Lincoln: National Guardsmen and Reservists One Step Closer To Receiving Recognition They Deserve

Press Release

U.S. Senator Blanche Lincoln today announced that members of the National Guard and Reserve are one step closer to receiving the recognition they deserve. A Veterans' Affairs subcommittee in the House of Representatives today passed Lincoln's bipartisan "Honor America's Guard-Reserve Retirees Act." The legislation would ensure that all members of the National Guard and Reserves who have served the nation for 20 or more years receive the designation "veteran" under the law.

"This issue is a matter of honor for our men and women who have served in uniform, and the designation of "veteran' is one that should be proudly conveyed upon them," Lincoln said. "This legislation will ensure that those who were never activated, but nonetheless served their nation faithfully for 20 or more years are given the recognition they deserve. All members of the reserve forces volunteer for service and are ready to be activated to defend our nation. Twenty or more years of service should be sufficient qualifying service for full veteran status under law."

As defined by current law, members of the reserve components who have completed 20 or more years of service are considered "military retirees." Upon reaching age 60, they are eligible for all of the benefits received by active duty military retirees, such as military retired pay, government health care and other benefits of service, including a number of veterans' benefits. However, if they have not served a qualifying period of federal active duty other than active duty for training, they are denied full standing as a "veteran" of the Armed Forces. This technically excludes these men and women from various veterans' ceremonies and initiatives, such as events encouraging veterans to wear their medals on Veterans' Day and Memorial Day, and in legislation authorizing veterans to offer a hand salute during the playing of the national anthem or the presentation or posting of the colors.

This legislation seeks to honor them with the status of "veteran" under law, not change the legal qualifications for access to any benefits.

Lincoln's legislation is endorsed by The Military Coalition--a consortium of nationally prominent uniformed services and veterans associations representing over 5.5 million members. The bill is pending before the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee.

"While these events may not seem of importance to some, for those who wore the same uniform, were subject to the same code of military justice, received the same training and spent twenty years or more being liable for call-up, this lack of recognition fails to acknowledge their sacrifice," Lincoln said. "I have heard from many Arkansans who have called on me to support this initiative, and I am proud to be leading this effort in the United States Senate."

For her work on behalf of servicemembers, veterans and their families, Senator Lincoln last month received the Military Officers Association of America's (MOAA) 2010 Colonel Arthur T. Marix Congressional Leadership award for her key role in authoring bills needed to secure improvements for servicemembers, veterans and their families. She has also been awarded the 2008 G.V. "Sonny" Montgomery Eagle Award from the Enlisted Association of the National Guard of the United States (EANGUS), the 2009 Award of Merit from the Military Coalition, the 2009 National Legislative Advocacy Award from the Association of the United States Navy and the 2009 Minuteman of the Year Award from the Reserve Officers Association (ROA).

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