SENATOR MCCORMICK AND GALLEGO INTRODUCE BILL TO ADVANCE JOB OPPORTUNITIES IN TECH FOR VETERANS

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dave McCormick (R-PA) and Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) recently introduced the Improving Emerging Tech Opportunities for Veterans Act of 2026, bipartisan legislation aimed at helping veterans transition to civilian life by expanding career opportunities in emerging technologies through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs' (VA) Veteran Employment Through Technology Education Courses (VET TEC) program.

"While the transition back to civilian life isn't always easy, I know firsthand as a veteran that our service men and women return as leaders, highly skilled and ready to contribute. It is our job to make sure the doors are open when they get home," said Senator McCormick. "With over 200,000 service members leaving the military each year, the Improving Emerging Tech Opportunities for Veterans Act does exactly that by helping to connect veterans in Pennsylvania and across the country to job opportunities in high-growth tech industries where they can find stable employment, financial security and a renewed sense of purpose."

"Emerging technologies like semiconductor manufacturing are creating thousands of good-paying jobs and shaping the future of Arizona's economy. This bill would make sure veterans can use the education benefits they earned to train for careers in these rapidly growing industries and help America stay the global leader in technological innovation," said Senator Gallego.

A successful transition from military to civilian life is more than finding a job. It helps provide long-term stability for veterans and their families while strengthening our workforce. The VET TEC program connects veterans with leading training providers to help them develop or advance in skills needed for high-tech industries. This bill would broaden the current program, adding training and employment pathways in emerging industries, like artificial intelligence and semiconductor manufacturing, so veterans are equipped with the skills needed to compete for high-demand jobs in our modern economy.

Specifically, the Improving Emerging Tech Opportunities for Veterans Act of 2026 will:

• Direct the VA to identify and designate technologies of critical national importance as "emerging technologies" eligible under the VET TEC program, with artificial intelligence and semiconductor manufacturing as named examples.
• Require the VA to promote emerging technology fields, courses, and career pathways on its website and incorporate them into transition assistance services, so veterans and transitioning service members are aware of these opportunities.
• Require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to work with private-sector partners, educational institutions, veteran-serving nonprofits to identify industries and occupations expected to experience significant job growth driven by emerging technologies with a focus on fields that align with veterans' existing education, training, and skills.

The following organizations and stakeholders have expressed support for the Improving Emerging Tech Opportunities for Veterans Act of 2026:

"The VFW supports the Improving Emerging Tech Opportunities for Veterans Act, which will help veterans access education and training programs for high-demand careers in emerging technology fields such as artificial intelligence and semiconductor manufacturing. By requiring the Department of Veterans Affairs to collaborate with industry partners, expand visibility through the Transition Assistance Program, and implement an expedited course approval process, this legislation will better position veterans to succeed in the workforce of tomorrow," said Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) National Legislative Service Associate Director Joe Grassi.

"IAVA survey data has consistently shown that veterans are chronically underemployed compared to their level of expertise, abilities, and skillset," said Dr. Kyleanne Hunter, Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA) CEO. "We welcome the Senate introduction of the Improving Emerging Tech Options for Veterans Act of 2026, which will help bridge the gap between our veterans' true capabilities and the high-skilled careers where we know they can excel."

Senator McCormick has introduced or cosponsored several additional bills in support of our veterans including:

• The Veterans Traumatic Brain Injury Adaptive Care Opportunities Nationwide Act, which would create a new grant program to fund innovative treatments for chronic mild TBI-an injury that affects thousands of our veterans and is linked to mental health struggles and suicide risk.
• TheVA Zero Suicide Demonstration Project of 2025, which would establish a pilot program to significantly reduce veteran suicides by providing extensive training for VA staff about suicide screening, risk assessment, treatment, and care transition procedures.
• The Housing Unhoused Disabled Veterans Act, which wouldpermanently exclude disability payments from income calculations used to determine housing assistance eligibility ensuring veterans can access HUD-VA housing support without being penalized for benefits they already earned through their service.
• The Innovative Therapies Centers of Excellence Act of 2025, which would increase federally funded research on innovative therapies to treat veterans experiencing conditions like post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), substance use disorder, and depression.

The full text of the Improving Emerging Tech Opportunities for Veterans Act of 2026 may be found here.

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