STUDY OF EFFECTS OF OPERATIONS DESERT SHIELD AND DESERT STORM MOBILIZATIONS OF RESERVES AND MEMBERS OF THE NATIONAL GUARD WHO WERE SELF-EMPLOYED OR OWNERS OF SMALL BUSINESSES.

SEC. 1086. STUDY OF EFFECTS OF OPERATIONS DESERT SHIELD AND DESERT STORM MOBILIZATIONS OF RESERVES AND MEMBERS OF THE NATIONAL GUARD WHO WERE SELF-EMPLOYED OR OWNERS OF SMALL BUSINESSES. (a) Findings.—Congress makes the following findings: (1) The service of the members of the Armed Forces of the United States in Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm was commendable. (2) The Reserves and the members of the National Guard contributed to the readiness, preparedness, and combat capability of the coalition forces that participated in the liberation of Kuwait. (3) The Reserves and the members of the National Guard ordered to active duty in connection with Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm who were self-employed or were owners of small businesses possibly suffered unique financial difficulties resulting from their absence from their businesses for such active duty service. (b) Study and Report Required.—Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall— (1) conduct a study examining the economic and other effects on the Reserves and members of the National Guard referred to in subsection (a)(3) resulting from their absence from their businesses for active duty service in connection with Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm; and (2) submit a report on the results of the study to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives. 106 STAT. 2519 (c) Content of Report.—The report shall include the following matters: (1) The number of Reserves and members of the National Guard ordered to active duty in connection with Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm who were self-employed or were owners of small businesses. (2) A description of the businesses owned by those Reserves and members of the National Guard when such personnel were ordered to active duty. (3) A detailed analysis of the economic effects on the businesses of such personnel resulting from the absence of such personnel for active duty service. (4) A discussion of the factors that contributed to any financial hardship or gain for such businesses during the period of the absence of such personnel. (5) The extent to which such personnel voluntarily separated from the Armed Forces, assumed an inactive status, or retired after being released from active duty. (6) An analysis of the rates of such separations, change of status, and retirements.