Should members of the National Guard and reserves receive the same benefits under the GI Bill as active duty servicemembers?

National Security and Defense Social Welfare
Guard and Reserve GI Bill Parity Act (H.R. 1836)
This bill has Passed the House of Representatives
Bill Summary

This bill expands eligibility for Post-9/11 GI Bill educational assistance. Specifically, the bill adjusts the type of service that entitles a member of the Armed Forces, Reserves, or National Guard to such assistance. Under the bill, service by a reservist or National Guard member that is entitled to pay counts toward benefit eligibility. Such service includes training, active military service, inactive training, and general duty for which basic pay is warranted. The bill seeks to achieve equal access to benefits for National Guard members and reserves compared to their active-duty counterparts. Sponsor: Rep. Mike Levin (Democrat, California, District 49)
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Opponents say

•     "The intent of these bills is to improve delivery of benefits for members of the National Guard and reserve for those transitioning out of the military. Those are goals I support. However, these bills have serious problems that I believe could jeopardize the services for veterans and our taxpayers. As a result, I am unable to support them. The Guard and Reserve GI Bill Parity Act would allow members of the National Guard and reserve to incur active duty service towards the GI Bill for every day they are in uniform on Federal orders, including training. This bill will cost tens of billions of dollars over several decades. That is not fully offset because the cost in this provision of the legislation occurs outside of the ten-year budget window for mandatory spending. This is yet another example of reckless spending. It is unacceptable to me, it is also unacceptable to Budget Committee Ranking Member [Rep. Jason Smith (Republican, Missouri, District 8)] who is sharing my concerns about the fiscal irresponsibility of this proposal." Source: Rep. Mike Bost (Republican, Illinois, District 12)

Proponents say

•    "Members of the National Guard have made incredible sacrifices to defend our democracy, standing on high alert at the Capitol in freezing temperatures and often sleeping on cold, hard floors…I’m glad they’re earning the GI Bill benefits they deserve during this deployment, but we shouldn’t have to rely on a nearly 20-year-old declaration to provide them. I introduced the Guard and Reserve GI Bill Parity Act in 2020 because members of the Guard and Reserve should receive similar benefits for making similar sacrifices as other servicemembers. I look forward to reintroducing that bill soon and ensuring Guard and Reserve members always receive the GI Bill benefits they deserve." Source: Rep. Mike Levin (Democrat, California, District 49)


•    "Members of the Guard and Reserve have been asked to fulfill similar responsibilities as their active duty counterparts for nearly two decades…We owe this fix to our men and women that serve in the Guard and Reserves. As co-chair of the National Guard and Reserve Caucus and a member of the Mississippi National Guard, I will continue advocating for their equal access to education, healthcare, and pension benefits." Source: Rep. Steven Palazzo (Republican, Mississippi, District 4)

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