Chairman Takano, Levin Call for Complete GI Bill Parity Fix

The Members acted following news that DoD would utilize decades old 9/11 declaration to justify benefits for National Guard members protecting the Capitol

WASHINGTON, D.C —Today, House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Chairman Mark Takano (D-Calif.) and Rep. Mike Levin (D-Calif.) issued the following statements regarding news that the National Guard servicemembers guarding the Capitol will qualify for critical GI Bill benefits. 

“While I am pleased that the National Guard members protecting our Capitol will be able to earn GI Bill benefits for their service, this confusion was another poignant reminder that too often servicemembers taking on the same risks as their active duty counterparts aren’t getting the same benefits,” said Chairman Takano. “We shouldn’t have to search for a justification to give the soldiers who fought fires, helped respond to the COVID-19 pandemic, and guarded our nation’s Capitol the benefits they have earned. That’s why we need to pass Rep. Levin’s Guard and Reserve GI Bill Parity Act this Congress, so we can fix this issue once and for all and get GI Bill parity for our servicemembers.”

“Members of the National Guard have made incredible sacrifices to defend our democracy, standing on high alert at the Capitol in freezing temperatures and often sleeping on cold, hard floors,” said Rep. Levin. “I’m glad they’re earning the GI Bill benefits they deserve during this deployment, but we shouldn’t have to rely on a nearly 20-year-old declaration to provide them. I introduced the Guard and Reserve GI Bill Parity Act in 2020 because members of the Guard and Reserve should receive similar benefits for making similar sacrifices as other servicemembers. I look forward to reintroducing that bill soon and ensuring Guard and Reserve members always receive the GI Bill benefits they deserve.”

Last week, Chairman Takano and Rep. Levin sent a letter to National Guard Chief General Hokanson to better understand how the National Guard members protecting our Capitol following the June 6^th insurrection are earning eligibility for the GI Bill. Today, the National Guard Bureau indicated that these members would indeed qualify due to the emergency declared on 9/11. Last Congress, Rep. Mike Levin introduced H.R. 5870, the Guard and Reserve GI Bill Parity Act, that would ensure servicemembers who perform the same job and take on the same risks as those on active duty will earn the same benefits. This follows the Committee’s push last Congress to address the discrepancies that lead to GI bill disparities.

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