Honor America’s Guard-Reserve Retirees
Sources believe that Representative Tim Walz (D-MN) will once again file the Honor America’s Guard-Reserve Retirees bill to extend honorary veteran status to National Guard and Reserve members who qualify for retirement after 20 years, but were never activated long enough to meet current statutory requirements in order to attain veteran status. In the two previous Congresses, Representative Walz’s bills successfully passed the House of Representatives but failed to move in the Senate. Considering changes to the makeup of the Senate, including new Senate Veterans Affairs Committee Chairman and Ranking Member, many advocates believe this is the year Representative Walz will be successful. EANGUS staff will actively push for Senate adoption of this important legislation in 2015.