Legislation introduced to better support active National Guard, Reservists members

A group of lawmakers are seeking to incentivize employers to continue to pay National Guard and Reserves members while activated.

U.S. Reps. Blake Moore (R-UT), Jimmy Panetta (D-CA), Brad Wenstrup (R-OH), and Don Beyer (D-VA) have reintroduced the bipartisan Reservist Pay Equity Act, which would require employers who hire military reservists and National Guard members to pay those servicemembers when they are deployed.

“The Reservist Pay Equity Act is crucial for the well-being of our National Guard and Reserve members, especially those serving at Hill Air Force Base in the 419th Fighter Wing,” Moore said. “While these citizen airmen may be part-time members of the military, they are full-time members of our neighborhoods and communities. By increasing the employer tax credit from 20 percent to 50 percent, we can encourage more employers to hire these National Guard and Reserve members, offsetting potential income disparity during deployment.”

Employers may receive a tax credit for paying their employed military reservists and National Guard members differential wages, which helps these service members offset financial challenges while activated.

The measure is endorsed by the Reserve Officers Association, the National Guard Association of the United States and the Enlisted Association of the National Guard of the United States (EANGUS).

“When I was mobilized and deployed to Afghanistan, I was lucky to have a civilian employer who provided me with differential wages,” Panetta said. “However, many reservists and National Guard members that I served with, and many others who are serving now, are not as fortunate. I’m proud to reintroduce the bipartisan Reservist Pay Equity Act to encourage more employers to support our reservists and National Guard members while they serve our country.”