Linda Sánchez Stands Up for America’s Veterans (Nov 9 2011)
Cerritos, CA -Congresswoman Linda Sánchez (CA-39)today announced two pieces of important legislation designed to help America'sveterans struggling in the current economy. The "Vet Success Enhancement Act of 2011" (H.R. 3329) would helpdisabled veterans find good paying jobs through apprenticeships and trainingprograms. A second bill introduced byCongresswoman Sánchez, H. R. 3330, would make home mortgagesmore affordable for veterans.
"Our veterans haveput their lives on the line to protect our freedoms," said Congresswoman Sánchez. "Disabled veterans,especially, have paid a steep price serving our country, and we must ensurethat our service men and women can return to productive civilian life and goodpaying jobs. We also owe it to ourveterans to make mortgages more affordable, so that we can help prevent veteranhomelessness. The least we can do is extend this mortgage program so thatveterans can pursue the American Dream of homeownership."
The "Vet SuccessEnhancement Act of 2011" (H.R. 3329), would extend veterans' eligibility forthe Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (VR&E) VetSuccess Program bythree years. Currently, many veteransmiss their window of opportunity to enroll in the VetSuccess program, whichhelps disabled veterans with rehabilitation as well as training that allowsthem to reenter the workforce.
H.R. 3330 wouldextend the Department of Veterans Affairs guaranteed Adjustable Rate Mortgages(ARMs) and Hybrid Adjustable Rate Mortgages through 2017. VA-backed ARMs and hybrid ARMs differ fromconventional mortgages in that, if interest rates drop, veterans can savethousands of dollars in mortgage payments.
CongresswomanSánchez, who serves on the House Veterans' Affairs Committee, drafted these twobills after holding several meetings with her Veterans Advisory Council. Formed in August 2010, her Veterans AdvisoryCouncil is comprised of distinguished veterans from the 39th CongressionalDistrict who give Congresswoman Sánchez feedback on veterans issues.
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