Gingersnap
05-03-2011, 11:26 AM
Bill would give vets Veterans Day off
11:52 PM, May. 2, 2011 |
U.S. military veterans would be allowed to take Veterans Day off from work each year under legislation unanimously approved Monday by the Oregon Senate.
Senate Bill 2 would allow veterans to take Veterans Day off while giving their employers the option of determining whether it will be paid or unpaid, said Robin Maxey, a spokesman for Senate President Peter Courtney, D-Salem.
Courtney sponsored the legislation after constituent Lucy Van Oort asked him why state workers got a day off on Veterans Day while many veterans have to work. Van Oort said it was always hard for her to understand why her late husband, Vietnam-era veteran Steven Lippert, always had to work.
"We have set aside Veterans Day to honor veterans, but thousands of veterans in our state don't get the day off to take part in special ceremonies and parades," Courtney said. "If we are going to honor our veterans, let's honor them. Let's give them the day off work."
Under SB 2, veterans who would like the day off would be required to make the request in advance and provide documentation proving their veteran status.
Statesman Journal (http://www.statesmanjournal.com/article/20110503/NEWS/105030317/Bill-would-give-vets-Veterans-Day-off?odyssey=mod|newswell|text|News|s)
11:52 PM, May. 2, 2011 |
U.S. military veterans would be allowed to take Veterans Day off from work each year under legislation unanimously approved Monday by the Oregon Senate.
Senate Bill 2 would allow veterans to take Veterans Day off while giving their employers the option of determining whether it will be paid or unpaid, said Robin Maxey, a spokesman for Senate President Peter Courtney, D-Salem.
Courtney sponsored the legislation after constituent Lucy Van Oort asked him why state workers got a day off on Veterans Day while many veterans have to work. Van Oort said it was always hard for her to understand why her late husband, Vietnam-era veteran Steven Lippert, always had to work.
"We have set aside Veterans Day to honor veterans, but thousands of veterans in our state don't get the day off to take part in special ceremonies and parades," Courtney said. "If we are going to honor our veterans, let's honor them. Let's give them the day off work."
Under SB 2, veterans who would like the day off would be required to make the request in advance and provide documentation proving their veteran status.
Statesman Journal (http://www.statesmanjournal.com/article/20110503/NEWS/105030317/Bill-would-give-vets-Veterans-Day-off?odyssey=mod|newswell|text|News|s)