The Justice Department's Civil Rights Division recently convened its quarterly meeting with state and local civil and human rights partners. The session, held to honor Veterans Day, focused on safeguarding the civil rights of servicemembers and veterans.
Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke emphasized the importance of protecting those who have served. “We owe our servicemembers, veterans and their families a deep debt of gratitude for their service to our country,” she stated. She further noted that the Justice Department is committed to ensuring these individuals are not subjected to discrimination or unfair treatment.
The Servicemembers and Veterans Initiative organized the meeting, which included participants from various State Attorneys' General offices and state-based civil rights agencies. Discussions covered topics such as professional license portability for servicemembers and spouses, employment protections, outreach by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices, Veteran Treatment Programs at different government levels, and federal rights concerning service animals.
This year has seen significant actions by the Justice Department in defense of servicemembers' rights:
- Enforcement of the Americans with Disabilities Act in Virginia Beach resulted in an agreement with the city to improve accessibility in public buildings.
- Over $200,000 was secured against El Paso, Texas, for improperly disposing of vehicles owned by servicemembers without court orders under the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA). Since 2011, more than $481 million has been obtained for over 147,000 servicemembers through SCRA enforcement.
- The Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA) was enforced when Oklahoma City Public Schools allegedly violated it by not reinstating an Air Force Reserve Senior Airman post-deployment.
Efforts also continue to enhance access to professional licenses for military spouses under SCRA provisions added in 2023. These changes facilitate job opportunities when relocating due to military orders. Consequently, five states have adjusted their policies accordingly.
Furthermore, a fact sheet and training presentation were developed on service animals' roles to educate people with disabilities about their rights.
For additional details about the Servicemember and Veterans Initiative visit www.justice.gov/servicemembers.