Congressmembers Panetta and Wenstrup Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Help Activated Military Reservists and National Guard Members

Press Release

Today, Congressman Jimmy Panetta (D-CA-20) and Congressman Brad Wenstrup (R-OH-02) announced that they introduced H.R. 6280, the Reservist Pay Equity Act, to encourage more employers to pay the salary of employees that are members of the National Guard and Reserves when activated.

Employers who hire military reservists and National Guard members are not required to pay those servicemembers when they are deployed. However, employers may receive a tax credit for paying their employed military reservists and National Guard members differential wages, which directly help these servicemembers offset financial challenges while they are activated. The bipartisan Reservist Pay Equity Act increases the tax credit employers receive from 20% to 50%.

"As a former reservist who was mobilized and deployed during Operation Enduring Freedom, I was lucky to have a civilian employer who was able to provide me with differential wages during my military service. However, there are reservists and national guardsmen and women who are not as fortunate and face financial hardships during their mobilization," said Congressman Panetta. "The Reservist Pay Equity Act will encourage more employers to offer differential wage pay to their employees while they are activated to protect our communities and country."

"Reservists and National Guard members make many sacrifices when they put their civilian lives on hold to answer the call, including decreased pay in many cases. I've seen firsthand the financial challenges that many men and women in uniform and their families experience during deployments," said Congressman Wenstrup. "Our bipartisan legislation will alleviate some of the challenges that families face by encouraging more employers to pay differential wages to those activated."

"The National Guard Association of the United States (NGAUS) thanks Rep. Panetta and Rep. Wenstrup for introducing the Equitable Pay for Reservists Act which increases tax deductions for employers who ensure their servicemember employees don't get paid less while they are deployed," said retired Brig. Gen. J. Roy Robinson, President, the National Guard Association of United States. "As we continue to improve laws to support the operational National Guard, efforts like this are crucial. Along with our families and communities, civilian employers are critical members of our national defense team and I hope Congress continues to explore changes in the law which incentivize their continued support."

"The membership of the Enlisted Association of the National Guard of the U.S. (EANGUS) supports the Reservist Pay Equity Act. We thank Congressman Panetta and Congressman Wenstrup for introducing this important piece of legislation encouraging employers to pay our Reserve Component Servicemembers fairly during state status and in service to their country," said Frank Yoakum, Executive Director, Enlisted Association of the National Guard of the United States.

"ROA appreciates the bipartisan bill, Reservist Pay Equity Act, from Rep. Panetta and Rep. Wenstrup. The bill will give a tax credit to employers who pay missed civilian wages to deployed reservists which can only be seen as a win-win. The replaced civilian wages can offset unexpected or increased expenses due to the activation, and thus act as a retention incentive for the servicemember. A recent Department of Defense survey showed one-third of Reserve spouses identified financial challenges in the last year," said Jeffrey Phillips, Executive Director, Reserve Officers Association.

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