III

106TH CONGRESS

1ST SESSION S. RES. 227

Expressing the sense of the Senate in appreciation of the National Committee

for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve.

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

NOVEMBER 9, 1999

Mr. BOND (for himself, Mr. BRYAN, Mr. DEWINE, Mr. BINGAMAN, Mr. JOHNSON, Mr. KENNEDY, and Mr. ROCKEFELLER) submitted the following

resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Armed Services

RESOLUTION

Expressing the sense of the Senate in appreciation of the

National Committee for Employer Support of the Guard

and Reserve.

Whereas the National Committee for Employer Support of

the Guard and Reserve (NCESGR) was established by

Presidential proclamation issued in 1972;

Whereas national defense planners at that time, anticipating

the end of the draft under the Military Selective Service

Act, foresaw the potential that the Nation’s reserve component forces would be used increasingly to meet national

security requirements, that the operations of members’

civilian employers would be disrupted by that development, that employers accustomed to National Guard and

Reserve service being an alternative to compulsory active
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duty service would question the necessity for volunteer

participation in the Nation’s community-based defense

forces, and that the employers’ support for Guard and

Reserve service would erode;

Whereas, to counteract those potential problems, the National

Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve was chartered to develop public understanding of

the National Guard and Reserve forces and to enlist the

support of employers of members of the reserve components in the development of personnel policies and practices that encourage employee participation in National

Guard and Reserve programs;

Whereas, for over 25 years, the National Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve has informed

employers of the ever-increasing importance of the National Guard and Reserve, explaining to employers the

necessity for, and the role of, these forces in national defense;

Whereas there are over 4,200 Employer Support of the

Guard and Reserve (ESGR) volunteers from among the

business, civic, and community leaders in committees in

all 50 States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the

Virgin Islands, and Guam;

Whereas the ESGR volunteers carry out a variety of programs and services to inform communities and employers

about the vital role of the National Guard and Reserve;

Whereas ESGR volunteers honor with suitable recognition

the many employers who actively support employee participation in the National Guard and Reserve;

Whereas ESGR volunteers educate employers of members in

the National Guard and Reserve and those employees
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•SRES 227 IS

about the rights and obligations regarding military leave

that were established or reaffirmed by the Uniformed

Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of

1974;

Whereas, to underscore the important role of the National

Guard and Reserve in our national defense, the National

Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve developed the Statement of Support program under

which employers of members of the reserve components

are invited to declare their support for their employees’

participation in the National Guard and Reserve;

Whereas the first statement of support under the program

was signed by the Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of General Motors in the Office of the

Secretary of Defense on December 13, 1972;

Whereas the next day, President Richard Nixon signed a

statement of support covering all Federal civilian employees and, since then, Presidents Ford, Carter, Reagan,

Bush, and Clinton have all made the same commitment;

Whereas thousands of other employers nationwide have likewise signed statements of support for service of their employees in the reserve components;

Whereas nearly 50 percent of America’s total military might

is composed of National Guard and Reserve component

members;

Whereas despite the ending of the Cold War in 1989, the

military commitments of the United States have not diminished;

Whereas the Nation’s reserve components are being called

upon more than ever before to contribute to the protec-
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tion of our national security interests and are critical

contributors to that mission;

Whereas, during the Persian Gulf War in 1990 and 1991,

more than 260,000 Reserves were called to active duty to

support military operations in the Persian Gulf region;

Whereas National Guard and Reserve members contribute

over 13,000,000 duty days yearly in support of military

operations and exercises worldwide, which is a rate of

duty that is 13 times greater than the rate of duty experienced during the Cold War; and

Whereas employers, public officials, military leaders, and

military members rely on the National Committee for

Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve to promote

public and private understanding of the National Guard

and Reserve in order to obtain the employer and community support that is necessary to ensure the availability

and readiness of reserve component forces: Now, therefore, be it

1 Resolved, That—

2 (1) it is the sense of the Senate that the Na3 tional Committee for Employer Support of the

4 Guard and Reserve makes vital contributions to ena5 bling the National Guard and Reserve to support the

6 national security strategy while, at the same time,

7 acting on behalf of the Nation’s employers to ensure

8 that their interests are represented with equity and

9 fairness; and

10 (2) the Senate congratulates the National Com11 mittee for Employer Support of the Guard and Re-
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1 serve, its staff, and volunteers for their commitment

2 to our national defense, for their contribution of

3 time and talent, and for maintaining the much need4 ed support of employers and communities for the

5 National Guard and Reserve.

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