Res. No. 1237
Resolution urging the federal government to increase the civil service examination preference point system, which currently awards 5-10 points to veterans of the armed forces applying for federal jobs, to 10-15 points.
By Council Members Baez, Addabbo, Avella, Boyland, Clarke, Fidler, Foster, Gonzalez, James, Nelson and Weprin
Whereas, Since the Civil War, veterans have been given a measure of preference when being appointed to federal jobs; and
Whereas, The Veteran’s Preference Act of 1944 is required to give veterans, who meet eligibility requirements, preference when applying for civil service federal jobs by means of a point system; and
Whereas, By law, veterans who are disabled or who serve on active duty in the Armed Forces during specified time periods or military campaigns are entitled to preference over non-veterans in both federal hiring practices and in retention during reductions in workforce; and
Whereas, Congress enacted these laws to prevent veterans from being penalized for time spent in the armed forces; and
Whereas, Currently, the point system awards veterans 5 to 10 points on their civil service examination based on eligibility requirements for preference; and
Whereas, Increasingly, civil service standardized tests and eligible lists are being replaced with more subjective measures such as those used in the private sector, and, as competition for federal civil service examination positions grows stronger, the current preference points are not always adequate to provide the needed boost for veterans seeking such federal employment opportunities; and
Whereas, Veterans deserve our respect and appreciation for making such enormous sacrifices on behalf of our country, and they need to know that we, as a country, will assist them in their time of need; and
Whereas, It is time to give the men and women of the armed forces additional preference points to assist them in their securing and retaining positions in the government sector; now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Council of the City of New York urges the federal government to increase the civil service examination preference point system, which currently awards 5-10 points to veterans of the armed forces applying for federal jobs, to 10-15 points.
LS # 3728
JP 11/7/5