Topping Sen. Kaine's agenda: careers for military vets

The first bill Tim Kaine will introduce as a U.S. senator will seek to smooth the way for military personnel to land civilian jobs.

After speaking with military members, Kaine said Wednesday, he realized that too many employers were "not understanding what it is that veterans bring to the table in terms of technical skills, especially enlisted members." For instance, an aviation mechanic who left the Navy would be told "he had to take the courses all over again" to get a similar civilian position, Kaine said.

Kaine's Troop Talent Act seeks to improve communications among employers, the military and organizations that provide job credentials or licenses. It would ask the Defense Department to define members' military occupational specialties for businesses. "They all come with very definite skill sets that need to be translatable to the civilian workforce," Kaine said.

The bill would re-establish a U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs division to investigate businesses that offer job certification to exiting military personnel to ensure they are legitimate.

Kaine, a Democrat and former Virginia governor, was elected to the Senate in November. He said he plans to introduce the bill when Congress reconvenes next week.

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