House Passes Bill to Grant Veteran Status to Guard, Reserve Members

House Passes Bill to Grant Veteran Status to Guard, Reserve Members

On a voice vote, the House passed a bill on Sept. 28 that would grant full veteran status to retired members of the National Guard and Reserve, even if they were never deployed.

Current law does not consider Guard and Reserve members veterans unless they have met a number of technical requirements, including a deployment for more than 30 days, said bill co-sponsor Rep. Tom Latham, R-Iowa. The policy excludes many soldiers in the Guard and Reserve who, while never deployed, carried out critical support roles during times of war and peace during long military careers, Latham said. The bill would change that, Latham said.

“Our military depends on the National Guard and Reserve to keep our country safe,” Latham said. “Guard and Reserve members who for 20 years or more served this country and stood ready to be deployed at a moment’s notice have earned the right to be considered veterans.”

The bill, H.R. 3787, now moves to the Senate for consideration. A companion measure, S.1780, is awaiting a vote by the Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs.

To see more, go to: www.tomlatham.house.gov/News/DocumentSingle.aspx?DocumentID=209205.

(source)

H/T Jane