Construction Program Guide
Veterans Employment Provision
Section 1506 of MAP-21, added a veterans hiring provision to Section 114 of title 23, U.S.C. requiring Federal-aid recipients "to the extent practicable, encourage contractors working on a highway project funded using the assistance to make a best faith effort in the hiring or referral of laborers on any project for the construction of a highway to veterans . . ."
Section 114 of title 23, U.S.C.
"(d) Veterans Employment. -
(1) In general. - Subject to paragraph (2), a recipient of Federal financial assistance under this chapter shall, to the extent practicable, encourage contractors working on a highway project funded using the assistance to make a best faith effort in the hiring or referral of laborers on any project for the construction of a highway to veterans (as defined in section 2108 of title 5) who have the requisite skills and abilities to perform the construction work required under the contract.
(2) Administration. - This subsection shall not -
(A) apply to projects subject to section 140(d); or
(B) be administered or enforced in any manner that would require an employer to give a preference to any veteran over any equally qualified applicant who is a member of any racial or ethnic minority, a female, or any equally qualified former employee."