NGAUS – Take Action – Support 12304b Early Retirement Credit

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Please contact your Senators and urge them to co-sponsor and support S. 2416.Please contact your Representatives and urge them to co-sponsor and support H.R. 5038.TAKE ACTIONNGAUS strongly supports S. 2416 and H.R. 5038, the National Guard and Reserves Benefits Parity Act. These bills would authorize early retirement credit and other benefits for National Guard and Reserve service members mobilized under 12304b authority. These are the same benefits they earn under similar mobilization authorities.

S. 2416 is sponsored by Sen. Roger Wicker of Mississippi and Sen. Chris Coons of Delaware.  H.R. 5038 is sponsored by Rep. Steven Palazzo of Mississippi and Rep. Tim Walz of Minnesota.

The 12304b mobilization authority was created in 2012 to allow the Department of Defense to deploy reserve forces for preplanned missions in support of combatant commanders. However, unlike other overseas mobilizations, National Guardsmen and Reservists do not earn a retirement-age reduction or credit for high-tempo time spent while deployed, among other benefits.

The National Guard and Reserve Benefits Parity Act would allow:

  • Reduction of the age for eligibility for retirement pay for National Guard and Reserve service members called to active duty under 12304b;
  • National Guard and Reserve forces to accrue high-deployment allowance for service, thus preventing them from being sent on rapid successive deployments;
  • Protection of eligibility for training and rehabilitation services interrupted by deployments; and
  • No reduction in federal pay for federal employees deployed under 12304b.

Passing this vitally important legislation would ensure Guardsmen and Reservists receive the benefits they deserve when they provide life-saving humanitarian aid, security forces and logistical support around the world. Thank you, as always, for your continued support of our Armed Forces.

NGAUS Point of Contact:
Matt Pincus
(202) 408-5897
matt.pincus@ngaus.org

 

 

EANGUS Legislative Call to Action 2018-01- Guard & Reserve Benefit Parity Act of 2018

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EANGUS Legislative Call to Action 2018-1:  Guard & Reserve Benefit Parity Act of 2018 

CLICK HERE TO TAKE ACTION
Recently, Senators Roger Wicker and Chris Coons introduced S. 2416 and Representatives Steven Palazzo and Tim Walz introduced H.R. 5038, the Guard and Reserve Benefit Parity Act of 2018.

The legislation is a follow-up to last year’s Parity Act. Fortunately, pieces of that legislation were incorporated into other legislative vehicles during the first session of Congress. Specifically, the pre- and post-mobilization healthcare coverage for those serving on 12304b orders and the Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits (retroactive) were signed into law in the Fiscal Year 2018 National Defense Authorization Act and Colmery Forever GI Bill respectively.

Background:
12304b mobilization authority was established in the 2012 NDAA to allow DOD to deploy reserve forces for preplanned missions in support of combatant commanders. However, 12304b created a benefit disparity among the components. Reserve forces are compelled to leave behind family, friends, careers, and education pursuits to provide: life-saving humanitarian aid across the globe, security forces and logistical support in Sinai, Kosovo, Eastern Europe, and around the world. Unlike the active component, reserve forces are not provided: pre- and post-mobilization TRICARE; Post-9/11 Montgomery GI Bill Benefits; reduction in retirement age; credit for time spent deployed. Last year, EANGUS, NGAUS, and ROA were victorious in solving the pre- and post-mobilization TRICARE; Post-9/11 Montgomery GI Bill Benefits inequities.

If passed by Congress and signed by the President, Guard and Reserve Benefit Parity Act would provide: Eligibility of RC members for non-reduction in pay; consideration of service on active duty to reduce age for eligibility for retired pay for non-regular service; and eligibility of RC members for high-deployment allowance for lengthy or numerous deployments and frequent mobilizations. 

The EANGUS National Office requests that members please take a few minutes out of your day to message your delegation in Washington, D.C. to become a co-sponsor of S. 2416 and H.R. 5038, and support the bill should it come to the floor.

Thank you for your support!

CLICK HERE TO TAKE ACTION

EANGUS Legislative Call to Action 2018-02 – TRICARE Reserve Select Expansion to Eligible Federal Employees

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EANGUS Legislative Call to Action 2018-2:  TRICARE Reserve Select Expansion to Eligible Federal EmployeesDuring the first session of the 115th Congress, Senator Hatch (R-UT) introduced S. 1086 which aims to remove the prohibition on TRICARE eligibility for members of the Selected Reserve of a reserve component of the Armed Forces who are enrolled or eligible to enroll in the Federal Employee Health Benefits Program (FEHBP). In February, Representatives Kelly (R-MS) and Rosen (D-NV) introduced a House companion bill, H.R. 5121.

Background:
The EANGUS National Office staff have long advocated for eligible federal employees to gain access to TRS regardless of their employment status. During the 2017 and 2018 Legislation Workshops, EANGUS members stormed Capitol Hill to advocate for the expansion of this important benefit. A copy of the EANGUS point paper can be found here.

Take Action:
The EANGUS National Office requests that members please take a few minutes out of your day to message your delegation in Washington, D.C. to become a co-sponsor of H.R. 5121 and S. 1086, and support the bill should it come to the floor.

TAKE ACTION NOW
Thank you for your support!!!