To: EANGUS Members From: EANGUS National Office Please share the following Roll Call: Drill Weekend Talking Points with other unit members
Ensuring benefits parity between the National Guard and the active component has always been a priority for EANGUS. Over the last several years, EANGUS has worked with Congress to address issues such as allowing National Guard Servicemembers to receive 180 days of premium-free transitional health care benefits under the Transitional Assistance Management Program (TAMP) after serving more than 30 consecutive days on active duty to support COVID-19 response as well as advocating for equal pay for National Guard Servicemembers assigned to and performing hazardous duty jobs.
In the Fiscal Year (F.Y.) 2022 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), Congress approved section 602, which authorizes the reserve components of the Armed Forces to incentive pay in the same monthly amount as that paid to the Active Components performing comparable work requiring comparable skills. For example, a National Guard Servicemember qualified and assigned to an airborne position would be entitled to receive the full airborne hazardous duty pay that an Active Component servicemember receives instead of the prorated 1/30th of the pay for each day on duty. The qualifications, requirements, and risks of performing a hazardous duty job are the same regardless of the component a Servicemember serves. It is fantastic that Congress has finally taken this step to close this parity gap. However, even though Congress approved this section, there is still specific language in the text that does not allow implementation of this benefit until the Secretary of Defense submits a report to Congress no later than September 30, 2022, outlining the steps to implement this as well as the cost associated with it.
Furthermore, the Secretary of Defense must certify that providing this equal pay will not harm the Force Structure or recruiting or retention of Active-Duty Components. This report has not been published yet. EANGUS will continue to monitor this legislation and update our members as information becomes available. While EANGUS does not believe that providing equal incentive pay will damage the Active Components, ensuring that this section is tracked very closely to implement this incentive pay will be essential.
Yet another parity issue that EANGUS is working on is GI Bill Parity. EANGUS has been educating Congress on the need to adjust the GI Bill for many years. There are strict limitations on what type of status and periods a National Guard Servicemember must serve on Active-Duty orders to qualify for Post 9/11 GI Bill benefits. In March of 2021, EANGUS gained the support of several members of the House of Representatives to have the H.R. 1836, Guard and Reserve GI Bill Parity Act of 2021, introduced for consideration. This bill would expand the eligibility criteria for the National Guard and Reserve components to make it easier for these Servicemembers to qualify for this benefit. This bill would allow Guard and Reserve Servicemembers on active duty for training orders to earn qualifying time towards Post 9/11 GI Bill eligibility. Additionally, starting in 2032, this bill would allow inactive duty training (IDT) as a qualifying time towards Post 9/11 GI Bill eligibility. Currently, we are still looking for a sponsor in the 118th Congress.
EANGUS sent out a Call-To-Action on this bill in January 2022 to ask our membership to respond and let their congressional members know the importance of this legislation. Our voices were heard, and on January 12, 2022, the House of Representatives approved HR 1836. This legislation was passed and considered by the U.S. Senate in bill number S. 1349. Although it did not pass during the 117th Congress, we know that Congress knows this is still a significant concern, and we eagerly await this legislation in the 118th. EANGUS will continue to communicate with Congress to express the importance of this legislation and continue to work on your behalf to ensure that the National Guard receives the benefits they duly deserve.
For more information on this or any other issues concerning the National Guard, don’t hesitate to contact EANGUS’s legislative and military policy director, Kevin Hollinger, at (202) 670-1826 kevin@eangus.org.
Register today for the next LEGISLATIVE QUARTERLY SUMMIT (VIRTUAL) 21 JUNE 2023
The EANGUS Legislative Team has developed a new 4-part information, training, and update Summit program. The LQS focuses on issues and gives participants an in-depth look at each issue and white paper.
EANGUS strongly supports S. 503 and H.R. 3048, the Space National Guard Establishment Act. This bipartisan legislation would create the Space National Guard as the primary reserve component of the U.S. Space Force.
S. 503 was introduced by Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., and Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., on Feb. 16, 2023. The Senate bill was co-sponsored by Sen. Alex Padilla, D-Calif., Sen. John Hickenlooper, D-Colo., Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., Sen. Michael Bennet, D-Colo., Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., Sen. Mike Braun, R-Ind., Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, I-Ariz., and Sen. Jacky Rosen, D-Nev. This is the second time Feinstein and Rubio have introduced this legislation.
Companion legislation to this Senate bill was included in the last two versions of the National Defense Authorization Act introduced in the House. Rep. Jason Crow, D-Colo., and Rep. Doug Lamborn, R-Colo., reintroduced a House version of the Space National Guard Establishment Act on May 2, 2023. The House bill was cosponsored by Rep. Salud Carbajal, D-Calif., Rep. William Keating, D-Mass., Rep. John Rutherford, R-Fla., Rep. Steve Womack, R-Ark., Rep. Jared Moskowitz, D-Fla., Rep. Sylvia Garcia, D-Texas, Rep. Ed Case, D-Hawaii, Rep. Jack Bergman, R-Mich., Rep. Jill Tokuda, D-Hawaii, and Rep. Brittany Pettersen, D-Colo.
S. 503 and H.R. 3048, if enacted, would allow the nearly 1,000 airmen currently performing space missions in the National Guard to continue executing these crucial missions unimpeded while providing the Space Force with combat surge capabilities and delivering space-trained personnel and capabilities to support domestic operations and natural disasters.
The Department of Defense is fielding two options regarding reserve components within the Space Force, but has proposed merging all space missions into a full- and part-time force with no Space Guard.
EANGUS Member Survey
In keeping with the EANGUS tradition of presenting its members with the most pertinent information possible, we request that all members take this short twelve-question survey. Its purpose is to provide the Committee on Retiree Affairs with the feedback needed to develop our program. We’d like to target our program to not just retirees but also to those within five years of retiring. We want to ensure that everyone has access to all the programs, information, and benefits they have earned.
Your answers will guide the future of our program. Thank you! Your feedback, please
EANGUS Healthcare Survey
EANGUS invites you to take a brief 30-second survey to provide your feedback on the importance of healthcare and your military service.
EANGUS Resources
The Foundation has received funding from USAA for the EANGUS We Care for America National Guard Emergency Relief Grant and Interest-Free Loan Program.
Go to the EANGUS-WCFA website for the criteria to apply for WCFA Grants and Interest-Free Loans.
Sign up for GiveBacks and support the National Guard Relief Foundation when you shop!
The Foundation will receive up to 1% cashback every time you shop and our “backers” (that’s you!) can receive up to 10% cashback or, you can donate your earned cashback to the National Guard Relief Foundation to supercharge your impact and donation.
More information about the GiveBacks program can be found on the WCFA-NGRF website at: https://eangus-wcfa.org/other-ways-to-donate/
Please use the Referral link below to sign up and then share it with other National Guard members, family, friends, and co-workers. Sign up at: www.givebacks.com/referrals/CEO6172468
