Representative Mike Levin (CA) and Delegate Jennifer Wexton (VA) introduced the “Guard and Reserve GI Bill Parity Act” (H.R. 1423) in the House, and Senators Jerry Moran (KS) and Richard Blumenthal (CT) introduced its Senate companion (S. 649), a bipartisan bill aimed at ensuring National Guard and Reserve members receive full Post-9/11 GI Bill education benefits for any day served in uniform, whether under federal (Title 10) or state (Title 32) orders. Currently, many Guard and Reserve members who perform critical missions—such as disaster response, border security, or federal deployments—do not accrue the same GI Bill benefits as active-duty service members, despite serving shoulder-to-shoulder.

This inequity limits access to higher education for thousands of Guard and Reserve members who sacrifice time and safety to serve. For example, in 2023, over 150,000 Guard members were activated for missions like COVID-19 response and natural disaster relief, yet many earned only partial or no GI Bill credits for that service. This bill ensures every qualifying day of service counts toward full Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits, including tuition, housing stipends, and book allowances, providing parity with active-duty counterparts.

The Guard and Reserve GI Bill Parity Act provides a straightforward fix: it amends eligibility rules to count all Title 10 and Title 32 service days toward GI Bill benefits, ensuring Guard and Reserve members can access the education they’ve earned. This supports not only individual service members but also military readiness by incentivizing retention.

The FRA supports fair benefits for all who serve, and the Guard and Reserve GI Bill Parity Act of 2025 is a vital step toward equity for our National Guard and Reserve members and their families. Please ask your Representative to support H.R. 1423 and your Senators to support S. 649.