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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
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State
Rep. Robert E. Belfanti, Jr. |
  
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Belfanti resolution recognizes Pa. chapter of Helmets to Hardhats
HARRISBURG, June 27 – The state House of Representatives today adopted a resolution (H.R. 825) recognizing the work of the Pennsylvania chapter of Helmets to Hardhats and the assistance it has provided to members of the military and veterans in their search for good-paying, civilian jobs.
Helmets to Hardhats is a national, nonprofit organization that helps active members of the military and reserve, as well as veterans, find skilled employment in the construction trades. The Pennsylvania chapter of Helmets to Hardhats works with the Pennsylvania State Building and Construction Trades Council, the national Helmets to Hardhats program, and other apprenticeship and construction trade organizations to administer the program.
"Pennsylvania was the first state to begin its own chapter of Helmets to Hardhats to ensure that our military members and veterans had the additional help they needed to find good-paying jobs in their area," Belfanti said. "The Helmets to Hardhats program, and the state chapter here in Pennsylvania, serve a crucial need. Veterans experience unemployment rates that are higher than the rest of the population, and often face significant hurdles in finding civilian jobs and careers once their military service is completed."
Belfanti said through Helmets to Hardhats, members of the military and veterans are matched with available apprenticeship programs and jobs in the construction trades, and receive full credit for the trades or skills they may have learned in the military. Helmets to Hardhats apprenticeship programs are recognized as educational programs, which allows military members and veterans to utilize benefits such as the GI Bill and other service-related programs to boost their income and even earn college degrees.
"The program succeeds for both military members and veterans and their potential employers," Belfanti said. "It works directly with hiring managers to channel highly skilled people into the jobs that construction firms need to fill the most."
Belfanti said the success of Pennsylvania's Helmets to Hardhats program has led several other states to develop state programs modeled after Pennsylvania's.
The House adopted the resolution unanimously. More information about the Pennsylvania Helmets to Hardhats program is available online at http://www.helmetstohardhatspa.org, or at Belfanti's legislative Web site: http://www.pahouse.com/belfanti.
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