House panel OKs two new reservist benefits

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House panel OKs two new reservist benefits
By Rick Maze - Staff writer
Posted : Friday Oct 26, 2007 12:25:07 EDT

A House subcommittee approved two bills Thursday aimed at helping National Guard and reserve members who are mobilized for overseas deployment.

The House Veterans’ Affairs economic opportunity subcommitet passed HR 3882, which modifies rules for earning active-duty GI Bill benefits. It is aimed directly at the Minnesota National Guard’s 1st Brigade Combat Team, 34th Infantry Division that was mobilized for 22 months, including 16 months in combat. Of the 2,447 soldiers who deployed, 1,162 members discovered when they returned that they did not qualify for active-duty GI Bill benefits because of how their orders were issued.

Minnesota Guard officials believe their state was hit the hardest, but they say thousands of other Guard members also were hurt if they received initial mobilization orders that did not clearly state they were being called up for 730 or more days.

Reps. Tim Walz, D-Minn., and John Kline, R-Minn., are the chief sponsors of the bill that would retroactively apply to mobilizations since Sept. 11, 2001

The second bill passed by the subcommittee is HR 513, the National Heroes Credit Protection Act, which would allow reserve component members who have served 180 days or longer on contingency operations outside the U.S. to include an explanation in their credit record that their military duties may be a factor in any financial problems they experience. That statement would be provided to each person or entity that requested a credit score or consumer report.

Rep. Robert Brady, D-Pa., is the chief sponsor of the legislation, which he said is aimed at helping people who have trouble keeping up on personal bills because they were called to active-duty.


Rest of article at: http://www.armytimes.com/news/2007/10/military_reserve_benefits_071025w/