcare. 
My bill would keep this momentum going.
  Here is the short of it: Right now, veterans are not allowed to use 
their

[[Page H1176]]

GI Bill benefits to cover the cost of Department of Labor-approved pre-
apprenticeship programs, such as training in welding or training in 
carpentry. This bill would change that and allow those who have served 
our country to learn skills that will better prepare them for 
apprenticeships and, ultimately, the workforce.
  This bill will continue the progress we have made to better the lives 
of veterans who have served this country honorably, and I ask my 
colleagues on both sides of the aisle to join me in this effort.

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