[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 173 (Thursday, December 13, 2001)]
[Senate]
[Pages S13147-S13148]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. DURBIN (for himself and Ms. Milulski):
  S. 1818. A bill to ensure that a Federal employee who takes leave 
without pay in order to perform service as a member of the uniformed 
services or member of the National Guard shall continue to receive pay 
and allowances such individual is receiving for such service, will be 
no less than the basic pay such individual would then be receiving if 
no interruption in employment has occurred; to the Committee on 
Government Affairs.

[[Page S13148]]

  Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, today I would like to discuss the 
financial burden faced by many of the men and women who serve in the 
military Reserves or National Guard and who are forced to take unpaid 
leave from their jobs when called to active duty. While these 
individuals receive pay for the time they are on active duty, it is 
often significantly less than what they receive in their normal jobs. 
It is unfair to ask the men and women who have volunteered to serve 
their country, often in dangerous situation, to also face a financial 
strain on their families.
  A number of employers have wisely acted to remedy this hardship by 
establishing a financial compensation plan for their employees in the 
Reserves or National Guard. In response to the recent terrorist attacks 
of September 11, the Netherlands-based ABN AMRO Bank N.V., one of the 
world's largest banks, has set up a special pay differential program to 
provide their employees in the Reserves and National Guard compensation 
equaling the income they would normally have to forfeit when called to 
active duty. LaSalle Bank, a subsidiary of ABN AMRO in Chicago, has 
already seen this program help 12 reservists in its ranks. The 
spokesperson for LaSalle described the program as something the company 
wanted to do ``to be supportive of the country's efforts''.
  Let us take similar action in Washington and set an example for 
employers throughout the country. Today, I am introducing with my 
colleague from Maryland Senator Barbara Mikulski, the Reservist Pay 
Security Act of 2001, legislation that will help alleviate the 
financial problems faced by many Federal employees who serve in the 
Reserves and must take time off from their jobs when called to active 
duty. This bill would allow these employees to maintain their normal 
salary when called to active service by requiring Federal agencies to 
make up the difference between their military pay and what they would 
have earned on their Federal job.
  As the symbol of American values and ideals, the Federal Government 
should give these special employees of our government more than just 
words of support. We should not encourage Americans to protect their 
country and then punish those who enlist in the armed forces by taking 
away a large segment of the salary. We must provide our reservist 
employees with financial support so that they can leave their civilian 
lives to serve in the military without worrying about the financial 
well-being of their families.
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