Barbara Boxer: “This is one of the typical letters from the City of Sacramento: Dear Senator Boxer: On behalf of the City of Sacramento…”

“This is one of the typical letters from the City of Sacramento: Dear Senator Boxer: On behalf of the City of Sacramento, I am pleased to offer our support for S. 1845, which would assist local governments that continue to pay employees who are deployed to active duty. Last year, eight of our permanent employees were activated to service in Iraq. We are proud of these employees and support them by making up the difference between military and civilian pay. We also pay the City contribution for their families to continue their health benefits. The cost to the City of Sacramento was approximately $73,000 last year. With the current budget crisis affecting California cities, S. 1845 is needed to ensure that cities like ours do not shoulder this financial burden alone. This is a specific letter that wraps it up just the way the Senator has, in a very simple, straightforward way. But I do appreciate the Senator putting these letters in the Record and being able to stand shoulder to shoulder with the Senator until we fix this problem. I thank the Senator.”