Senate Passes And Sends To President's Desk Defense Bills Including Key Leahy-Led Initiatives For The National Guard And Reserve -- Boosting Health Insurance
And Housing Allowances And Tackling The Guard's Equipment Backlog

WASHINGTON (Thurs., Dec. 22) – The U.S. Senate has wrapped up its session for the year by passing and sending to the President's desk two defense bills that include several major priorities for the National Guard authored or co-authored by Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.).

In a late-night vote Wednesday, the Senate gave final approval to Leahy's initiatives focusing on housing and health care benefits for members of the Guard and Reserve, as well as a much-needed infusion of nearly $1 billion to replenish domestic supplies for the Guard that have been drawn down by the Guard's assignments in Iraq, Afghanistan and the disasters in the Gulf States. 

The provisions are included in the annual defense appropriations bill and the annual defense authorization bill.  The Leahy-Bond Amendment for the Guard's equipment backlog is in the appropriations bill, and provisions raising the monthly housing allowance for Guard members and for expanding the TRICARE Reserve Select Program are in the defense authorization bill.

Leahy and a bipartisan group of senators earlier this year wrote and introduced legislation to expand the availability of TRICARE -- the military’s health insurance program -- to the Guard and Reserve and their families, building on earlier steps which Leahy launched three years ago. 

"This is a measurable step forward for readiness and for fairness for the Guard and its people,” said Leahy.  "Ensuring that every member of the Guard and Reserve has access to affordable health insurance is vital to the well-being of this essential force.  At a time when the troops of our Guard and Reserve are contributing so much to the war efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as protecting us at home, this package of new health insurance benefits will make a real difference, and it’s the least they deserve."

Leahy has also been a Senate leader in advocating an end to a housing allowance formula that shortchanges active-duty Guard members and Reservists.  The defense authorization bill mandates that reservists serving on active duty receive the same monthly allowance as active-duty members of the military.  The provision has been endorsed by several major Reserve organizations.

Included in the appropriations bill is supplemental funding for the war in Iraq, including the ingredients of the earlier Senate-passed Leahy-Bond Amendment, providing $900 million for the National Guard to procure equipment needed to deal with domestic emergencies, including natural disasters, and $100 million for the Reserves.  The baseline bill includes an additional $60 million for the National Guard.

Leahy said, "We are paying billions upon billions to build up and equip Iraq's national guard.  It's past time to ensure that our own National Guard has the equipment they need to do all that we're asking them to do."

Leahy, the co-chair of the Senate National Guard Caucus, has been a long-time leader and advocate for the National Guard.  His efforts in past years have also helped close the benefits gap between active-duty members of the Guard and Reserve, and active-duty members of the military.

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