The Veterans and Servicemembers Employment Rights and Housing Act of 2013 was introduced in the House of Representatives and Senate on July 11. The bipartisan House legislation, H.R. 2654, was introduced by Representative Derek Kilmer (D-WA). The measure currently has four co-sponsors and has been referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary and House Committee on Education and the Workforce. The Senate bill, S. 1281, was introduced by Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and has been referred to the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs.The bills would amend the Fair Housing Act by adding “members of the uniformed forces” to the list of protected classes from discrimination in the sale or rental of housing. The bill would also prohibit employment discrimination on the basis of military service.Representative Kilmer said in a press release, “If you fight for our country, you shouldn’t have to fight for a job when you come home. I’ve worked with a coalition of veterans from all generations to fight for our servicemembers and veterans at the state level and now I’m proud to work at the federal level to ensure that military status isn’t used against anyone looking for a home or a job.”“Shamefully, veterans who served our country return from deployment and too often struggle to find a job or a place to call home,” said Senator Blumenthal in the same press release. “By making military service a protected status, this bill will ensure that those who sacrificed to keep us safe are not discriminated against when they return home.”Read the text of H.R. 2654 at: http://1.usa.gov/1dKpsgU Read the text of S. 1281 at: http://1.usa.gov/1axPl3O Read Representative Kilmer’s press release: http://1.usa.gov/18bEvD9