July 26, 2006
Media contact: Jeff Schrade (202)224-9093

(Washington, DC) U.S. Senator Larry Craig, Chairman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs, will participate in a news conference Thursday, July 27, to be held at the National Press Club (529 14th Street NW, Washington, DC). It will begin at 12:30 p.m (Eastern) and a live satellite feed of the entire event will be available to television stations.

The news conference will highlight the Military Order of the Purple Heart Service Foundation and its efforts to provide employment for combat wounded and disabled veterans. 

Since starting its training program last year, the Foundation has trained nearly 100 disabled and combat wounded veterans over the Internet, with a 100 percent placement rate for jobs in the information industry. After receiving training, veterans have landed jobs with such public companies as HomeDepot, FedEx, JetBlue, Dell Computer, and financial services company PNC. The Foundation is currently seeking contract work from a variety of federal agencies.

Thousands of veterans could qualify for the new program.

Veterans who qualify for the training receive $11 an hour while working through the 600-hour educational process ? earning $6,600. Qualifications are simple: A veteran must have a VA assigned disability rating, and a copy of his or her DD-214. A Purple Heart award is not required for training selection.

The training allows a veteran to work at home via the Internet while earning from $15 to $22 an hour. The program is accredited by Northern Virginia Community College.   

So far, veterans in 19 states have been accepted into the 15 week program, including two veterans from Sen. Craig's home state of Idaho. Both of those veterans are from Boise and will start their training in August.

Satellite Time

10:25- 11:10 a.m. Mountain/ 9:25 -10:10 a.m. Pacific /12:25-1:10 p.m. Eastern

Coordinates

C-Band (digital 9MHz): Galaxy 4R, Tx10

D/L Frequency: 3886.5 (V)

Ch: A FEC: ¾

Symbol Rate: 6.1113

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