House members to help veterans find work

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) - There's an effort under way in the General Assembly to put more veterans to work. 

House Speaker Brian Bosma and Democratic leader Scott Pelath joined with leaders in the Indiana National Guard Tuesday to explain it.

Bosma and Pelath have co-authored a bill to create an Indiana Career Council that must now seek input from the military and veterans. 

"If you're ( going to hire) someone anyway, we ask you to consider hiring the veteran," said Bridadier General Brian Copes of the Indiana National Guard.  "You're (going to) get a good, solid employee, somebody that's not afraid of hard work, somebody that has the old-fashioned work ethic.  They're (going to) show up on time everyday."

Twenty percent of post-9/11 veterans in Indiana are unemployed. 

"All they want is to be able to live their lives with dignity and with honor," said Rep. Pelath, "and after they've served us with dignity and honor they deserve to do that."

The bill to create the Indiana Career Council is scheduled for a final vote in the Indiana House on Tuesday.