[Page S2936]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                CALIFORNIA'S VETERANS APPRECIATION MONTH

<bullet> Mrs. BOXER. Mr. President, I rise in recognition of 
California's Veterans Appreciation Month, which is celebrated in May 
2000. The people of our state and our nation owe more to our veterans 
than we can ever repay. The world is a safer place, and our Democracy 
has thrived because of their heroism.
  This year, as in years past, the State of California is making an 
extra effort to assist its veterans who suffer from a lack of suitable 
employment. California calculates that about 40,000 of its veterans are 
unemployed or underemployed. This is a tragic situation for these fine 
men and women who have given so much to America.
  During the month of May, California's Employment Development 
Department will focus special effort to find jobs for these veterans. 
Local Veterans Employment Representatives and Disabled Veterans 
Outreach Program staff will be contacting employers, organized labor 
and government leaders to promote hiring veterans, and they will 
provide job training and job-search training to former military 
personnel. Quite simply, the goal of California's Veterans Appreciation 
Month is to show the appreciation of a grateful nation by providing the 
employment opportunities that veterans so richly deserve.
  I commend the California Employment Development Department for all 
its fine efforts on this program and I encourage all Americans to 
support similar efforts in their states.<bullet>

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