The US Senate has passed, HR 244, the Hire Vets Act of 2017. This legislation would promote private sector recruiting, hiring, and retaining of men and women who served honorably in the U.S. military through a voluntary and effective program. Specifically, it would create an awards program recognizing the meaningful and verifiable efforts undertaken by employers – both large and small – to hire and retain veterans. The program is designed to be self-funded.
Through the U.S. Department of Labor, the HIRE Vets Act would allow businesses to display “HIRE Vets Medallions” on products and marketing materials. These medallions would be awarded as part of a two-tiered system –Gold and Platinum – associated with specific hiring and retention goals each year.
The program also establishes similar tiered awards for small and mid-sized businesses with less than 500 employees. To ensure proper oversight, the Secretary of Labor would be required to provide Congress with annual reports on the success of the program with regard to veteran employment and retention results.