Durbin Statement on Congress' Failure to Enact Reservist Pay Security

DURBIN STATEMENT ON CONGRESS' FAILURE TO ENACT RESERVIST PAY SECURITY

U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today made the following statement regarding the Reservist Pay Security amendment that was stripped from the fiscal year 2005 supplemental appropriations bill in conference committee.

"Last month, the Senate passed a bipartisan amendment to the supplemental appropriations bill to ensure that federal employees in the National Guard and Reserves are paid their full civilian salary when called to active duty. It was the third time in as many years that the Senate has passed this important provision."

"This is not a radical concept. Many of the major employers in America, including 24 states and hundreds of local governments, offer a similar benefit for their employees in the Guard and Reserve when they are mobilized and face a loss of income due to lower military pay. In fact, the Department of Defense praises more than 900 of these ‘outstanding employers' on its official website. But the nation's largest employer - the federal government - is not on that list."

"That's why it is so troubling to me that, for the third time, a bipartisan measure to correct this inequity was stripped from the final legislation behind closed doors in conference committee."

"The Bush Administration opposed the inclusion of the Reservist Pay Security in the supplemental appropriations bill, saying it would ‘have a negative impact on morale and unit cohesion.' If that is the case, why would the Defense Department's own website praise employers that make up the pay difference for their workers?"

"I am deeply disappointed by the way this was handled in the conference committee. Yesterday I reintroduced the Reservist Pay Security Act in the Senate and I will push for its consideration without delay. Our service members have been waiting long enough for this simple justice."

http://durbin.senate.gov/record.cfm?id=237376&&