Amata Voices Her Support for Veterans Legislation
Washington, D.C. – Tuesday, Congresswoman Aumua Amata participated in a House Veterans Economic Opportunity Subcommittee hearing regarding several pieces of legislation that are currently before the committee.
Aumua Amata during a HVAC-EO Subcommittee Hearing on Tuesday
During the hearing which focused mainly on several bills that would assist veteran's access to higher education and business opportunities, Amata spoke on H.R. 1382, the Boosting Rates of American Veteran Employment Act; a bill on which she is a Lead Cosponsor.
"This bill will allow the VA to consider the percentage of veterans employed by a prospective contractor when awarding contracts. The fact that this isn't already a stipulation for the VA to consider when awarding contracts is shocking to say the least," said Amata. "I encourage my colleagues to join Representative Rice and my fellow cosponsors on this common sense legislation that will further the committee's goal of eliminating the underemployment of our veterans," stated Amata.
Amata also questioned Dr. Joseph Wescott, President of the National Association of State Approving Agencies on the VA's wasteful practice of compliance visits at institutions of higher education.
"…in your estimation are these compliance visits necessary or are they un-needed exercises in paperwork shuffling?" asked Amata. Dr. Wescott agreed with the Congresswoman stating that the schools who have demonstrated in the past that they are in compliance, should be granted a waiver.
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