U.S. Department of Labor Requests Comments on Proposed Rules for Priority of Service for Veterans

    WASHINGTON, Aug. 15 /EMWNews/ -- The U.S. Department of

Labor's Veterans' Employment and Training Service (VETS) today announced

the publication of a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on Priority of Service

for veterans and eligible spouses. The proposed regulations apply to "any

workforce preparation, development or delivery program or service that is

directly funded, in whole or in part, by the Department of Labor," as

provided by the Jobs for Veterans Act (P.L. 107-288), enacted in 2002.



    "Priority of service is an important acknowledgment of the sacrifices

of the men and women who have served in the U.S. armed forces," said

Charles Ciccolella, assistant secretary of labor for VETS. "The

department's strategic vision for priority of service honors veterans and

eligible spouses of veterans as our heroes at home, and envisions that the

employment and training programs funded by the department, including the

workforce investment system, will identify, inform and deliver

comprehensive services to veterans and eligible spouses as part of their

strategic workforce development activities across the country."



    The Veterans' Benefits, Health Care, and Information Technology Act of

2006 (P.L. 109-461) followed-up on the Jobs for Veterans Act by requiring

the department to issue regulations governing the application of priority

of service. The majority of the department's programs to which the proposed

regulations will apply are administered by the Employment and Training

Administration. The notice of proposed rulemaking offers citizens and

interested organizations an opportunity to submit comments for

consideration by the department prior to the publication of final

regulations.



    "Veterans possess unique attributes that enable them to make

significant contributions in the workplace," said Ciccolella. "They are an

important source of highly skilled and experienced talent and play a key

role in regional workforce development strategies."



    Implementation of priority of service is designed to provide veterans

and eligible spouses with clear entry points into high-growth, high wage

civilian jobs and easily accessible post-secondary education and training.

The goal is to support their advancement along career pathways that benefit

veterans, their families, and regional economies.



    The proposed rules appear in today's Federal Register and can be

accessed online at:

http://www.dol.gov/federalregister/HtmlDisplay.aspx?DocId=21182&AgencyId=29

. The 60-day public comment period will end on Oct. 14, 2008.



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