ALBANY - Governor Andrew Cuomo signed legislation that will continue the state's efforts to assist returning service men and women in finding employment. 

The new law requires the establishment of an employment portal on the Division of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA) website that will include links to appropriate federal and state governmental programs that assist veterans in obtaining employment. 

"Military veterans are highly trained, often in specialized skills that are in great demand in the public and private sectors," Governor Cuomo said. "It is essential that our returning service men and women have access to the many resources available on the state and federal level to help veterans find jobs in the civilian workforce. I commend the bill sponsors for their work on this important new law."

The employment portal on the DVA website will provide information regarding resources that are available to assist veterans in finding jobs, including governmental programs on the federal and state level and links to resources available through the federal and state labor departments. To ensure the portal successfully serves veterans, DVA will consult with members of the community devoted to helping veterans obtain employment. 

U.S. Senator Charles Schumer announced his push to create a Veterans’ Jobs Corps to employ veterans across upstate New York in public works projects related to transportation, the protection and conservation of federal lands waters, and other construction work. In addition, the Veterans’ Jobs Corps would expand job opportunities for unemployed veterans in public safety positions such as police officers, firefighters, and emergency medical technicians.

The Veterans’ Job Corps Act of 2012 would authorize the federal government to create a Veterans’ Job Corps and provide funding to public organizations to establish training programs and provide job opportunities to unemployed veterans. Schumer, a cosponsor of the bill, highlighted that the thousands of unemployed veterans in upstate New York have gained critical skills in the military that would successfully translate to jobs in which they protect America’s public domain, federal lands, and communities. Not only would this legislation put unemployed veterans to work for a minimum yearlong enrollment period, the bill also helps decrease maintenance backlogs on federal lands and fill vital first response posts. The Schumer-backed Veterans’ Job Corps would allow unemployed veterans to receive necessary training and job opportunities for improving federal infrastructure, erosion control invasive species eradication, and data collection as well as serve as firefighters and law enforcement officers.

“New York’s veterans have given their all for our country,” said Schumer. “The least we can do is provide our heroes with real job training and employment opportunities when they leave the service, and that is exactly what this Veterans’ Jobs Corps sets out to do.”

Under the Veterans’ Jobs Corps, all participating agencies are directed to help train and educate eligible veterans for civilian professions. Agencies would need to establish a training program at suitable existing facilities through competitive grant funding. Under the legislation, the Secretary of Veterans’ Affairs in coordination with respective agency heads would be responsible for development and supervision of projects, and a program administrator would be required to provide any education or training necessary to carry out assigned work projects in various fields, such as construction, maintenance, fire prevention, public safety, and an extensive list of other eligible public works projects.