WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Rep. Jim Saxton today introduced twin bills to reward employers for hiring U.S. veterans and U.S. National Guard or Reserve members.

The Reservist Employment Act of 2004, H.R. 5079, and the Veterans’ Employment Act of 2004, H.R. 5080, each effectively offers a tax credit of $1,000 to employers every three years for each veteran or reservist in their employ. The bills already enjoy bipartisan support on their first day. The Reserve bill has 10 original cosponsors, and the veterans bill has 13 original cosponsors.

“This bill is off to a fast start,” Saxton said. “We all know that Reserve and Guard service is a hardship for both the Reservist and families when the call comes to activate. But few people realize that holding a job for someone who has to go serve their country on the other side of the world is a hardship, too, particularly if it is small business or struggling company.”

Sometimes an employer can lose a worker to reserve service for six months or a year. That can be disruptive in managing a business. Saxton, the fourth-highest member of the House Armed Services Committee (HASC), has traveled to Iraq twice within the past 10 months, and has seen Guard members, Reservists and active duty personnel serving together. Whenever their service is complete, veterans sometimes need to find employment in civilian life.

“After their volunteer service is complete, men and women hanging up the uniform deserve a job in the workplaces across America,” Saxton said. “Vets have proven themselves with gritty work in some extremely difficult jobs. These incentives are something the federal government should have done long ago. The veterans I know make for reliable and hardworking employees who are familiar with teamwork, strong work ethic and good character.”

Supporting the veterans bill are: Reps. Richard Burr (NC), Joe Wilson (SC), Dennis Cardoza (CA), Rep. Martin Meehan, Jim Walsh (NY), Scott Garrett (NJ), Charles Stenholm (TX), Don Sherwood (PA), Frank LoBiondo (NJ), Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (FL), Max Sandlin (TX), F. James Sensenbrenner (WI) and Jim Gibbons (NV). Backing the reservist bill are: Reps. Frank Wolf (VA), Rep. Jeff Miller (FL), Don Sherwood (PA), Donna Christensen (VI), Frank LoBiondo (NJ), Joe Wilson (SC), Madeleine Bordallo (GU), Thomas Tancredo (CO), Max Sandlin (TX) and Jim Gibbons (NV) and Charlie Bass (NH).