b'www.hirevets.govhttps://cook.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-cook-joins-labor-department-in-recognizing-employers-who-hire-vets-0Honoring the EmployersVeteran hiring and retentionwho Hire our Nations HeroesAvailability of veteran-specific resources Leadership programming for veteransNov 8, 2018 Press ReleaseDedicated human resourcesWASHINGTON, DCRep. Paul Cook (R-Apple Valley) Compensation and tuition assistance programsattended the U.S. Department of Labor announcement offor veteransthe 2018 HIRE (Honoring Investments in Recruiting and Employing) Vets Medallion Program Demonstration 2018 Program Demonstration Award RecipientsAward, recognizing the meaningful and verifiable effortswww.hirevets.gov/about/award-recipientsundertaken by job creators to hire and retain veterans.For more about the HIRE Vets Medallion Program and Honorees include small businesses, community-based Award, please visit www.HireVets.gov. nonprofits, and national companies.In 2017, President Trump signed into law Rep. CooksBenefits of the Programbill, H.R. 244, the HIRE American Military Veterans Act,The purpose of the HIRE Vets Medallion Award is tocreating the HIRE Vets Medallion Program.recognize employers who hire and retain veterans, including The HIRE Vets Act promotes private sector recruiting, their efforts to establish employee development programs hiring, and retaining of men and women who served honorablyand veteran specific benefits to improve retention. in the U.S. military through the voluntary participation ofAward recipients will have the opportunity to utilize the employers. The awards program recognizes employers whomedallion in the marketing of their firm as a veteran friendly have truly demonstrated efforts to reach out and supportour veterans searching for employment. business when hiring, and in efforts toRep. Cook said, Its an honor to see this legislation comeattract additional business.to fruition. Todays recipients deserve to be recognized forU.S. CONGRESSMANmaking significant strides toward hiring more veterans.Col. Paul Cook (ret.), US House CaliforniasVeterans who serve this country honorably shouldnt strug- 8th Congressional District, currently serves on thegle to find employment, and this bill creates an innovativeHouse Armed Services, Foreign Affairs, andsystem to encourage and recognize employers who makeVeterans Affairs committees.veterans a priority in their hiring practices. I look forward toA veteran of the Vietnam War, Col. Cooks military https://cook.house.govseeing full implementation of the program next year. career spanned twenty-six years. His actions in combat earnedRecipients of the 2018 HIRE Vets Medallion Programhim a number of honors, including two Purple Hearts and theDemonstration Award were evaluated based on a range Bronze Star Medal with a V for valor. of criteria, including: He retired from the Marine Corps in 1992 as a colonel.44 Military Appreciation Resource Magazine Thank You For Your Service'