ESGR and VETS Partnership

The Secretary of Labor administers and interprets USERRA.  The Secretary of Labor also provides assistance to protected persons and investigates complaints brought under the statute.  The Secretary has delegated these USERRA duties to the Veterans' Employment and Training Service, an agency within the Department of Labor.

Section 4321 provides that the Secretary of Labor (through VETS) will provide assistance to any person concerning his or her USERRA rights.  In providing such assistance, the Secretary may request the assistance of other Federal or State agencies and utilize the assistance of volunteers.  The primary partner of VETS in providing USERRA assistance for members of the National Guard and Reserve is the National Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR). 

Section 4333 requires the Secretaries of Labor, Defense, and Veterans Affairs to perform outreach activities to inform protected persons, employers and the public about USERRA.  VETS and ESGR often work as a team in performing outreach activities, both in their Washington, D.C., headquarters offices and at the local level.