A measure pending before the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee would provide service members and veterans with greater protection against foreclosures. The bill, S. 2299, also would strengthen laws that protect veterans’ employment and reemployment rights. Sen. Patty Murphy, D-Wash., who sponsored the legislation, chairs the committee. The Justice Department would have greater clout and ability to represent aggrieved service members and veterans who file complaints under the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA) and Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA). The Justice Department could sue violators, serve as plaintiff on such lawsuits, and issue subpoenas for relevant documents and testimony from federal employees and agencies if necessary. It would protect the rights of service members who cannot appear in court because of military obligations as well.
