Legislation introduced by Rep. Bill Owens and two other congressmen that would expand job protection for members of the Armed Forces recently passed the House floor by a bipartisan voice vote.

The bill, H.R. 3670, requires the Transportation Security Administration to comply with the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA). It was also introduced by Gus Bilirakis (R-FL), and Tim Walz (D-MN).

USERRA guarantees that employees in both the public and private sector who are called to active duty can return to their jobs when they come home.

“A critical part of the obligation we have to support the troops includes ensuring a stable economic condition when they return from military service,” said Owens, a Democrat from Plattsburgh who is also a veteran of the Air Force.

“When Americans are deployed with the Armed Forces, they should not have to worry that they might be fired simply for being away on duty. This bipartisan legislation protects the jobs of American service members by ensuring that a call to serve doesn’t amount to a pink slip for officers of the Transportation Security Administration, and I am pleased it passed the House floor.”

As it moved through the House, H.R. 3670 had the support of the Military Officers Association of America (MOAA) and the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW). VADM Norb Ryan, USN (ret.), President of the MOAA, applauded the passage of the Reemployment Rights bill for National Guard and Reserve members employed by the Transportation Security Agency.

“National security concerns allowed for a TSA to forego USERRA protection in its inception. But it is time to close this loophole, and provide our National Guard and reservists who chose to protect us both in military and civilian uniforms security from losing their jobs when they are called to active military service,” said Raymond Kelley, Legislative Director for the VFW.

Currently, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) says it complies with USERRA voluntarily.

However, at least two Transportation Security Officers (TSOs) have tried and failed to appeal TSA actions under USERRA. Both the Office of Special Counsel and Merit Systems Protection Board ruled TSOs were barred from USERRA coverage under the Aviation and Transportation Security Act.