Today the Senate passed the “Heroes for Hire” act, HB152, a bill that provides additional tax credits to employers who hire returning veterans.

The bill will provide a $1,000 additional tax credit to employers for hiring recently deployed, and now discharged, unemployed veterans. The bill will also provide a $2,000 income tax credit to recently deployed, and now discharged, unemployed veterans who start their own businesses. Senator Tom Whatley, the bill’s sponsor in the Senate, said this bill will play a critical role in providing jobs for our veterans.

“We need to do right by our heroes. These men and women have put their life on the line for our country,” Whatley said. “This bill gives back a fraction of what they have given us.”

The bill not only benefits veterans, businesses are being rewarded for putting heroes back to work. With the unemployment rate continuing to drop in Alabama, Whatley hopes the trend will continue.

“During this tough economic time we need to do what we can to encourage Alabama businesses to continue hiring,” Whatley said. “This bill allows for that while simultaneously honoring my commitment to work for our soldiers returning from down range.”

Rep. DuWayne Bridges, the house sponsor for the bill, echoed Whatley’s desire to continue supporting our troops returning home.

“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,” 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 does that by offering significant tax credits for hiring a veteran recently returned from war.”

House Speaker Mike Hubbard thanked Rep. Bridges for proposing the legislation and working so hard to pass it.

“Rep. DuWayne Bridges has worked tirelessly to pass this bill, and I applaud his effort,” Speaker Hubbard said. “Those who served on the front lines deserve to go to the front of the line for new jobs.”