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Monday, March 30, 2009

03/30/09 When It Comes To News About Affordable Housing In Greenwich: The Greenwich Time Follows Greenwich Roundup And The New York Times

Critics question towns stance on affordable housing
Greenwich Time


Affordable housing advocates Monday challenged the town's claim that it has complied with a 20-year-old agreement with the state stipulating it would build two dozen affordable housing units in exchange for acquiring the Cos Cob Power Plant property....


Finally The Greenwich Time Starts Listening
To Affordable Housing Advocates
Who Would Like To See ....
More Units For Police Officers,
Fire Fighters, Teachers, Nurses, EMS
And Other Working Families In Greenwich

....Barry Nova, who sat on the Greenwich Housing Authority's board for 10 years, said he felt the town should be ashamed of itself.

"They are trying to weasel their way out of a 20-year commitment and frankly, it's quite obvious," said Nova, alleging that the three projects the town claims to have helped fund were using federal grant money, not its own.

"How the town can say they have satisfied the commitment by making available no land and no money is the most creative thing I've heard lately," said Nova.....



Maybe They Should Stop Calling It Affordable Housing
And Start Refering To It As Work Force Housing



It Is A Shame That You Have Greenwich Police Officers That
Can't Afford To Live In The Town They Serve

....Greenwich resident and Housing Authority commissioner Bernadette Settelmeyer ..... said she brought the issue back into focus in order to give a voice to those who need affordable housing in Greenwich......

...."This is unfair," said Settelmeyer. "It's not up to the town to have the final say. It's up to the state. It was an obligation to the state."......


PLEASE SEE:




If You Want To Know What's Really Going On In Greenwich
You Have Got To Read The Out Of Town Newspapers......


New York Times


By LISA PREVOST


TWENTY-TWO years ago, the town of Greenwich struck a sweet deal with the state. The town persuaded the Department of Transportation to transfer ownership of a nine-acre power plant site on the Cos Cob shore of the Mianus River for $1 and some promises.

An affluent community, Greenwich pledged to use 75 percent of the land for open space that was accessible to residents and nonresidents alike. The remaining 25 percent was to be reserved for housing for low-to-moderate-income persons.

Two decades later, after demolition of the plant and removal of soil contaminants, Greenwich residents are finally contemplating development of the waterfront site into a public park and recreation area. Amid debates over details of the park, however, a solitary voice has raised an uncomfortable question: What about the affordable housing?

In January, during a hearing of the planning and zoning commission on the park proposal, Bernadette Settelmeyer, a resident who serves on the Greenwich Housing Authority, caused a stir when she raised the subject of the housing commitment and requested that a proposal to meet that requirement be made part of the park plan. The matter has since wound up in the hands of the town attorney, who is looking into whether the town still has such an obligation.
Reader Points Out Greenwich Roundup Mistake
Brian,

You are right about the housing issue, but wrong about the “P and Z trying to pull a fast one”. The responsibility for honoring the town’s obligation under the deed to sale for the power plant to provide 24 units of housing belongs solely with the First Selectman. P and Z cannot legally condition site plan approval on this, as our brief is only with land use, not Town obligations


Dave Thompson from DPW, who is presenting the case for the power plant in front of P and Z, said in a public meeting that the Law Department was trying to prove a case that says that the obligation has already been met. He said that the position of the First Selectman as he understood it was that 24 units have been created since 1997 through requirements of site plan approval, one or two accessory apartments created by property owners in town, a couple of new units built by the housing authority, all totaling up to 24.

As a sitting Commissioner on the Power Plant vote, I won’t make my own opinions known, but I thought that the facts should be known

Many thanks,
Frank A. Farricker
Cos Cob


THE HEADLINES:


No Affordable Housing For Police Officers, Fire Fighters, Teachers, Nurses Or EMS

Greenwich Resident Bernadette Settelmeyer Caught The Planning and Zoning Commission Trying To Pull A Fast One

THE QUOTE:

"We are looking at the history of it, the language of it," says Greenwich Town Attorney Wayne Fox

HERE IS SOME MORE INFORMATION
ON WORKFORCE HOUSING:

Workforce housing - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Workforce housing is a relatively new term that is increasingly popular among planners, government administrators and housing activists, and is gaining cachet with home builders, developers and lenders. Workforce housing can refer to almost any housing, but always refers to affordable housing......


Affordability
Based on criteria set by mortgage lenders, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) concludes that no more than 30% of household income should be allocated to housing Principal, Interest, Taxes and Insurance (PITI). Typically, pricing calculations that define workforce housing use 30% of household income as the maximum threshold of affordability.


Home ownership
Most appropriately, workforce housing connotes single-family detached homes for sale at prices that workforce families can afford. Obviously, workforce families often seek alternative housing opportunities in rental apartments and rental homes, town homes, condominiums, co-ops and shared housing, including subsidized housing. The most appropriate and socially valuable definition of workforce housing connotes fee-simple ownership of single-family homes with yards, one of the least efficient but perhaps the most personally satisfying land use forms.


Critical workforce
Most appropriately, "workforce housing" connotes housing intended to appeal gainfully employed, essential workers in the community, i.e. police officers, firemen, teachers, nurses and medical technicians, office workers, etc. Workforce families are generally younger and often include or plan to include children.


Workforce housing, then, implies a subjective change in awareness of a widespread social condition that has been referred to generally by terms such as affordable housing......

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03/30/09 RECESSION BUSTER: Save Seventy Five Cents ..... Read Tomorrows Greenwich Time Tonight

Father and daughter attend trial's opening
Greenwich orthodontist Albert Repicci and his daughter Kelly are attending the genocide trial of former Khmer Rouge official Kaing Guek Eav as observers....

Herring return to Mianus Fishway
Michael Aurelia leans forward and scoops up a lone herring from the Mianus River fish ladder in Cos Cob.....

Bridge project to require traffic detour
Residents of northwest Greenwich should prepare for detours, with a portion of Porchuck Road shutting down Wednesday for a bridge replacement expected to take at least eight months.
Gas company asks judge to throw out lawsuit claims
Lawyers for Connecticut Natural Gas asked a Superior court judge Monday to throw out claims that the company was reckless as alleged in a lawsuit filed by a town firefighter injured in a 2003 fire on Davis Avenue.....

Get in the swing before heading to the golf course
By Beth Cooney
Elise Swanton of Greenwich loved golf, but not the way her hips ached after a day on the course. Those pains were keeping the Pilates .....

Greenwich Academy lacrosse ties Scarsdale in opener
By Rob Kelley
Greenwich Academy's Jackie Klauberg (19) gets a stick to the face from Scarsdale's Margaret Souther during Monday's 15-15 tie. ...


PLEASE SEE:

03/30/09 Greenwich Roundup Hates To Say He Told You So ... But The The Wednesday Copy Of The Greenwich Time Will Cost You 75 Cents !!!!!


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03/30/09 Breaking News The Greenwich Time Finally Reports On A Story That Has Been Featured Over And Over At Greenwich Roundup

Amy Guerrieri: "This is right in our backyard. If every community took a county, we could solve this problem."

Town woman looks to make a difference in Appalachia
Greenwich Time


Businesswoman Amy Guerrieri recently became inspired when watching a network television report on children living in extreme poverty in central Appalachia.

A few weeks later, Guerrieri made her own trip to Kentucky, along with 11 trucks full of school supplies, books, diapers and other items donated by local schools, businesses and residents.....

......Guerrieri also sent 4,000 bottles of vitamin-infused water from Rockin' Water, a company she recently founded with her husband Robert. The idea behind Rockin' Water is to give kids a drink with healthy ingredients to make up for what they aren't eating. In Central Appalachia, many children don't have anything to eat for breakfast, said Guerrieri, a mother of four who also co-owns Upper Crust Bagels in Old Greenwich and Rye, as well as LexZee Catering and Arcadia Coffee.

"I felt that my product could make a difference," Guerrieri said.....

If You Want To Get Noticed
Send Your Press Releases To
Greenwich Roundup


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03/30/09 The Noel's are not like you and me -- Or -- The greedy will always be with us. ...


Andres Piedrahita, Another One Of Walter Noel's Family Members To Find Odious

The Charming Mr. Piedrahita Finds Himself Caught in the Madoff Storm
Wall Street Journal


Andrés Piedrahita's job title for the past two years was managing partner of Fairfield Greenwich Group, the hedge fund that lost $6.9 billion to Bernard Madoff's pyramid scheme. But Mr. Piedrahita's real job, he once told a friend, was "to live better than any of my clients."


With an apartment in Manhattan and a mansion in London, and then in Madrid, a butler, a chauffeured car and a private jet, he did just that. The Colombian threw lavish parties, assembled an impressive art collection and held court from his Falcon yacht anchored off the Spanish island resort of Mallorca, where he has a hacienda. Friends he entertained included the Duke of Marlborough and Prince Felipe, the heir to Spain's throne, and top models like Elle Macpherson.


"I've never seen anybody live like him and spend like him, and I know billionaires who are 10 times wealthier than he is," says Fernando Botero, the son of the Colombian artist of the same name. "His job was to live grand."


Married since 1989 to Corina Noel, the daughter of Fairfield Greenwich founder Walter Noel, Mr. Piedrahita was one of four of the five Noel sons-in-law to work in the family business. But his outstanding public-relations skills set him apart from the others. Analysts say Mr. Piedrahita, 50 years old, played a key role in expanding the reach of the Madoff fraud by wooing wealthy Latin Americans and Europeans to invest in Fairfield Greenwich, which had about half its assets with Mr. Madoff.


....Now, with the collapse of Mr. Madoff's $50 billion scheme, Mr. Piedrahita finds himself in a legal and financial storm. Spanish anticorruption prosecutors are investigating Fairfield Greenwich as well as Mr. Piedrahita to determine what they knew about Mr. Madoff's fraudulent funds when they sold them to Spanish clients. Mr. Piedrahita and Fairfield Greenwich are the targets of at least three class-action suits filed by angry investors in U.S. who say the company and its directors were grossly negligent in investing their money with Mr. Madoff.....


.....After graduating from B.U., Mr. Piedrahita knocked around New York working variously as a commodities broker, selling penny stocks and as an investment adviser. His budding financial career was almost clipped in the early 1980s. At the time, Mr. Piedrahita, who was working for a small commodities dealer then called Balfour Maclaine, got a number of his father's Bogota friends interested in investments that quickly went south. Many of his investors "stayed quiet and lost their money with dignity," says one of the investors. "They valued their friendship with the father over their investment." Balfour, now called Balmac International Inc., declined to comment......


....But one investor didn't. He says he asked Mr. Piedrahita frequently for information on how his investment was doing. Mr. Piedrahita avoided the issue, even claiming on one visit to Bogota from New York that he had forgotten to bring along the client's accounts. Growing suspicious, the client says he hopped a plane to Manhattan, went to Mr. Piedrahita's office and confronted his boss, asking for the information Mr. Piedrahita had avoided providing. "It was catastrophic," the client says, remembering the state of his account.

Bottom line: Mr. Piedrahita lost his job, says the client, who recovered all his money......


.....Friends say Mr. Piedrahita settled down after his marriage to Ms. Noel. He merged Littlestone with Fairfield Greenwich in 1997. Shortly after, he moved to London to a mansion on Chester Square. He entertained lavishly. One friend remembers a dinner party flush with English dukes and members of European royal houses. "The only dukes not there were the Dukes of Hazzard," ....


.....Just days before the Madoff collapse, Mr. Piedrahita was trying to sell a fund called Fairfield Sentry whose assets were managed by Mr. Madoff, to friends and acquaintances, says Martin Varsavsky, an Argentine businessman who lives in Madrid and says he was approached by Mr. Piedrahita. "I didn't invest because neither Andrés nor anyone else could explain to me how that fund worked," says Mr. Varsavsky.......


"I look at myself in the morning, and I'm very proud of what I have done, and so are my partners," says Mr. Piedrahita


The Noel's and the Piedrahita's are not like you and me


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03/30/09 What About Greenwich? .... Old Greenwich Resident Fight I-(5 Tolls In Rhode Island

Tolls are EZ, but are they illegal? Woman says 'Yes'
Newport This Week

NEWPORT — A Connecticut woman has filed a lawsuit in United States District Court alleging that the Rhode Island Turnpike and Bridge Authority’s new toll structure is unconstitutional.

The class action lawsuit, filed by Old Greenwich, Conn. resident Isabel S. Cohen and unnamed co-plaintiffs, is the first legal challenge to the authority’s toll structure and newly-instituted EZ-Pass automated toll collection system. Ms. Cohen, who alleges that higher tolls for out-of-state residents violate the United States Constitution on several fronts, is seeking the court’s acknowledgement that the rate structure is unconstitutional. She also seeks financial awards and concessions from the state. But in a statement released Monday in response to the lawsuit, RITBA chairman David Darlington said he believes the authority’s rate structure is on solid legal footing.

.....Ms. Cohen did not return a telephone call seeking comment Monday. But in a 22-page complaint filed in U.S. District Court Friday, March 27, her attorneys argue that the new rate structure unfairly targets out-of-state EZ-Pass customers, who pay tolls ranging from 91 cents to $1.75 per bridge pass. Rhode Islanders who use the EZ-Pass system pay 83 cents per bridge crossing. Those without EZ-Pass transponders pay $2 per crossing, regardless of whether they live in Rhode Island or not.....
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03/30/09 If You Want The Latest Greenwich News Read The Connecticut Post -- Town Of Fairfield Is Comming After Walter Feeder Fund" Noel's House

From Golden In Greenwich To Homeless In Greenwich

Fairfield Greenwich Victims Are Getting More Aggressive

Town Of Fairfield Tells Judge That: There is a reasonable likelihood that Walter M. Noel Jr. is about to remove themselves or their property from this state, or are about to fraudulently dispose of or have fraudulently disposed of their property, with intent to hinder, delay or defraud their creditors.

Town seeks $75M judgment from Madoff, kin
Connecticut Post

By Genevieve Reilly

FAIRFIELD


The town's pension programs have been granted a temporary restraining order barring imprisoned Wall Street financier Bernard Madoff -- along with his family and investment firms that fed his massive Ponzi scheme -- from disposing of their assets, including several homes in Greenwich, as security for claims of up to $75 million for their losses in in his collapsed fund.

In what legal observers say is an unusual step, Judge Arthur Hiller granted the ex-parte motion Monday afternoon and scheduled a hearing for 9 a.m. April 13 in Bridgeport Superior Court to consider a permanent order.

The town is seeking to recoup its pension fund investment, which had grown to a value of $42 million last November, that was lost in the elaborate swindle orchestrated by Madoff, who federal prosecutors say bilked clients around the world of billions of dollars....


Failed Greenwich Time Managing Editor
Bruce Hunter Apperntly Has No Idea That
The Town Of Fairfield Is Going After
Greenwich Resident Walter "Feeder Fund" Noels
Multi-Million Dollar House

.....The motion, filed by David Golub, a lawyer hired by the town for the Madoff case, states there is probable cause the town's pension programs could receive a $75 million judgment and seeks to secure that sum by attaching Andrew Madoff's home at 57 Tomac Ave., Mark Madoff's home at 21 Cherry Valley Road, and Noel's at 175 Round Hill Road home, all in Greenwich, as well as garnish all of the defendants' accounts at financial institutions.

"There is a reasonable likelihood that the defendants Andrew H. Madoff, Mark D. Madoff and Walter M. Noel Jr. are about to remove themselves or their property from this state, or are about to fraudulently dispose of or have fraudulently disposed of their property, with intent to hinder, delay or defraud their creditors," the motion states.......

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03/30/09 Renaissance Capital of Greenwich Reports That there is only one initial public offering planned for the coming week


IPOs / Week of March 30




Changyou.com Ltd.


Beijing, China, 7.5 million American depositary shares, each representing 2 class A ordinary shares, priced $14 to $16, managed by Credit Suisse and Merrill Lynch. Proposed Nasdaq symbol CYOU. Business: A leading online game developer and operator in China





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03/30/09 The Raw Greenwich Evening News Feed (Updated)



If You Want To Know What's Going On In Greenwich You Have Got To Read The Out Of Town Newspapers.....



Chronicling the lives of your youngsters
The Hour

The book is available for $28.95 on Covello's Web site, http://www.frittabello.com and at two retailers, Splurge in Greenwich and Twinkletoes in Rye, ...


Stamford man rows Atlantic Ocean
Norwalk Advocate

Chris McNickle, a friend who works with Paul at the financial services consulting firm Greenwich Associates, was in Antigua Sunday to escort him the final ...





‘Momoirs’ probes mother-daughter bond
Norwalk Plus Magazine
The love and pain of the mother-child relationship are illuminated by “Momoirs: The Umbilical Cord Stops Here!”, an original stage production with a performance May 2 (Saturday) at 7 p.m. at the First Congregational Church (108 Sound Beach Ave.) in Old Greenwich to benefit the Stamford Counseling Center.


Lincoln Eschews Government Cheese, Gets Shot
Forbes



Lincoln National Corp. (nyse: LNC - news - people ):The insurance and investment management company has seen its shares dive downward by more than 37%, to $6.46, after it reportedly withdrew its application for funding guarantees from the U.S. government

Andrew Wilkinson is senior market analyst at Greenwich, Conn-based Interactive Brokers. Reach him via e-mail: ibanalyst@interactivebrokers.com .


Rail freight tunnel gathers steam
Stamford Advocate

... Jersey and New York should be prioritized for its promise to move millions of tons of freight off trucks and onto rail cars, said Himes, D-Greenwich. ...



Camuto Group Bullish On New Shoe License
Women's Wear Daily

NEW YORK — Following the announcement last week that Greenwich, Conn.-based Camuto Group signed a multiyear licensing agreement for Kensiegirl ...



Greenwich Dollars not worth the paper they are printed on
Stamford Advocate
By Lisa Chamoff
GREENWICH -- A dollar ain't what it used to be, but now it's certainly worth more than the Greenwich Dollar. The Greenwich Chamber of ...

PLEASE SEE:
....young Kerrin Kinnear (whose name is consistently misspelled by the equally worthless Local Rag, aka Yellowwich Time) won $75 of Greenwich Dollars in an essay contest. When she took them to Wish List on Greenwich Avenue to buy some clothes, she was told by the store manager, Ashley Kane, to suck eggs. Well, maybe not in those exact words, but basically Kerrin's mother, Jill, had to come up with the scratch for the threads......
......The Greenwich Chamber of Commerce's logo is prominently plastered at the top left corner of these rubber checks. But will Mary Ann Morrison, the overpriced "CEO" of the GCC, do anything about it? Probably not. She's too busy trying to find more tacky national chain stores to come and take a bath on Greenwich Avenue, now that she has helped to drive out the local businesses that used to thrive here.
For years your scribe has watched as Morrison has browbeat local businesses into joining her organization. More than one manager has told him that he paid the annual dues only after hearing threats of negative PR from her and her minions.

Frankly, your scribe would love to be bad-mouthed by Mary Ann and her ilk; it would mean he must be doing something right.
Do you remember the Greenwich Sidewalk Sales Days, dear reader? Time was when they were a happy street fest all up and down the Avenue. Then the Chamber of Commerce took over, charging a hefty fee to participate. Fewer stores participated. Some who dared to hold their own sidewalk sales were issued "bills" by Mary Ann for the participation fee.Whether they allowed themselves to be browbeaten into paying these specious assessments, your scribe does not know.
Had he had a storefront on Greenwich Avenue, he would have told Mary Ann to go suck eggs....
......The next time you walk down Greenwich Avenue, dear reader, know that you can thank Mary Ann and the CGG for all the empty storefronts and parking places. If you look hard enough, you will even see the GCC logo on some of the empty windows.
The same logo that is on the worthless checks, by the way.
If your scribe had been so foolish or unlucky ever to have had one of these Greenwich Dollars, and still be carrying it in his wallet, he would be at the courthouse right now filing suit against Mary Ann and the Greenwich Chamber of Commerce. They promoted these fraudulent checks, and their logo is right there in living color......
.....Here is a novel suggestion, dear reader: let us all begin to boycott stores bearing the Chamber of Commerce logo until such time as Mary Ann gives Kerrin Kinnear her money back.....

Thumbs up, thumbs down
Stamford Advocate

This branch of Greenwich Library is a cherished neighborhood institution. And not only is it back, it's beautiful; nearly twice its original size with an ...

PLEASE SEE:
Friday
Following more than two years of construction, the Byram Shubert Library, a branch of Greenwich Library, was issued a temporary certificate of occupancy today and will officially open for business tomorrow, Saturday, March 28, at 9 a.m. ....
COMMENT:

Once Again Failed Hearst Newspaper Managing Editor
Bruce Hunter Has Dropped The Ball.

The Greenwich Time Website Is Always
Getting Scooped By The Greenwich Post.

Let's See How Long It Takes The Green Kitty Liner
To Report That The Long Delayed Byram Shubert Libray
Is Opening In Less Than 18 Hours.
UPDATE:

March, 28th
12:16 AM

The Pokey Greenwich Time Finally Shows Up
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03/30/09 This Just In .... Greenwich Roundup's Youngest Son Gero Is The Founder And President Of The New Veteran's Club At Norwalk Community College

The Norwalk Community College Student Government Voted Unanimously To Approve A Greenwich Residents Request To Support And Fund The Veterans Club That Came Into Being This Year.

Last Veterans Day Lt. Governor Michael Fedele Pined Another Medal On Gero, Who Also Was Awarded The Bronze Star In Iraq.
After Veteran's Day, Norwalk Community College Established An Area In The New Student Center Just For Veterans.

Patriotic Connecticut Residents Have Donated Money To Norwalk Community College To Support The Veterans.

Greenwich Roundup's Korean American Son Has Repeatedly Instructed Greenwich Roundup Not To Put This News Up Him Here At This Blog.

But Greenwich Roundup Needed To Mentioned This Here, Because Of How Police Officers Are Being Punished And Dishonored In This Greenwich High School Grads Hometown.

However, Greenwich Roundup Wont Mention How Gero Survived 3 IED Attacks, Earned 11 other Military Commedations In One Tour In Iraq, Recieved A Letter Of Recommendation Form A Colonel.

Nor Will Greenwich Roundup Mention How Gero Has Been On The Honor Roll Every Single College Semester, Was Invited And Accepted Induction Into Norwalk Community Colleges Honor Society - Phi Theta Kappa And Is Working His Way Through School.

But Greenwich Roundup Would Like To Ask Greenwich Residents How Do You Think This Greenwich Patriot Feels When He Hears That ....

Greenwich Police Chief David Ridberg Has Decided To
Illegally Discriminate Against Town Police Officers Who
President Bush Ordered To Go Overseas To Protect And Defend
The American Way Of Life We Enjoy.

At Any Moment, President Obama Could Order Gero And These Greenwich Police Officers To Leave Their Families And Mobilize To Afghanistan Or Any Other Trouble Spot In The World.

But Greenwich Police Chief David Ridberg Is Willing To Waste The Money Of Greenwich Taxpayers In A Boneheaded Effort To Penalize Greenwich Police Officers Who Put Their Lives On The Line To Protect And Defend The Constitution Of The United States Of America.

Instead Of Honoring These Greenwich Police Officers On Memorial Day Greenwich Police Chief David Ridberg Has Town Attorney John Wayne Fox Going To Federal Court Trying To Prevent These Patriots From Taking Promotional Tests, Because They Served One Tour In A Combat Zone.

Greenwich Roundup Has Only One Thing To Say To
Greenwich Police Chief David Ridberg
And Town Attorney John Wayne Fox .....

Lets Protect The Rights Of These Greenwich Police Officers
Just As They Have Protected Our Rights

Shame, Shame, Shame .... On Any Greenwich Official That Fails To Protect The Civil Rights Of Any Service Member's Employment Rights.
Ridberg Needs To Make A Place At The Greenwich Police Department Testing Table For The Police Officers Who Were Ordered To Go To War

It Is Time For Greenwich Police Chief David Ridberg
To Start Enforcing The Law.



UNIFORMED SERVICES EMPLOYMENT
AND
REEMPLOYMENT RIGHTS ACT OF 1994
USERRA is a federal statute that protects servicemembers’ and veterans’ civilian employment rights. Among other things, under certain conditions, USERRA requires employers to put individuals back to work in their civilian jobs after military service. USERRA also protects servicemembers from discrimination in the workplace based on their military service or affiliation.
SUBCHAPTER I--GENERAL

§ 4301. Purposes; sense of Congress
(a) The purposes of this chapter are--
(1) to encourage noncareer service in the uniformed services by eliminating or minimizing the disadvantages to civilian careers and employment which can result from such service;
(2) to minimize the disruption to the lives of persons performing service in the uniformed services as well as to their employers, their fellow employees, and their communities, by providing for the prompt reemployment of such persons upon their completion of such service; and
(3) to prohibit discrimination against persons because of their service in the uniformed services.
(b) It is the sense of Congress that the Federal Government should be a model employer in carrying out the provisions of this chapter.
§ 4302. Relation to other law and plans or agreements
(a) Nothing in this chapter shall supersede, nullify or diminish any Federal or State law (including any local law or ordinance), contract, agreement, policy, plan, practice, or other matter that establishes a right or benefit that is more beneficial to, or is in addition to, a right or benefit provided for such person in this chapter.
(b) This chapter supersedes any State law (including any local law or ordinance), contract, agreement, policy, plan, practice, or other matter that reduces, limits, or eliminates in any manner any right or benefit provided by this chapter, including the establishment of additional prerequisites to the exercise of any such right or the receipt of any such benefit.
§ 4303. Definitions
For the purposes of this chapter--
(1) The term 'Attorney General' means the Attorney General of the United States or any person designated by the Attorney General to carry out a responsibility of the Attorney General under this chapter.
(2) The term 'benefit', 'benefit of employment', or 'rights and benefits' means any advantage, profit, privilege, gain, status, account, or interest (other than wages or salary for work performed) that accrues by reason of an employment contract or agreement or an employer policy, plan, or practice and includes rights and benefits under a pension plan, a health plan, an employee stock ownership plan, insurance coverage and awards, bonuses, severance pay, supplemental unemployment benefits, vacations, and the opportunity to select work hours or location of employment.
(3) The term 'employee' means any person employed by an employer. Such term includes any person who is a citizen, national or permanent resident alien of the United States employed in a workplace in a foreign country by an employer that is an entity incorporated or otherwise organized in the United States or that is controlled by an entity organized in the United States, within the meaning of Section 4319(c) of this title.
(4)(A) Except as provided in subparagraphs (B) and (C), the term 'employer' means any person, institution, organization, or other entity that pays salary or wages for work performed or that has control over employment opportunities, including--
(I) a person, institution, organization, or other entity to whom the employer has delegated the performance of employment-related responsibilities;
(ii) the Federal Government;
(iii) a State;
(iv) any successor in interest to a person, institution, organization, or other entity referred to in this subparagraph; and
(v) a person, institution, organization, or other entity that has denied initial employment in violation of section 4311.
(B) In the case of a National Guard technician employed under section 709 of title 32, the term 'employer' means the adjutant general of the State in which the technician is employed.
(C) Except as an actual employer of employees, an employee pension benefit plan described in section 3(2) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (29 U.S.C.
1002(2)) shall be deemed to be an employer only with respect to the obligation to provide benefits described in section 4318.
(5) The term 'Federal executive agency' includes the United States Postal Service, the Postal Rate Commission, any nonappropriated fund instrumentality of the United States, any Executive agency (as that term is defined in section 105 of title 5) other than an agency referred to in section 2302(a)(2)(C)(ii) of title 5, and any military department (as that term is defined in section 102 of title 5) with respect to the civilian employees of that department.
(6) The term 'Federal Government' includes any Federal executive agency, the legislative branch of the United States, and the judicial branch of the United States.
(7) The term 'health plan' means an insurance policy or contract, medical or hospital service agreement, membership or subscription contract, or other arrangement under which health services for individuals are provided or the expenses of such services are paid.
(8) The term 'notice' means (with respect to subchapter II) any written or verbal notification of an obligation or intention to perform service in the uniformed services provided to an employer by the employee who will perform such service or by the uniformed service in which such service is to be performed.
(9) The term 'qualified', with respect to an employment position, means having the ability to perform the essential tasks of the position.
(10) The term 'reasonable efforts', in the case of actions required of an employer under this chapter, means actions, including training provided by an employer, that do not place an undue hardship on the employer.
(11) Notwithstanding section 101, the term 'Secretary' means the Secretary of Labor or any person designated by such Secretary to carry out an activity under this chapter.
(12) The term 'seniority' means longevity in employment together with any benefits of employment which accrue with, or are determined by, longevity in employment.
(13) The term 'service in the uniformed services' means the performance of duty on a voluntary or involuntary basis in a uniformed service under competent authority and includes: active duty, active duty for training, initial active duty for training, inactive duty training, full-time National Guard, a period for which a person is absent from a position of employment for the purpose of an examination to determine the fitness of the employment for the purpose of performing funeral honors duty as authorized by section 12503 of title 10 or section 115 of title 32.
(14) The term 'State' means each of the several States of the United States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, the Virgin Islands, and other territories of the United States (including the agencies and political subdivisions thereof).
(15) The term 'undue hardship', in the case of actions taken by an employer, means actions requiring significant difficulty or expense, when considered in light of--
(A) the nature and cost of the action needed under this chapter;
(B) the overall financial resources of the facility or facilities involved in the provision of the action; the number of persons employed at such facility; the effect on expenses and resources, or the impact otherwise of such action upon the operation of the facility;
(C) the overall financial resources of the employer; the overall size of the business of an employer with respect to the number of its employees; the number, type, and location of its facilities; and
(D) the type of operation or operations of the employer, including the composition, structure, and functions of the work force of such employer; the geographic separateness, administrative, or fiscal relationship of the facility or facilities in question to the employer.
(16) The term 'uniformed services' means the Armed Forces, the Army National Guard and the Air National Guard when engaged in active duty for training, inactive duty training, or full-time National Guard duty, the commissioned corps of the Public Health Service, and any other category of persons designated by the President in time of war or national emergency.
§ 4304. Character of service
A person's entitlement to the benefits of this chapter by reason of the service of such person in one of the uniformed services terminates upon the occurrence of any of the following events:
(1) A separation of such person from such uniformed service with a dishonorable or bad conduct discharge.
(2) A separation of such person from such uniformed service under other than honorable conditions, as characterized pursuant to regulations prescribed by the Secretary concerned.
(3) A dismissal of such person permitted under section 1161(a) of title 10.
(4) A dropping of such person from the rolls pursuant to section 1161(b) of title 10.

SUBCHAPTER II--EMPLOYMENT AND REEMPLOYMENT RIGHTS AND LIMITATIONS; PROHIBITIONS
§ 4311. Discrimination against persons who serve in the uniformed services and acts of reprisal prohibited
(a) A person who is a member of, applies to be a member of, performs, has performed, applies to perform, or has an obligation to perform service in a uniformed service shall not be denied initial employment, reemployment, retention in employment, promotion, or any benefit of employment by an employer on the basis of that membership, application for membership, performance of service, application for service, or obligation.
(b) An employer may not discriminate in employment against or take any adverse employment action against any person because such person (1) has taken an action to enforce a protection afforded any person under this chapter, (2) has testified or otherwise made a statement in or in connection with any proceeding under this chapter, (3) has assisted or otherwise participated in an investigation under this chapter, or (4) has exercised a right provided for in this chapter. The prohibition in this subsection shall apply with respect to a person regardless of whether that person has performed service in the uniformed services.
(c) An employer shall be considered to have engaged in actions prohibited-
(1) under subsection (a), if the person's membership, application for membership, service, application for service, or obligation for service in the uniformed services is a motivating factor in the employer's action, unless the employer can prove that the action would have been taken in the absence of such membership, application for membership, service, application for service, or obligation for service; or
(2) under subsection (b), if the person's (A) action to enforce a protection afforded any person under this chapter, (B) testimony or making of a statement in or in connection with any proceeding under this chapter, (C) assistance or other participation in an investigation under this chapter, or (D) exercise of a right provided for in this chapter, is a motivating factor in the employer's action, unless the employer can prove that the action would have been taken in the absence of such person's enforcement action, testimony, statement, assistance, participation, or exercise of a right.
(d) The prohibitions in subsections (a) and (b) shall apply to any position of employment, including a position that is described in section 4312(d)(1)(C) of this title.
§ 4312. Reemployment rights of persons who serve in the uniformed services
(a) Subject to subsections (b), (c), and (d) and to section 4304, any person whose absence from a position of employment is necessitated by reason of service in the uniformed services shall be entitled to the reemployment rights and benefits and other employment benefits of this chapter if--
(1) the person (or an appropriate officer of the uniformed service in which such service is performed) has given advance written or verbal notice of such service to such person's employer;
(2) the cumulative length of the absence and of all previous absences from a position of employment with that employer by reason of service in the uniformed services does not exceed five years; and
(3) except as provided in subsection (f), the person reports to, or submits an application for reemployment to, such employer in accordance with the provisions of subsection (e).
(b) No notice is required under subsection (a)(1) if the giving of such notice is precluded by military necessity or, under all of the relevant circumstances, the giving of such notice is otherwise impossible or unreasonable. A determination of military necessity for the purposes of this subsection shall be made pursuant to regulations prescribed by the Secretary of Defense and shall not be subject to judicial review.
(c) Subsection (a) shall apply to a person who is absent from a position of employment by reason of service in the uniformed services if such person's cumulative period of service in the uniformed services, with respect to the employer relationship for which a person seeks reemployment, does not exceed five years, except that any such period of service shall not include any service--
(1) that is required, beyond five years, to complete an initial period of obligated service;
(2) during which such person was unable to obtain orders releasing such person from a period of service in the uniformed services before the expiration of such five-year period and such inability was through no fault of such person;
(3) performed as required pursuant to section 10147 of title 10, under section 502(a) or 503 of title 32, or to fulfill additional training requirements determined and certified in writing by the Secretary concerned, to be necessary for professional development, or for completion of skill training or retraining; or
(4) performed by a member of a uniformed service who is--
(A) ordered to or retained on active duty under section 688, 12301(a), 12301(g), 12302, 12304, or 12305 of title 10 or under section 331, 332, 359, 360, 367, or 712 of title 14;
(B) ordered to or retained on active duty (other than for training) under any provision of law because of a war or national emergency declared by the President or the Congress. as determined by the Secretary concerned;
(C) ordered to active duty (other than for training) in support, as determined by the Secretary concerned, of an operational mission for which personnel have been ordered to active duty under section 12304 of title 10;
(D) ordered to active duty in support, as determined by the Secretary concerned, of a critical mission or requirement of the uniformed services; or
(E) called into Federal service as a member of the National Guard under chapter 15 of title 10 or under section 12406 of title 10.
(d)(1) An employer is not required to reemploy a person under this chapter if--
(A) the employer's circumstances have so changed as to make such reemployment impossible or unreasonable;
(B) in the case of a person entitled to reemployment under subsection (a)(3), (a)(4), or (b)(2)(B) of section 4313, such employment would impose an undue hardship on the employer;
or
(C) the employment from which the person leaves to serve in the uniformed services is for a brief, nonrecurrent period and there is no reasonable expectation that such employment will continue indefinitely or for a significant period.
(2) In any proceeding involving an issue of whether--
(A) any reemployment referred to in paragraph (1) is impossible or unreasonable because of a change in an employer's circumstances,
(B) any accommodation, training, or effort referred to in subsection (a)(3), (a)(4), or (b)(2)(B) of section 4313 would impose an undue hardship on the employer, or
(C) the employment referred to in paragraph (1)(C) is for a brief, nonrecurrent period and there is no reasonable expectation that such employment will continue indefinitely or for a significant period, the employer shall have the burden of proving the impossibility or unreasonableness, undue hardship, or the brief or nonrecurrent nature of the employment without a reasonable expectation of continuing indefinitely or for a significant period.
(e)(1) Subject to paragraph (2), a person referred to in subsection (a) shall, upon the completion of a period of service in the uniformed services, notify the employer referred to in such subsection of the person's intent to return to a position of employment with such employer as follows:
(A) In the case of a person whose period of service in the uniformed services was less than 31 days, by reporting to the employer--
(I) not later than the beginning of the first full regularly scheduled work period on the first full calendar day following the completion of the period of service and the expiration of eight hours after a period allowing for the safe transportation of the person from the place of that service to the person's residence; or
(ii) as soon as possible after the expiration of the eight-hour period referred to in clause (I), if reporting within the period referred to in such clause is impossible or unreasonable through no fault of the person.
(B) In the case of a person who is absent from a position of employment for a period of any length for the purposes of an examination to determine the person's fitness to perform service in the uniformed services, by reporting in the manner and time referred to in subparagraph (A).
(C) In the case of a person whose period of service in the uniformed services was for more than 30 days but less than 181 days, by submitting an application for reemployment with the employer not later than 14 days after the completion of the period of service or if submitting such application within such period is impossible or unreasonable through no fault of the person, the next first full calendar day when submission of such application becomes possible.
(D) In the case of a person whose period of service in the uniformed services was for more than 180 days, by submitting an application for reemployment with the employer not later than 90 days after the completion of the period of service.
(2)(A) A person who is hospitalized for, or convalescing from, an illness or injury incurred in, or aggravated during, the performance of service in the uniformed services shall, at the end of the period that is necessary for the person to recover from such illness or injury, report to the person's employer (in the case of a person described in subparagraph (A) or (B) of paragraph (1)) or submit an application for reemployment with such employer (in the case of a person described in subparagraph (C) or (D) of such paragraph). Except as provided in subparagraph (B), such period of recovery may not exceed two years.
(B) Such two-year period shall be extended by the minimum time required to accommodate the circumstances beyond such person's control which make reporting within the period specified in subparagraph (A) impossible or unreasonable.
(3) A person who fails to report or apply for employment or reemployment within the appropriate period specified in this subsection shall not automatically forfeit such person's entitlement to the rights and benefits referred to in subsection (a) but shall be subject to the conduct rules, established policy, and general practices of the employer pertaining to explanations and discipline with respect to absence from scheduled work.
(f)(1) A person who submits an application for reemployment in accordance with subparagraph (C) or (D) of subsection (e)(1) or subsection (e)(2) shall provide to the person's employer (upon the request of such employer) documentation to establish that--
(A) the person's application is timely;
(B) the person has not exceeded the service limitations set forth in subsection (a)(2) (except as permitted under subsection (c)); and
(C) the person's entitlement to the benefits under this chapter has not been terminated pursuant to section 4304.
(2) Documentation of any matter referred to in paragraph (1) that satisfies regulations prescribed by the Secretary shall satisfy the documentation requirements in such paragraph.
(3)(A) Except as provided in subparagraph (B), the failure of a person to provide documentation that satisfies regulations prescribed pursuant to paragraph (2) shall not be a basis for denying reemployment in accordance with the provisions of this chapter if the failure occurs because such documentation does not exist or is not readily available at the time of the request of the employer. If, after such reemployment, documentation becomes available that establishes that such person does not meet one or more of the requirements referred to in subparagraphs (A), (B), and (C) of paragraph (1), the employer of such person may terminate the employment of the person and the provision of any rights or benefits afforded the person under this chapter.
(B) An employer who reemploys a person absent from a position of employment for more than 90 days may require that the person provide the employer with the documentation referred to in subparagraph (A) before beginning to treat the person as not having incurred a break in service for pension purposes under section 4318(a)(2)(A).
(4) An employer may not delay or attempt to defeat a reemployment obligation by demanding documentation that does not then exist or is not then readily available.
(g) The right of a person to reemployment under this section shall not entitle such person to retention, preference, or displacement rights over any person with a superior claim under the provisions of title 5, United States Code, relating to veterans and other preference eligibles.
(h) In any determination of a person's entitlement to protection under this chapter, the timing, frequency, and duration of the person's training or service, or the nature of such training or service (including voluntary service) in the uniformed services, shall not be a basis for denying protection of this chapter if the service does not exceed the limitations set forth in subsection (c) and the notice requirements established in subsection (a)(1) and the notification requirements established in subsection (e) are met.
§ 4313. Reemployment positions
(a) Subject to subsection (b) (in the case of any employee) and sections 4314 and 4315 (in the case of an employee of the Federal Government), a person entitled to reemployment under section 4312, upon completion of a period of service in the uniformed services, shall be promptly reemployed in a position of employment in accordance with the following order of priority:
(1) Except as provided in paragraphs (3) and (4), in the case of a person whose period of service in the uniformed services was for less than 91 days--
(A) in the position of employment in which the person would have been employed if the continuous employment of such person with the employer had not been interrupted by such service, the duties of which the person is qualified to perform; or
(B) in the position of employment in which the person was employed on the date of the commencement of the service in the uniformed services, only if the person is not qualified to perform the duties of the position referred to in subparagraph (A) after reasonable efforts by the employer to qualify the person.
(2) Except as provided in paragraphs (3) and (4), in the case of a person whose period of service in the uniformed services was for more than 90 days--
(A) in the position of employment in which the person would have been employed if the continuous employment of such person with the employer had not been interrupted by such service, or a position of like seniority, status and pay, the duties of which the person is qualified to perform; or
(B) in the position of employment in which the person was employed on the date of the commencement of the service in the uniformed services, or a position of like seniority, status and pay, the duties of which the person is qualified to perform, only if the person is not qualified to perform the duties of a position referred to in subparagraph (A) after reasonable efforts by the employer to qualify the person.
(3) In the case of a person who has a disability incurred in, or aggravated during, such service, and who (after reasonable efforts by the employer to accommodate the disability) is not qualified due to such disability to be employed in the position of employment in which the person would have been employed if the continuous employment of such person with the employer had not been interrupted by such service--
(A) in any other position which is equivalent in seniority, status, and pay, the duties of which the person is qualified to perform or would become qualified to perform with reasonable efforts by the employer; or
(B) if not employed under subparagraph (A), in a position which is the nearest approximation to a position referred to in subparagraph (A) in terms of seniority, status, and pay consistent with circumstances of such person's case.
(4) In the case of a person who (A) is not qualified to be employed in (I) the position of employment in which the person would have been employed if the continuous employment of such person with the employer had not been interrupted by such service, or (ii) in the position of employment in which such person was employed on the date of the commencement of the service in the uniform services for any reason (other than disability incurred in, or aggravated during, service in the uniformed services), and (B) cannot become qualified with reasonable efforts by the employer, in any other position which is the nearest approximation to a position referred to first in clause (A)(I) and then in clause (A)(ii) which such person is qualified to perform, with full seniority.
(b)(1) If two or more persons are entitled to reemployment under section 4312 in the same position of employment and more than one of them has reported for such reemployment, the person who left the position first shall have the prior right to reemployment in that position.
(2) Any person entitled to reemployment under section 4312 who is not reemployed in a position of employment by reason of paragraph (1) shall be entitled to be reemployed as follows:
(A) Except as provided in subparagraph (B), in any other position of employment referred to in subsection (a)(1) or (a)(2), as the case may be (in the order of priority set out in the applicable subsection), that provides a similar status and pay to a position of employment referred to in paragraph (1) of this subsection, consistent with the circumstances of such person's case, with full seniority.
(B) In the case of a person who has a disability incurred in, or aggravated during, a period of service in the uniformed services that requires reasonable efforts by the employer for the person to be able to perform the duties of the position of employment, in any other position referred to in subsection (a)(3) (in the order of priority set out in that subsection) that provides a similar status and pay to a position referred to in paragraph (1) of this subsection, consistent with circumstances of such person's case, with full seniority.
§ 4314. Reemployment by the Federal Government
(a) Except as provided in subsections (b), (c), and (d), if a person is entitled to reemployment by the Federal Government under section 4312, such person shall be reemployed in a position of employment as described in section 4313.
(b)(1) If the Director of the Office of Personnel Management makes a determination described in paragraph (2) with respect to a person who was employed by a Federal executive agency at the time the person entered the service from which the person seeks reemployment under this section, the Director shall--
(A) identify a position of like seniority, status, and pay at another Federal executive agency that satisfies the requirements of section 4313 and for which the person is qualified; and
(B) ensure that the person is offered such position.
(2) The Director shall carry out the duties referred to in subparagraphs (A) and (B) of paragraph (1) if the Director determines that--
(A) the Federal executive agency that employed the person referred to in such paragraph no longer exists and the functions of such agency have not been transferred to another Federal executive agency; or
(B) it is impossible or unreasonable for the agency to reemploy the person. (c) If the employer of a person described in subsection (a) was, at the time such person entered the service from which such person seeks reemployment under this section, a part of the judicial branch or the legislative branch of the Federal Government, and such employer determines that it is impossible or unreasonable for such employer to reemploy such person, such person shall, upon application to the Director of the Office of Personnel Management, be ensured an offer of employment in an alternative position in a Federal executive agency on the basis described in subsection (b).
(d) If the adjutant general of a State determines that it is impossible or unreasonable to reemploy a person who was a National Guard technician employed under section 709 of title 32, such person shall, upon application to the Director of the Office of Personnel Management, be ensured an offer of employment in an alternative position in a Federal executive agency on the basis described in subsection (b).
§ 4315. Reemployment by certain Federal agencies
(a) The head of each agency referred to in section 2302(a)(2)(C)(ii) of title 5 shall prescribe procedures for ensuring that the rights under this chapter apply to the employees of such agency.
(b) In prescribing procedures under subsection (a), the head of an agency referred to in that subsection shall ensure, to the maximum extent practicable, that the procedures of the agency for reemploying persons who serve in the uniformed services provide for the reemployment of such persons in the agency in a manner similar to the manner of reemployment described in section 4313.
(c)(1) The procedures prescribed under subsection (a) shall designate an official at the agency who shall determine whether or not the reemployment of a person referred to in subsection (b) by the agency is impossible or unreasonable.
(2) Upon making a determination that the reemployment by the agency of a person referred to in subsection (b) is impossible or unreasonable, the official referred to in paragraph (1) shall notify the person and the Director of the Office of Personnel Management of such determination.
(3) A determination pursuant to this subsection shall not be subject to judicial review.
(4) The head of each agency referred to in subsection (a) shall submit to the Select Committee on Intelligence and the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence and the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the House of Representatives on an annual basis a report on the number of persons whose reemployment with the agency was determined under this subsection to be impossible or unreasonable during the year preceding the report, including the reason for each such determination.
(d)(1) Except as provided in this section, nothing in this section, section 4313, or section 4325 shall be construed to exempt any agency referred to in subsection (a) from compliance with any other substantive provision of this chapter.
(2) This section may not be construed--
(A) as prohibiting an employee of an agency referred to in subsection (a) from seeking information from the Secretary regarding assistance in seeking reemployment from the agency under this chapter, alternative employment in the Federal Government under this chapter, or information relating to the rights and obligations of employee and Federal agencies under this chapter; or
(B) as prohibiting such an agency from voluntarily cooperating with or seeking assistance in or of clarification from the Secretary or the Director of the Office of Personnel Management of any matter arising under this chapter.
(e) The Director of the Office of Personnel Management shall ensure the offer of employment to a person in a position in a Federal executive agency on the basis described in subsection (b) if--
(1) the person was an employee of an agency referred to in section 2302(a)(2)(C)(ii) of title 5 at the time the person entered the service from which the person seeks reemployment under this section;
(2) the appropriate officer of the agency determines under subsection (c) that reemployment of the person by the agency is impossible or unreasonable; and
(3) the person submits an application to the Director for an offer of employment under this subsection.
§ 4316. Rights, benefits, and obligations of persons absent from employment for service in a uniformed service
(a) A person who is reemployed under this chapter is entitled to the seniority and other rights and benefits determined by seniority that the person had on the date of the commencement of service in the uniformed services plus the additional seniority and rights and benefits that such person would have attained if the person had remained continuously employed.
(b)(1) Subject to paragraphs (2) through (6), a person who is absent from a position of employment by reason of service in the uniformed services shall be--
(A) deemed to be on furlough or leave of absence while performing such service; and
(B) entitled to such other rights and benefits not determined by seniority as are generally provided by the employer of the person to employees having similar seniority, status, and pay who are on furlough or leave of absence under a contract, agreement, policy, practice, or plan in effect at the commencement of such service or established while such person performs such service.
(2)(A) Subject to subparagraph (B), a person who--
(I) is absent from a position of employment by reason of service in the uniformed services, and
(ii) knowingly provides written notice of intent not to return to a position of employment after service in the uniformed service, is not entitled to rights and benefits under paragraph (1)(B).
(B) For the purposes of subparagraph (A), the employer shall have the burden of proving that a person knowingly provided clear written notice of intent not to return to a position of employment after service in the uniformed service and, in doing so, was aware of the specific rights and benefits to be lost under subparagraph (A).
(3) A person deemed to be on furlough or leave of absence under this subsection while serving in the uniformed services shall not be entitled under this subsection to any benefits to which the person would not otherwise be entitled if the person had remained continuously employed.
(4) Such person may be required to pay the employee cost, if any, of any funded benefit continued pursuant to paragraph (1) to the extent other employees on furlough or leave of absence are so required.
(5) The entitlement of a person to coverage under a health plan is provided for under section 4317.
(6) The entitlement of a person to a right or benefit under an employee pension benefit plan is provided for under section 4318.
(c) A person who is reemployed by an employer under this chapter shall not be discharged from such employment, except for cause--
(1) within one year after the date of such reemployment, if the person's period of service before the reemployment was more than 180 days; or
(2) within 180 days after the date of such reemployment, if the person's period of service before the reemployment was more than 30 days but less than 181 days.
(d) Any person whose employment with an employer is interrupted by a period of service in the uniformed services shall be permitted, upon request of that person, to use during such period of service any vacation, annual, or similar leave with pay accrued by the person before the commencement of such service. No employer may require any such person to use vacation, annual, or similar leave during such period of service.
(e)(1) An employer shall grant an employee who is a member of a reserve component an authorized leave of absence from a position of employment to allow that employee to perform funeral honors duty as authorized by section 12503 of title 10 or section 115 of title 32.
(e)(2) For the purposes of section 4312(e)(1) of this title, an employee who takes an authorized leave of absence under paragraph (1) is deemed to have notified the employer of the employee's intent to return to such position of employment.
§ 4317. Health plans
(a)(1) In any case in which a person (or the person's dependents) has coverage under a health plan in connection with the person's position of employment, including a group health plan (as defined in section 607(1) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974), and such person is absent from such position of employment by reason of service in the uniformed services, or such person becomes eligible for medical and dental care under chapter 55 of title 10 by reason of subsection (d) of section 1074 of that title, the plan shall provide that the person may elect to continue such coverage as provided in this subsection. The maximum period of coverage of a person and the person's dependents under such an election shall be the lesser of--
(A) the 24-month period beginning on the date on which the person's absence begins; or
(B) the day after the date on which the person fails to apply for or return to a position of employment, as determined under section 4312(e).
(2) A person who elects to continue health-plan coverage under this paragraph may be required to pay not more than 102 percent of the full premium under the plan (determined in the same manner as the applicable premium under section 4980B(f)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986) associated with such coverage for the employer's other employees, except that in the case of a person who performs service in the uniformed services for less than 31 days, such person may not be required to pay more than the employee share, if any, for such coverage.
(3) In the case of a health plan that is a multiemployer plan, as defined in section 3(37) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, any liability under the plan for employer contributions and benefits arising under this paragraph shall be allocated--
(A) by the plan in such manner as the plan sponsor shall provide; or
(B) if the sponsor does not provide--
(I) to the last employer employing the person before the period served by the person in the uniformed services, or
(ii) if such last employer is no longer functional, to the plan.
(b)(1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), in the case of a person whose coverage under a health plan was terminated by reason of service in the uniformed services, or by reason of the person’s having become eligible for medical and dental care under chapter 55 of title 10 by reason of subsection (d) of section 1074 of that title, an exclusion or waiting period may not be imposed in connection with the reinstatement of such coverage upon reemployment under this chapter if an exclusion or waiting period would not have been imposed under a health plan had coverage of such person by such plan not been terminated as a result of such service or eligibility. This paragraph applies to the person who is reemployed and to any individual who is covered by such plan by reason of the reinstatement of the coverage of such person.
(2) Paragraph (1) shall not apply to the coverage of any illness or injury determined by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to have been incurred in, or aggravated during, performance of service in the uniformed services.
(3) In the case of a person whose coverage under a health plan is terminated by reason of the person having become eligible for medical and dental care under chapter 55 of title 10 by reason of subsection (d) of section 1074 of that title but who subsequently does not commence a period of active duty under the order to active duty that established such eligibility because the order is canceled before such active duty commences, the provisions of paragraph (1) relating to any exclusion or waiting period in connection with the reinstatement of coverage under a health plan shall apply to such person’s continued employment, upon the termination of such eligibility for medical and dental care under chapter 55 of title 10 that is incident to the cancellation of such order, in the same manner as if the person had become reemployed upon such termination of eligibility.
Sec. 4318. Employee pension benefit plans
(a)(1)(A) Except as provided in subparagraph (B), in the case of a right provided pursuant to an employee pension benefit plan (including those described in sections 3(2) and 3(33) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974) or a right provided under any Federal or State law governing pension benefits for governmental employees, the right to pension benefits of a person reemployed under this chapter shall be determined under this section.
(B) In the case of benefits under the Thrift Savings Plan, the rights of a person reemployed under this chapter shall be those rights provided in section 8432b of title 5. The first sentence of this subparagraph shall not be construed to affect any other right or benefit under this chapter.
(2)(A) A person reemployed under this chapter shall be treated as not having incurred a break in service with the employer or employers maintaining the plan by reason of such person's period or periods of service in the uniformed services.
(B) Each period served by a person in the uniformed services shall, upon reemployment under this chapter, be deemed to constitute service with the employer or employers maintaining the plan for the purpose of determining the nonforfeitability of the person's accrued benefits and for the purpose of determining the accrual of benefits under the plan.
(b)(1) An employer reemploying a person under this chapter shall, with respect to a period of service described in subsection (a)(2)(B), be liable to an employee pension benefit plan for funding any obligation of the plan to provide the benefits described in subsection (a)(2) and shall allocate the amount of any employer contribution for the person in the same manner and to the same extent the allocation occurs for other employees during the period of service. For purposes of determining the amount of such liability and any obligation of the plan, earnings and forfeitures shall not be included. For purposes of determining the amount of such liability and for purposes of section 515 of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 or any similar Federal or State law governing pension benefits for governmental employees, service in the uniformed services that is deemed under subsection (a) to be service with the employer shall be deemed to be service with the employer under the terms of the plan or any applicable collective bargaining agreement. In the case of a multiemployer plan, as defined in section 3(37) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, any liability of the plan described in this paragraph shall be allocated--
(A) by the plan in such manner as the sponsor maintaining the plan shall provide; or
(B) if the sponsor does not provide--
(I) to the last employer employing the person before the period served by the person in the uniformed services, or
(ii) if such last employer is no longer functional, to the plan.
(2) A person reemployed under this chapter shall be entitled to accrued benefits pursuant to subsection (a) that are contingent on the making of, or derived from, employee contributions or elective deferrals (as defined in section 402(g)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986) only to the extent the person makes payment to the plan with respect to such contributions or deferrals. No such payment may exceed the amount the person would have been permitted or required to contribute had the person remained continuously employed by the employer throughout the period of service described in subsection (a)(2)(B). Any payment to the plan described in this paragraph shall be made during the period beginning with the date of reemployment and whose duration is three times the period of the person's services in the uniformed services, such payment period not to exceed five years.
(3) For purposes of computing an employer's liability under paragraph (1) or the employee's contributions under paragraph (2), the employee's compensation during the period of service described in subsection (a)(2)(B) shall be computed--
(A) at the rate the employee would have received but for the period of service described in subsection (a)(2)(B), or
(B) in the case that the determination of such rate is not reasonably certain, on the basis of the employee's average rate of compensation during the 12-month period immediately preceding such period (or, if shorter, the period of employment immediately preceding such period).
(c) Any employer who reemploys a person under this chapter and who is an employer contributing to a multiemployer plan, as defined in section 3(37) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, under which benefits are or may be payable to such person by reason of the obligations set forth in this chapter, shall, within 30 days after the date of such reemployment, provide information, in writing, of such reemployment to the administrator of such plan.
Sec. 4319. Employment and reemployment rights in foreign countries.
(a) LIABILITY OF CONTROLLING UNITED STATES EMPLOYER OF FOREIGN ENTITY- If an employer controls an entity that is incorporated or otherwise organized in a foreign country, any denial of employment, reemployment, or benefit by such entity shall be presumed to be by such employer.
(b) INAPPLICABILITY TO FOREIGN EMPLOYER- This subchapter does not apply to foreign operations of an employer that is a foreign person not controlled by or United States employer.
(c) DETERMINATION OF CONTROLLING EMPLOYER- For the purpose of this section, the determination of whether an employer controls an entity shall be based upon the interrelations of operations, common management, centralized control of labor relations, and common ownership or financial control of the employer and the entity.
(d) EXEMPTION- Notwithstanding any other provision of this subchapter, an employer, or an entity controlled by an employer, shall be exempt from compliance with any of section 4311 through 4318 of this title with respect to an employee in a workplace in a foreign country, if comliance with that section would cause such employer, or such entity controlled by an employer, to violate the law of the foreign country in which the workplace islocated.'.
SUBCHAPTER III--PROCEDURES FOR ASSISTANCE, ENFORCEMENT, AND INVESTIGATION
§ 4321. Assistance in obtaining reemployment or other employment rights or benefits
The Secretary (through the Veterans' Employment and Training Service) shall provide assistance to any person with respect to the employment and reemployment rights and benefits to which such person is entitled under this chapter. In providing such assistance, the Secretary may request the assistance of existing Federal and State agencies engaged in similar or related activities and utilize the assistance of volunteers.
§ 4322. Enforcement of employment or reemployment rights
(a) A person who claims that--
(1) such person is entitled under this chapter to employment or reemployment rights or benefits with respect to employment by an employer; and
(2)(A) such employer has failed or refused, or is about to fail or refuse, to comply with the provisions of this chapter; or
(B) in the case that the employer is a Federal executive agency, such employer or the Office of Personnel Management has failed or refused, or is about to fail or refuse, to comply with the provisions of this chapter, may file a complaint with the Secretary in accordance with subsection (b), and the Secretary shall investigate such complaint.
(b) Such complaint shall be in writing, be in such form as the Secretary may prescribe, include the name and address of the employer against whom the complaint is filed, and contain a summary of the allegations that form the basis for the complaint.
(c) The Secretary shall, upon request, provide technical assistance to a potential claimant with respect to a complaint under this subsection, and when appropriate, to such claimant's employer.
(d) The Secretary shall investigate each complaint submitted pursuant to subsection (a). If the Secretary determines as a result of the investigation that the action alleged in such complaint occurred, the Secretary shall attempt to resolve the complaint by making reasonable efforts to ensure that the person or entity named in the complaint complies with the provisions of this chapter.
(e) If the efforts of the Secretary with respect to any complaint filed under subsection (a) do not resolve the complaint, the Secretary shall notify the person who submitted the complaint of--
(1) the results of the Secretary's investigation; and
(2) the complainant's entitlement to proceed under the enforcement of rights provisions provided under section 4323 (in the case of a person submitting a complaint against a State or private employer) or section 4324 (in the case of a person submitting a complaint against a Federal executive agency or the Office of Personnel Management).
(f) This subchapter does not apply to any action relating to benefits to be provided under the Thrift Savings Plan under title 5.
§ 4323. Enforcement of rights with respect to a State or private employer
(a) ACTION FOR RELIEF-(1) A person who receives from the Secretary a notification pursuant to section 4322(e) of this title of an unsuccessful effort to resolve a complaint relating to a State (as an employer) or a private employer may request that the Secretary refer the complaint to the Attorney General. If the Attorney General is responsibly satisfied that the person on whose behalf the complaint is referred is entitled to the rights or benefits sought, the Attorney General may appear on behalf of, and act as attorney for, the person on whose behalf the complaint is submitted and commence an action for relief under this chapter for such person. In the case of such an action against a State (as an employer), the action shall be brought in the name of the United States as the plaintiff in the action.
(2) A person may commence an action for relief with respect to a complaint against a State (as an employer) or a private employer if the person--
(A) has chosen not to apply to the Secretary for assistance under section 4322(a) of this title;
(B) has chosen not to request that the Secretary refer the complaint to the Attorney General under paragraph (1); or
(C) has been refused representation by the Attorney General with respect to the complaint under such paragraph .
(b) JURISDICTION-(1) In the case of an action against a State (as an employer) or a private employer commenced by the United States, the district courts of the United States shall have jurisdiction over the action.
(2) In the case of action against a State (as an employer) by a person, the action may be brought in a State court of competent jurisdiction in accordance with the laws of the State.
(3) In the case of an action against a private employer by a person, the district courts of the United States shall have jurisdiction of the action.
(c) VENUE-(1) In the case of an action by the United States against a State (as an employer), the action may proceed in the United States district court for any district in which the State exercises any authority or carries out any function.
(2) In the case of an action against a private employer, the action may proceed in the United States district court for any district in which the private employer of the person maintains a place of business.
(d) REMEDIES-(1) In any action under this section, the court may award relief as follows:
(A) The court may require the employer to comply with the provisions of this chapter.
(B) The court may require the employer to compensate the person for any loss of wages or benefits suffered by reason of such employer's failure to comply with the provisions of this chapter.
(C) The court may require the employer to pay the person an amount equal to the amount referred to in subparagraph (B) as liquidated damages, if the court determines that the employer's failure to comply with the provisions of this chapter was willful.
(2)(A) Any compensation awarded under subparagraph (B) or (C) of paragraph (1) shall be in addition to, and shall not diminish, any of the other rights and benefits provided for under this chapter.
(B) In the case of an action commenced in the name of the United States for which the relief includes compensation awarded under subparagraph (B) or (C) of paragraph (1), such compensation shall be held in a special deposit account and shall be paid, on order of the Attorney General, directly to the person. If the compensation is not paid to the person because of inability to do so within a period of 3 years, the compensation shall be converted into the Treasury of the United States as miscellaneous receipts.
(3) A State shall be subject to the same remedies, including prejudgment interest, as may be imposed upon any private employer under this section.
(e) EQUITY POWERS- The court may use its full equity powers, including temporary or permanent injunctions, temporary restraining orders, and contempt orders, to vindicate fully the rights of benefits of persons under this chapter.
(f) STANDING- An action under this chapter may be initiated only by a person claiming rights or benefits under this chapter under subsection (a) or by the United States under subsection (a)(1).
(g) RESPONDENT- In any action under this chapter, only an employer or a potential employer, as the case may be, shall be a necessary party respondent.
(h) FEES, COURT COSTS- (1) No fees or court costs may be charged or taxed against any person claiming rights under this chapter.
(2) In any action or proceeding to enforce a provision of this chapter by a person under subsection (a)(2) who obtained private counsel for such action or proceeding, the court may award any such person who prevails in such action or proceeding reasonable attorney fees, expert witness fees, and other litigation expenses.
(i) INAPPLICABILITY OF STATE STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS- No State statute of limitations shall apply to any proceeding under this chapter.
(j) DEFINITION- In this section, the term 'private employer' includes a political subdivision of a State.'.
§ 4324. Enforcement of rights with respect to Federal executive agencies
(a)(1) A person who receives from the Secretary a notification pursuant to section 4322(e) may request that the Secretary refer the complaint for litigation before the Merit Systems Protection Board. The Secretary shall refer the complaint to the Office of Special Counsel established by section 1211 of title 5.
(2)(A) If the Special Counsel is reasonably satisfied that the person on whose behalf a complaint is referred under paragraph (1) is entitled to the rights or benefits sought, the Special Counsel (upon the request of the person submitting the complaint) may appear on behalf of, and act as attorney for, the person and initiate an action regarding such complaint before the Merit Systems Protection Board.
(B) If the Special Counsel declines to initiate an action and represent a person before the Merit Systems Protection Board under subparagraph (A), the Special Counsel shall notify such person of that decision.
(b) A person may submit a complaint against a Federal executive agency or the Office of Personnel Management under this subchapter directly to the Merit Systems Protection Board if that person--
(1) has chosen not to apply to the Secretary for assistance under section 4322(a);
(2) has received a notification from the Secretary under section 4322(e);
(3) has chosen not to be represented before the Board by the Special Counsel pursuant to subsection (a)(2)(A); or
(4) has received a notification of a decision from the Special Counsel under subsection (a)(2)(B).
(c)(1) The Merit Systems Protection Board shall adjudicate any complaint brought before the Board pursuant to subsection (a)(2)(A) or (b), without, regard as to whether the complaint accured before, on, or after October 13, 1994. A person who seeks a hearing or adjudication by submitting such a complaint under this paragraph may be represented at such hearing or adjudication in accordance with the rules of the Board.
(2) If the Board determines that a Federal executive agency or the Office of Personnel Management has not complied with the provisions of this chapter relating to the employment or reemployment of a person by the agency, the Board shall enter an order requiring the agency or Office to comply with such provisions and to compensate such person for any loss of wages or benefits suffered by such person by reason of such lack of compliance.
(3) Any compensation received by a person pursuant to an order under paragraph (2) shall be in addition to any other right or benefit provided for by this chapter and shall not diminish any such right or benefit.
(4) If the Board determines as a result of a hearing or adjudication condaccrueducted pursuant to a complaint submitted by a person directly to the Board pursuant to subsection (b) that such person is entitled to an order referred to in paragraph (2), the Board may, in its discretion, award such person reasonable attorney fees, expert witness fees, and other litigation expenses.
(d)(1) A person adversely affected or aggrieved by a final order or decision of the Merit Systems Protection Board under subsection (c) may petition the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit to review the final order or decision. Such petition and review shall be in accordance with the procedures set forth in section 7703 of title 5.
(2) Such person may be represented in the Federal Circuit proceeding by the Special Counsel unless the person was not represented by the Special Counsel before the Merit Systems Protection Board regarding such order or decision.
§ 4325. Enforcement of rights with respect to certain Federal agencies
(a) This section applies to any person who alleges that--
(1) the reemployment of such person by an agency referred to in subsection (a) of section 4315 was not in accordance with procedures for the reemployment of such person under subsection (b) of such section; or
(2) the failure of such agency to reemploy the person under such section was otherwise wrongful.
(b) Any person referred to in subsection (a) may submit a claim relating to an allegation referred to in that subsection to the inspector general of the agency which is the subject of the allegation. The inspector general shall investigate and resolve the allegation pursuant to procedures prescribed by the head of the agency.
(c) In prescribing procedures for the investigation and resolution of allegations under subsection (b), the head of an agency shall ensure, to the maximum extent practicable, that the procedures are similar to the procedures for investigating and resolving complaints utilized by the Secretary under section 4322(d).
(d) This section may not be construed--
(1) as prohibiting an employee of an agency referred to in subsection (a) from seeking information from the Secretary regarding assistance in seeking reemployment from the agency under this chapter, or information relating to the rights and obligations of employees and Federal agencies under this chapter; or
(2) as prohibiting such an agency from voluntarily cooperating with or seeking assistance in or of clarification from the Secretary or the Director of the Office of Personnel Management of any matter arising under this chapter.
§ 4326. Conduct of investigation; subpoenas
(a) In carrying out any investigation under this chapter, the Secretary's duly authorized representatives shall, at all reasonable times, have reasonable access to and the right to interview persons with information relevant to the investigation and shall have reasonable access to, for purposes of examination, and the right to copy and receive, any documents of any person or employer that the Secretary considers relevant to the investigation.
(b) In carrying out any investigation under this chapter, the Secretary may require by subpoena the attendance and testimony of witnesses and the production of documents relating to any matter under investigation. In case of disobedience of the subpoena or contumacy and on request of the Secretary, the Attorney General may apply to any district court of the United States in whose jurisdiction such disobedience or contumacy occurs for an order enforcing the subpoena.
(c) Upon application, the district courts of the United States shall have jurisdiction to issue writs commanding any person or employer to comply with the subpoena of the Secretary or to comply with any order of the Secretary made pursuant to a lawful investigation under this chapter and the district courts shall have jurisdiction to punish failure to obey a subpoena or other lawful order of the Secretary as a contempt of court.
(d) Subsections (b) and (c) shall not apply to the legislative branch or the judicial branch of the United States.
SUBCHAPTER IV--MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
§ 4331. Regulations
(a) The Secretary (in consultation with the Secretary of Defense) may prescribe regulations implementing the provisions of this chapter with regard to the application of this chapter to States, local governments, and private employers.
(b)(1) The Director of the Office of Personnel Management (in consultation with the Secretary and the Secretary of Defense) may prescribe regulations implementing the provisions of this chapter with regard to the application of this chapter to Federal executive agencies (other than the agencies referred to in paragraph (2)) as employers. Such regulations shall be consistent with the regulations pertaining to the States as employers and private employers, except that employees of the Federal Government may be given greater or additional rights.
(2) The following entities may prescribe regulations to carry out the activities of such entities under this chapter:
(A) The Merit Systems Protection Board.
(B) The Office of Special Counsel.
(C) The agencies referred to in section 2303(a)(2)(C)(ii) of title 5.
§ 4332. Reports
The Secretary shall, after consultation with the Attorney General and the Special Counsel referred to in section 4324(a)(1) and no later than February 1, 2005, and annually thereafter, transmit to the Congress, a report containing the following matters for the fiscal year ending before such February 1:
(1) The number of cases reviewed by the Department of Labor under this chapter during the fiscal year for which the report is made.
(2) The number of cases referred to the Attorney General or the Special Counsel pursuant to section 4323 or 4324, respectively, during such fiscal year.
(3) The number of complaints filed by the Attorney General pursuant to section 4323 during such fiscal year.
(4) The nature and status of each case reported on pursuant to paragraph (1), (2), or (3).
(5) An indication of whether there are any apparent patterns of violation of the provisions of this chapter, together with an explanation thereof.
(6) Recommendations for administrative or legislative action that the Secretary, the Attorney General, or the Special Counsel considers necessary for the effective implementation of this chapter, including any action that could be taken to encourage mediation, before claims are filed under this chapter, between employers and persons seeking employment or reemployment.
§ 4333. Outreach
The Secretary, the Secretary of Defense, and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall take such actions as such Secretaries determine are appropriate to inform persons entitled to rights and benefits under this chapter and employers of the rights, benefits, and obligations of such persons and such employers under this chapter.
§ 4334. Notice of rights and duties
(a) Requirement to provide notice.--Each employer shall provide to persons entitled to rights and benefits under this chapter a notice of the rights, benefits, and obligations of such persons and such employers under this chapter. The requirement for the provision of notice under this section may be met by the posting of the notice where employers customarily place notices for employees.
(b) Content of notice.--The Secretary shall provide to employers the text of the notice to be provided under this section.

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