Elmont Online

WASHINGTON -- The Capital Region is home to more than 2,300 National Guard members, and U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand is among the lawmakers backing legislation that would strengthen civilian job protections and benefits for Guard members who serve in combat.

The Democrat will be sponsoring or co-sponsoring several bills that would greatly expand protections and benefits for Guard members that other soldiers already receive.

The Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act, passed in 1994, gives members of the military a five-year window to return to their civilian jobs if they have to leave for military service. Federal law allows active-duty soldiers serving in Iraq or Afghanistan an exemption from the five-year limit -- but does not cover Guard members.

This forces Guard members to choose between serving and keeping their jobs, Gillibrand said.

"It's unfair, and it needs to change," she told reporters in a conference call Tuesday.

Gillibrand also backs changes that would give Guard and Reserve members access to a wider range of support and health care services, including programs that would provide veterans access to mental health professionals, and connect them with fellow veterans who would serve as counselors to help them transition back into civilian life.

The decade-long wars in Afghanistan and Iraq have resulted in extensive use of National Guard troops overseas, including more than 1,100 from the Capital Region, Gillibrand said. Some have been deployed much longer than they ever expected, she said.

"I think the multiple deployments have really impacted the opportunity to get a job, keep a job," Gillibrand said.

She acknowledged that proposing spending increases amid a struggling economy and fierce back-and-forth budget disagreements between Democrats and Republicans on Capitol Hill could seem difficult. The push does enjoy some bipartisan support, with Rep. Mike Coffman, R-Colorado, backing the job protection bill in the House. Coffman introduced the same legislation last session, but it failed to become law.

Americans who serve in combat should expect some service in return when they get home, Gillibrand said.

"They fight to keep America safe every day; they shouldn't have to fight through red tape and struggle to afford the services they need here at home," Gillibrand said. "We need to fight for them."