Sen. Kaine, Rep. Duckworth Tout Troop Talent Act in Alexandria

U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.) and U.S. Rep. Tammy Duckworth (D-8th, Ill.) visited American Legion Post 24 in Old Town Tuesday to discuss the Troop Talent Act, a bill designed to streamline the military-to-civilian licensing process for certain occupations.

“It’s the right thing to do for those who served,” said Kaine, who was elected to the U.S. Senate in November and serves on the Armed Forces committee. “And it helps our economy.”

Kaine and Duckworth, a Purple Heart recipient from the Iraq War and first-time congresswoman, both spoke of the difficulty veterans face when transitioning back to civilian and professional life. Often the training some soldiers receive is not accredited in the private sector.

The unemployment rate for veterans who have served since 2001 is nearly 10 percent, Duckworth said.

The Troop Talent Act would encourage the Department of Defense to provide more information about military training and curriculum to organizations involved with private sector credentialing process that will help them better account for military training in the awarding of credentials.

“Our veterans guarantee the quality of their work with their lives,” Duckworth said. “I’d like to see that on someone's help wanted sign.”

Kaine introduced the bill with Sens. Saxby Chambliss (R-Ga.) and Max Baucus (D-Mont.). Duckworth introduced a companion bill in the House. Both touted the bipartisan approval of the measure.

“We need more bipartisan efforts,” Kaine said. “We have to find more things like this to bring people together.”