Wounded Veteran Job Security Act

Floor Speech

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Mr. BOOZMAN. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Madam Speaker, I rise in support of the manager's amendment to H.R. 466. This bill would add protections against employment discrimination due to continued treatment for a service-connected disability to the Uniform Service Employment and Reemployment Rights Act, or USERRA; and that is the right thing to do.

Those who are seriously injured serving in the Nation's military should not be disadvantaged in the workplace beyond what their injuries have already put upon them; and allowing a reasonable amount of time off from their jobs for continuing service-connected medical treatment is the least thing that we can do. I believe that including them in USERRA is appropriate because it leaves no doubt as to an employer's obligation to service-disabled employees.

I extend my appreciation to the distinguished chairwoman, Ms. Herseth Sandlin, who has worked with us to improve the bill. Together we have clarified issues related to service-connected disability leave as well as other issues such as pension benefits and protections for businesses whose circumstances have changed so significantly that the application of these provisions would impose a serious burden on the employer.

This is a very worthy bill, and we appreciate Mr. Doggett bringing it forward. I would urge my colleagues certainly to support it.

I reserve the balance of my time.

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