WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Roger Wicker, R-Miss., has cosponsored the “Hire More Heroes Act,” a bill that would give businesses an added incentive to employ veterans or active military personnel who are covered under TRICARE or the VA because they would not have to count them toward Obamacare’s employer mandate. The legislation was introduced by Sen. Roy Blunt, R-Mo.

“Obamacare has caused many businesses to stop hiring new workers to avoid crossing the employment mandate’s threshold,” Wicker said. “Unfortunately, many of America’s veterans and active military personnel have been caught in the middle of this issue. The jobless rate for these men and women remains too high. This legislation will help those who have served our country have the opportunity to find a job.”

The President’s health-care law requires all businesses with more than 50 full-time equivalents to provide health insurance to their employees or pay a fine.  The “Hire More Heroes Act” would allow employers to exempt those who have health-care coverage through TRICARE or the VA from the mandate.

The House version of the bill passed in March with a vote of 406-1.

Sen. Wicker is also a cosponsor of S.399, “The American Job Protection Act,” which would repeal the employer mandate for all businesses.