Steel proposes bipartisan bill to spur hiring of student military veterans

The bipartisan Hire Student Veterans Act, cosponsored on Feb. 9 by U.S. Rep. Michelle Steel (R-CA), would provide the Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC) to businesses hiring United States military veterans who are receiving federal educational assistance. 

“California is home to one of the largest veteran populations in the nation, and we must ensure they have the tools and resources to succeed,” Rep. Steel said. “Our veterans deserve our support as they make the transition from active service to civilian life.”

H.R. 6684, which is sponsored by U.S. Rep. Susie Lee (D-NV), specifically would provide the WOTC to businesses that hire part-time veterans who are using their U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)-administered educational benefits — including the GI Bill and Veteran Readiness & Employment programs, according to a bill summary provided by Rep. Steel’s staff.

Additionally, H.R. 6684 would incentivize employers to hire more student veterans for part-time work and paid internships by automatically qualifying employers who hire veterans using VA educational benefits for the WOTC 40-percent tax credit on the first $6,000 of a new employee’s first-year wages, the summary says. 

“The Hire Student Veterans Act will expand opportunities for student veterans and help them gain invaluable experience in the workforce,” added Rep. Steel. “I’m proud to support our country’s heroes with this bipartisan bill.”

The bill has been endorsed by Disabled American Veterans, Minority Veterans of America, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Student Veterans of America, Modern Military Association of America, and the Military & Veteran Services Center at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.

H.R. 6684 is companion legislation to the same-named S. 94, introduced in February 2021 by U.S. Sens. Jacky Rosen (D-NV) and Kevin Cramer (R-ND), which remains stalled in the U.S. Senate Finance Committee.