Thursday, January 24, 2008

For More Information:
Rep. Tyler Olson (515) 281-3221

Des Moines, Iowa – On a unanimous vote, the Iowa House today approved a new national guard and reserve job security initiative. The plan will ensure that soldiers called to active duty can return to their jobs after service at the same pay and status level.

"When national guard and reservists are called to active duty, they should have the assurance that they can return to their same job and pay," said State Representative Tyler Olson of Cedar Rapids, one of the co-sponsors of the bill. "I’m proud that this bill is the first to come out of the Iowa House this year and veterans may more easily return to their lives."

The bill, House File 2065, was the first introduced this session and approved by the House Veterans Affairs Committee earlier this week. The new job security initiative would update Iowa’s law to protect the jobs of Iowa National Guard members and other armed forces reservists who are called to active duty.  The law will maintain the current misdemeanor penalty for employers who fail to provide soldiers their jobs back.

"After serving overseas, families and service members deserve some stability. I encourage any soldiers with questions about their job status to call for support," concluded Olson.

National guard or reserve members with questions about their job status after deployment are encouraged to call Tony Smithhart with Iowa Workforce Development at 515-281-9061 or Allan Enright with the Iowa Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve at 515-252-4192.

The bill now moves to the Senate.

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