Polk Times

Congressman Scott Franklin announced that his Service Member Employment Protection Act has been passed by the House as part of H.R. 8371, known as "The Dole Act." This act encompasses 12 major initiatives aimed at reforming and enhancing services provided by the Department of Veteran Affairs (VA), such as expanding healthcare options, offering more educational opportunities, and streamlining benefits and claims processes.

"As a veteran and business owner called up twice to active duty after 9/11, I’m pleased my bill H.R. 3943, the Servicemember Employment Protection Act, was included in the Dole Act and passed the House today with broad bipartisan support," Congressman Franklin stated. "My initiative ensures Reservists and Guardsmen who return from active duty are not disadvantaged or discriminated against in their civilian careers. The larger package contains more important investments and critical reforms to ensure the VA delivers the quality care and services our brave vets have earned."

The current Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA) provides protections for recalled servicemembers who have not exceeded a five-year cumulative service cap. These protections include the right to resume their civilian careers and access recourses if employers violate their reemployment rights.

Franklin's H.R. 3943 updates USERRA protections by expanding injunctive relief for servicemembers demonstrating a violation likely to succeed in court, easing burdens in claims processes if taken to court, increasing eligibility for medical leave related to service injuries, and requiring immune federal agencies to comply with these protections.

The Servicemember Employment Opportunity Act was introduced on June 9, 2023. It was marked up and approved by the House Veterans Affairs Committee’s Economic Opportunity Subcommittee on July 19, 2023, before unanimously passing the full committee on July 27, 2023.

The Dole Act also includes provisions such as fully funding the VA VET-TEC educational assistance program to expand high-tech career opportunities for veterans; cutting red tape for GI Bill usage; improving care timeliness under community care; requiring new VA employees to receive training on reporting wrongdoing; and providing community mental health grants for caregivers of veterans.