Senate Advances Obama's Vets Jobs Bill

Would provide $1 billion to hire post 9/11-era veterans

The Senate overwhelmingly advanced President Obama's Veterans Jobs Corps legislation, which would provide $1 billion over the next five years to hire post-Sept. 11, 2001-era veterans for public works jobs and give them preference for police and firefighter positions.

Veterans from the 9/11 era have a consistently higher unemployment rate –  10.9% for August – than the national rate of 8.1%.

Tuesday's vote to bring the bill to the Senate floor was 95-1. Democrats led the effort, which came on the 11th anniversary of the terrorist attacks.  Republicans agreed to begin debate, but it is unclear whether they will support final passage this week.