Bipartisan legislation introduced by U.S. Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC) on Wednesday would give priority to businesses that hire veterans when long-term Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) contracts are awarded.
The Boosting Rates of American Veterans Employment (BRAVE) Act would incentivize VA contractors to hire veterans by enabling the VA to consider the proportion of a prospective contractor’s workforce that is made up of veterans.
Currently, the VA gives preference to small businesses that are owned by veterans when awarding contracts for medical equipment, supplies and other services. The BRAVE Act would expand that preference to businesses that actively employ veterans.
Veterans “have great skills, great discipline and they will be great resources in the private sector, and we look forward to moving this bill forward,” Tillis said in videotaped remarks.
The BRAVE Act, which Tillis introduced with U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), would also establish a five-year debarment for contractors found to knowingly misrepresent their percentage of full-time veteran workers.
“America’s veterans have bravely served our nation and we have a shared responsibility to make sure their service and sacrifice is honored,” Baldwin said. “The BRAVE Act is a bipartisan reform that can help reduce the unemployment rate for veterans and create jobs for them.”
The BRAVE Act is supported by The American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) and other groups.