as i look out at the thousands of you here today, i have such hope knowing that you are armed with even more information to go back to your communities and to continue to do your good work to bring justice to vets. thank you. [applause] [applause] >> thank you. i have to admit, i'm the one she put on probation. [laughs] and thank you, everyone, for being here this week. i don't know about you, but after this week i feel pretty energized. ready to go for a great conference? [applause]

we are going to have a great conference. this morning, we heard a anthemul version of our by katie huffman. her credits and awards are far too numerous to list here. she has starred on stage and television. she is best known for her role as ula in the smash hit "the producers," and she remains one of broadway's bright stars. but she is also a passionate advocate for veterans. when i called katie and asked her to come share her talent with us here today and i told her what you all were up to, "if myaid, and i quote, little boys can help in any way, of course i will be there." after you heard her this morning, we all know she doesn't

have a little voice. but katy wanted to be here, and ladies and gentlemen, ooa purrington,n please welcome back to the stage my friend, miss katie huffman. [applause] ♪ music plays] ♪ nine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the lord

he is trampling out the vintage where the grapes of wrath are stored he has loosed the fateful lightning of his terrible, swift sword. truth is marching on hallelujahy, glory, glory, hallelujah glory, glory, hallelujah his truth is marching on

he has sounded forth the trumpet that shall never call retreat he is sifting out the hearts of men before his judgment seat oh, be swift, my soul, to answer him be jubilant, my feet our god is marching on glory, glory, hallelujah hallelujah , glory, glory, hallelujah since god is marching on lilies eauty of the

christ was born across the sea with a glory in his bosom that trend figures you and me -- mensfigures you and as he died to make men holy let us die to make men free while god is marching on glory, glory, hallelujah glory, glory, hallelujah glory, glory, hallelujah while god is marching on

hallelujahy, glory, hallelujah glory, hallelujah on truth is marching onching marching on marching on! ♪ [applause] [captions copyright national cable satellite corp. 2015] [captioning performed by the national captioning institute, which is responsible for its caption content and accuracy.

visit ncicap.org] >> join us later today for what turkey.for you can watch that on c-span2 at 5:30 p.m. access tohas the best congress. watch live coverage on c-span and the senate on c-span2. listen live anytime on our c-span radio act. .atch it live at www.c-span.org get behind the scenes footage. stay with c-span, c-span radio, and www.c-span.org for your best access to congress. a signature feature of c-span2's book tv is our coverage of book fairs and festivals from across the country with nonfiction author talks, interviews, and viewer call-in segments. we will be live at the 32nd

annual miami book fair starting on saturday, november 21 at 10:00 a.m. eastern. authors include presented john lewis discussing his book "march." and peggy noonan talks about her book "the time of our lives. judith miller joins us to discuss her book "the story." ted kabul on his book "lights out." because the authors live. first, p.j. o'rourke takes your life calls. then joy and read -- joy ann read will take your calls. on booklive from miami november 21. be sure to send us your questions and calls. obama laid a wreath

today at the two of the unknown center at arlington national cemetery. the ceremony including the president's remarks was just over 40. -- 40 minutes. >> the president of the united states. ♪ [applause] ["hail to the chief" plays] ♪ >> ladies and gentlemen, please our nation'sng for colors. the u.s. army band will play the national emblem march. please place your hand over your heart, or render a hand salute.

♪ ♪

♪

>> please remain standing for prayer for all veterans, delivered by the associate director, national chaplain center. michael curry senior. mccrory senior. chaplain: let us pray. almighty god of veterans and nations, you are so awesome in all your ways. we give you thanks on this veterans day for the devotion and courage of all those who have worn our nation's uniform and offered military service for this country that we could now

enjoy such freedoms. we thank you for our veterans service organizations, who make every day of the year veterans day. today as a nation, oh god, we honor veterans who have answered the call to serve, to protect our american way of life. we honor veterans who suffer from the visible and invisible wounds of war. we honor veterans who have laid down their lives for others. and we honor their surviving families and the sacrifices they have made. god, we thank you for our nation's veterans willingness to serve on our behalf, and borne hardship in war and in peace time. oh god, we ask that on this veterans day you would encourage and heal those in hospitals, rehabilitation facilities, or amending their wounds at home.

-- facilities, or mending their wounds at home. help us, o god, to never forget our comrades who enlisted and are missing in action. help us to bring them and be returning warriors to a peaceful life at home. and a joyful reunion. give to us your people of this nation grateful hearts and a united will to honor these men and women, and hold them always in your love and our prayers until your will is perfected in peace and all wars cease. god, give us all a sense of humor and find something to make us smile. as we remember the good times and celebrate our nation's veterans. amen. >> amen. >> now, i would like to invite mr. norbert ryan junior,

national president, military officer association of america, to lead us in the pledge of allegiance. >> [all together] i pledge allegiance to the flag of the united states of america. and to the republic for which it stands, one nation, under god, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> please, be seated. it is now my distinct privilege to introduce the members of the veterans day national committee. the committee was formed by presidential order in 1954 to hold this annual observance in honor of our american veterans and to support veterans day observances throughout the nation. please hold your applause until i have introduced the special guest. if able, please stand when your name is called. norbert ryan junior, national president, military officers association of america.

gene, national president, polish legion of american veterans. larry kinnard national , president, korean war veterans association and angel -- , national g.i. forum. -- angel zuniga, national g.i. forum. amanda crawford, catholic war veterans of the usa. edward senior, national commander, american express and her's of war. -- ex-prisoners of war. al kovac, national president, paralyzed veterans of america. jerome bloom, national commander, jewish war veterans of the usa. john rowan, president, vietnam veterans of america. john -- , commander in chief, veterans of foreign wars of the united states. james pidgeon, national commander. -- national commander, amvet's.

dale sanford, national president, lighted veterans -- blinded veterans association. carl good junior, national commander, army and navy union of the usa. h gene overstreet, commander, noncommissioned officers administration. davidoff -- david goff, national vice commander, the american legion. robert husker, national commander, military order of the purple heart. virgil cormier national , president, fleet reserve association. richard gore senior, national -- -- national commandant marine , corps league. lyman smith, executive director, military chaplain association. william mullen, national commander, legion of valor of the usa. mike plummer, deputy legislative director, national association of uniformed services. ruth hamilton,

commander-in-chief, military order of the world wars. lawrence hyland, national president, the retired enlisted association. thomas kelly, congressional medal of honor society. and moses mccants is junior, national commander, disabled american veterans. the associate members of the committee are located in the boxes to my left. i would like to ask the president and national commander to comprise our associate membership to stand and be recognized. ladies and gentlemen, please join me in recognizing our veterans national leadership with your applause. [applause]

>> it is now my pleasure to introduce our veterans organization host for 2015. the military officers association of america. founded in 1929, moaa is the largest and most influential association of officers. it is the leading voice representing active duty, guard, and reserve, retired, and former officers of all seven uniformed services and their spouses, families, and survivors. with over 300,000 members. moaa offers a powerful force for equitable treatment for all of those who have served their country in uniform. moaa's network of affiliate chapters across the u.s. actively promotes the concept of lifetime service at the national, state and community levels. as you can see, they live their motto.

at moaa, we never stop serving. they are recommended -- represented today by their national president. ladies and gentlemen, please welcome mr. norbert ryan jr. [applause] >> mr. president, mr. vice president. secretary and mrs. mcdonald. secretary and mrs. carter. members of congress. members of the joint chiefs of staff and spouses. medal of honor recipients. fellow veterans. members of the armed forces. gold star families and other distinguished guests. ladies and gentlemen. good morning and welcome. to all in attendance here and across the country on this most important day, veterans day. it is an honor for the military officers association of america to cohost this year's ceremony, a first in our 86 year history

of providing leadership on -- providing servant leadership on behalf of the entire military family. today we join all americans to honor the inspiring shared sacrifice and commitment of past and present members of the armed forces. thankfully, honor, valor, and love of country have always been the defining characteristics of america's military from bunker hill to the mountains of campus kandishmountains of in afghanistan. but the battlefield is not the exclusive birthplace of heroism. our nation's heroes are also here at home in the form of the families and loved ones of our returning warriors who provide the care and understanding that enable them to regain a life of normal the.

-- normalcy. the individuals who have dedicated their lives to improving the quality of life of veterans in ways big and small. veterans day reminds us that this nation's greatest asset is not our leading-edge technology, rich farmland, or material wealth. our nations greatest treasure is our sons and daughters who serve and sacrifice in their nation's uniform. that is why we never stop serving. those who serve or have served. for if we do, we risk breaking the faith that will inspire future generations to serve. thank you for joining us this morning and getting thanks to -- in giving thanks and praise to all those who served. may god bless all veterans and make on a listless -- may god bless the united states of america. [applause]

>> please welcome the honorable robert mcdonnell, secretary of veterans affairs. -- robert mcdonald, secretary of veterans affairs. [applause] >> mr. president and vice president biden, thank you both for your leadership and your steady strong advocate for our nation's veterans, service members, there emily's, and survivors. -- their families, and survivors. you have shown respect for our -- you have shown in many ways that your respect and admiration and gratitude for our veterans commitments. for those who have served, thank you. medal of honor recipients thomas kelly and brian thacker were honored by your courage and your heroism in battle. secretary carter and your wife, white house chief of staff, administrator mccarthy, united

states trade representative from an, senators collins, franken, cotton, tell us, and sullivan, your spouses and guests. ambassador rice, chairman dunford, general silva, general grass, general welsh, general miley, admiral richardson, general mellor, all your spouses and guests. other distinguished leaders of the department of defense and military services, former v.a. administrator harry walters, vice admiral norm ryan. military officers association of america, our cohost are this thisr this years -- for year's celebration and all the representatives of our veterans service organizations. fellow veterans, members of our armed forces, ladies and gentlemen.

as many of you know, president obama is scheduled to present the medal of honor to an american soldier tomorrow. captain retired florence t gruenberg. tomorrow will remark the 10th time in living service member has received our nation's highest valor award for actions in afghanistan or iraq. seven more were posthumously awarded the metal. the medal. at tomorrow's ceremony, president obama will address the specifics of captain grover heroism. but let me say that in the worst of circumstances and without hesitation, captain gerbert ber acted in a manner that saved the lives of many of his comrades. tragically he could not save them all. when he was informed last month that he would receive the medal of honor, he said, "this metal belongs to them. it's my mission to tell everyone

thank you for recognizing me but this does not belong to me. it belongs to them. that's how i'm coping with them mentally. it gives you the opportunity to represent them have their -- and their families." for almost two and a half centuries, they have selflessly answered the call to arms to preserve and defend the ideas behind the words that are both vision and conscious of our democracy. we hold these truths to be self-evident. that all men are created equal. they are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable -- certain inalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. each generation has done its part to deliver a strong and free america to the next generation. they have done so with great determination, personal toughness, and willingness to risk it all for others. this veterans day, we want to

acknowledge those who served in two difficult conflicts. this year marks the 70th anniversary of the end of world war ii. and the beginning of our 50th commemoration of the decade-long war in vietnam. to those who fought in both wars, thank you for yourself the -- thank you for your selfless service. americans are grateful for your sacrifices. the president understands and values the service and sacrifice of veterans. that's why i have provided strong resources for care and benefits. support of the new g.i. bill to educate the next generation of american leaders. tremendous support to help v.a. drive down the backlog in claims by almost 90% and improve access to quality health care for all veterans. as the president said in his state of the union address this year, as a new generation of veterans come home, we them

-- we owed them every opportunity to live the american dream they help defend. and dr. jilly biden are also unwavering supporters. they have joined forces to bring the public and private sectors together in support of employment of service members, veterans and their family members among many other initiatives. veterans could not ask for stronger advocates and our -- than our president, vice president, and their wives. ladies and gentlemen, it is a great personal and professional honor to present to you our commander-in-chief. please join me in welcoming the president of the united states, barack obama. [applause] president obama: thank you. thank you so much.

please be seated. thank you. thank you, bob, for your service to our nation. as an army airborne ranger. and your tireless work on behalf of your fellow veterans. to vice president joe biden, general dunford, major general becker, distinguished guests. o our outstanding veterans service organizations and their leadership. our men and women in uniform. and most of all, to our proud veterans and your families. it is a great privilege to be with you once again. orent gruenberg, tomorrow will be my honor to present you with the medal of

honor, our nation's highest military declaration. -- decoration. to all of our veterans here today, to veterans across america, whether you served on the beaches of europe, the jungles of asia, the deserts of the middle east. whether you served here at home or overseas, in wartime or in peace. whether you served proudly in the army, navy, air force, marines, or coast guard, you are part of an unbroken chain of patriot who have served this country with honor through the life of our nation. on the sacred grounds, for generations of heroes have come to rest, we remember all those who made the ultimate sacrifice for our nation. and today we gather once more to salute every patriot who was ever proudly wore the uniform of the united states of america.

this year as we mark 70 years since our victory in the second world war, we pay special tribute to a generation that literally saved the world. we are joined by several of those heroes including our oldest known female world war two vet, army lieutenant colonel luda c mcgrath who this year turns 108. [applause] president obama: there she is. [applause]

president obama: and i would ask all of our veterans and families of world war ii, if you can stand, please stand or raise your hand so america can thank you one more time. [applause] president obama: today in big cities and small towns across our country, there will be ceremonies around flat and parades down main street -- flagpoles and parades down main street to properly explicit our gratitude and show our appreciation to men and women who serve so that we might live free. it is right that we do so. but our attributes will ring -- ourattributes tributes will ring hollow if we

stop there. if tomorrow after the parades and ceremonies we roll up the banners and sweep the veterans halls and go back to our daily lives, forgetting the bond between the service of our veterans and our obligations as citizens, we will be doing a profound disservice to our veterans and the very cause for which they serve. this day is not only about gratitude for what they have done for us. it is also a reminder of all that they still have to give to our nation and our duty to them. that's what i want to talk about briefly today. we're in the midst of a new wave of american veterans. in recent years more than one million of our minute women in -- of our men and women in uniform, many of them veterans of afghanistan and iraq, have completed their military service and return to civilian life. each year at least another 200,000 do the same. our 9/11 generation of veterans are joining the ranks of those

who have come before, including many of you are veterans of korea and vietnam. our tributes today will ring hollow if we do not ensure that our veterans receive the care that you have earned and that you deserve. the good news is that in recent years we have made historic investments to boost the v.a. budget, expand benefits, offer more mental health care and improved care for our wounded warriors, especially those with post-traumatic stress and traumatic brain injury. we have now cut the disability claims backlog by nearly 90%. we are reducing the outrage of veterans homelessness and have helped tens of thousands of our veterans get off the streets. still, the unacceptable problems that we've seen like long wait times and some veterans not getting the timely care that they need is a challenge for all

of us. if we are to match our words with these. and my message to every single veteran, to veterans all across this country is that i am still not satisfied and bob mcdonnell -- bob mcdonald is still not satisfied and we are going to keep investing in the facilities and the physicians and staff to make sure that our veterans get the care that you need when you need it. that is our obligation and we're not going to let up. [applause] president obama: our tributes today will also bring hollow if -- ring hollow if we don't provide our veterans with the jobs and opportunities that you need when you come home. that's why we've helped more than 1.5 million veterans and their families pursue an education under the post-9/11 g.i. bill. that's why we work to make sure that every state now provides veterans and their families with in-state tuition. that's why we are fighting to

make it easier for our veterans to get the licenses and certifications to transition the outstanding skills they gained in the armed services to civilian jobs. it's why we are helping more veterans and military spouses find jobs. and today the veterans unemployment rate is down to 3.9%, even lower than the national average. [applause] president obama: but this can't just be a job for government. we all have a role to play. i realize that with less than 1% of americans serving in uniform, the other 99% of folks don't always see and appreciate the incredible skills and assets that are veterans can offer. on this veterans day, here's what i want every american to know. our veterans are some of the

most talented, driven, capable people on earth. think about the leadership that they've learned, twentysomethings leading platoons in life or death situations. the cutting-edge technology that they've mastered. their ability to adapt to changing and unpredictable situations. they can perform under pressure. they've helped reconstruct towns and mediate disputes. they've managed large-scale projects, learned how to work on teams, stay committed to a mission, solve seemingly intractable problems, they get stuff done and they are selfless and they are brave and they are qualified and america needs folks who know how to get stuff done. [applause] president obama: if you can save a life on the battlefield, you can save a life in an ambulance.

if you can oversee a convoy or millions of dollars of assets in a conflict zone, you sure can help manage a company supply chain. if you can maintain the most advanced weapons in the world, surely you can manufacture the next generation of advanced tech knowledge he right here at home -- technology right here at home. they may have put away their uniforms but they are not finish serving their country. our veterans will tell you this themselves. that includes wounded warriors who tell me they want to keep serving again. they are the people we need to keep america competitive in the 21st century. that's why more companies are hiring veterans. not out of charity. not out of patriotism or some moral obligation, although they do have those obligations. but because they know it's good for their bottom line. every day our veterans help keep america strong. every day. responding to natural disasters here at home and around the

world, working to end homelessness and get more of their brothers and sisters in arms the resources they need to transition into billion life. -- into civilian life. starting their own businesses. like the veterans who started a coffee shop that so good my own stuff loaded to have it served -- that is so good my own staff voted to have it served in the white house. [applause] president obama: and understand we consume a lot of coffee in , the white house. those guys are pretty heroic. our veterans are moms and its, teachers and doctors, engineers, entrepreneurs, social workers and community leaders. they are serving and statehouses across the country, serving in congress. we have a proud veteran, retired navy captain scott kelly, commander of the international space station up there right now. he just became the american astronaut to serve the longest consecutive late in space --

flight in space. [applause] president obama: our veterans are already making america great every single day. so my message today is simple. if you want to get the job done, hire a vet. if you are a business that needs team players and that know how to execute, hire a vet. if your school system needs dedicated passionate teachers, hiring veteran. if you are a nonprofit who need leaders i can follow through on a vision, hire a veteran. every sector, every industry, every community can benefit from the talents of our veterans. they are ready to serve and they will make you proud. [applause] president obama: i want to give you one example. a young woman named jennifer madden.

jen joined the army at 17 years old. she wanted to be just like her grandpa. a korean war veteran. her very first day of basic training was september 11 2001. she deployed to afghanistan where she pulled security details during attacks. she lost one of her close friends in combat. when she came home she tried to get back into her old life, but she found she simply couldn't stay focused in school or at work. she was struggling to relate to her family and friends. soon she was self-medicating and became homeless. jen felt like she had lost her mission. her sense of purpose. but then thanks to an organization that connects veterans with therapist who donate their time, jen was able to get counseling at no charge.

she started dealing with her ptsd. with a lot of hard work, she started pulling her life back together. and today jen and the love of her life josh are raising two beautiful children. she is a licensed nurse. she works at a rehab facility helping folks who are just like her. including veterans get back on their feet. and to michelle and jill biden's joining forces initiative, she is an advocate for her fellow veterans. jen is here today and i want jen to stand if she can because i want everybody to thank her for her courage, for example, her telling her story. we are extraordinarily grateful. thank you, jen. [applause]

president obama: and i tell jen story because like all our brave women in uniform, jen represents the best of who we are as a nation. she has sacrificed for us and sometimes has the scars seen and unseen that are part of that sacrifice. and she is an example of what's possible when we express our gratitude not just in words, not just on one day, but through deeds every day. when we open our hearts and give hope to our returning heroes. and we harness your talents and your drive and when we honor your inherent sense of purpose and empower you to continue serving the country loved. -- serving the country you love. what has always made america

great, what has always made us exceptional, are the patriots who generation after generation dedicate themselves to building a nation that is stronger, freer, a little more perfect. on this day and every day. we thank you. god bless our veterans and your families and god bless the united states of america. [applause] >> ladies and gentlemen, please rise and join the united states army band in singing god bless america. ♪

>> ♪ god bless america land that i love stand beside her and guide her through the night with the light from above from the mountains to the prairies to the oceans white with foam, god bless america, my home sweet home god bless america, my home sweet home ♪

[applause] >> ladies and gentlemen, please remain standing as we retire the colors. retire the colors. ♪

♪ [applause] >> this concludes the 2015 national veterans day observance. please be seated for the departure of the president of the united states. thank you for joining us today as we celebrate and honor all who served. [applause] ♪ to the chief" plays] ♪

earlier today, it was another ball will, a world war ii veteran, was at the world war ii memorial. he posed for photos with tourists. some 102 members of congress are military veterans in the house. -- military veterans. in the house, 82 veterans. 20 in the senate. in most bodies, -- in both bodies, most are republicans. -- three only three to korean war veterans. all persons having business before the honorable, the supreme court of the united states, are admonished to draw and give their attention. americans, tonight, our country faces a grave danger. we are faced with the possibility that midnight

tonight, the steel industry will be shut down. therefore, i'm taking two actions tonight he would first, i am -- tonight. first, i am directing the continued operation of the steel mills. between the union and the industry had come to a head. >> they needed deal for fortions, tanks, for jeeps, all those things that they needed in second world war as well. if the steel industry went on an industrywide strike, that was going to be a real problem, because it was basic to the things that an army and navy need to fight a war. truman seizedarry control of the mills and as a result, a pending strike was called off and field production

continued. however, the steel companies, led by the youngstown sheet and two company in ohio, disagreed with the action and took the lawsuit all the way to the supreme court. we will examine how the court ruled in the case. and its impact on presidential powers. discussion, michael gerhardt, professor at the university of northern callow line -- north carolina law school. and william howell, political science professor at the university of chicago. congressional checks on presidential war powers, that is coming up on the next landmark cases, live monday at 9:00 p.m. eastern on c-span, c-span3, anti-fan radio. for background on each case while you watch, order your copy of the landmark cases companion

book. it is available for $8.95 for shipping at www.c-span.org /landmarkcases. commerces. chamber of and the george w. bush institute have teamed up to create an incentive to help -- an initiative to help veterans. spoker, former president about the efforts. [applause] >> have joined together today to address the critical issues around employment. but first, i want to thank all of you who are currently serving or have served in our military.

thank you for volunteering to where our country's uniform and wear ourteering to country's uniform and to protect the freedoms that make our country so great. and thank you to your families, too. will everybody join me in giving them a round of applause? [applause] as president bush has rightly said, our country can never fully repay our veterans, but we ought to try. and because of the support that president and mrs. bush, we here to talk about how to do that. and i thank them both for their leadership. today, we brought together leaders from the public, private, and nonprofit sectors to discuss where progress has been made in addressing military employment and where there are still challenges to overcome.

we will hear from members of our military and their families. you'll hear about their struggles and their triumphs, as they navigate the transitions to civilian life. we will get a first look at a road map created by the bush institute and hiring our heroes. the roadmap serves as a guide or the men and women of our military as they seek meaningful, long-term employment as civilians. we know that securing military -- meaningful, long-term employment and experiencing a successful transition from military to civilian life, go hand-in-hand. our fellow citizens have answered the call to support our veterans and military families with opportunity. over the past five years, over 2000 businesses were part of the coalitions in this room, hiring our heroes, the hundred thousand job coalition, led by j.p. morgan chase, blackstone, as well as organizations like bank of america, have committed to hiring veterans.

our government partners at the v.a., the department of labor, and the pentagon have made successful employment transitions a top priority by providing new programs, resources, and partnerships. we have seen the emergence of nonprofits like hiring our heroes, american corporate partners, and higher heroes usa, to name just a few. this collective effort is paying off, and we see that in improved hiring and implement rate. while -- and employment rates. while there have been many successes, there are still things to do. it is too early to declare victory. we must sustain the attention, resources, and efforts that we have begun to give this article issue. -- this critical issue. we must leverage the lessons and best actresses as we address the -- next -- best practices as we address the gaps that remain and better focus our efforts going forward. we all know that a veterans are an experienced and valuable group of individuals. we know that sometimes translating their experience in a way that leads to a job can be

challenging. employers often juggle to understand the skills, experiences, strengths, and challenges that they have. this gap in understanding is part of what we call the civilian-military divide. that is why it is important to include military families in our discussion. military spouses are the first lines of support for veterans and are the backbone of the family while their service member is deployed and returning to civilian life. today we will learn about their unique challenges and how their employment is a key component to the family's financial stability and overall wellness. we believe that helping members of the military and their family successfully transition to civilian life is part of our national responsibility. not only because it is the right thing to do, but because it is good for our economy and our national security. thank you again for joining us today and your commitment to providing job opportunities and financial stability to our veterans and military families. i look forward to our conversations i had and to the

-- our conversations ahead and two the ongoing works to support the men and women who have volunteered to protect our country. now, it is my pleasure to introduce our partner for today's event, my good friends, the mighty president and ceo of the u.s. chamber of commerce, tom donahue. [applause] mr. donohue: thank you very much, margaret. good morning, ladies and gentlemen. welcome to the chamber. if you look up at the ceiling, you will see the opening of the western world. if you look at the flags of the great explorers, we have many of .hem here with us today margaret was a very effective leader of the chambers foundation, which is the home of all we are doing and hiring our heroes.

we have to let her go to texas and help the president. it has worked out well for all of us. and its military services have been a strong partner to the u.s. chamber's foundation of hiring our heroes. we could not be prouder of our program and all the good work it continues to do. it was built around a simple idea. if we could honor the men and women who have served our country by connecting them with good jobs and putting them on fulfilling career paths, we would be doing something highly significant. there is a real need for these efforts as nearly one million service members transition out of active-duty into the civilian workforce in the next year. the team has done a great job advancing the measure. state and local chambers have

rallied to drive a nationwide movement. leaders in the private and public sector and businesses of every size have lined up to support the mission. they have given their time, their money, and their commitment to hiring veterans and military spouses. one of our strongest partners is capital one, which has been instrumental in hiring 500,000 heroes. i am pleased to announce that, as of last week, the campaign has reached its goal -- over half a million veterans and military spouses have found jobs through this initiative. [applause] stay tuned. we are going to top it. the companies have committed to hiring another 200,000 veterans and spouses, a remarkable

milestone. but the truth is is that this was never a hard sell. employers see that hiring the heroes is not only the right thing to do for our country, it is a smart thing to do for their business. we will keep the moment and going. we look forward to working with all of you in making this a much bigger program in the future. ladies and gentlemen, we have a very special guest today to help us kick off the program. bush, thegeorge w. leading champion for this generation of american heroes. as the commander in chief, he supported our troops and their families in ways large and small, in private and in public. and continuing to support those who have served our country remains a central part of his life after the white house both for him and mrs. bush. these join me in welcoming

43rd president of the united states, the honorable george w. bush. [applause] mr. bush: thank you very much. thank you very much. tom, nice to be back here. kind of. [laughter] mr. bush: i am very proud to join the efforts of the u.s. chamber, and especially to be able to honor their hiring the heroes program, which has been ineffective. laura and lot to drag me back. being a grandparent is pretty comfortable. our grandchild is the smartest grandchild in america. [laughter] mr. bush: but supporting our

vets is really important, and i honored to be here to do so. i know the secretary of labor will be here pretty soon. i want to thank him for coming. i want to thank jim nicholson, former secretary of veterans affairs for being here. winfield, united states navy. we are thrilled you are here. thank you for your service. i want to thank the active-duty members and vets that are here. if you would stand up, i need to look at you. [laughter] mr. bush: there you go. thank you all. [applause] we poached margaret from the chamber.

she was the secretary of education and did a really good job. she is helping us at the bush center on our cap this in dallas, texas, to foster smart policy and to take action to change people's lives. that is what post-presidency ought to be about. i areargaret, laura and still passionate about education reform. i ran for governor for texas. because of education, i remember calling my mother. i said, i want to run against ann richards. she said, you are not going to win. gee, mom. [laughter] at the bush center, we defend accountability and we als becomeg princip

the leaders they should be. lead thee women will freedom movement in the middle east. i believe strongly that freedom is a universal right. i believe freedom is the only way for peace, and i believe women will lead the movement. we are helping women in tunisia and egypt to become leaders and change the society for the sake of pace. we are working with presidential 41's, 42's,bj's, and 43. we launched a presidential leadership scholar program. we take talented professionals from all over the country, all fields of work, and we develop a curriculum that will sharpen their leadership skills by using

case studies at each presidential library. those who have served in our ackitary have a special kn for leadership. i am asked, do you miss being president? i miss some things about being president. i miss having a shower on an airplane. [laughter] mr. bush: i miss the pastry chef. i miss the people with whom i serve. i do not miss much else. i am comfortable in my life. there is one thing i miss. that is looking in the eyes of the men and women who volunteer to serve our country. i miss being the commander in chief of our great nation. i have decided to dedicate the rest of my life to helping our vets with whom i was honored to serve. vietnam-era guy

, it is startling to think about the response of our country after 9/11, when millions volunteered. now they are coming home. they are trying to reenter society. one the next five years, million brave men and women will complete their military service and return to civilian life. the question is, can we help them in a meaningful way? they face challenges different from the battlefield. some feel misunderstood or underappreciated. too many desperately so. they struggle to find the right kind of help for their specific situation at a rate higher than the rest of the country. vets have difficulty finding meaningful careers. the bush institute service

initiative is helping americans better understand our veterans, more effectively support our veterans, and take advantage of the opportunity to employ our veterans. by ais our mission, led special operator and find man you will hear from later on. he is being helped by matt ama don, and i'm pleased to report they get along pretty well. [laughter] mr. bush: i want to thank those of you who have helped miguel and matt. is pete pace, chairman of our advisory committee. he is one of these guys that does not believe in retirement. once a marine, always a marine. it is good to see you. our work started with this realization -- support for our

troops since 9/11 has been overwhelming, but we have not asked important questions. who are the veterans? what do they need? in an effort to better know our veterans, the bush center partnered with the institute of veterans and military families at syracuse university. we completed one of the most comprehensive studies conducted on post-9/11 vets. we learned some hopeful things. would post-9/11 vets recommend military service to someone considering signing up. when asked if they were proud of their service, 94% said yes. found some troubling statistics. 84% of the veterans say that the american public has little awareness of the challenges facing them and their families. it turns out that most americans agree. americans said they do

not understand the problems facing our veterans. we call this the civilian-military divide. one lesson of our research is that the divide is exacerbated by a public perception that the veteran is a hero or to be pitied. most veterans do not consider themselves heroes or victims. they see themselves as americans who took on a tough job and did it well. they do not want lavish celebrations or expressions of condolences. it never hurts to say thanks, but it is really not the point. what most veterans want is to have their service understood and appreciated for what it is, a formulated experience in their lives and a source of skills and values that prepare them to succeed in civilian life. uniform, when they came back from vietnam, were

treated shabbily. opinions on that war or not, the treatment of the vets was disgraceful, a shameful period. 9/11, americans have put political views aside and strongly supported our troops and vets. more than not-for-profit organizations in our country have a mission at least partly related to serving veterans. a big number and a great testament to our country's strong support for veterans. it can be overwhelming for newly returned veterans looking for help. and while these organizations have good intentions, some deliver better results than others. the bush institute has undertaken a project to measure

effectiveness of the ngo's. we measure quality and consistency of outcomes produced. to refine analysis, we conducted case studies of some of the most leading and effective organizations. we released toolkits to achieve higher standards and match good intentions with good results. revealedes of veterans that post-9/11 veterans face higher rates of unemployment than civilian counterparts, and that is a top concern. most of the nonprofits are responding to the priority. in addition to the chamber's hiring our heroes program, we are joined by higher the heroes usa and corporate partners. i want to thank you for all you are doing. the unemployment problem is intense for younger veterans.

,eterans with combat experience and enlisted veterans without a degree, minorities and women. the costs of unemployment are not only financial. studies show that veterans without a steady job are more susceptible to problems like depression, addiction, homelessness, and suicide. studied and analyzed the most significant barriers to veterans' employment. veterans and employers have a hard time translating military experience. there is a language barrier. a person applies for a job. on the form, it says skill set. he says "sniper." likely, the vice president of human relations is going to say we do not need one this year. [laughter]

person put onthat that i have had a lot of experience dealing with pressure, that i am a team player, loyal to a cause greater understand how to follow instructions, i am a responsible citizen, that vice president more than likely would say, that is the kind of person we want working for us. i have employed a lot of people during my time. learned is that skills are teachable. what matters most is the character of the human being, ic, values, the work eth which is what our veterans bring. this is what we are going to help our employers understand. when a resume says "united

it saysilitary," to me, you can count on the applicant to be loyal and a proven leader. across our country, businesses recognize that hiring heroes, veterans, is not only the right thing to do, it is the smart thing to do. part of our mission is to call attention to those folks. many companies have innovative programs. some of them are here. we are not only talking about vets, we are talking about their spouses. i am giving a shout out to a 7-eleven, blackstone, j.p. walmart.ase, uber and these are the ones that have come to our attention with innovative programs that are more than just a program. they are providing work that lasts, and we thank them for that. bank of america-merrill lynch

understands hiring vets is more than a moral imperative. it is good for the bottom line. i want to talk about sergeant kyle white. billok advantage of the gi and graduated with a degree in finance from charlotte. lynch asred by merrill a product specialist. i do not know what that means. anyway, what he called himself was a product circuit. every day -- sergeant. every day, he comes to work with skills he learned in the military. i met him in dallas. he is a medal of honor winner. one of these men who put his bud on the line to save his dies.

he talked to me about the challenges he faced transitioning. he had what was then diagnosed as ptsd. the symptoms of posttraumatic stress can be tough on veterans and their families. another problem is the stigma partly because, it is mislabeled a disorder and partly because many people are not aware of the treatment options. some veterans are reluctant to seek help. as a result of this misunderstanding, pts is another barrier to employment and something we are trying to help employers understand to make the results on the job front even better. most doctors would tell you posttraumatic stress is not a disorder. that can result

in the experience of battle. it is treatable. and the military and medical communities have made progress in developing effective ways to deal with pts. at the bush center, we are making an effort to drop the "d." to help people understand we are talking about an injury. we want to make sure that the vets receiving treatment are not viewed as damaged goods. they are not mentally shattered. these people got hurt. hesitate tould not hire a talented employee getting treatment for high blood pressure or recovering from a broken arm. hireshould not hesitate to a vet being treated for pts. petef the advocates is

corelli, who has made it his mission to spread the word behind the science of pts and the treatment veterans can receive. i the bush center, we work with programs like one mind, the family clinic, the national center of excellence, to address challenges caused by pts. our goal is to eliminate the war asle wounds of barriers to employment and empower veterans to realize there potential and therefore empower the country. navigate theans path to meaningful careers. today, we are releasing the veteran employment transition roadmap. as the military would say, vet

roadmap. we developed it in partnership with hiring our heroes. starting this morning, veterans can download it for free at bushcenter.org. the road map breaks down the job search into clear phases. it outlines the central steps and provides resources designed to help veterans succeed and lead as civilians. veterans have taken on the toughest tasks imaginable, and now it is our turn to continue to help. laura and i are thrilled to be here. we thank you for your efforts. god bless. [applause]

>> former first lady laura bush also spoke at the chamber of commerce event on employing veterans. medal oflso hear from honor recipient dakota meyer, tom perez, and the president of the joint chiefs of staff. >> good morning. i am the executive director of the institute of military families. i will say it is a little humbling and intimidating to follow president bush. spend 10ob is to minutes talking about the collective and collaborative action that has brought us to the day, a recap of where we have been relative to

employment, and also what may lie ahead, challenges and opportunities for our transitioning service members and families. and also for the employer community that has been so supportive of this effort. only because you expect it from data i have a graph with and things behind me. i will only use it as a way to suggest that we really have accomplished an awful lot over the last five to seven years. of the private sector and our partners in the public sector have made a significant impact on the vocational situation of veterans. we have learned a lot in the context of doing this work as well. through the coalitions that the president mentioned, hiring our

and because the president did, i will not list off employers who made remarkable contributions. it gives me an out not to mention any employers by name and therefore leave them out and be in trouble later on. only to say, probably at no point since world war ii has the private sector stepped up in such a meaningful way to support the transition of service members. collectively as a community, we deserve an awful lot of credit for that. we built tools and put them into action. we will cure more about the tools today that are positioned to move the agenda forward. when we put up data like i have question, andthe it has recently, in the context

of what is next for the community, is there an employment crisis relative to our nation's veterans. i will suggest delicately as not to offend, these questions make s, but i dueling op-ed think the questions are a bit of a red herring. the only answer that matters to questions like that are the ones that you get when you are standing in front of a veteran who has done everything they need to do to position themselves for employment, and they tell you whether or not they have been successful finding a job. ultimately, that is the only answer that matters. death torture the data to in a way that tells any story that we want it to tell. and hopefully, part of what we are going to do as i transition

to mark and let him talk about a that we have been working to build, we will get to a place where we are asking more nuanced questions about veterans and employment moving forward. of the pitfalls that gets us in trouble a little bit as we focus on putting constrained resources to best use serving the vocational challenges of veterans is that we tend to paint the community with a single brush and do not a ogeneitye the heter across the community. i will give you an example of how you can frame the question differently relative to the employment challenges some members of the community may or may not face. what you see on the graph are two lines that represent a

longitudinal view back to 2000. the employment gap between post-9/11 veterans ages 20 to 24 and their civilian counterparts. the light blue line is the employment gap between those 9/11 veterans aged 34 and above relative to their civilian counterparts. as i sliced suggest up the community, as i talked to economists around the country about how we should be thinking about focusing our efforts moving forward, this idea of identifying and acting on this idea of an employment gap demographiccivilian

counterparts, whether it is a function of ethnicity, gender, age, ethnicity, skill, at the end of the day, the value proposition is such that you are better off on the way out. in every military recruiting effort, it is based around that value proposition. here is one group that, by the data, it appears we are not delivering on that value proposition. there are lots of reasons to explain this, and some are inherent in who these folks are, but that data does highlight over theistently course of the last 12 years, there has been an employment gap between that particular population and civilian counterparts. i could build 25 of these. and i'm already over.

i used this one because i wanted to share this chart. is there a cause for sustained action moving forward? are the projected separations over the next five years. it is going to be separating in the highest numbers. the idea is that, whether or not we have this discussion about is there an employment challenge, what matters most is that we are asking a different set of questions moving forward so that we can focus our resources to serve the need or the need is greatest. what we have learned -- here is a quick summary. researchnk about our and surveys we have conducted, at the end of the day, the path

forward is about institutionalizing a focus, more ofa stream of transition this collaborative effort between the public and private sector. and this worked really got off the ground as a function of dealing with an immediate crisis. as we have conversations about the future of the military force , which secretary carter is having now, this idea of a more purposeful partnership between the private sector becomes central to enacting that vision. but we need better data. the reality is that we do not have great visibility into that upstream pipeline in such a way that allows private sector employers to position resources appropriately to support vocational transition. it is important to a knowledge ge that the labor

market is changing dramatically over time. the population of service members leaving the military in 2007 relative to today is an entirely different population. we have to build dynamic models of intervention, programs that can be adapted and evil over time -- evolve over time to be in line with changing demands. , we have to start asking different questions. we have to start moving the level of analysis from a high weel national effort where are looking at veterans as a population to drill into cohorts of the veteran population. and at the local and regional level. at the end of the day, one of

the most powerful lessons we have learned from the work he had done with our partners at the bush center is where it matters most is local. areservice members returning to towns, villages, etc., where the economy is local, social networks is local. askingo not start questions about how we can serve ,nd support at the local level i think we miss the opportunity to really institutionalize a focus on employment transition over the long term. with that, i can transition to give him anally opportunity to put that call to toion i just suggested action, to demonstrate a tool we have been building. it offers the opportunity to

really dig deeper in a powerful way relative to understanding where to focus our resources. >> i have one minute and three seconds to go through four slides, so i will do it quickly. the president mentioned it smart policy. things need to be at the community level. that is the problem we worked on with syracuse nine months ago. we began to aggregate the data into a dynamic model. there is lots of data. the purpose is to put the data to work for us. we ask the probing questions to get at the regional construct. i can go through this later on. datais an aggregation of nationally that can help us depict veteran unemployment at

the county level. it can help us look at the data by gender, by age, but disability status -- by disability status. by education. it allows us to capture data sets so we can ask questions about how we look at the information and start to reorganize policy, start to reallocate resources on a national level to a community level. two countiesk at 60 miles apart in texas. one is a rural community. another is an urban community. crimes in the urban community, much higher. lower median income. 60 miles away, in harris county, you can see the median income is

higher. you can see the employment lower. now, that does not necessarily give us an answer. but when we talk about how we allocate resources and programs, one may ask, is this an issue of transportation, simply making sure that 60 miles apart, how do we put together resources to get those folks in rural communities to places where jobs exist? it may be a transportation issue. it may be a training and skills issue. the president mentions that you can train skills. couldn't we leverage the skills toemployment 60 miles apart give employment opportunities to those veterans? we can do this at the county level, drill down and look at any number of demographics. it begins to inform the conversation. it allows us to peel back the discussion.

it allows us to target resources and programs to where the greatest need is at the community level. one other piece of the model that we looked at was the highest industries. you will see this chart really depicts the highest growth industries by growth rate on the x axis. , the total number of jobs available. the size of the bubble represents the size of the veteran population. in the upper right is education and health services. highest growth rate with the most jobs and smallest number of veterans. lower left in the federal space has the greatest number of veterans and the lowest growth rate. how do we use data to help us target where we can best allocate resources and target

our opportunities for veterans? these models allow us to ask questions and answer these and make informed decisions for policymakers, veterans, employers, and community leaders. we are excited to be doing this with syracuse. it will take a village and more information and certainly other partners. we welcome other partnerships to make this work. thank you very much. [applause] >> i was in denial of how bad it really was. the outer shell of him came back. but everything on the inside was

dead. it was like it died in iraq. 22 u.s. veterans commit suicide. that is almost 8000 a year. but a new program could save their lives. it is called save a warrior. >> this is impressive. >> this is broken. if the program does not work, he is going to kill himself. i am literally on borrowed time right now. situation?the family it is not working for you, is it? >> i feel guilty. i have so much.

>> how many have killed themselves? >> none. t. my life is riding on i

ms. o'brien: i am going to tell you an honest story about what lies on the other side for veterans and also for us. i started working on this documentary in 2013. i just left cnn full-time to start starfish media group. wasirst assignment for cnn a full-length documentary on what happens to veterans and their family members when they return home and are struggling with ptsd. we embedded for five days with save a warrior, a small organization out of california

that believes that soldiers who are returning home needed tools to specifically deal with some of the issues they were facing. depression, anxiety, anger. past, mayt, in the have been dealt with with prescription drugs or nonprescription drugs or alcohol. in fact, these tools were teachable. , even understanding what other people were going through, feeling a connection to other service members, a brotherhood, if you will. undergoing challenging experiences, rock climbing, meditation. all parts of the strategies that save a warrior utilizes to create a connection between 13 guys who had never met before but shared a similar struggle.

many of them were suicidal and could not figure out how to live in the world. on, the one who jumped through the rope course, with speak openly with his wife, telling her if the course did not work, he was going to kill himself. , thescribed it for me suicidal feeling, as being in a burning building. it is like the building is on fire and you do not want to jump. you are afraid to jump, but the pain of being in the fire is so intense you have no other choice but to jump. 2013, i spent five days with save a warrior and several more interviewing families. those five days were very emotional, very intense.

some were very miserable. derek was a guy who hates to appear in documentaries like this. his disdain for the media was clear. he said he did not trust that i would not screw up this story, and he challenged me to run unedited what he said because the media almost always gets it wrong about veterans. that these stories on tv, none of the veterans watch. we never watch the stories because they are not real. he challenged us to tell the really -- real story. these menowed it to to follow what happened, for good or for bad.

.e would just tell the story in the end, the story was life-changing. was an alcoholic, drinking several bottles of wine every single day. he had stopped drinking and reengaged with his wife and children and has been doing really well ever since. garrett also changed. i learned more about him as well. war,ust his experiences in but also his goals and his dreams for his life after the service. i learned his dream was to be a photographer. with a little bit of shopping at times, i got to see some of his work. we got to see what he was shooting. hidinged he enjoyed

behind a camera, which made him feel more secure in conversation and also made him a wonderful student of human nature, which turns out to be a good thing if you have any desire to be a photojournalist. his experience in the military altra -- ultra reserved, made him an excellent storyteller. the fact he had wrestled with demons made him a good listener. good qualities in a journalist. he had a tremendous raw talent. and because of his military training, the quality of excellence was built in to what he consistently delivered. he was always working on his craft. always seeking feedback. i will not talk about timeliness, showing up organized, etc. nose a price that my company had

garrett to be our west coast photojournalist. i almost hate to say it out loud. there may be people in the audience who will steal it from me. of media frames the issue posttraumatic stress as kind of a curse, like some kind of crazy , let's watch this explode sort of thing, and that is not the case. as i have learned in my reporting on the war coming home , posttraumatic stress israel. it -- is real. it is not to be trivialized, but it is manageable. when people come out the other side, what they have to offer as isloyees and as human beings

incredibly valuable. it makes all of us better. i am pleased to be part of the conversation today. i think this is a crucial message that is often lost in daily reporting about veterans, the contributions and potential for contributions is huge. i want to take a moment to introduce you to garrett. he is an excellent photojournalist and entrepreneur who served his country very well and now partners with me, serving us well in telling stories about veterans and others. much ofn excellent eye, which is due to his time in the military. if you could stand up so i can introduce you, i would be grateful. [applause] i will have a panel to lead some of the

this afternoon, and i'm looking forward to tackling this topic. thank you very much. [applause] ladies and gentlemen, please welcome the u.s. secretary of labor, thomas e. perez. [applause] mr. perez: good morning. it is an honor to be here. good morning, mrs. bush. i had the privilege of spending a little time with president bush. it was an honor to be with him. he set a high bar for us coming in in terms of serving our veterans. i want to say thank you. so much that we are doing. i want to say thank you to tom and everyone else, eric ebersol. i know you are here.

i want to say thank you to all of the distinguished active-duty and retired military leaders and your spouses. we want to say thank you so much. yesterday would have been my father's 93rd birthday. 41stmonday is the anniversary of his passing. i come from a family where military service was a badge of honor. immigrated from the dominican republic. my mother's uncles served in world war ii. my father, after he left the hospitalwent to the va in buffalo. buffalo and the dominican republic, the weather was very similar. so my father worked at the hospital until his passing. my brother then worked at the

hospital a few years later. as we speak, my nephew, all of perez,e named raphael are working at the hospital in buffalo. as a badge of honor. it is so important to serve the nation's folks who served us with distinction. in my previous role in the civil rights division, we had cases on the half of service members. 100 $5 million on the half of service members who had been a victim of wrongful foreclosure. we settled cases involving active service members who were deployed and came back to find their jobs were not there for them. we fought to make sure that the right to vote was available to service members and there's thousands serving overseas. their spouses serving

overseas. at the department of labor, we get to work in partnership with so many of you to make sure that employment is an opportunity available to everyone. half a million veterans have been hired through this initiative. it is a remarkable example of our partnership in action. i want to say congratulations and thank you. this has been an all hands on deck enterprise. the roster of speakers today, and it demonstrates our nation's commitment to making sure we serve our servicemembers. i am excited to be going to a job fair in a few weeks in hawaii to talk about how we can get veterans the jobs they deserve. and theith your efforts efforts of the first lady and dr. biden, we have certainly come a long way.

the unemployment rate for veterans today is 5%. 1.6% lower than it was a few years ago at 6.6%. we are moving in the right direction. we have a vast network of partnership. that is the key. you will hear me say the word "partnership" so many times because that what it is about, making sure our partners are working together. ourselvese we avail of the leadership of people like president bush and mrs. bush. making sure that we are learning everything we can. earlier this month, i have the privilege of traveling to three different cities with secretary macdonald. what we were trying to do was give life to a significant issue that we are making progress on.

that is the issue of veterans homelessness. we traveled to houston and met with mayor parker. houston has announced the creation of a system in her community that ensures that all veterans who need housing assistance will be linked to supportive services and permanent housing. five years ago, president obama set forth an ambitious goal of ending veterans homelessness by the end of the year. million inested $38 partnership with nonprofit service providers to our homeless veterans reemployment program to help start veterans getting their jobs. in houston, they have set up a system so they are positioned to meet the goal by the end of the year. havelake city and phoenix already instilled and installed assistance so that they have been able to effectively end chronic veterans homelessness. we will continue that work.

, it isgo to these cities not simply the numbers and the partnerships. it is really the people that we meet who are remarkable. in tucson, i met a guy named cliff. in time survey every year to measure how many people are homeless across america. this year, i traveled to tucson and met with cliff. he served in the military and when he got out, he fell on tough times. she wanted to better himself. investments,f our he was able to do that. he is a counselor working with veterans and has helped over 400 veterans get back on their feet. he was formerly homeless and is a leader in preventing homelessness. me.le like him inspire a woman i met named genevieve

inspired me. a single mom who served with distinction and fell on hard times, experienced homelessness. but with our investments and partnership, she is back on her feet. she just got her degree in social work. she is going to get a masters in social work. what she wants to do is help other veterans because she has walked in their shoes and she will help them. what she said to me really epitomizes where we are at. the help we got were not handouts. they helped me turn my life around and it has given my daughter a brighter future. that is why we are in this. people like genevieve and cliff, we owe it to them to redouble our efforts. that is why i am so grateful for the partnership we have had with

vso's and others to make sure the transition assistance program is working well. the transition assistance program is a joint venture with dod, va, department of labor. we are making it better with every passing year because we are learning from our experiences. we are measuring our progress. surveya certainly -- recently that looked at 11,000 participants. 91% reported that they would use what they learned in their own transition planning. reported it increased their confidence in transition planning. that is an example of where partnership at work is serving service members at scale. another area is apprenticeship. i believe apprenticeship is the secret weapon for employing so many people across the country. we have been working collaboratively to make sure

that veterans have access to apprenticeships. i refer to them as the other college, except without the debt. it has application not simply in a skilled trade, but in i.t., health care, cyber security. we are working together to make we are giving opportunities for apprenticeship to so many veterans. veterans who are eligible to use their post-9/11 gi bill to supplement apprentice wages while they participate. that is a pathway to the middle class. that is why we continue to work to expand apprenticeship. another thing we have to do together, and i saw this first hand at the state level, is we need to work hard to eliminate barriers to credentials and licensing. when i have been on a military base, i will ask the co, how many times have you moved in

your career? in 16 years, usually it is double figures. you know that from your own experiences. the challenge that you have is when you move from one state to the other and your spouse may be a teacher or some other profession that has licensing. it is hard to get that license in the other state. i will never forget the combat medic i met in maryland a few years ago. and waseen a paramedic told by the state of maryland he was not good enough. i could not understand that. we need to address licensing barriers. we can all agree it is hard to understand how someone who is a explosive ordinance disposal tech who has served two tours o verseas is not qualified to work demolition on a highway construction group. that makes no sense.

that is the most polite description i can give up that. and there have been a number of actions in recent years to address these unnecessary barriers. these are critical to ensuring equal opportunity and mobility for servicemembers and their spouses. to encourage this, the president's we need advocacy at a state level that we can do this. i want to talk about a resource that has been a linchpin in our efforts for progress. that is the 2500 american job centers across the country. when a veteran goes into those job centers they receive priority of service. by law, they go to the front of the line because they deserve to