Reservist Measures Also Progress

The Senate Governmental Affairs Committee also has passed two bills to improve benefits for federal employees called to active military duty: S-2409, which would extend to 24 months the authority for continued health benefits coverage for employees called to active duty in support of a contingency operation for more than 30 consecutive days and who are placed on leave without pay or separated from federal employment, along with authority for the agency to pay both the employee and employer share of premiums, while making life insurance subject to similar provisions; and S-593, which would entitle them to receive the difference between their federal salary and their military pay, if lower.