WASHINGTON, D.C. –Today, Congressman Derrick Van Orden (R-WI-03), Chairman of the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity, and Congressman Don Davis (D-NC-01) introduced the bipartisan Hire Our Heroes Act to strengthen employment opportunities for veterans and military spouses while reducing unnecessary federal contracting regulations.

Veterans bring valuable skills, leadership and experience to the civilian workforce, but many struggle to find jobs that match their qualifications after leaving the military. Military spouses face their own employment challenges, often navigating career interruptions and frequent relocations tied to military service.

The Hire Our Heroes Act would modernize federal contractor requirements to encourage the hiring, retention and advancement of veterans and military spouses. The legislation would also reduce burdensome compliance requirements for smaller federal contractors and improve accountability for large companies receiving taxpayer dollars.

“Supporting Veterans and military families should never be a partisan issue. The Hire Our Heroes Act updates outdated federal contracting requirements to better support our Veterans and military spouses,” said Congressman Van Orden. “I’m proud to work with my friend and fellow veteran, Congressman Don Davis, on this bipartisan legislation to make sure those who have served our country, and the families who stand beside them, have the opportunities and support they deserve.”

“Our veterans and military spouses have sacrificed so much for our country. They should be given every chance at job opportunities. The Hire Our Heroes Act would help cut through the red tape that keeps small businesses from hiring veterans and military family members,” said Congressman Don Davis. “As an Air Force veteran, I believe it is very important that we modernize our federal contracting system, make sure taxpayer money is used responsibly, and most importantly, chart a path for our heroes to good, stable jobs.” 

The Hire Our Heroes Act:

  • Raise federal contractor thresholds so requirements apply only to companies with annual revenues of $1 billion or more seeking contracts of $5 million or more.
  • Extend veteran hiring programs and preferences to active-duty military spouses.
  • Replace annual veteran hiring disclosures to the Department of Labor with disclosures submitted to the federal agency soliciting a contract bid.
  • Require large federal contractors to disclose the number of veterans and military spouses they hire and retain, their efforts to recruit and advance these workers, related philanthropic giving and volunteerism, and executive leadership oversight of these efforts.
  • Require contractors to prominently publish this information on their websites.
  • Prohibit certain federal contracts worth $5 million or more from being awarded to qualifying large contractors that fail to meet disclosure requirements.
  • Prohibit federal grants exceeding $10 million in one year from being awarded to institutions of higher education and research entities that fail to meet applicable disclosure requirements.