[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 157 (Tuesday, November 9, 1999)]
[Senate]
[Pages S14425-S14426]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     SENATE RESOLUTION 227--EXPRESSING THE SENSE OF THE SENATE IN 
  APPRECIATION OF THE NATIONAL COMMITTEE FOR EMPLOYER SUPPORT OF THE 
                           GUARD AND RESERVE

  Mr. BOND (for himself, Mr. Bryan, Mr. Bingaman, Mr. Johnson, Mr. 
Kennedy, and Mr. Rockefeller) submitted the following resolution; which 
was referred to the Committee on Armed Services:

                              S. Res. 227

       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 
     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;

[[Page S14426]]

       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 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 protection 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
       Resolved, That--
       (1) it is the sense of the Senate that the National 
     Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve makes 
     vital contributions to enabling the National Guard and 
     Reserve to support the national security strategy while, at 
     the same time, acting on behalf of the Nation's employers to 
     ensure that their interests are represented with equity and 
     fairness; and
       (2) the Senate congratulates the National Committee for 
     Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve, its staff, and 
     volunteers for their commitment to our national defense, for 
     their contribution of time and talent, and for maintaining 
     the much needed support of employers and communities for the 
     National Guard and Reserve.

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