Knight introduces veteran employment act

Businesses that have large percentage of veteran workforce would benefit from congressman’s act

Congressman Steve Knight, R-Palmdale, introduced The Encouraging Veteran Employment Act of 2018 to Congress Tuesday.

The act would authorize the Department of Defense to give the same preferential treatment to businesses that employ veterans as a large percentage of their workforce, as they do to women-owned and veteran-owned businesses.

Under current law, the DOD is authorized to give preferential selection to women-owned and veteran-owned businesses for DOD contracts.

“This idea sprang from a visit to LIMS Studio in Castaic,” Knight said. “Jimmy Lifton and his team run an outstanding program that trains transitioning service members in movie production skills to prepare them for successful civilian careers after their time in the military. On top of their stellar job placement rate, many of their staff are veterans themselves.”

The Encouraging Veteran Employment Act is co-led by Representative Stephanie Murphy, D-Florida.

“Military service members risk their lives to keep our nation safe and have earned the opportunity to succeed once they decide to leave the armed forces and enter the civilian workforce,” Murphy said. “The men and women of our military learn valuable skills and develop unique leadership qualities that make them an asset to employers. I’m proud to partner with Congressman Knight to introduce bipartisan legislation to support those employers who make the effort to hire and retain our nation’s veterans.”