STATEMENT OF REP. LANE EVANS (D-IL)

Evans welcomes release of Department of Labor regulations that clarify and protect employment and re-employment rights of guard and reserve personnel

I am very pleased that the U.S. Department of Labor has published final rules clarifying and implementing the Uniformed Services Employment and Re-employment Rights Act of 1994 (USERRA). 

These new rules set out the rights and obligations under USERRA in a clear, concise and thorough manner.  I want to express my gratitude to the Veterans' Employment and Training Service and the career staff of the Department of Labor who have worked on this complex and critical final rule.  Their good work will go a long way toward easing the transition of activated National Guard and Reservists from military duty back into the civilian workforce.

I hope that the Department of Labor will continue its outreach and education efforts to inform both employers and all servicemembers of their rights and obligations under the law and the new rules.

In the past few years the country has seen a profound change in the manner in which the military uses the National Guard and Reserve forces.  Accordingly, our total force national defense policy has had a dramatic effect on citizen-soldiers' civilian lives. 

As we call to duty more and more Guard and Reserve personnel, it is our equal obligation and responsibility to provide them a comprehensive and quality demobilization process, including providing the necessary resources concerning their employment and re-employment rights.

The servicemembers of this great country have earned our best efforts to provide them and their families with peace of mind as they leave the comforts of home to defend the nation.  Their lives are complicated enough without having to also worry about getting their jobs back once they return from military service.