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THE ISSUE: S.1859/H.R.3626 the National Guard and Reserve Incentive Pay Parity Act
ACTION: Immediately contact your Congressional Delegation and ask them to support S.1859/H.R.3626 the National Guard and Reserve Incentive Pay Parity Act
Please contact your Congressional Delegation and urge them to support S.1859/H.R.3626.
Background
NGAUS strongly supports S.1859/H.R.3626 the National Guard and Reserve Incentive Pay Parity Act. This legislation would provide the National Guard and Reserve Component equal special bonus and incentive pay to the active component.
S.1859 was introduced by Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) on May 26th and is originally co-sponsored by Sen. Cortez Masto (D-NV). Current co-sponsors include Sens. Collins (R-ME), Gillibrand (D-NY), Tuberville (R-AL), Hirono (D-HI), and Murkowski (R-AK).
H.R.3626 was introduced by Representative Tim Ryan (D-OH-13) on May 28th and is originally co-sponsored by Reps. Palazzo (R-MS-4), Veasey (D-TX-33), Neal (D-MA-1), Ruppersberger (D-MD-2), Bustos (D-IL-17), Axne (D-IA-3), Kahele, (D-HI-2), Spanberger (D-VA-7) and Del. San Nicolas (D-GU-At Large). Additional co-sponsors include Reps. Kelly (R-MS-1), Carson (D-IN-7) and Wild (D-PA-7).
In the last twenty years, our nation has relied on the National Guard like few other eras in history. Missions at home and abroad have greatly increased as the Guard has transitioned from a strategic reserve to an operational reserve since the terrorist attacks on 9/11. While the reliance has increased, incentive and bonus pay for Guardsmen continues to stagnate.
Under current legislation, National Guard and Reserve servicemembers receive 1/30th incentive pay that the Active Component receives for doing the same mission and being required to maintain the same skillset. Guardsmen and Reservists are also not eligible for the same retention and special bonuses as the active component. This creates an inequality between the Components and greatly impacts recruiting and retention of servicemembers in the Guard and Reserve.
There is a current similar provision in the Senate version of the National Defense Authorization Act that addresses this issue, but there is not a companion amendment in the House version of the NDAA.
S.1859/H.R.3626 the National Guard and Reserve Incentive Pay Parity Act, would provide equity between the components by eliminating the 1/30th rule and removing barriers for Guardsmen and Reservists to receive the same bonus opportunities and the Active Component. Abolishing this rule would help the DoD address the growing pilot and special skill shortage that is currently being experienced.
