Senate Veterans’ Affairs Ranking Member Jon Tester (D-MT) and Chairman Jerry Moran (R-KS) are encouraging Secretary of Defense Mark Esper to ensure National Guard members receive benefits and pay earned from their time in active duty responding to COVID-19.
The senators are advocating the action under the appropriate federal Title 32 duty status.
“At the beginning of the crisis, many governors began deploying their National Guard members under State Active Duty status, but following President Trump’s national emergency declaration and determination under the Stafford Act on March 13, 2020, states have sought and are receiving federal support,” the senators wrote in correspondence to Esper. “As such, we believe it is appropriate that the National Guard answering the call to provide relief during this national emergency must then be moved to federal Title 32 status, in coordination with state Governors and the Adjutants General. This action will ensure our National Guard who are ‘Always Ready, Always There!’ receive the proper military pay and compensation, access to TRICARE healthcare, military employment protections, and a host of benefits that we all expect our brave servicemembers to receive, particularly in a time of crisis.”
Tester has been urging the Trump Administration to expand Title 32 authorities for National Guard personnel on the front lines fighting the COVID-19 crisis. Last month, Tester sent a letter to Esper indicating three states – California, New York, and Washington had been given such authority. However, states like Montana have also activated the National Guard.