Contact: Isaac Padilla
505/986.4263
Isaac.Padilla@nmlegis.gov
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Sen. Sanchez’s Bill to Fund Job Training for Veterans and Persons 50 and Older Passes Senate Committee
(Santa Fe, NM) –Senate Bill 201, sponsored by Senate Majority Floor Leader Michael Sanchez, unanimously passed the Senate Corporations Committee today. SB 201 sets aside one-fourth of the Job Training Incentive Program appropriation for veterans. It also sets aside one-fourth of the revenue for persons 50 years of age or older.
“Our veterans fought for us and I am going to continue to fight for them, “said Sen. Sanchez. “Those of us who represent veterans in state government have a responsibility to fund programs to get them back to work.”
There are 171,500 veterans in New Mexico. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, nationally, 59 percent of unemployed veterans are age 45 and above, 37 percent are between 25 and 44, and 4 percent are age 18 to 24. Nearly 1 percent of unemployed veterans have service related injuries. “Passing this bill is the right thing to do,” said Sen. Sanchez. “I am confident this bill will pass the Senate, and when it does, I am calling on the House to pass this bill and the Governor to sign it into law.”
The Labor Department reports that the average length of unemployment for older people was 53 weeks, compared with 19 weeks for teenagers. When older people do find work, it is often at lower wages and with fewer benefits.
“It is difficult when a person who has worked hard for decades and is out of work through no fault of their own,” said Sen. Sanchez. “We need to establish proven programs to retain people and get them back to work. It is good for the employees and good for business.”
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