,i  #aac? ,,congress  #b;d ,session  ,h4
 ,r4 #ecge  ,,9 ,,! ,,h\se ,,(          
,,repres5tatives  ,july #ca1 #bjad ,ms4 
,s*w>tz 7= h]self1 ,mr4 ,doyle1 ,mr4    
,connolly1 ,mr4 ,c>twright1 ,mr4 ,brady 
( ,p5nsylvania1 ,mr4 ,fattah1 ,mr4      
,c\rtney1 & ,ms4 ,bonamici7 introduc$ ! 
foll[+ bill2 :i* 0 ref]r$ to !          
,committee on ,vet]ans' ,affairs1 & 9   
addition to ! ,committees on ,arm$      
,s]vices & ,ov]sight & ,gov]nm5t ,re=m1 
= a p]iod to be subsequ5tly det]m9$ by !
 ,speak]1 9 ea* case = consid]ation (   
su* provisions z fall )9 ! jurisdiction 
( ! committee conc]n$  ,a ,,bill  ,to   
am5d title #ch1 ,unit$ ,/ates ,code1 to 
improve ! en=cem5t ( employm5t &        
reemploym5t rights ( memb]s ( ! uni=m$  
s]vices1 & = o!r purposes4  #a4 ,%ort   
title ,?is ,act may be cit$ z !         
,s]vicememb]s ,access to ,ju/ice ,act ( 
#bjad4  #b4 ,waiv] ( sov]eign immunity  
"u ! elev5? ,am5dm5t ) respect to       
en=cem5t ( employm5t & reemploym5t      
rights ( memb]s ( ! uni=m$ s]vices  7a7 

,9 g5]al ,section #dcbc ( title #ch1    
,unit$ ,/ates ,code1 is am5d$--  7#a7 9 
subsection 7b71 by /rik+ p>agraph 7#b7 &
 ins]t+ ! foll[+ new p>agraph3  7#b7 ,9 
! case ( an action aga9/ a ,/ate 7z an  
employ]7 by a p]son1 ! action may be    
br\ght 9 ! appropriate di/rict c\rt ( ! 
,unit$ ,/ates or ,/ate c\rt ( compet5t  
jurisdiction4  2  7#b7 by r$esignat+    
subsection 7i7 z subsection 7j72 &  7#c7
 by ins]t+ aft] subsection 7h7 ! foll[+ 
new subsection3  7i7 ,waiv] ( ,/ate     
sov]eign immunity  7#a7 ,a ,/ate's      
receipt or use ( ,f$]al f9ancial        
assi/ance = any program or activity ( a 
,/ate %all con/itute a waiv] ( sov]eign 
immunity1 "u ! elev5? am5dm5t to !      
,con/itution or o!rwise1 to a suit      
br\ght by--  7,a7 a p]son :o is or 0 an 
employee 9 t program or activity = !    
rights or b5efits au?oriz$ ! p]son by   
?is *apt]2  7,b7 a p]son apply+ to be   
su* an employee 9 t program or activity 
= ! rights or b5efits au?oriz$ ! p]son  
by ?is *apt]2 or  7,c7 a p]son seek+    

reemploym5t z an employee 9 t program or
 activity = ! rights or b5efits au?oriz$
 ! p]son by ?is *apt]4  7#b7 ,9 ?is     
subsection1 ! t]m program or activity   
has ! mean+ giv5 t t]m 9 section #cji ( 
! ,age ,discrim9ation ,act ( #aige 7#db 
,u4,s4,c4 #fajg74  4  7b7 ,application  
,! am5dm5ts made by subsection 7a7 %all 
apply to--  7#a7 any failure to comply )
 a provision ( or any violation ( *apt] 
#dc ( title #ch1 ,unit$ ,/ates ,code1 t 
occurs be=e1 on1 or aft] ! date ( !     
enactm5t ( ?is ,act2 &  7#b7 to all     
actions or compla9ts fil$ "u su* *apt]  
#dc t are comm5c$ aft] ! date ( !       
enactm5t ( ?is ,act4  #c4 ,un5=ceability
 ( agreem5ts to arbitrate disputes      
reg>d+ employm5t & reemploym5t rights ( 
memb]s ( ! uni=m$ s]vices  7a7 ,9 g5]al 
,sub*apt] ,,iii ( *apt] #dc ( title #ch1
 ,unit$ ,/ates ,code1 is am5d$ by add+  
at ! end ! foll[+ new section3  #dcbh4  
,un5=ceability ( agreem5ts to arbitrate 
disputes  7a7 ,protection ( employee    
rights ,not)/&+ any o!r provision ( law1

 any clause ( any agreem5t betwe5 an    
employ] & an employee t requires        
arbitration ( a dispute aris+ "u ?is    
*apt] %all n be en=ceable4  7b7         
,exceptions  7#a7 ,subsection 7a7 %all n
 apply ) respect to any dispute if1 aft]
 su* dispute arises1 ! p>ties involv$   
kn[+ly & volunt>ily agree to submit su* 
dispute to arbitration4  7#b7           
,subsection 7a7 %all n preclude !       
en=cem5t ( any ( ! rights or t]ms ( a   
valid collective b>ga9+ agreem5t4  7c7  
,validity & en=cem5t ,any issue z to    
:e!r ?is section applies to an          
arbitration clause %all be det]m9$ by   
,f$]al law4 ,except z o!rwise provid$ 9 
*apt] #a ( title #i1 ! validity or      
en=ceability ( an agreem5t to arbitrate 
ref]r$ to 9 subsection 7a7 or 7b77#a71  
%all be det]m9$ by a c\rt1 r ?an !      
arbitrator1 irrespective ( :e!r ! p>ty  
resi/+ arbitration *all5ges ! agreem5t  
to arbitrate specifically or 9          
conjunction ) o!r t]ms ( ! agreem5t4    
7d7 ,application ,?is section %all apply

 ) respect to all contracts & agreem5ts 
betwe5 an employ] & an employee 9 =ce   
be=e1 on1 or aft] ! date ( ! enactm5t ( 
?is section4  4  7b7 ,cl]ical am5dm5t ,!
 table ( sections = su* *apt] is am5d$  
by ins]t+ aft] ! item relat+ to section 
#dcbf ! foll[+ new item3  #dcbh4        
,un5=ceability ( agreem5ts to arbitrate 
disputes4  4  7c7 ,application ,!       
provisions ( section #dcbh ( title #ch1 
,unit$ ,/ates ,code1 z add$ by          
subsection 7a71 %all apply to--  7#a7   
any failure to comply ) a provision ( or
 any violation ( *apt] #dc ( title #ch1 
,unit$ ,/ates ,code1 t occurs be=e1 on1 
or aft] ! date ( ! enactm5t ( ?is ,act2 
&  7#b7 to all actions or compla9ts fil$
 "u su* *apt] #dc t are p5d+ on or aft] 
! date ( ! enactm5t ( ?is ,act4  #d4    
,enhanc$ rem$ies = en=cem5t ( employm5t 
& reemploym5t rights ( memb]s ( ! uni=m$
 s]vices  7a7 ,/ate & private employ]s  
,section #dcbc7;d7 ( title #ch1 ,unit$  
,/ates ,code1 is am5d$--  7#a7 by       
r$esignat+ p>agraphs 7#b7 & 7#c7 z      

p>agraphs 7#d7 & 7#e71 respectively2    
7#b7 9 p>agraph 7#d7 7z s r$esignat$7-- 
7,a7 by ins]t+ or damages aft]          
comp5sation ea* place x appe>s2  7,b7 by
 /rik+ subp>agraph 7,b7 or 7,c7 (       
p>agraph 7#a7 ! fir/ place x appe>s &   
ins]t+ p>agraph 7#a7 or 7#c72 &  7,c7 by
 /rik+ subp>agraph 7,b7 or 7,c7 (       
p>agraph 7#a7 ! second place x appe>s & 
ins]t+ p>agraph 7#a7 or 7#c72 &  7#c7 by
 /rik+ ! subsection enum]ator & head+ & 
p>agraph 7#a7 & ins]t+ ! foll[+3  7d7   
,rem$ies  7#a7 ,a ,/ate or private      
employ] :o violates ! provisions ( ?is  
*apt] %all be liable to any p]son       
affect$--  7,a7 = damages 9 ! am\nt (-- 
7i7 any wages1 sal>y1 b5efits1 or o!r   
comp5sation d5i$ or lo/ by su* p]son by 
reason ( ! violation2 or  7ii7 9 a case 
9 :i* wages1 sal>y1 b5efits1 or o!r     
comp5sation h n be5 d5i$ or lo/ to !    
p]son1 any actual monet>y losses su/a9$ 
by ! p]son z a result ( ! violation2    
7,b7 ! int]e/ on ! am\nt describ$ 9     
subp>agraph 7,a7 calculat$ at ! prevail+

 int]e/ rates ov] ! p]iod ( "t = :i* !  
damages are due2 &  7,c7 an additional  
am\nt z liquidat$ damages equal to ! sum
 ( ! am\nt describ$ 9 subp>agraph 7,a7 &
 ! int]e/ describ$ 9 subp>agraph 7,b71  
or #aj1jjj1 :i*ev] is great] except t1  
if ! employ] proves to ! satisfaction ( 
! c\rt t ! act or omission giv+ rise to 
! p]son's action 0 9 good fai? & t !    
employ] _h reasonable gr\nds = believ+ !
 act or omission 0 n a violation ( !    
provisions ( ?is *apt]1 ! c\rt may aw>d1
 9 its discretion1 no liquidat$ damages 
or aw>d any am\nt ( liquidat$ damages n 
to exce$ #ajj p]c5t ( ! comp5sation or  
damages aw>d$ "u subp>agraph 7,a7 & !   
int]e/ describ$ 9 subp>agraph 7,b74     
7#b7 ,9 any action "u ?is section1 !    
c\rt may require ! employ] to comply ) !
 provisions ( ?is *apt]4  4  7b7        
,punitive damages ,section #dcbc7;d7 (  
su* title is fur!r am5d$ by ins]t+ aft] 
p>agraph 7#b7 7z ins]t$ by subsection   
7a77#c7 ( ?is section7 ! foll[+ new     
p>agraph3  7#c7 ,9 ! case ( a violation 

( ?is *apt] by a ,/ate or private       
employ] ) #be or m employees1 ! c\rt    
%all require ! employ] to pay ! p]son   
affect$ punitive damages if ! c\rt      
det]m9es t ! employ]'s violation ( ?is  
*apt] 0 done ) malice or reckless       
indiff]5ce to ! rights ( ! p]son "u ?is 
*apt]4  4  7c7 ,"r to jury trial        
,section #dcbc7;d7 ( su* title is fur!r 
am5d$ by add+ at ! end ! foll[+3  7#f7  
,a p]son :o comm5ces an action "u ?is   
section %all be entitl$ to a trial by   
jury4  4  7d7 ,f$]al ,gov]nm5t employ]s 
,p>agraph 7#b7 ( section #dcbd7;c7 ( su*
 title is am5d$ to read z foll[s3  7#b7 
,if ! ,bo>d det]m9es t a ,f$]al         
executive ag5cy or ! ,(fice ( ,p]sonnel 
,managem5t has violat$ ! provisions (   
?is *apt] relat+ to ! employm5t or      
reemploym5t ( a p]son by ! ag5cy1 !     
,bo>d %all ent] an ord] requir+ ! ag5cy 
or ,(fice to comply ) su* provisions &  
to comp5sate su* p]son--  7,a7 = damages
 9 ! am\nt (--  7i7 any wages1 sal>y1   
b5efits1 or o!r comp5sation d5i$ or lo/ 

by su* p]son by reason ( ! violation2 or
  7ii7 9 a case 9 :i* wages1 sal>y1     
b5efits1 or o!r comp5sation has n be5   
d5i$ or lo/ to ! p]son1 any actual      
monet>y losses su/a9$ by ! p]son z a    
result ( ! violation2  7,b7 ! int]e/ on 
! am\nt describ$ 9 subp>agraph 7,a7     
calculat$ at ! prevail+ int]e/ rates ov]
 ! p]iod ( "t = :i* ! damages are due2 &
  7,c7 an additional am\nt z liquidat$  
damages equal to ! sum ( ! am\nt        
describ$ 9 subp>agraph 7,a7 & ! int]e/  
describ$ 9 subp>agraph 7,b71 or #aj1jjj1
 :i*ev] is great]2 except t1 if ! ,f$]al
 executive ag5cy or ! ,(fice ( ,p]sonnel
 ,managem5t proves to ! satisfaction ( !
 ,bo>d t ! act or omission giv+ rise to 
su* p]son's compla9t 0 9 good fai? & t !
 ag5cy or ,(fice _h reasonable gr\nds = 
believ+ t ! act or omission 0 n a       
violation ( ! provisions ( ?is *apt]1 ! 
,bo>d may aw>d1 9 ! discretion ( !      
,bo>d1 no liquidat$ damages or aw>d any 
am\nt ( liquidat$ damages n to exce$    
#ajj p]c5t ( ! comp5sation or damages   

aw>d$ "u subp>agraph 7,a7 & ! int]e/    
describ$ 9 subp>agraph 7,b74  4  7e7    
,application ,! am5dm5ts made by ?is    
section %all apply to--  7#a7 any       
failure to comply ) a provision ( or any
 violation ( *apt] #dc ( title #ch1     
,unit$ ,/ates ,code1 t occurs be=e1 on1 
or aft] ! date ( ! enactm5t ( ?is ,act2 
&  7#b7 to all actions or compla9ts fil$
 "u su* *apt] #dc t are comm5c$ aft] !  
date ( ! enactm5t ( ?is ,act4  #e4      
,requir$ aw>d ( attorney fees 9 actions 
to en=ce employm5t & reemploym5t rights 
( memb]s ( ! uni=m$ s]vices  7a7        
,en=cem5t ( rights ) respect to a ,/ate 
or private employ] ,section             
#dcbc7;h77#b7 ( title #ch1 ,unit$ ,/ates
 ,code1 is am5d$ by /rik+ may & ins]t+  
%all4  7b7 ,en=cem5t ( rights ) respect 
to ,f$]al executive ag5cies ,section    
#dcbd7;c77#d7 ( su* title is am5d$ by   
/rik+ ! ,bo>d may1 9 its discretion1    
aw>d & ins]t+ ! ,bo>d %all aw>d4  7c7   
,application ,! am5dm5ts made by        
subsections 7a7 & 7b7 %all apply to--   

7#a7 any failure to comply ) a provision
 ( or any violation ( *apt] #dc ( title 
#ch1 ,unit$ ,/ates ,code1 t occurs be=e1
 on1 or aft] ! date ( ! enactm5t ( ?is  
,act2 &  7#b7 all actions or compla9ts  
fil$ "u su* *apt] #dc t are p5d+ on or  
aft] ! date ( ! enactm5t ( ?is ,act4    
#f4 ,requir+ equitable relief :5        
appropriate  7a7 ,9 g5]al ,section      
#dcbc7;e7 ( title #ch1 ,unit$ ,/ates    
,code1 is am5d$--  7#a7 by /rik+ ,! c\rt
 %all use1 & ins]t+ 7#a7 ,! c\rt %all   
use12 &  7#b7 by add+ at ! end ! foll[+ 
new p>agraph3  7#b7 ,not)/&+ rule #fe ( 
! ,f$]al ,rules ( ,civil ,proc$ure or   
any o!r provision ( law1 = purposes (   
det]m9+ :e!r to issue an injunction or  
re/ra9+ ord] pursuant to p>agraph 7#a7--
  7,a7 an employ]'s d5ial ( reemploym5t 
or ret5tion 9 employm5t %all con/itute  
irrep>able h>m to a p]son :o is d5i$    
reemploym5t or ret5tion 9 employm5t if  
an injunction to re9/ate su* p]son is n 
issu$1 & su* p]son %all be consid]$ to h
 no adequate rem$y at law2  7,b7 if !   

c\rt balances ! h>d%ips betwe5 ! p>ties1
 !re %all be a rebuttable presumption t 
! balance ( h>m to a p]son :o is d5i$   
reemploym5t or ret5tion 9 employm5t if  
an injunction to re9/ate su* p]son is n 
issu$ outweighs ! h>m to su* p]son's    
employ] or =m] employ] if an injunction 
is issu$ to re9/ate su* p]son2 &  7,c7  
if ! c\rt consid]s ! public int]e/ or   
public policy1 !re %all be a rebuttable 
presumption t ! issuance ( an injunction
 to re9/ate a p]son :o is d5i$          
reemploym5t or ret5tion 9 employm5t is 9
 ! public int]e/ & advances public      
policy4  4  7b7 ,application ,! am5dm5ts
 made by subsection 7a7 %all apply to-- 
7#a7 any failure to comply ) a provision
 ( or any violation ( *apt] #dc ( title 
#ch1 ,unit$ ,/ates ,code1 t occurs be=e1
 on1 or aft] ! date ( ! enactm5t ( ?is  
,act2 &  7#b7 to all actions or         
compla9ts fil$ "u su* *apt] #dc t are   
p5d+ on or aft] ! date ( ! enactm5t (   
?is ,act4  #g4 ,requirem5t t ,f$]al     
ag5cies provide notice to contractors ( 

pot5tial obligations relat+ to employm5t
 & reemploym5t rights ( memb]s ( !      
uni=m$ s]vices  7a7 ,civilian ag5cies   
7#a7 ,9 g5]al ,*apt] #dg ( title #da1   
,unit$ ,/ates ,code1 is am5d$ by add+ at
 ! end ! foll[+ new section3  #dgac4    
,notice to contractors ( pot5tial       
obligations relat+ to employm5t &       
reemploym5t rights ( memb]s ( ! uni=m$  
s]vices ,ea* contract = ! procurem5t (  
prop]ty or s]vices t is ent]$ into by ! 
head ( an executive ag5cy %all include a
 notice to ! contractor t ! contractor  
may h obligations "u *apt] #dc ( title  
#ch1 ,unit$ ,/ates ,code4  4  7#b7      
,cl]ical am5dm5t ,! table ( sections at 
! beg9n+ ( *apt] #dg ( su* title is     
am5d$ by ins]t+ aft] ! item relat+ to   
section #dgab ! foll[+ new item3  #dgac4
 ,notice to contractors ( pot5tial      
obligations relat+ to employm5t &       
reemploym5t rights ( memb]s ( ! uni=m$  
s]vices4  4  7b7 ,arm$ ,=ces  7#a7 ,9   
g5]al ,*apt] #acg ( title #aj1 ,unit$   
,/ates ,code1 is am5d$ by add+ at ! end 

! foll[+ new section3  #bcch4 ,notice to
 contractors ( pot5tial obligations     
relat+ to employm5t & reemploym5t rights
 ( memb]s ( ! uni=m$ s]vices ,ea*       
contract = ! procurem5t ( prop]ty or    
s]vices t is ent]$ into by ! head ( an  
executive ag5cy %all include a notice to
 ! contractor t ! contractor may h      
obligations "u *apt] #dc ( title #ch4  4
  7#b7 ,cl]ical am5dm5t ,! table (      
sections = su* *apt] is am5d$ by add+ at
 ! end ! foll[+ new item3  #bcch4       
,notice to contractors ( pot5tial       
obligations relat+ to employm5t &       
reemploym5t rights ( memb]s ( ! uni=m$  
s]vices4  4  #h4 ,cl>ify+ t provisions (
 section #dcjb ( title #ch1 ,unit$      
,/ates ,code1 apply to bo? sub/antive & 
proc$ural rights ,section #dcjb ( title 
#ch1 ,unit$ ,/ates ,code1 is am5d$ by   
ins]t+ sub/antive or proc$ural be=e "r  
or b5efit ea* place x occurs4  #i4      
,comptroll] ,g5]al ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates    
/udy on effectiv5ess ( ,f$]al programs (
 education & outrea* on employ]         

obligations reg>d+ employm5t &          
reemploym5t rights ( memb]s ( ! uni=m$  
s]vices  7a7 ,/udy requir$ ,!           
,comptroll] ,g5]al ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates    
%all conduct a /udy on ! effectiv5ess ( 
,f$]al programs ( education & outrea* on
 employ] obligations "u *apt] #dc (     
title #ch1 ,unit$ ,/ates ,code4  7b7    
,cont5ts ( /udy ,9 c>ry+ out ! /udy     
requir$ by subsection 7a71 ! ,comptroll]
 ,g5]al %all--  7#a7 assess curr5t      
practices & proc$ures ( ,f$]al ag5cies =
 educat+ employ]s ab\t _! obligations "u
 *apt] #dc ( title #ch1 ,unit$ ,/ates   
,code2  7#b7 id5tify be/ practices =    
br++ ! employm5t practices ( small      
bus9esses into compliance ) su* *apt]2  
7#c7 det]m9e :e!r ! ,employ] ,support = 
! ,gu>d & ,res]ve1 ! ,small ,bus9ess    
,adm9i/ration1 or o!r ag5cies c\ld      
collaborate to develop a program to     
educate employ]s reg>d+ _! obligations  
"u su* *apt]2 &  7#d7 det]m9e ! effect  
on recruitm5t & ret5tion 9 ! ,national  
,gu>d & ,res]ves ( ! failure ( employ]s 

to meet _! reemploym5t obligations "u   
su* *apt]4  7c7 ,report to ,congress ,n 
lat] ?an ,decemb] #ca1 #bjae1 !         
,comptroll] ,g5]al %all submit to       
,congress a report on ! /udy conduct$ "u
 subsection 7a71 includ+ ! foll[+3  7#a7
 ,! f9d+s ( ! ,comptroll] ,g5]al )      
respect to su* /udy4  7#b7 ,!           
recomm5dations ( ! ,comptroll] ,g5]al = 
! improvem5t ( education & outrea* =    
employ]s ) respect to _! obligations "u 
*apt] #dc ( title #ch1 ,unit$ ,/ates    
,code4