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 Title 3—The President This notice shall be published in the Federal Register and transmitted to the Congress. BARACK OBAMA THE WHITE HOUSE,

July 18, 2012.

Memorandum of July 19, 2012

Memorandum for the Heads of Executive Departments and Agencies The Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994 (USERRA) protects individuals performing, or who performed, uniformed service in accordance with 38 U.S.C. 4301–4335 from adverse employment discrimination on the basis of their uniformed service, and provides for their prompt restoration to civilian employment when they return to civilian life.

USERRA is intended to ensure that these service members are not disadvantaged in their civilian careers because of their service; are promptly reemployed in their civilian jobs upon their return from duty; and are not discriminated against in employment because of their military status or obligations. This memorandum will help ensure that Federal agencies improve compliance with USERRA through outreach, education, and oversight.

The Administration strongly believes that every man or woman who has served in our country’s uniformed services deserves the full protection of our employment laws, including USERRA. No discrimination or unfair treatment based on one’s service will be tolerated. We must do our utmost to ensure that all service members’ employment and reemployment rights are respected.

The Federal Government, as our Nation’s largest employer, has a responsibility to adopt best practices with respect to employing returning service members. Attracting and retaining the best talent means ensuring fair treatment for individuals who have served our country. Close attention must be paid to our returning service members to ensure that we protect their reemployment rights, and effectively manage their reintegration when they return from service.

As a critical part of that effort, I am directing executive departments and agencies (agencies) to take steps to ensure robust compliance with USERRA’s employment and reemployment protections across the Federal Government through outreach, education, and oversight. Ensuring agencies’ compliance with USERRA across the Federal Government will maintain our commitment to those who serve.

This effort will build upon, and be in furtherance of, Executive Order 13518 of November 9, 2009 (Employment of Veterans in the Federal Government), which directed agencies to take steps to enhance recruitment of 396