Whereas, in a 2016 study by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a total of 27 percent of adults reported having a nondegree credential; Whereas according to the NCES study, 85 percent of work credential holders reported that their most important credential was for their current job and that 67 percent prepared for their most important work credential by taking classes from a college, technical school, or trade school; Whereas according to the NCES study, 82 percent of adults reported that their most important work credential was very useful for getting a job, keeping a job (80 percent), remaining marketable to employers or clients (81 percent), and improving work skills (66 percent); Whereas according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 4 out of the 5 fastest growing fields for employment between now and 2024 can be accessed with a credential, with no college degree necessary; Whereas employers consistently struggle to find qualified applicants for job openings which require a specific credentialed technical skill or training; Whereas according to the Congressional Budget Office, in 2016, the Defense Department spent $310 million on unemployment benefits; Whereas veterans bring to the workforce a level of leadership and responsibility that is a product of their valorous service to the United States; and Whereas academic studies have shown that employment plays a factor in combating mental health issues often faced by veterans: Now, therefore, be it