Heck salutes troops in GOP radio message

WASHINGTON -- Rep. Joe Heck combined a tribute to U.S. soldiers with a plug for Republican jobs bills when he delivered the party's weekly radio speech today.

Heck, a colonel in the U.S. Army Reserve who has been called to active duty three times, was picked by House leaders to give the address tied to the Veterans Day holiday.

The Nevadan was deployed most recently in 2008 to western Iraq, where he ran the emergency services section of a combat hospital.

One night, he said, the medical staff prepared to treat a 20-year-old Marine who had been shot and was being flown in by helicopter, only to learn he died en route.

After nurses had washed the Marine, two medics brought in an American flag, draped it over the body, stood at "parade rest" position at the foot of the bed, "and stood there. And stood there. And stood there."

"Hours later, I asked, 'You guys need a break?' Their answer was, 'Sir, never leave a fallen comrade,' " Heck said. "Such is the caliber of the men and women we call 'veterans.' They've left stories like this all over the world."

For their service, Heck said veterans when they return home are owed "a strong economy, so they can transition into civilian life and support their family with a good-paying job."

Heck noted Congress this week passed legislation to provide tax credits to companies that hire out-of-work veterans, while strengthening job training and other forms of assistance.

"We have a lot more to do," he said. Heck called on the Senate, which is led by Democrats, to take up bills that have been passed by the Republican-controlled House.

Republicans have been campaigning for further action on what they call the "Forgotten 15" -- House-passed bills that they say will remove barriers to job creation by reducing regulations on businesses and promoting oil and gas drilling. The bills drew some Democratic votes in the House, but party leaders say the Republican approach will weaken protections for the environment while tilting toward business over the interests of workers.

President Barack Obama in his weekly radio address also applauded passage of the veterans jobs bill while saying more needs to be done. Obama said his administration has hired 120,000 veterans and challenged private companies to hire or train 100,000 more by the end of 2013.

Obama said he has kept his promise to end U.S. involvement in Iraq by the end of the year, "while we've begun to wind down the war in Afghanistan." He said more than 1 million service members will return to civilian life in the next five years.

"But for many of them, the challenges don't end when they take off the uniform," Obama said. "Today, more than 850,000 veterans remain unemployed. And too many are struggling to find a job worthy of their talents and experience.

"The last thing they should have to do is fight for a job when they get home," he said.

Contact Stephens Washington Bureau Chief Steve Tetreault at stetreault@stephensmedia.com or 202-783-1760.