MANSFIELD -- Larry Moore, director of Richland County Veterans Service Commission, said a new law that gives tax breaks to companies that hire unemployed workers also will help veterans.

"We're very concerned about the high rate of unemployment of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans, which ranges from 12.6 to 21 percent," Moore said this week.

"Our concern at this point in time, Mr. Congressman or Mr. Senator, if you're going to create any jobs bill, there had better be language in there in reference to hiring veterans," Moore said.

"Veterans are people who are coming to you that obviously, by their training, are disciplined, they're highly motivated and they come with job skills," he said.

On March 18, President Barack Obama signed the $17.5 billion Hiring Incentives to Restore Employment Act. The legislation creates tax breaks for hiring and retaining workers.

Employers get a payroll tax holiday for new hires, plus a potential tax credit.

Normally, an employer is required to pay its share of Social Security taxes on wages earned by employees. For 2010, the portion of the tax is 6.2 percent on the first $106,800 of wages.

Under the act, an employer is effectively excused from paying its share of the 6.2 percent tax on wages received by qualified employees. This exemption applies to wages paid through the end of 2010. The maximum value for each qualified employee is $6,621.

For example, if a qualified employee is hired in March and receives $50,000 in wages in 2010, the employer saves $3,100 (6.2 percent of $50,000) in Social Security tax.

Moore said there is a critical need to expand entrepreneurial opportunities for everybody, including veterans.

In 1999, Congress passed a law requiring that 3 percent of all federal contracts awarded go to disabled service members with small businesses.

"To date, 10 years later, less than 1 percent of those contracts are being awarded every year," Moore said. "Congress pressed the Department of Defense last year to get to that 3 percent. Three percent of all government contracts equates to $7 billion for those disabled veterans small businesses."

Moore said he would like to see the state help veterans get these contracts and help them navigate the massive paperwork involved.

The new Hiring Incentives to Restore Employment Act defines a qualified employee as someone who meets all of these criteria: