Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that Members of the House should actively engage with employers and the American public at large to encourage the hiring of members and former members of the Armed Forces who were wounded in service and are facing a transition to civilian life.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 1070) expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that Members of the House should actively engage with employers and the American public at large to encourage the hiring of members and former members of the Armed Forces who were wounded in service and are facing a transition to civilian life, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks on the resolution under consideration.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, it is really a pleasure to be down in the Chamber working this issue with the gentlewoman from Guam, for whom I have the utmost esteem. This is a very good cause we are talking about this morning.

Mr. Speaker, the Members of this House of Representatives spend a lot of time each year making recommendations and decisions that directly impact the lives of the men and women of the Armed Forces.

With the global war on terrorism, House Members have taken numerous actions as part of the annual defense authorization and defense appropriations acts to ensure that these fine men and women have the full range of resources they need to be successful in combat.

For those who are wounded and injured, and there have been more than 22,900 during this war, our colleagues have moved quickly and effectively to change laws and provide additional resources to improve the health care system. For as much as we in the House have done to support the men and women of the Armed Forces, I believe that more should be done and could be done, especially for those who have been wounded in defense of this Nation and who as a result of their wounds are leaving the service.

That is the purpose of this resolution today, to explicitly state that it is the sense of the House of Representatives that Members of the House should actively engage with employers and the American public at large to encourage the hiring of members and former members of the Armed Forces who were wounded in service and are facing a transition to civilian life.

Beyond the fact that getting involved is the right thing for Members to do, Members need to get more directly involved in helping wounded servicemembers transition to civilian life because young veterans, those aged 20 through 24, are experiencing a jobless rate three times the national average, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

We have all seen too many Vietnam-era homeless veterans in our districts, a reflection that the Nation then did not fully step up to doing what was necessary for those who serve the Nation. We should not repeat that mistake.

As I began 2 years ago to work this issue of finding ways to help soldiers, sailors, airmen and marines transition to civilian life, concerns were raised to me that such activity by a Member might conflict with the rules of conduct in this House, and I was surprised to hear that, Mr. Speaker, but that was the thrust of legal opinions.

I have worked with both the Committee on Standards of Official Conduct and House Administration, as well as my good colleague, Representative Ike Skelton, and other members of the committee to shape this resolution. Thus the resolution explicitly states that in encouraging potential employers and the American public to hire veterans, Members should act in accordance with regulations promulgated by the Committee on Standards and by House Administration, and, of course, we hope that after this resolution, which I hope will pass overwhelmingly, that we will see the Committee on Standards of Official Conduct and House Administration accommodate this very important concern of ours.

Mr. Speaker, there are any number of Federal, State and local organizations and many private entities working to employ wounded servicemembers and former servicemembers. I think it is time for House Members to get involved and engaged in this effort, and therefore I strongly urge all Members to vote ``yes'' on this resolution.

Very simply, Mr. Speaker, this would allow a Member of Congress who goes down to Bethesda and Walter Reed and who meets maybe a young man or young woman getting out of the service, maybe as a diesel mechanic, to call up companies in their district and say, do you have any need for diesel mechanics? If they say yes, you marry up that member of the service and that particular business in your district, and they end up getting a job.

We all know that a lot of jobs in this country are custom made, that is, they are the result of people getting together and having a cup of coffee or making a phone call, and that often starts a career which may continue for 5, 10, 15, 20 years.

Members of Congress have great connections with the businesses in their district, and it is only appropriate that they be involved in this process of making sure that people that wear the uniform, when they get out, have a chance to get a piece of this great opportunity that we call America.

Mr. Speaker, having said that, I reserve the balance of my time. It is great to be here with the gentlewoman from Guam working on this important resolution.

Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the gentlewoman's very articulate remarks.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Sekula Gibbs).

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank Ms. Sekula Gibbs and the gentlewoman from Guam, Ms. Bordallo, for assisting in this important resolution. This is something that I think that the membership of this House can enter into with lots of enthusiasm, with lots of energy.

Mr. Speaker, no one knows the businesses better in our districts than Representatives. The ability to connect a wounded soldier, sailor, airman or marine with a business in their particular district is something that will have a far-reaching effect, a long-lasting effect. Because of some of the qualities of our service personnel, that is the discipline, the ability to be a self-starter, the knowledge that you have to get up early and show up on time, the discipline, the talent, all those things I think will create long-lasting employment if we do one thing, and that is help to marry up these great Americans with prospective employers. We are well situated to do that and hopefully will have a good vote in the full House to emphasize that point in the resolution.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time and ask everyone to support this resolution.

Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I want to commend my colleague, the chairman of the Armed Forces Committee, Mr. Hunter of California, and the cosponsors of this resolution for introducing it.

I rise this morning in support of this resolution. It has been said that we often take for granted the very things that most deserve our gratitude, and there is little doubt in our country today that the men and women who are serving our Nation in uniform deserve our deepest gratitude.

I support this resolution, and I urge my colleagues to do the same, because at its heart is the principle that when our veterans return from performing their duty, we in turn owe a duty to them to assist them in their transition from citizen soldier to life as a civilian.

For many veterans, Mr. Speaker, especially those who return wounded, the transition to civilian life can be rocky and challenging. This Congress has committed to provide every tool necessary to our warfighters so that they can overcome any obstacle that they face in combat.

This resolution in a specific employment sense seeks to encourage the application of the same vigor in supporting our wounded veterans in their efforts to overcome obstacles involved in returning to civilian life and securing civilian employment. But as in all things, there is no silver bullet to facilitate the transition from wounded hero to employed civilian.

This resolution reflects the importance of supporting the hurdle of finding employment. But before our war-wounded can even consider employment, our commitment must be to world-class medical treatment that returns the wounded to the greatest health possible before they can enter the workforce.

Similarly, while some wounds may heal quickly, many others endure. So we must work to ensure that a veterans health care system with the capability, the capacity and the care to provide continuing treatment to our veterans is always, always available.

Further, while many military skills are invaluable in the workplace, a commitment to education and training funding for veterans can be critical to providing any opportunity, not just at employment, but at achieving continued advancement and new levels of financial and professional success.

I am proud of the record my colleagues have on championing these and so many related issues, and I know I speak for my colleagues in the upcoming Democratic majority in saying that we look forward to continuing and expanding our commitment to this full spectrum of care that our veterans deserve.

In closing, Mr. Speaker, we are reminded of the ethical mandates of service as Members of Congress, and I am reminded that I was sent to this great legislative body not to just use my position to influence others, but to legislate. So while I strongly support this resolution which encourages Members to use their personal influence to encourage employers to hire wounded veterans, the most important action for our Members will be continued and renewed vigor in our legislative efforts to support our veterans across the broad spectrum of support that they have earned.

I am proud, Mr. Speaker, of the record that employers in my home district, Guam, have established in supporting all veterans, but especially wounded veterans. My partnership with the Guam Chamber of Commerce has proved valuable to promoting such hiring practices, and I encourage all Members to so reach out on behalf of wounded veterans in their community

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank Chairman Duncan Hunter for his leadership in introducing this legislation. I am a strong supporter of H. Res. 1070, expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that members of Congress should actively engage in hiring wounded military veterans.

Earlier this year the House Veterans Affairs Committee, of which I am a member, held a hearing for private sector representatives to discuss their initiatives aimed at hiring veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces. Although companies such as Home Depot, Exxon Mobile Corporation and R&L Carriers have initiated plans to increase the number of veterans, and specifically disabled veterans, other companies and the public sector can also improve their veterans hiring practices.

According to the U.S. Department of Labor, younger veterans have a significantly higher unemployment rate than those of the general population in the same age range. Mr. Speaker, I find this situation unacceptable and I believe most Americans would agree that our country should do more to assist these veterans in transitioning from active duty to the civilian workforce.

For that reason, I helped establish a ``Veterans Opportunity Conference'' in my Congressional district of El Paso, TX, earlier this year. This conference brought together members of the community, Federal and State agencies, and businesses to assist veterans seeking to start a business, learn about State and Federal programs, and inquire about employment opportunities. Having had a great response from our veteran community, I now plan on making this a yearly event and encourage all of my colleagues in Congress to do the same in their respective districts.

Furthermore, as a U.S. Army veteran, a strong advocate of hiring qualified veterans, and a member of Congress, I practice what I preach. I am proud to have five former servicemembers in my El Paso and Washington, DC, offices.

Mr. Speaker, our veterans deserve our utmost commitment to helping them succeed after their military service, and I encourage all of my colleagues to join me in voting for H. Res. 1070.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman for the opportunity to address this resolution.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of House Resolution 1070 and express my support with the Members of the House of Representatives that Americans should employ people who have served our country. We should actively engage with employers and the American public at large to hire members and former members of the Armed Forces, especially those who have been wounded in service to our country and are facing a transition into civilian life.

I am a physician and have had the opportunity to work in veterans hospitals across the country. I will tell you that there is no group of people more dedicated and more committed to the American way of life and our great country than people who have served in our military. Who knows more about hard work than the people who have worked hard in the military, the men and women in our Armed Forces who have spent time abroad and have faced danger in the battle zones in places like Afghanistan and Iraq?

After serving our country, these men and women deserve a right to find gainful employment and to support themselves and their families. These individuals have sacrificed so much so that all of us can enjoy our freedom, the freedoms that we hold dear.

I suggest that a college degree is very important to an employer and has value and intrinsic value, but also service in the military has that experiential value that an employer can find very, very important when selecting a valuable worker.

I have worked with organizations like Marine for Life and with an individual in the Houston area named Sergeant Tony Martin who helps find Marines jobs when they return from active service. These groups are to be supported. Look them up. Seek them out.

Mr. Speaker, I am proud to support the passage of House Resolution 1070, and I urge my colleagues to join me in voting in favor of it.

Mr. Speaker, on December 5 and 6, 2006, I was unable to cast my floor vote on rollcall numbers 524, 525, 526 and 527. The votes I missed included a motion to suspend the rules and agree to as amended, H. Res. 1070; a motion to suspend the rules and pass, as amended H.R. 1176; a motion to suspend the rules and pass H.R. 6099; and a motion to suspend the rules and agree to H. Res. 1082.

Had I been present for the votes, I would have voted ``yea'' on rollcall votes 524 and 527, and ``nay'' on rollcall votes 525 and 526.