From State Rep. Tom Leonard
In 2011 the United States Department of Veterans Affairs released a report that ranked funding provided to veterans on a per-capita basis. The data showed that Michigan ranked 53rd – behind not only the other 49 states but also Puerto Rico, Guam and Washington, D.C.
In another report released that same year, the U.S. Congressional Joint Economic Committee found that the unemployment rate amongst veterans in Michigan was 16 percent – more than double the national rate of 7.6 percent at the time. Even more startling, the unemployment rate for post-9/11 veterans in Michigan was 29.4 percent.
Michigan has the country’s 11th largest veteran population with over 650,000. Unfortunately, many are finding it difficult to enter the state’s workforce after their tours, due to unnecessary licensing barriers that prevent them from receiving credit for their military training.
Over the past several months, the Legislature has worked to eliminate these barriers and help our veterans find the jobs they are already qualified for. The House passed a five-bill package in June that allows veterans to use their military training when seeking civilian licensure in a variety of trades and professions. House Bills 4605, 4731, 4752, 4754 and 4756 allow training and experience gained during military service to count toward licensing as a law enforcement official, residential builder, emergency medical service technician, mechanical contractor, stationary steam engineer and boiler operator or firefighter.
These bills all passed with unanimous support, and are now before the Senate for consideration. Similar bills were also passed last term allowing military experience to translate into civilian licensure as an electrical journeyman, journey plumber or private security guard.
These brave men and women have already spent years away from their loved ones to preserve our freedoms here at home, while also receiving some of the best training this nation has to offer. It only makes sense to remove employment barriers and allow them the opportunity to use their previous experience to earn their occupational licenses and find jobs once they return home. These common-sense measures will allow our qualified veterans to enter the civilian workforce more seamlessly, without concerns for safety or quality.