Durbin Reservist and Guard Pay Amendment Approved by Senate

DURBIN RESERVIST AND GUARD PAY AMENDMENT APPROVED BY SENATE

The U.S. Senate today unanimously approved a bipartisan amendment written by U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) to help federal employees in the National Guard and Reserves avoid a loss of income when they are called to active military duty. This is the 5th time in three years that Durbin has won approval for his proposal on the Senate side of the Capitol, but on the four pervious occasions, members of the House have objected and the provision was removed before the legislation was signed into law. Durbin said the fate of this measure now rests solely with the House leadership.

"When the cameras are turned on and America is watching C-SPAN, there is overwhelming support in the Senate for my amendment to guarantee that the federal government provides financial assistance to our reservists and their families. Sadly, when the camera lights are off and this bill gets to a closed door conference with the House, it is another story entirely," said Durbin. "By passing the Reservists Pay Amendment today, we are giving the House one more chance to do the right thing and stand behind our soldiers."

Durbin's amendment was included in the FY' 06 emergency Supplemental Appropriations bill to fund the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Previously, similar amendments were included in the FY' 06 Department of Defense Appropriations bill and the Senate-passed April 2005 Supplemental Appropriations bill, the Senate version of the Defense Authorization bill last June, and in the Supplemental Appropriations bill passed by the Senate in October 2003. On all occasions, the Durbin amendment was stripped out of the legislation in a conference committee between the Senate and the House of Representatives.

More than 120,000 federal employees currently serve as members of the Guard and Reserve; about 17,000 have been mobilized to active duty in Iraq, Afghanistan and other locations. While these soldiers receive pay for the time they are on active duty, the salary gap between military service and civilian employment can be considerable.

A number of employers throughout the country have acted to close the pay gap for men and women serving in the Reserves and Guard whose military pay is less than their normal civilian salary. In Illinois, Boeing Aerospace, State Farm Insurance, Sears, Roebuck & Company, the State of Illinois, the City of Chicago, and many other Illinois companies, city governments and county governments have established financial compensation plans for their employees called to serve.

"Reservist and Guard families are struggling at home as their loved-ones are sacrificing on the battlefield. As the largest single employer of Guard and Reserve members, the federal government has so far failed to make up the difference in pay even as private corporations, state and local governments are taking the necessary financial steps to help Guard and Reserve families," said Durbin. "The federal government must do its part."

http://durbin.senate.gov/record.cfm?id=254896&&