WASHINGTON – The Honorable Thomas F. Hall, Assistant Secretary of Defense for Reserve Affairs, announced that Mr. Donald J. Borut, Executive Director of the National League of Cities (NLC), signed a Statement of Support for the National Guard and Reserve on September 17, 2008.     

The National League of Cities joins thousands of America’s employers in pledging: 

• To fully recognize, honor and enforce the Uniformed Services Employment and Re-Employment Rights Act (USERRA). 
• To assure that America’s cities and towns will have the tools they need to effectively manage city employees who serve in the Guard and Reserve.
• To continually recognize and support our country’s service members and their families in peace, in crises and in war.

“This is the right thing to do and the right time to do it,” said Hall. “City governments are one of the largest employer segments of National Guardsmen and Reservists in the country. I am asking all of America’s cities, towns and villages to re-affirm that their current human resources policies are a leading example of compliance with the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA).”

“The National League of Cities joins a cadre of Fortune 500 companies, national employer associations and federal government agencies in publicly demonstrating support for our armed forces,” added Secretary Hall.  “We urge the leaders of every city to join with Mr. Borut in signing a Statement of Support to publicly honor their employees who serve their communities and our nation in the National Guard and Reserve.”

"National Guardsmen and Reservists who are also city employees serve their country in two very important ways - their city jobs help keep America's hometowns running on day-to-day basis, and their military jobs support the safety and security of our nation as a whole, often in tumultuous times," said Borut.  "The National League of Cities commends city employers who support National Guardsmen and Reservists and encourages other cities to pledge their support for these important Americans."

The National League of Cities is the nation’s oldest and largest organization devoted to strengthening and promoting cities as centers of opportunity, leadership and governance. NLC is a resource and advocate for 19,000 cities, towns and villages, representing more than 218 million Americans.  For more information on the National League of Cities, visit www.nlc.org .

Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) is a Department of Defense agency established in 1972. The mission of ESGR is to gain and maintain employer support for Guard and Reserve service by recognizing outstanding support, increasing awareness of the law, and resolving conflicts through mediation. ESGR volunteers provide free education, consultation, and if necessary mediation for employers of Guard and Reserve employees.

As the 1.3 million members of the National Guard and Reserve continue to perform an increasing number of unique missions that require extraordinary actions on the part of everyday citizens, ESGR will continue to be the informational agency for the employers of citizen warriors. More information about ESGR Employer Outreach Programs and volunteer opportunities is available at www.esgr.mil or by contacting Tom Bullock, Chief of Employer Outreach, of the National ESGR Committee, at 703-696-1386, or email tom.bullock@osd.mil .
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