Jobs for Heroes bill a great way to put our veterans back to work

A proposed bill called “Jobs for Heroes” has recently received bipartisan support and the concept is simple. Hire any post 9/11 veteran to work at your business and get a large tax credit.

Councilmember Jim Rogowski, who is also highly involved in the Town of Cheektowaga Veteran’s Affairs Committee, is in full support of the bill, especially since unemployment for veterans is more than 10 percent.

The tax credit for business owners could be anywhere from $10,000 to $15,000 and there is no limit to how many veterans a business is allowed to hire. So why not support it? It is definitely a win-win situation for everyone.

It is truly disappointing that our American heroes risk their lives in order to keep us safe and yet when they come home, they are unable to obtain a job. These soldiers should be at the front of the line when it comes to employment but yet they are just waved to the side like everyone else. While I believe there should be a bill stating that every veteran should be guaranteed a job after their service to our country, this bill, which pertains to veterans who served post 9/11, is still a step in the right direction.

I don’t think employers realize what kind of intelligence and dedication it takes to be a soldier. What these soldiers learned in the war cannot be taught in any book or any college classroom and they deserve to have a job. It is difficult enough when they come back home to deal with what they have been through and to adjust to normal life but to add stress with unemployment just isn’t right.

I encourage our state senator, assemblymen, town officials, and residents to fully support this bill so that we can see it go through. It is so important that we have our veteran’s backs just like they had ours. The difference between a soldier and a civilian is that nobody makes them to go to war to serve our country. They do it because they have a passion for the United States and it’s citizens and they never ask for anything in return. As citizens we should realize the huge accomplishment and sacrifice these men and women have given to us and stand up and try to help them. Without them we wouldn’t be able to freely go to our own jobs so let’s make sure they have one too.

To take action and support the “Jobs for Heroes” bill make sure to write a letter to your local government officials including Senator Tim Kennedy, Assemblyman Dennis Gabryszak, Senator Mark Grisanti, Senator Pat Gallivan and Assemblywoman Jane Corwin.