Alaska Senate urges apprentice hiring goals for veterans on defense projects

The Alaska Senate unanimously passed a resolution Wednesday urging Congress to set hiring goals for apprentices and veteran apprentices on U.S. Department of Defense construction projects.

House Joint Resolution 20 passed 20-0 and was returned to the House for transmission to the governor, according to the official legislative bill record.

Sen. Forrest Dunbar carried the resolution on the Senate floor. He said some veterans struggle to find civilian employment that gives them the same sense of purpose, teamwork and construction of something meaningful that they had in military service.

The resolution encourages federal hiring goals for apprentices and veteran apprentices, particularly in construction jobs tied to Defense Department projects.

Several senators were added as cross-sponsors before the vote.