WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Jacky Rosen (D-NV) and Jerry Moran (R-KS) introduced a bill to help more student veterans secure jobs and increase their skills. The bipartisan Hire Student Vets Act would incentivize employers to hire student veterans for part-time work and paid internships. It expands the existing Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC) to employers who hire student veterans, allowing student veterans greater access to valuable paid internships and work opportunities while in school. Nearly 220,000 veterans live in Nevada.
“When I’ve spoken with student veterans across our state, it’s clear they need more opportunities while in school to gain valuable experience like paid internships and work opportunities. That’s why I’m introducing this bipartisan bill to incentivize businesses to hire student veterans while they’re in school,” said Senator Rosen. “The brave men and women who serve our nation have our unending respect and gratitude, and it’s our responsibility to do everything we can to help these veterans transition to civilian life”
“Those who have sacrificed for our nation should be provided with every opportunity to achieve success in their life after service,” said Senator Moran. “This legislation would provide veterans who are utilizing their GI Bill benefits with increased flexibility to pursue paid internships and part-time employment to gain valuable work experience while in school. Expanding the Work Opportunity Tax Credit for student veterans is a positive step to improve opportunities for our veterans as they join the civilian workforce.”
The bipartisan Hire Student Veterans Act would make important changes to the Work Opportunity Tax Credit, including:
- Automatically qualify employers who hire student veterans using their GI Bill benefits for WOTC’s 40 percent tax credit on the first $6,000 of a new employee’s first-year wages;
- Reduce the existing tax credit’s 400-hour work requirement to 120 hours if a newly-hired employee is a veteran using their GI Bill benefits, allowing a student veteran to work part-time while in school; and
- Directly incentivize employers to hire more student veterans for part-time work and paid internships.
Senator Rosen has been actively working to ensure that Nevada’s veterans have the federal support they need. Last week, she introduced a bipartisan bill with Senator Moran to cut taxes for veterans who start a small business in underserved communities. Senator Rosen has also secured funding to increase access to affordable housing for veterans, continue building Nevada’s first national veterans cemetery in Elko, and increase funding for veterans’ access to telehealth. Additionally, Senator Rosen helped pass bipartisan legislation to increase veterans’ awareness of the VA home loan program.
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