TRANSPORT Jobs Act

This bill, also called the TRANSPORT Jobs Act, directs the Department of Transportation to create and publish a “Veteran to Supply Chain Employee Action Plan” to help service members preparing to leave the military and veterans get jobs in port, ocean, rail, trucking, and other supply chain roles. The plan must be made public within 30 days after the law takes effect .

Key points

• Who is affected: Veterans and service members eligible for the Transition Assistance Program, plus employers in the supply chain industry.
• What changes: The plan must spell out barriers veterans and transitioning service members face when job searching or training, and the challenges employers face when recruiting, hiring, or keeping them. It must also look at regulatory hurdles, where workers are needed most, and industry trends that may discourage people from these careers.
• Skills and training: The plan must highlight the skills these job seekers bring, note any gaps, and suggest ways to expand training, mentorship, education, advancement, and employer outreach programs.
• Action steps: It must recommend short- and long-term steps for the Departments of Transportation, Defense, Veterans Affairs, and Labor, and include input from supply chain employers and worker groups.
• Definition: A “supply chain employee” is someone directly involved in moving goods.