Gallivan supports job opportunities for veterans

Gallivan sponsors new initiative to specifically help service-disabled veterans

The New York Senate approved the Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Business Act, which will create a 6 percent state contract set-aside for service-connected disabled-veteran-owned small businesses. This builds upon new tax credit legislation passed by the Senate last year to encourage employers across the state to provide job opportunities to New York's courageous veterans.

"All Americans owe a debt of gratitude to the men and women who have worn the uniforms of the United States Armed Forces," Sen. Patrick Gallivan said. "Our servicemen and women, and their families, never need to be reminded of the sacrifices they've made for our flag, for their fellow soldiers, and for the American people. This Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Business Act will help New York's service-disabled veterans pursue successful new business ventures."

A three-way agreement on the bill was announced during Gov. Andrew Cuomo's Veterans and Military Families Summit held last week in Albany. Modeled after a highly successful federal initiative, New York's new law will establish a new contract preference "set-aside" for service-disabled veterans.

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs states New York is home to nearly 900,000 veterans, 600,000 of whom have served during periods of conflict. Cuomo has said there are roughly 106,000 service-connected disabled veterans in New York.

These heroic individuals have sacrificed so much to serve our nation, and we owe them a debt of gratitude that can never truly be repaid, Gallivan said. He suggested this new law would provide an enormous boost to service-disabled veterans, opening the door to major new business opportunities.