NGAUS Legislative Alert #11-24; 2 Nov 2011

The Issue: Authorizing full Space Available Travel eligibility on Department of Defense aircraft for National Guard and Reserve Members, Gray Area retirees, widows of retired members, and their accompanying dependents.

Immediate Action Required: Contact your Senators and Representatives and ask them to support S.1768 introduced by Senator Mark Begich (D-AK) that would authorize full Space Available travel eligibility on Department of Defense aircraft for National Guard and Reserve members, Gray Area retirees, widows of retired members entitled or eligible to receive retired pay, and accompanying dependents

Contact your senators to urge their support of S.1768, introduced by Senator Mark Begich (D-AK), that would expand Space-Available travel for members of the Reserve Component, Gray Area retirees, widows and widowers of retired members, and accompanying dependents. This is a benefit that has been long sought by National Guard members.

S.1768 differs slightly from the previously introduced S.542 in that the travel is subject to regulations to be prescribed by the Secretary of Defense that would establish priority categories. We hope to bring this legislation for consideration in the upcoming floor vote on the Senate version of the FY2012 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).

Congress has worked hard to establish federal legislation that would close the benefit gap that exists for our members and their families given their dedicated service and sacrifice following the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. Expanding Space-Available travel via this budget neutral legislation would be a significant step in that direction.

NGAUS strongly supports this legislation, which the men and women of the Reserve Components have earned by their service to our states and nation.

TAKE THE FOLLOWING ACTION:
By using the “Write to Congress” feature on the NGAUS Web site at www.ngaus.org, you can IMMEDIATELY e-mail your elected representatives. A sample letter is included in our “Write to Congress” feature. You can e-mail the pre-written message or edit the sample letter as you desire. This is the quickest and most effective method of expressing your views to Congress. Also, contact your friends and family and urge them to use Write to Congress as well. For further information and background visit our web site at www.ngaus.org. Please direct any questions concerning this issue to Pete Duffy, NGAUS Deputy Director of Legislation, at 202-454-5307 or via email at pete.duffy@ngaus.org.