Rep. Calvert Votes for CA National Guard Bonus Fix

Today, Congressman Ken Calvert (CA-42) voted along with a bipartisan majority of the House (375 to 34) to pass legislation that provides relief for California Guardsmen who were ordered to repay enlistment bonuses. The legislative fix was included in S. 2943, the conference report of the Fiscal Year 2017 National Defense Authorization Act.

"Our servicemembers deserve the peace of mind that this legislation will provide them," said Rep. Calvert. "The misguided effort to collect these bonus payments was wrong from the start, so I'm pleased Congress has been able to come together in a bipartisan way and find a solution."

Language in The National Defense Authorization Act makes the following reforms:

The Secretary of Defense (SecDef) shall conduct a review all bonus pay, special pay, student loan repayments, and similar special payments made to National Guard members of the State of California from January 1, 2004 -- December 31, 2015.
Process shall be expedited and the goal is for all cases to be finished by July 30, 2017.
If any pays have been recouped, DOD will determine whether the recoupment was unwarranted.
The burden to prove a service member knowingly accepted a bonus despite not being qualified is on DOD and SecDef guidance is to error on the side of the service member.
Board may waive repayment or repay the recouped amount.
If a consumer reporting agency was notified of a member's debt, the agency will be notified that no such debt was valid.
If financial hardship was experienced as a result of the government to recoup the debt, the member will be assisted in addressing that financial hardship in accordance with mechanisms developed by the SecDef.
Rep. Calvert also advocated for the inclusion of a $32 million authorization to restore the TRICARE autism reimbursement rates to levels not less than the rates that were in effect on March 31, 2016 for the Comprehensive Autism Care Demonstration program.

"California was disproportionately impacted by the change in TRICARE autism reimbursement rates so I am pleased that the Conference Report included this vital language and funding authorization. Military families that face the challenge of raising a child with autism deserve our full support. The Comprehensive Autism Care Demonstration program provides critical resources for families caring for a child with autism."

Additional highlights of The National Defense Authorization Act include:

$619 billion for national defense which included $3.2 billion for readiness stabilization funding to stop the military drawdown which is fueling the readiness crisis.
A 2.1% pay raise for our troops, the largest increase in six years and 5% above the President's request.
Improves access to quality health care for warfighters, retirees, and their families, while enhancing medical readiness.
Maintains the current status of the Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH).
Reforms the Commissary system to preserve the benefit, while also making improvements to ensure continued savings for shoppers, a good value for taxpayers, and ongoing support for morale, welfare, and recreational activities.
Maintains the status quo on prohibition on the closure of the Guantanamo Bay detention facility and the transfer of detainees to the U.S.
Continues acquisition, military organization, and National Security Council (NSC) reforms.

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