(a) In this section, “eligible veteran” means a veteran of any branch of the armed forces of the United States who has received an honorable discharge or a certificate of satisfactory completion of military service, including:
(1) the National Guard;
(2) the military reserves;
(3) the Commissioned Corps of the Public Health Service; and
(4) the Commissioned Corps of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
(b) An employer may grant a preference in hiring and promotion to:
(1) an eligible veteran;
(2) the spouse of an eligible veteran who has a service–connected disability; or
(3) the surviving spouse of a deceased eligible veteran.
(c) Granting a preference under subsection (b) of this section does not violate any State or local equal employment opportunity law.