WASHINGTON, D.C. – In a joint hearing of the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) and the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee (SVAC), U.S. Senator Angus King, questioned Honorable James D. Rodriguez — the Assistant Secretary of Labor for Veterans’ Employment and Training at the Department of Labor — about how to ensure specialized military job skills are easily transferred to the civilian workforce.

Senator King specifically requested the joint hearing earlier this year to focus on a “warm hand-off” for active duty military transitioning to veteran status. Earlier this year, Senator King also cosponsored bipartisan legislation to expand job opportunities for veterans by allowing them to utilize skills they learned in the military.

“We talked about credentialing. Isn't one of the issues with credentialing state laws and to what extent are we able to work with states and state compacts, so if you learn to be a plumber or electrician in the military, you don't have to go out and spend a year going through a state process to get a license to be a plumber or electrician. Mr. Rodriguez, what's your view of that one,” asked Senator King.

“I apologize there, Senator. One of the things that was passed in 2021, that there was an ability for states to have reciprocity agreements with regards to accepting those license and credentials,” answered Rodriguez.

“And is that happening? That's my question,” said Senator King.

That's one of the things we're working on with the states. We're trying to ensure that they understand one, that agreement exists, but also for the military spouses to be educated about that as well, as well as the Department of Defense's legal departments to ensure that they can provide support to those military spouses, to have conversations with the state departments,” responded Rodriguez.

“I think that would be a place where some emphasis should be placed to work with the states, press the states because all the states talk about wanting to help veterans. This is one clear way they can do it,” concluded Senator King.

Representing one of the states with the highest rates of veterans per capita, Senator King is a staunch advocate for America’s servicemembers and veterans. As a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee and the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee, he has worked to properly honor and recognize the sacrifices of Purple Heart medal recipients, protect veterans from fraud, and expand veteran assisted living services.

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