OFFICIALS LEGISLATION INTEREST GROUPS PUBLIC STATEMENTS COMMITTEES VETOES

Applicability of the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act to the Transportation Security Administration

Floor Speech

Date: May 30, 2012
Location: Washington, DC
Issues: Transportation

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Ms. RICHARDSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 3670, to require the Transportation Security Administration, TSA, to comply with the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act.

The Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act, USERRA, is intended to ensure that persons who serve or have served in the Armed Forces, Reserves, National Guard or other uniformed services: (1) are not disadvantaged in their civilian careers because of their service, (2) are promptly reemployed in their civilian jobs upon their return from duty, and (3) are not discriminated against in employment based on past, present, or future military service.

Soon after the attacks of 9/11, TSA was given USERRA exemption to allow the agency to hire new employees without delay for airport screenings. USERRA protects service members so they are able to keep their job, benefits, and seniority in their civilian job if they are called up to Active Duty. TSA has voluntarily adopted some USERRA provisions for their employees, but TSA no longer requires special hiring authorities that it required when newly created. With more than 10,000 veterans among the agency's employees, counting for 20 percent of the Transportation Security Officer workforce, TSA, like any other federal agency, should be required to comply with the same USERRA rules as other Federal agencies and private employers.

With the month of May and National Military Appreciation Month concluding, we must continue to appreciate and support our service members by supporting this legislation. Our veterans and servicemembers do not choose our conflicts and we cannot allow employers to punish them for their unrelenting dedication to our nation's freedom.

Mr. Speaker, requiring the Transportation Security Administration to comply with the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act is the right thing to. That is why I strongly support H.R. 3670 and I urge my colleagues to support our servicemembers and veterans by supporting H.R. 3670.

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