[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 89 (Thursday, June 24, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1228-E1229]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




INTRODUCTION OF H.R. 4659, USERRA HEALTH CARE COVERAGE EXTENSION ACT OF 
                                  2004

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. HENRY E. BROWN, JR.

                           of south carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 23, 2004

  Mr. BROWN of South Carolina. Mr. Speaker, as Chairman of the 
Subcommittee on Benefits of the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, I am 
pleased to introduce H.R. 4659, the ``USERRA Health Care Coverage 
Extension Act of 2004.'' I introduce this measure jointly with 
Representative Michael Michaud, ranking member of the Benefits 
Subcommittee.
  The bill would increase to 24 months, up from 18 months, the maximum 
period of employer-provided health care coverage that an employee 
covered by the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights 
Act (USERRA) may elect to continue to receive while mobilized as a 
reservist or Guard member. This legislation would also reinstate 
reporting requirements for the Department of Labor in consultation with 
the Office of Special Counsel and the Department of Justice on USERRA 
cases.
  Mr. Speaker, due to the technical nature of this bill, I have kept it 
in draft form until now. This approach has afforded the Committee on 
Veterans' Affairs the opportunity to take testimony on the bill, today 
in fact, as part of a hearing titled, ``Protecting the Rights of Those 
Who Protect Us: Public Sector Compliance with the Uniformed Services 
Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA) and Improvements to the 
Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA).'' I am grateful to Chairman 
Christopher Smith and ranking member Lane Evans for convening today's 
hearing because America has mobilized 387,986 reserve and Guard members 
in support of Operation

[[Page E1229]]

Noble Eagle, Operation Enduring Freedom, and Operation Iraqi Freedom. 
We need to continue to assist these selfless individuals. About 153,000 
of them are still mobilized.
  At today's hearing on the draft legislation, six Administration 
officials testified to the overall support of the bill. Craig Duehring, 
Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Reserve Affairs, 
stated in his testimony that, ``Increasing from 18 months to 24 months 
the maximum period of employer-provided health care plan coverage that 
an employee covered by USERRA may elect to continue is an important 
amendment that will align this coverage period with the length of time 
for which reservists can be mobilized under the current mobilization 
authority.''
  The extension of health care coverage will be especially helpful to 
federal government employees. Dan Blair, Deputy Director of the Office 
of Personnel Management, informed the Committee this morning that, 
``Last year, we asked agencies how much of the Federal Employees Health 
Benefits they pay for these reservists. I am pleased to report most 
agencies pay both shares. Of the 114 agencies surveyed, 96 pay the full 
premium.'' The ``full premium'' means the employer-employee share. The 
federal government needs to be the model employer when it comes to 
reserve and Guard members.
  With regard to reinstating the reporting requirements for the 
Department of Labor, Office of Special Counsel, and Department of 
Justice, all three supported this measure. In fact, Mr. Charles 
Ciccolella, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Veterans' Employment and 
Training at the Department of Labor, stated in his testimony that, ``In 
the past, the Department found this requirement to be useful.''
  With the documented support of the ``USERRA Health Care: Coverage 
Extension Act of 2004,'' I encourage my colleagues to add their names 
in support of this timely legislation.

                          ____________________