Top Priorities for 119th Congress (2025-2026) – http://dev.eangus.org/
- National Guard Child Care Tax Credit 24-03
- Justification: Many military members in the National Guard have to wait a long time to get access to the Child Development Center (CDC). Non-Governmental Private Child Care services are very cost prohibitive. Biggest impact are the E1-E5s which enlisted pay has failed to keep up with the cost of living crisis. A child care tax credit will significantly reduce financial stress, and offer a retention benefit for national guard members.
- TRICARE for Young Adults Extension 24-02
- Justification: Align with ACA on covering insurances for dependents till age 26. Members of the military that have dependents with special needs are deeply affected by this age 21 limitation.
- Veterans Court Services Expansion Program 24-01
- Justification: Many veterans are experiencing mental illness and may suffer from substance abuse. This resolution will benefit the military as a whole in helping to address the mental health crisis in America.
- Junior Enlisted Pay Raise 24-06 –
- Justification: Junior enlisted pay has failed to keep up with private and public sector salaries. Members with family are suffering financial hardship due to a supply shortage of housing, and overall cost of living (commodities, food, and general household goods). This is a major issue identified by the Military Welfare Study conducted by Congressman Don Bacon from Nebraska. This issue affects the entire military in recruiting and retention. Ensuring junior enlisted pay is keeping up with the cost of living is important to recruit high quality applicants and retain current service members at a time of significant geopolitical tension.
Active/Potential Legislative Projects
Members: Adam Chen (EANGUS Vice Chairman – Legislative Committee), David Daniels (EANGUS Director, Congressional Affairs and Business Development
- Every Veteran Housed Act – Cosponsor: Congressman Mike Levin (CA-49)
- Justification: Current National Guard and Reserve veterans are consistently not eligible for all VA homelessness programs. If a National Guard or Reserve member deploys or goes overseas for a training mission, then they will be eligible for all homelessness programs. However, only certain duty statuses here in the United States count towards eligibility, leaving homeless Guard and Reserve veterans without the resources they need. $96.2M CBO Score over 5 years.
- Wrongful Termination of CAPT. Torree – Burnpit Lawsuit against Texas Public Safety-
- Background: Capt. Torres served in the Army Reserve and developed severe breathing problems linked to the toxic smoke from burn pits around the bases where he was stationed. He sued the Texas Dept. of Public Safety after supervisors failed to make accommodations for his injuries, as required under USERRA. After a grueling six-year legal battle, Capt. Torres was awarded $2.49 million by a Texas jury. This ruling occurred one year after the Supreme Court rejected Texas’ claim to “sovereign immunity” (an attempt to circumvent federal law and the supremacy clause of the Constitution) and remanded the case back to the Texas court system. Now, despite the jury’s unanimous decision, the Texas Dept. of Public Safety is seeking a retrial and has filed a motion with the Nueces County Court-at-Law.
- Justification to support Capt Torres: If the State of Texas is successful in overturning this trial, it would be a significant blow for other states with veterans that have burnpit exposure disabilities. Other state agencies may use this case to potentially deny disabled veterans for legitimate accommodations under USERRA.We know third party studies have shown a delayed effect on veterans with exposure to the airborne hazards. The 2021 U.S withdrawal from Afghanistan is an example, we still have many service members currently serving in Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Syria, Jordan, Horn of Africa – Somalia, Djibouti, Kuwait, and Bahrain which are VA-identified combat zones with active burnpits. This includes locations which have no PACT Act burnpit recognition from the VA like the Republic of Kosovo. Soldiers in the Army National Guard are experiencing significant health problems due to burnpits at Camp Nothing Hill in order to support the NATO Kosovo Force (KFOR) peacekeeping mission. We could see this issue become a major problem in the coming years as more veterans come home from service, register for the PACT Act, and show signs of disabilities. Workplace accommodation will be a big topic.
- Add Republic of Kosovo to PACT Act
- Justification: Kosovo is not on the PACT Act list for burnpits. However, Kosovo does have active burnpits. Soldiers in the Army National Guard are experiencing significant health problems due to burnpits at Camp Nothing Hill in order to support the NATO Kosovo Force (KFOR) peacekeeping mission. KFOR is predominately supported by Army Guard. NJ Army Guard supported a peacekeeping mission in 2022. Talk with the new VA Secretary and VP-elect JD Vance in the new administration.. See Camp Nothing Hill Reference for burnpit evidence.
- JD Vance/Trump’s $5,000 Child Tax Credit Proposal
- Justification: Set Up a conversation with VP-elect JD Vance on doing a universal child tax credit that benefits civilians and the national guard. May tie in National Guard Child Care Tax credit as legislation with 119th Congress. Would require review by House Committee on Ways and Means (Taxes, Budget, and Spending)
Major Wins for 2024
- Parental/Maternity Leave in the National Guard
- Section 601 of the 2024 NDAA (last year’s) authorized paid parental leave for up to 12 paid IDT periods (equivalent to six days of drill) within 12 months and included non-birthing parents. The bill also included the award of one retirement point for each IDT period, which will count towards a good year. Services were directed to implement a policy beginning 1 October 2024. – Drill Status Guardsman Benefit + AGR benefit https://www.
myairforcebenefits.us.af.mil/ Benefit-Library/Federal- Benefits/Military-Parental- Leave-Program-(MPLP)?serv=22
- Section 601 of the 2024 NDAA (last year’s) authorized paid parental leave for up to 12 paid IDT periods (equivalent to six days of drill) within 12 months and included non-birthing parents. The bill also included the award of one retirement point for each IDT period, which will count towards a good year. Services were directed to implement a policy beginning 1 October 2024. – Drill Status Guardsman Benefit + AGR benefit https://www.
- Major Richard Star Act – https://www.congress.gov/
bill/118th-congress/house- bill/1282/all-actions - This bill provides that combat-disabled uniformed services retirees with fewer than 20 years of creditable service may concurrently receive, without reduction, veterans’ disability compensation and retired pay or combat-related special compensation.
- Outcome: Added into NDAA FY25