U.S. Sens. Jerry Moran (R-KS) and Jack Rosen (D-NV) introduced bipartisan legislation that would comprehensively reform the National Guard statuses.
The legislation, the Duty Status Reform Act, would comprehensively reform the National Guard, the lawmakers said, by consolidating and streamlining the duty status framework. The legislation is cosponsored by U.S. Sens. Tim Sheehy (R-MT), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Mike Crapo (R-ID), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Jim Risch (R-ID) and Cory Booker (D-NJ). U.S. Reps. Gil Cisneros (D-CA) and Jack Bergman (R-MI) introduced companion legislation in the House.
“The men and women of the National Guard in Kansas and across the country play a critical role in serving our communities and defending our nation,” Moran said. “As the Guard’s mission has evolved, the duty status system has become increasingly complex. This legislation will simplify the structure and strengthen the Guard’s ability to carry out its missions by standardizing pay and benefits, bolstering readiness and better supporting those who serve.”
The legislation would standardize pay and benefits; improve deployment readiness by clearing outlining mission eligibility requirements; provide greater clarity on the duties service members can perform before extensions are required; and improve consistency in veterans’ benefits eligibility for Guard members. The legislation would also create four duty statuses – Category 1: Active Duty; Category 2: Active Duty; Category 3: Reserve Component Duty; and Category 4: Remote Assignments.
“The National Guard has become an indispensable operational force for this country, but the duty status system has not kept pace with the way our Soldiers and Airmen serve today,” Maj. Gen. (Ret.) Francis M. McGinn, President, National Guard Association of the United States (NGAUS), said. “Duty Status Reform will reduce administrative burdens, simplify a system that has become too complex, and make the Guard easier to access and employ when the nation needs us most. NGAUS is grateful to Senators Moran and Rosen for their leadership, and we are encouraged by the broad bipartisan support behind this legislation. That momentum reflects a growing recognition that the Guard deserves a modern system that matches the reality of its service.”