SENATOR KENNEDY HOLDS HEARING ON VETERANS’ EMPLOYMENT RIGHTS Addresses guarantees of the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act

WASHINGTON, DC— At 10:30am tomorrow, Thursday, November 8th, 2007, Senator Edward M. Kennedy, Chairman of the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, will hold a hearing on protecting the employment rights of veterans. The hearing will address reemployment problems service members face when they return from their tour of duty, including rights guaranteed by the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA). The hearing will also present important data collected by the Department of Defense, but not made public, demonstrating that significant numbers of veterans experience difficulties in reentering the workforce and in having their reemployment rights enforced by government agencies. WHAT: Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee hearing on veterans’ employment WHEN:10:30am tomorrow, Thursday, November 8th, 2007 WHO: Senate Heath, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee Witnesses: Panel I Charles S. Ciccolella, Assistant Secretary for the Veterans’ Employment and Training Service, Department of Labor, Washington, DC L. Gordon Sumner, Ph.D., Executive Director, National Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve, Arlington, VA Scott Bloch, Special Counsel, U.S. Office of Special Counsel, Washington, DC WHERE: Brenda Farrell, Director of Military and Civilian Personnel Issues in the Defense Capabilities and Management Team, Government Accountability Office, Washington, DC Panel IILieutenant General Dennis M. McCarthy, National Executive Director, Reserve Officers Association, Washington, DC Lieutenant Colonel Steve Duarte, US Marine Corps, Centennial, Colorado Major Tammy Duckworth, Director, Illinois Department of Veterans’ Affairs, Springfield, IllinoisRichard Halbrook, Executive Vice President, Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group, Inc., Tulsa, OklahomaDirksen Senate Office Building, Room 430 ###