Green Vets LA / VIPER Program makes the front page of the Los Angeles Times as the vote goes to Sacramento. The Green Vets LA Element of VIPER (Veterans Industry Program for Employment Reintegration) has found itself bridging the right and the left wings of California politics. Jim Cragg and SOTech staff members supporting GVLA have made the rounds of California Senate and Assembly offices to illuminate the veterans issues, job creation, and economic impact of the proposed single use plastic bag ban in California. Previously the ban was seen only as an environmental issue until Cragg raised the banner of jobs for vets.
Having experienced firsthand the protection of American sewing jobs under the Berry Act in Defense Contracting, Cragg brought to light the benefits of legislation that protects and encourages American design and manufacturing. Not only do veterans of the GVLA program benefit from sewing and assembly jobs created here, but the American sewing industry as a whole will see gains, and this comes at an important time as Defense sewing projects begin to dwindle with an end to American troop deployments on the horizon. Beyond the political and industrial implications of the issue, the LA Times article captured the human side of the issue with some gut-wrenching interviews of formerly homeless Veterans in the VIPER program.
Read the LA Times article here.