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Washington, DC – Congressmen Steven Palazzo (R-MS) and Tim Ryan (D-OH), co-chairmen of the National Guard and Reserve Caucus, today introduced a series of bills that would address pay parity in the National Guard and Reserves: the Montgomery GI Bill Parity Act of 2019, Aviation Incentive Pay Parity Act, and National Guard and Reserves Retirement Pay Parity Act. Congressmen Peter Welch (D-VT) and Kelly Armstrong (R-ND) joined Palazzo and Ryan in introducing the Montgomery GI Bill Parity Act of 2019.

“Members of the Guard and Reserve have been asked to fulfill similar responsibilities as their active duty counterparts for nearly two decades," said Congressman Palazzo. “We owe this fix to our men and women that serve in the Guard and Reserves. As co-chair of the National Guard and Reserve Caucus and a member of the Mississippi National Guard, I will continue advocating for their equal access to education, healthcare, and pension benefits.”

“Our National Guardsmen and Reservists have contributed immensely as an operational force since 9/11. They have earned the same respect and recognition as anyone who has served and deserve these benefits,” said Congressman Ryan. “These bills are common sense and go a long way to ensuring members of the Guard and Reserve are treated fairly. As Co-Chairman of the National Guard and Reserve Caucus, I understand the hard-work, dedication and sacrifice these men and women demonstrate every day.”

“Every time they deploy, our neighbors in the Guard and Reserves put their lives on the line next to their active duty counterparts,” said Congressman Welch. “There is no reason that they shouldn’t have access to the same education benefits.  This commonsense legislation would fix this oversight.”

“Guard and Reserve members have earned education benefits from their service to their state and country,” said Congressman Armstrong. “After their service and sacrifice, the least we can do is make sure they are able to obtain a quality education. I’m glad to cosponsor this bipartisan bill to remove barriers to education benefits and I urge the House to take it up without delay.”

H.R. 2952 Montgomery GI Bill Parity Act of 2019

• This bill permits Reservists to supplement Tuition Assistance with their Montgomery-GI Bill benefits. Already permitted for active-duty servicemembers, this strengthens the education benefits for Reservists and gives them greater flexibility to utilize their benefits.

H.R. 2953 Aviation Incentive Pay Parity Act

• This bill permits the military branches to pay aviators in the Guard and Reserves the same Aviation Incentive Pay received by active duty pilots. It responds to a widespread and critical shortage of pilots in the armed services. A 2019 RAND report shows that aviation bonuses would improve pilot retention and reduce overall costs to the Department of Defense through savings in training.

H.R. 2954 National Guard and Reserves Retirement Pay Parity Act

• This bill provides retirement benefit parity for Reservists deployed on 12304b orders. They will receive a reduction in the age at which retirement pay can eventually be received, as already exists for Reservists mobilized on other types of orders. While recent Congressional legislation closed an inequality gap with regard to education and medical benefits, the retirement pay benefit was not provided.