Duckworth Works w/Other Senators on Energy Jobs for Veterans

U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Lindsey Graham (R-SC) and Michael Bennet (D-CO) have introduced the Energy Jobs for our Heroes Act of 2018 to help Veterans gain the training and credentials necessary to secure good paying jobs in fast-growing sectors of the low- and zero-carbon emissions energy industry. The Senators’ bipartisan legislation will help ease the transition back to civilian life for servicemembers and strengthen the economy by connecting employers in fast-growing solar, wind, nuclear and cyber energy industries with talented, highly-skilled Veterans who possess the needed training and credentials to succeed. Duckworth received a commitment from Energy Secretary Rick Perry during a Senate committee hearing in March to work on advancing this pro-Veterans legislation.

The bipartisan legislation would direct the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to partner with the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) to develop the “Energy Ready Vets Program” to provide Veterans with training and credentials to secure good paying jobs in the low-carbon and zero-carbon emissions sectors of the energy industry, such as wind, solar and cyber-energy fields. The program would be led by an Administrator with military experience and offer Veterans and members of the Armed Forces six-month internships to gain hands-on training and skills. It would also establish a labeling program that recognizes companies that are hiring graduates of these programs in order to encourage them to hire Veterans.