Press Releases

For Immediate Release                                          Contact: Tionee Scotland
November 15, 2024                                                    202-808-6129

PRESS RELEASE

PLASKETT INTRODUCES SIGNIFICANT LEGISLATION FOR VIRGIN ISLANDS VETERANS

Washington, D.C. –  This week, in recognition of Veterans Day, Congresswoman Plaskett reintroduced two significant pieces of legislation to support the men and women who have served in the U.S. Armed Forces, the Hire-A-Hero Act of 2024 and the RECRUIT Act of 2024.

“The U.S. Virgin Islands has one of the highest rates of military service in our country. Yet, many of our returning Veterans have difficulty transitioning from military service back to civilian life in our communities,” shared Congressw
oman Plaskett.

“To address this issue, I re-introduced the Hire-A-Hero Act of 2024 and the RECRUIT Act of 2024. the Hire-A-Hero Act will allow small businesses a work opportunity tax credit (WOTC) for hiring a member of the National Guard or Ready Reserve and make the WOTC credit permanent with respect to the hiring of qualified Veterans and members of the National Guard and Reserve Component. Additionally, the RECRUIT Act would amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow for a small business tax credit for the employment of reservists. High demand for National Guard and Reserve forces has led to increased training requirements beyond the statutory days of weekend drills and annual training. Members of the Guard and Reserve continue to deploy to support overseas missions while simultaneously responding to short-notice domestic requirements, resulting in increased absences from their civilian workplace. Although service members bring tremendous value to the private sector, employers are often burdened with the costs associated with lost productivity and retraining temporary employees in exchange for their support.”

“While we spend Veterans Day honoring the service of our veterans, we should recommit ourselves to ensure that they have the services that they need. We may never be able to fully repay the debt we owe our Veterans, but we must do everything we can to fulfill our commitment to them, that is why I will continue the work with my colleagues in Congress to ensure that the Department of Veterans Affairs has the necessary resources to recruit and hire medical providers, and increase employment, education and housing opportunities.”