Kaine meets with veterans in Southwest Virginia

U.S. Senate candidate Tim Kaine met with veterans in Southwest Virginia Friday afternoon to discuss his approach to create jobs and strengthen our economy. Specifically, Kaine addressed strategies to reduce disproportionately high unemployment among veterans, and fulfill obligations the country has made to those who have served.

“Every veteran has leadership skills and technical skills they develop while in service,” said Kaine. “When I look at the unemployment rate for our veterans, which is higher than the national average, that shows a failure by our nation to take advantage of those skills. If I’m elected to serve in the Senate, I would like to work to create a culture in the Department of Defense that issues a corresponding civilian credential for every skill our service members get during their service.”

During the discussion at CityMug in Bristol, Kaine emphasized the need to take a balanced approach to deficit reduction that will allow for key investments in veterans’ health care and job training programs and protect Virginia’s military installations from across the board defense cuts.  Kaine contrasted his approach with the “all cuts” approach put forward by his opponent, George Allen, which would disproportionately hurt veterans, members of our military and their families, civilian employees and military contractors in Virginia.

“Commitments to our service members, our veterans, and their families are not just line items in a budget to me. These are promises we’ve made that must be kept,” said Kaine. “I will reject proposals to go back on these agreements we’ve made with those who’ve given so much in defense of our country.”

As governor, Kaine helped secure funding for in-state college tuition for the children of military personnel who are stationed in Virginia and expanded treatment for veterans’ mental health through the Virginia Wounded Warrior initiative.

As senator, he looks forward to working with members of both parties to carry on Senator Jim Webb’s legacy of representing the interests of Virginia veterans in the U.S. Senate.

Since the beginning of the year, Kaine has held more than 60 economic roundtable discussions across the state, including many with Virginia veterans.