Letter to Secretary Anthony Principi, Department of Veterans Affairs

February 9, 2004

Secretary Anthony Principi
Department of Veterans Affairs
810 Vermont Avenue, NW
Washington, D.C. 20420

Dear Mr. Secretary:

As all of us know, the men and women in our Armed Forces are currently performing heroically on a number of dangerous fronts around the world.

As a Member of the Veterans Affairs Committee, I am proud to say we have the finest and best trained military in the world. Unfortunately, a proposed rule issued by the Department of Labor (DOL) threatens to eliminate overtime compensation for some veterans. The proposed DOL rule will undermine the very reasons many of our young people enlist in the military - an opportunity to acquire skills and training for a good paying career once their military obligation has been completed.

My specific concern centers on the section of the proposed overtime rule which will allow employers to equate training received in the military as equivalent to a university degree. Under current regulations, workers can be denied overtime protections if they fall within the category of "professional employees," but generally only workers with a specialized degree can be classified as "professional."

DOL's proposed rule will do away with this standard requirement and allow equivalent "training in the armed forces" to be routinely substituted for a specialized degree. In other words, veterans working in a professional field could now be classified as 'professional employees" and lose their overtime protections.

Mr. Secretary, as our nation's leading advocate for veterans, it is imperative for you to express your opposition to the Department of Labor proposed overtime rule to both the President and the Secretary of Labor. As you may know, a majority of the Congress has already voted to oppose the DOL rule from being finalized.

DOL's proposal is a breach of faith for veterans that could cost them up to 25% of their pay and significant time with their families if they are forced to work longer hours or second jobs to pay for their day to day essentials.

I strongly believe these men and women have sacrificed enough - they should not be forced to suffer a pay cut because they sought a better way of life for themselves and their families while courageously serving their country.

I look forward to your swift response to this critical question of basic fairness for our veterans.

Sincerely,

Patty Murray
United States Senate