HR 5516 United States House · 118th Congress

To amend title 38, United States Code, to clarify the employment and reemployment rights of members of the uniformed services to other law.

This bill clarifies employment and reemployment rights for members of the uniformed services (like military personnel) under U.S. Code. It expands the definition of "rights and benefits" to explicitly include procedural protections (such as how claims are handled), and prohibits employers from requiring service members to agree to mandatory arbitration as a condition of employment or benefits. The bill ensures that any arbitration agreement for claims under this law is unenforceable unless all parties voluntarily consent *after* a specific claim has been filed in court or with the Merit Systems Protection Board. These changes directly affect service members seeking reemployment and their employers, making the legal process clearer and preventing forced arbitration.
Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Sep 2023
Committee Review
Floor Vote
President
Introduced Sep 14, 2023 Last action Sep 19, 2023
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Full legislative history

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Total actions
3
Key actions
0
Committee
2
Sep 19, 2023
House · Referred to committee
Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity.
Sep 14, 2023
House · Referred to committee
Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
Sep 14, 2023
House · Introduced
Introduced in House
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Photo of Mark Takano
Mark Takano
DDemocratic
CA
39