Donnelly, Cruz: Recognize Contributions of National Guard, Reserves with Tiered Preference in Hiring for Civil Service Jobs

Press Release

U.S. Senators Joe Donnelly (D-IN) and Ted Cruz (R-TX) today reintroduced bipartisan legislation that would give qualified members of the National Guard and Reserve a tiered preference in hiring for federal civil service jobs. Senators Roy Blunt (R-MO) and Patrick Leahy (D-VT) are also supporting the legislation. The Military Reserve Jobs Act of 2015 would help promote the hiring of National Guard members and Reservists into the federal workforce.

Donnelly said, "Members of our National Guard and Reserve serve our country honorably, whether overseas or here in our home states. Some members of the Reserve Component currently cannot access hiring preferences when applying for federal civil service jobs. These men and women have shown their commitment to protecting our national security and public safety by joining the National Guard or Reserves, and deserve preference in the federal hiring process. This bipartisan bill respects the unique service and sacrifice of our overseas combat veterans, while recognizing the contributions of Guard members and Reservists. I thank my colleague Senator Cruz for joining me in this effort."

Cruz said, "Our nation has asked much of its Armed Forces during the past 14 years of conflict, and our Reserve and National Guard components have performed exceptionally. It is due to their contributions that the United States has been able to provide an unprecedented level of sustained combat capability. Americans who serve in the Reserves or National Guard should receive appropriate access and opportunity for federal employment in recognition of their patriotic sacrifice. I am proud to cosponsor Sen. Donnelly's bill that will provide much needed reform to federal hiring standards, by recognizing and demonstrating appreciation for our greatest asset, the men and women willing to put on a uniform to defend this country."

Members of the National Guard and Reserves do not qualify for hiring preferences if they have never been deployed. While some members of the Reserve Component qualify for veterans' hiring preference through overseas service, others who put in years of serving our nation do not. As of 2013, the National Guard Bureau estimated that approximately 159,400 Army National Guard soldiers (44 percent of the total force) and 73,700 Air National Guard airmen (70 percent of the total force) serve without having qualified for veterans' hiring preference.

The Military Reserve Jobs Act would close the gap for National Guard members and Reservists who may not qualify for veterans' preference points and would promote hiring of Reserve Component members into the federal workforce. Currently, the Office of Personnel Management assigns a 5-point hiring preference for veterans who served during war or during a specific time period for a defined length of service. The Military Reserve Jobs Act would implement a tiered "Military Reserve" hiring preference for members of the Reserve Components who do not otherwise qualify for preference under existing laws. Under the bill, a qualified member of the reserve component would be able to claim a 2-point or 3-point preference, depending on their length of service.

Guard and Reserve members face unique employment challenges due to employers' concerns about hiring servicemembers who may be called up for duty at any time. In addition, members of the Guard and Reserves are more likely to remain in the force if they are gainfully employed, and the Reserve Components can achieve a higher level of readiness if turnover is minimized.

Donnelly, Cruz, and Leahy introduced similar legislation in 2013.

The tiered system in the legislation would work as follows:

Tier I

A member of the Reserve Component may claim a 2-point Military Reserve preference when they have:

Completed 6-years of satisfactory service (earned a minimum of 50 retirement points per year) with a Reserve Component.

Continues to serve within a Reserve Component.

Tier II

A member of the Reserve Component may claim a 3-point Military Reserve preference when they have:

Completed 10-years of satisfactory service (earned a minimum of 50 retirement points per year) with a Reserve Component.

Continues to serve within a Reserve Component.

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