[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 88 (Tuesday, July 7, 1998)]
[Senate]
[Pages S7606-S7607]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




25TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE NATIONAL COMMITTEE FOR EMPLOYER SUPPORT OF THE 
                           GUARD AND RESERVE

 Mr. KEMPTHORNE. Mr. President, today I wish to congratulate 
the National Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve 
(NCESGR)--its 4,200 volunteers and DoD staff --marking 25 years of 
service to this Nation.
  The National Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve 
was established in 1972, the year the United States ended the Selective 
Service System and established an all-volunteer military force. The 
Department of Defense realized that a loss of support from employers 
and communities could be a roadblock to maintaining Reserve component 
membership. NCESGR was created to obtain employer and community support 
for the National Guard and Reserve and to promote the role of Reserve 
forces in the national defense.
  NCESGR has lived up to that task and accomplished much more. Since

[[Page S7607]]

1972, with the help of the Advertising Council, Inc., NCESGR has 
benefited from more than $591 million in pro bono advertising reaching 
the six million employers with one or more employees in the United 
States.
  Employers have, in turn, signed NCESGR Statements of Support, 
publicly committing to support the National Guard and Reserve. The 
former Chairman of the Board and CEO of General Motors, Mr. James H. 
Roche signed the first Statement of Support in the Office of the 
Secretary of Defense on December 13, 1972. The next day, President 
Richard Nixon signed a Statement of Support covering all Federal 
civilian employees. Since the inception of this program, Presidents 
Ford, Carter, Reagan, Bush and Clinton have all signed Statements of 
Support, along with hundreds of thousands of employers. To date, over 
300,000 employers have signed statements of support.
  NCESGR offers Ombudsman services designed to provide information to 
employers and Reservists regarding their rights and responsibilities 
under the law and to resolve conflicts through informal mediation. This 
program is operated in cooperation with the Department of Labor, which 
is responsible for conducting formal investigations. Hundreds of 
thousands of hours and dollars are saved through the use of community 
volunteers.
  Mr. President, the National Committee for Employer Support of the 
National Guard and Reserve is smart government in action. The small 
National Committee staff in Washington, DC, under the direction of the 
Assistant Secretary of Defense for Reserve Affairs, provides guidance 
and support to a network of 4,200 volunteer business, civic, and 
community leaders.
  These volunteers educate employers on their rights and obligations 
under the law and recognize employers who actively support employee 
participation in the National Guard and Reserve. Volunteers also 
educate members of the National Guard and Reserve regarding their 
rights and responsibilities and the value of employer support. 
Committees can be found in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, 
Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, and Guam.
  With the end of the Cold War, the Reserve components have been called 
upon with increasing frequency. During the Gulf War in 1990-91, more 
than 250,000 Reserve component members were called to active duty to 
support military operations in the Persian Gulf. Last year, National 
Guardsmen and Reservists contributed nearly 13 million mandays in 
support of Active duty operations and exercises.
  Mr. President, thousands of employers, local and State government 
officials, Active and Reserve component leaders, and military members 
from across the Nation and around the world request NCESGRs employer 
support expertise on a daily basis. When National Guardsmen and 
Reservists return home following mobilization, ESGR committee members 
are there to provide information and support services to those in need.
  The U.S. Congress passed the Uniformed Services Employment and 
Reemployment Rights Act, (USERRA) of 1994, and updated it in 1996. This 
law completely revised the Veterans Reemployment Rights Act of 1940. 
USERRA articulates the rights and responsibilities of the Reservist 
with regard to job protection and explains employer rights under 
federal law. NCESGR helps employers and Reservists understand this law 
and helps them informally resolve any employment conflicts that may 
arise.
  Mr. President, again, I want to congratulate NCESGR and its 54 ESGR 
committees on their 25 years of service and commend this network of 
over 4,200 volunteer patriots for their time and talent. They are 
serving their country and maintaining the much needed support of our 
employers and communities for the Guard and Reserve. Through the 
efforts of people like Mr. Robert J. Cameron, the State Chair of the 
Great State of Idaho, we can call on our Reserve forces to answer our 
Nations call without the fear of job loss. Thank you Mr. President, and 
thank you, NCESGR.

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