HLS 21RS-132 ORIGINAL
2021 Regular Session
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOL UTION NO. 1
BY REPRESENTATIVES COUSSAN AND COX AND SENATOR CATHEY
MILITARY AFFAIRS/NATL GD: Requests each member of the Louisiana congressional
delegation, certain state agencies, and private companies to expand the Department
of Defense SkillBridge program to include reserve members of the National Guard
1 A CONCURRENT RESOL UTION
2To urge and request each member of the Louisiana congressional delegation to expand the
3 Department of Defense SkillBridge program to provide post-service employment
4 assistance for reserve members of the National Guard and to urge and request the
5 Department of Economic Development, the Louisiana Workforce Commission, and
6 private companies in the state of Louisiana, such as but not limited to Amazon.com,
7 Inc., agree to participate in the program by providing post-service employment
8 opportunities to program participants.
9 WHEREAS, a survey conducted by the Pew Research Center found that only one in
10four veterans had a civilian job prepared for when the veteran left military service; and
11 WHEREAS, among post September 11, 2001, veterans, forty-three percent reported
12that it took more than six months after leaving service to find a job, with six percent of those
13reporting no success in finding employment after leaving service; and
14 WHEREAS, federal legislation has been enacted to allow the military departments
15of the states to carry out one or more programs to provide eligible members of the armed
16forces under the jurisdiction of the military department with in-demand skills training and
17employment assistance for members who are within one hundred eighty days of transitioning
18to civilian life; and
19 WHEREAS, the SkillBridge program provides servicemembers with job training,
20employment skills training, and apprenticeship programs; and
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HCR NO. 1
1 WHEREAS, implementation of the SkillBridge program has been successful at
2connecting veterans to prospective employers who are ready to hire for skilled civilian jobs
3after their military service.
4 THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby
5urge and request each member of the Louisiana congressional delegation to expand the
6SkillBridge program to provide eligible reserve members of the National Guard with training
7and skills necessary to help prepare such members for employment in the civilian sector.
8 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby urge
9and request the Department of Economic Development and the Louisiana Workforce
10Commission to work with the SkillBridge program to coordinate state employment
11opportunities for program participants.
12 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby urge
13and request private companies in the state of Louisiana, such as Amazon.com, Inc., to work
14with the SkillBridge program to provide jobs and work placement for program participants.
15 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to each
16member of the Louisiana congressional delegation, the secretary of the Department of
17Economic Development, and the secretary of the Louisiana Workforce Commission.
DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute
part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
HCR 1 Original 2021 Regular Session Coussan
Requests the congressional delegation of Louisiana to expand the SkillBridge program to
include National Guard reserve members to assist them in finding employment in the civilian
sector and requests participation in the SkillBridge program from the Department of
Economic Development, the Louisiana Workforce Commission, and private companies in
the state of Louisiana.
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