1st lady praises hiring

Associated Press

WASHINGTON

Michelle Obama said Monday that a pledge by the construction industry to hire more than 100,000 veterans by early 2019 is “a huge deal” that, besides doing right by former service members, will help companies grow and boost the U.S. economy for decades to come.

Obama announced the commitment by more than 100 construction companies and associations at a conference sponsored by the Department of Labor and Joining Forces, a nationwide effort that she and Jill Biden, the wife of Vice President Joe Biden, launched nearly three years ago to rally the U.S. around military veterans, active-duty service members and their families.

Labor Secretary Thomas Perez said the announcement marked the first time that an entire industry has pledged to focus on providing jobs and training opportunities to military veterans.

“I know that you all have made this commitment not just because it is the patriotic thing to do, which it is,” Obama said, addressing the construction firms and associations represented at the conference. “You’ve done this because you know that it is the smart thing to do for your businesses.”