FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 30, 2004

CONTACT: Geoffrey Collver @ 202/225-9756

 

 

 

 

 

 

                   http://veterans.house.gov/democratic/welcome.htm

 

EVANS BLASTS LABOR DEPARTMENT’S
PROPOSED OVERTIME REGULATIONS 

Bush Administration’s New Rules
Punish Some Veterans for their Service to America 

Washington, D.C. – Congressman Lane Evans (D-IL) Ranking Democrat on the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee, joined by Congressman Ike Skelton (D-MO), Ranking Member on the House Armed Services Committee, today sent a sharply worded letter to Secretary of Labor Elaine Chao challenging the Bush Administration’s plan to curtail overtime pay eligibility for veterans and servicemembers who received certain training during their military service.  

“These regulations send the wrong message to our veterans working in the civilian labor force, as well as the men and women currently serving in the armed forces today,” Evans said.  “The skills and training acquired in military service should be welcomed by employers and the Bush Administration, not used as an underhanded means to cut workers’ pay.”  

The Labor Department’s proposed regulations would make it easier for employers to exempt veterans from overtime pay because of training received in the armed forces.  Currently, such training is not included in determining eligibility for overtime pay.   

“The men and women who serve in defense of this Nation sacrifice a great deal; they should not be penalized financially upon their return to civilian employment,” Evans said.  “The Bush Administration should be concentrating on creating new jobs, not cutting hard-earned pay of those lucky enough to have jobs,” Evans continued.

Evans and Skelton sent the letter to express their concern and to urge the Secretary of Labor to immediately modify the proposed regulations.                                                 

***Attached below is the letter Congressmen Lane Evans and Ike Skelton sent to Secretary of Labor, Elaine Chao ***

 

January 30, 2004 

Honorable Elaine L. Chao
Secretary of Labor
200 Constitution Ave., NW
Washington, DC  20210 

Dear Secretary Chao: 

We are writing to express our very serious concerns about the Department of Labor’s (DOL) proposed regulations, which appear to deny overtime protection to military veterans who received certain training in the armed forces.  It is unconscionable that the men and women who have faithfully served this country in uniform should have to worry about losing their right to overtime pay simply because they acquired a unique set of skills while in the armed forces.   

We strongly urge you to immediately modify the regulations to ensure that training received during military service will not be used to exempt employees from receiving their hard-earned overtime pay.  

The proposed regulations send the wrong message to our current military forces – Active Duty and Reserve – now serving in Iraq, Afghanistan and around the globe.  The unique skills, training and experiences a servicemember receives in the armed forces should be applauded and welcomed by employers, not used as means to cut their pay.                                    

Not only do we find these proposed regulations to be an insult to all of the men and women who have sacrificed in defense of this country but the proposed regulations could also have serious negative consequences for the armed forces’ recruitment ability.  The skills and training individuals receive in the armed forces have traditionally provided veterans with increased career opportunities.  These proposed regulations jeopardize this long-standing recruitment incentive.    

Moreover, the traditional overtime pay rules form the basis of the 40-hour week.  Without these protections, employers could demand longer work hours from employees without adequately and fairly compensating them.  Our veterans who were not highly paid during their military service stand to be further financially penalized by exempting them from payment for overtime upon their return to civilian employment.  They and their families have made enough financial sacrifices for this country and most certainly should not be punished for it. 

Madame Secretary, we stand ready to work with you to improve the proposed overtime regulations.  However, we will not yield in our efforts to protect veterans and provide them and their families all the benefits they have earned through their service to the Nation. 

Sincerely,               

LANE EVANS                                                                         IKE SKELTON
Ranking Democratic Member                                                    Ranking Democratic Member   
Committee on Veterans Affairs                                                  Committee on Armed Services