WIUM Local
(2009-11-11)
Being away from family and loved ones, being in harm's way for extended periods have an effect.
Senator Kirsten Gillibrand dwelled on the subject during a conference call with reporters yesterday.
"Thousands of veterans are coming home to a very tough economy," said Gillibrand. "Unemployment among new veterans in New York State is at 15 percent."
The democrat from Hudson County said she's introducing the Veterans' Business Center Act of 2009, legislation that she said, if approved, would help vets gain access to capital and federal grant money to start new businesses and grow existing
ones; and would also provide assistance for homeless veterans.
At the University at Buffalo Law School yesterday, a symposium was held on the changing way veterans can apply to the Veterans Administration for the rights to which they are entitled.
The participants included some distinguished jurists and some veterans.
"This is a celebration of Veterans Day," said panel member Michael Lancer, the Chair of the Committee on Veterans and Servicemembers Legal Issue for the Erie County Bar Association.
Lancer, who served as Army officer for 10 years, said his aim is to ensure that local veterans and servicemembers receive "proper legal services in the future."
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