House seeks to get more vets on its payroll

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House seeks to get more vets on its payroll
By Rick Maze - Staff writer
Posted : Thursday Nov 8, 2007 14:08:36 EST

The House of Representatives, which has no policies to grant veterans preference when hiring for jobs, is now looking for ways to get more war veterans on the payroll as staff members and support workers.

Daniel Beard, the House’s chief administrative officer, said he is not sure lawmakers will ever endorse a formal system that gives veterans an edge in employment, as the executive branch of the government does, but he is looking for short-term and long-term changes that would open more opportunities for combat veterans.

Beard is operating under the urging of House Democratic leaders. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of California, Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer of Maryland and Administration Committee Chairman Robert Brady of Pennsylvania told Beard to create a hiring program for veterans.

In a letter Wednesday, the three lawmakers said they have “no doubt that there are many jobs within the House work force that would benefit from the advanced skills and dedication of these men and women who have bravely served our country.”

The letter asks Beard to look in particular at jobs for severely disabled veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan.

Beard said in an interview that making changes in the legislative hiring rules to provide veterans preference like the rest of the federal government could be difficult because each member of the House has his or her own policy for hiring staff. Preference for veterans has been discussed by the House before but never adopted because of difficulty in getting broad agreement, he said.


Rest of article at: http://www.marinecorpstimes.com/news/2007/11/military_veteranshiring_071107w/