LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION urging the New York State Congressional deleg-
ation to pass the Troop Talent Act of 2013 (H.R. 1796/S.700)

WHEREAS, The federal legislation, the Troop Talent Act of 2013 improves
the alignment of specialty skills acquired in the military with civilian
certifications or license required for post-service employment; the
legislation will also enable Military Tuition Assistance (MTA) and the
Post 9-11 GI Bill to be used on courses and programs that guarantee a
credential or industry certification after successful completion; and
WHEREAS, This legislation would improve the path to civilian profes-
sional credentials for service members trained by the military, ensure
credentials are relevant to civilian industries, and increase access to
high-demand industries for service members; and
WHEREAS, The unemployment rate for recent veterans of military oper-
ations in Iraq and Afghanistan was 9.4 percent in February 2013,
compared with 7.6 percent in February 2012 according to the Bureau of
Labor Statistics; and
WHEREAS, The unemployment rate among recently returning veterans is
higher than the national average and the number of veterans receiving
unemployment benefits have doubled since 2002; there is need to assist
veterans who have served in the United States military as they transi-
tion from the military life back to the civilian workforce; and
WHEREAS, This federal legislation requires the Secretaries of the
military departments, in coordination with the Under Secretary of
Defense for Personnel and Readiness, to make information available on
civilian credentialing opportunities available to members of the Armed
Forces beginning with, and at every stage of, training of members for
military occupational specialties, in order to permit members to evalu-
ate to which training correlates with skills and training required in
connection with various civilian certifications and licenses, and to
access the suitability of such training for obtaining or pursuing such
civilian certifications and licenses; and
WHEREAS, Types of information made available shall include (a) infor-
mation on the civilian occupational equivalents of military occupation
specialties (MOS); (b) information on civilian license or certification
requirements, including examination requirements and (c) information on
the availability and opportunities for use of educational benefits
available to members of the Armed Forces, as appropriate, corresponding
training, or continuing education that leads to a certification exam in
order to provide a pathway to credentialing opportunities; and
WHEREAS, The Troop Talent Act of 2013 is supported by The American
Legion and the Veterans of Foreign Wars; now, therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the New York State Congressional delegation be and
hereby is respectfully memorialized by this Legislative Body to pass
legislation known as Troop Talent Act of 2013 (H.R.1796/S.700); and be
it further
RESOLVED, That copies of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to each member of the Congressional delegation from the State of
New York; John Rowan, President, Vietnam Veterans of America; Ned D.
Foote, President, Vietnam Veterans of America New York State Council;
and Richard Pedro, The American Legion Department of New York.