House Passes Bill, Would Increase Benefits for Guardsmen

June 26, 2009, WASHINGTON, D.C. – Yesterday (June 25th), the U.S. House passed a military budget bill for FY2010, which included increases in funding amounts for the National Guard.  The bill also extends health care coverage and increases pay for guardsmen and reservists.

“The Tennessee National Guard has contributed substantially to our nation’s military efforts over the last 8 years,” said Congressman Bart Gordon.  “The military budget we passed will allow us to increase funding and benefits for guardsmen who have courageously served our country alongside active-duty soldiers.”

On Wednesday (June 24th), 140 Tennessee Guard members left for Iraq.  Since 2001, nearly every member of Tennessee’s National Guard, which is made up of 14,300 members, has been deployed to Iraq or Afghanistan.  Some have been deployed multiple times.
 
The House-passed military budget for FY2010, provides a 3.4% pay raise for military personnel, including guardsmen and reservists.  It also extends military health care coverage, known as TRICARE, for guardsmen and their families. The bill would extend TRICARE coverage prior to deployment from 3 months to 6 months.

“These soldiers willingly leave their everyday lives to defend our country,” added Gordon.  “In November, 5,000 Tennessee Guard members are expected to be deployed – leading up to their deployment, they deserve quality health care, which will help to ensure they are physically prepared and healthy when they serve our nation abroad.”

The bill also increases the size of our country’s active-duty military, which could reduce the number of redeployments for Guard and Reserve units.  The Senate is expected to pass their version of the bill in July.