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Sen. Schumer Backs Jobs Bill For Returning Vets

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) -- U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer is pushing a bill he says would address the high unemployment rate among returning veterans.

Schumer says the unemployment rate for veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan has risen to over 12 percent.

The bill in the Senate this week would provide tax credits for employers hiring veterans as well as job training to help vets return to the work force.

The Democrat says there are thousands of unemployed veterans in counties across New York state.

The Hire Heroes Act would provide companies that hire a vet who has been looking for work for at least four weeks to get a tax credit of $2,400. Businesses that hire a vet who has been looking for a job for at least six months would get a $5,600 tax credit.

Do tax credits for hiring result in more hiring? Sound off in our comments section below…

(Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

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