Legislation to assist jobless veterans is all but dead this week. Senate Republicans procedurally blocked the bill from moving, citing violations of Senate budget rules. In order for the bill to advance in the chamber, three-fifths of the Senate would have had to vote to waive the rules.

Senator Patty Murray (D-Wash.), the bill's sponsor, had pushed legislation supported by the White House to create the Veterans Jobs Corps by setting aside $1 billion in federal grants to give veterans priority for jobs that might require military skills, such as law enforcement or fire safety.