MONTGOMERY – A proposal to help returning Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans find work passed the Alabama House of Representatives on Tuesday, as lawmakers continued their commitment to making job growth legislation the top priority in the 2012 Regular Session. The House also passed enabling legislation for the Alabama Job Creation and Retention Act, which allows the Governor and economic developers to use incentives similar to ones used on the Mercedes project to lure industry to the state.

“We have a laser focus on passing legislation that helps more Alabamians find jobs,” Speaker Hubbard said. “I’m particularly pleased that we have made sure to take care of our veterans with the ‘Heroes for Hire’ bill. Those who served on the front lines deserve to go to the front of the line for new jobs.”

Rep. DuWayne Bridges (R-Valley), who chairs the House Veterans and Military Affairs Committee, said the “Heroes for Hire” bill shows Alabama is committed to caring for its veterans.

“Our men and women in uniform have dedicated years of service to this country and made great sacrifices that too often get taken for granted,” Rep. Bridges said. “In this tough economy we need to give returning veterans every advantage we can toward landing a job. Our ‘Heroes for Hire’ bill offers that by giving businesses a $2,000 tax credit for hiring a veteran recently returned from war.”