Rep. Takano and Rep. Cook Launch Work for Warriors Caucus in the 116th Congress
Washington, D.C. – Rep. Mark Takano (D-Calif.) and Rep. Paul Cook (R-Calif.) launched the Work for Warriors Caucus for the 116th Congress, a bipartisan Congressional caucus which will promote and increase awareness of California’s successful Work for Warriors program, with the eventual goal of expanding the program in California and replicating it in other states. This caucus was originally established by Reps. Takano and Cook in the 113th Congress.
“The Work for Warriors program in California has been incredibly successful in connecting veterans and reservists with jobs,” said Rep. Mark Takano. “Access to good employment opportunities helps provide economic stability to those who served and their families, and that’s why we must continue to support and expand the Work for Warriors program. I’d like to thank Rep. Cook for partnering with me on this effort and I look forward to the progress we will make to support our nations’ veterans and reservists. As Chairman of the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, I’m grateful for my colleagues’ commitment to helping improve servicemembers and veterans’ transition into civilian life.”
“The Work for Warriors program in California has been hugely successful and cost effective. I’ve long been an advocate for expanding the program to other states because we owe it to our veterans to do all we can to assist them with job placement. I look forward to working with my colleague Rep. Takano and the Work for Warriors Caucus to make it even more successful,” said Rep. Paul Cook.
Work for Warriors (WFW) was established in February 2012. The program places unemployed Guardsmen, Reservists, military spouses, and veterans with open positions in partnering businesses. Staff members connect with businesses to identify job openings, find qualified, unemployed applicants, and guide applicants through resume and interview preparation and other elements of the hiring process. WFW staff also reach out to units while they are still overseas, beginning to prepare them for reintegration into the civilian workforce, and use social media and web services to get information to service members.
Since its establishment in 2012, WFW has successfully placed thousands of people in jobs. While successful federal veterans’ employment initiatives typically cost of over $10,000 per placement, WFW has a total per placement cost of roughly $1,100. Due its success, the Department of Defense provided $1.1 million to maintain and expand the program to include the reserve force in California.
In June, Reps. Takano and Cook worked with Rep. Cisneros to include an amendment to the NDAA that enables the Secretary of Defense to create a pilot program, based on the successful Work for Warriors model, that will enable states across the country to provide job placement assistance and related employment services for members of the National Guard and Reserves in active duty status, Veterans, dependents and spouses, and Gold Star Family members. To qualify for federal funds, the State must provide matching dollars. California, Washington, Georgia, Nevada, and South Carolina already have programs.
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