Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 96 Part 1.djvu/802

 96 STAT. 760

38 USC 2021 et seq.

PUBLIC LAW 97-252—SEPT. 8, 1982 (3) the support of employers and supervisors in granting employees a leave of absence from their jobs to participate in military training without detriment to earned vacation time, promotions, and job benefits is essential to the maintenance of a strong Guard and Reserve force. GJXD It is, therefore, the sense of Congress that the citizenmilitary volunteers who serve the Nation as members of the National Guard and Reserve require and deserve public recognition of the essential role they play in the national defense, and particularly require and deserve the support and cooperation of their civilian employers, in order to be fully ready to respond to national emergencies. (2) The Congress recognizes, and requests all citizens to recognize, the vital need for a trained, ready National Guard and Reserve in the national defense posture of the United States and urges and requests employers and supervisors of employees who are members of the National Guard or Reserve to abide by the provisions of chapter 43 of title 38, United States Code, by granting a leave of absence for military training, exclusive of earned vacation, to employees who are members of the Guard and Reserve and by providing such employees equal consideration for job benefits and promotions as all other employees. REPORT ON VISTA 1999 TASK FORCE REPORT

Study and evaluation.

Report to congressional committees.

SEC. 1131. (a) The Secretary of Defense shall conduct a full and complete study and evaluation of the report entitled "VISTA 1999, A Long-Range Look at the Future of the Army and Air National Guard" submitted by the Chairman of the VISTA 1999 task force to the Chief of the National Guard Bureau on March 8, 1982. The study and evaluation shall include the following: (1) A detailed evaluation of the findings, conclusions, and recommendations of the "VISTA 1999" study. (2) The views of the Chief of the National Guard Bureau on the "VISTA 1999" study. (3) Any plans and recommendations for implementation of the recommendations of the "VISTA 1999" study. (b) The Secretary of Defense shall submit a report of the study and evaluation required by subsection (a) to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and House of Representatives no later than February 1, 1983. MILITARY PERSONNEL CLAIM RESULTING FROM IRANIAN CRISIS

SEC. 1132. (a) The head of the military department having jurisdiction over Colonel Thomas E. Schaefer, United States Air Force, a member of the uniformed services who was held as a hostage in the Islamic Republic of Iran on or after November 4, 1979, and before January 22, 1981, may settle and pay an amount determined under subsection (b) for any claim against the United States made by such member for the loss of personal property in the Islamic Republic of Iran if the head of the military department determines that— (1) the loss resulted from acts of mob violence, terrorist attacks, or other hostile acts, directed against the United States Government or its officers or employees; (2) the loss was incurred on or after December 31, 1978, and before January 22, 1981;

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