Rep. Scott Peters Highlights #SDinDC with zero8hundred at Armed Services Committee

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, U.S. Congressman Scott Peters (CA-52) released the following statement after Sean Mahoney, Executive Director of San Diego-based zero8hundred, testified at the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Military Personnel about transition assistance programs:

“It is a good day when we can bring expertise from San Diego to Washington, D.C., to inform Congress and set an example for other communities around the country. Congresswoman Susan Davis deserves particular credit, as Ranking Member of the Military Personnel Subcommittee, for making today’s testimony possible.

“San Diego is home to one of the premier transition-assistance programs in the country, helping servicemembers and their families as they leave the military and return to civilian life. Innovative, collaborative programs like zero8hundred can serve as a national model as we work to support our veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan.”

Background on Rep. Peters’ Work with zero8hundred:

Early in 2013, Rep. Peters met with local advocates to find out how to best leverage his new role to support San Diego’s transitioning service members and veterans. The consensus among these leaders was that while San Diego is home to some of the best organizations and services for veterans, it needed a centrally coordinated hub for transitioning service members to find services, job training, and employment opportunities. zero8hundred is the product of these discussions and nearly two years of planning. This past January, zero8hundred was implemented at Naval Base San Diego and Naval Base Coronado. Congressman Peters and representatives from zero8hundred met with Secretary of Veterans Affairs Robert McDonald in May, 2015, to discuss the program.

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