Issue Position: Veterans

Issue Position

Throughout my Senate service, I've stood behind, strongly supported and co-sponsored numerous legislative efforts to help honor, in a variety of ways, the sacrifice and service of our veterans.

One measure I was particularly proud to sponsor recently seeks to encourage businesses and industries in New York State to hire returning veterans. One highlight of the 2016-17 New York State budget, for example, extended the "Hire-a-Vet" tax credit that I helped sponsor and fought to create in 2013. It's an investment in the future of returning veterans. It's a tough economy all around, but the impact has been especially hard on veterans returning home during this recession to a weak private-sector economy.

Returning servicemen and servicewomen have had a hard time finding work and that's particularly true for wounded veterans. We believe this tax credit is a worthwhile way to recognize their service and we hope it will help encourage economic opportunities and jobs for returning military men and women who have so much to offer.

Federal Bureau of Labor statistics have shown that unemployment reached a staggering 20 percent for veterans under the age of 30 who have recently returned home from Iraq and Afghanistan. Moreover, statistics show that a significant number of recently returned veterans report service-connected disabilities.

I've also been privileged to sponsor legislation memorializing the lives and courageous service of some of the young soldiers we've lost from here at home, including the designation of the "Sergeant Devin Snyder Memorial Highway" in Cohocton, Steuben County, and the "Christopher J. Scott Memorial Highway" between the town of Reading (Schuyler County) and the village of Dundee (Yates County).

I've also worked to secure assistance for returning veterans whose lives -- and the lives of their families -- are being devastated by Post-traumatic Stress Syndrome (PTSD).

Source