Vida Wright: Building bullet train will employ returning veterans

I am writing to express my support for California High Speed Rail Project. I am a fellow with the Society of American Military Engineers (SAME). This worldwide organization’s mission is “to provide education and support to the engineering components of the military and uniformed services and other federal, state and local government agencies responsible for the nation’s infrastructure, and to advance the partnership between government and the architecture, engineering and construction industry in the interest of national security.”

I represent SAME on the California High Speed Rail Authority’s Business Advisory Council because we think this project provides our returning veterans with ample employment opportunities. Without a major job creating project such as California High Speed Rail, our returning veterans will join the ranks of already unemployed. These men and women are skilled engineers, technicians, communication specialists and have many other skills that can be put to use to build this project and rebuild our aging infrastructure. Our veterans deserve to return to a society that provides them with gainful employment opportunities, so they can support their families.

This story was originally published February 2, 2015 at 2:43 PM with the headline "Vida Wright: Building bullet train will employ returning veterans."