Chamber Advocates Strong Partnership Between Employer and Reserve Communities

Between Employer and Reserve Communities

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The United States Chamber of Commerce today praised the United States House of Representatives for passing H.Res. 302, a resolution introduced by Rep. Richard Pombo (R-CA) that recognizes employers who strongly support their employees serving in the Guard and Reserve.

"The Pombo resolution is a good first step in a wholesale review of the reserve component, and illustrates some of the concerns faced by reserve personnel, their families, and employers," said Andrew Howell, Chamber vice president for homeland security. "A smart second step is the extensive study that the Congressional Commission on the National Guard and Reserve will undertake over the next year to identify the needs of citizen soldiers and recommend solutions to Congress. We hope the Commission will actively solicit input from the many employers known for their exceptional support of their citizen-soldier employees."

H.Res. 302 recognizes that businesses continue to go beyond the call of duty to assist the more than 460,000 members of the National Guard and Reserve who have been called to active duty since Sept. 11, 2001. It also calls for greater predictability in the National Guard and Reserve mobilization process.

"Congress recognizes that greater predictability is vital for businesses in planning for the future as more troops are deployed for longer periods of time," said Howell. "We commend Congressman Pombo for his leadership in introducing this resolution and for highlighting the need to make this system better for everyone."

The U.S. Chamber is a proud supporter of our troops and a key advocate of the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (www.esgr.org).

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is the world's largest business federation, representing more than three million businesses and organizations of every size, sector and region.

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