[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4247 Introduced in House (IH)]







110th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 4247

 To improve certain compensation, health care, and education benefits 
   for individuals who serve in a reserve component of the uniformed 
                   services, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           November 15, 2007

 Mr. Smith of Washington (for himself, Mr. Etheridge, Mr. Crowley, Mr. 
Moran of Virginia, Mr. Gonzalez, Mrs. Gillibrand, Mr. Perlmutter, Mrs. 
Tauscher, Mr. Taylor, and Mr. Ellsworth) introduced the following bill; 
which was referred to the Committee on Armed Services, and in addition 
   to the Committees on Ways and Means and Oversight and Government 
 Reform, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in 
   each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the 
                jurisdiction of the committee concerned

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
 To improve certain compensation, health care, and education benefits 
   for individuals who serve in a reserve component of the uniformed 
                   services, and for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.

    (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Strengthening the 
Transition and Reintegration Of the National Guard and Reserves Act'' 
or the ``STRONGR Act''.
    (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act is as 
follows:

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
Sec. 2. Extension of transitional health care coverage to one year for 
                            members of reserve components for mental 
                            health care.
Sec. 3. Increase in amount of basic educational assistance for members 
                            of the Selected Reserve and members of 
                            reserve components supporting contingency 
                            operations.
Sec. 4. Nonreduction in pay while Federal employee is serving on active 
                            duty in a reserve component of the 
                            uniformed services.
Sec. 5. Assistance for State and local governments that continue to pay 
                            employees who serve on active duty in a 
                            reserve component of the uniformed 
                            services.
Sec. 6. Active-duty reserve component employee credit added to general 
                            business credit.

SEC. 2. EXTENSION OF TRANSITIONAL HEALTH CARE COVERAGE TO ONE YEAR FOR 
              MEMBERS OF RESERVE COMPONENTS FOR MENTAL HEALTH CARE.

    Section 1145(a) of title 10, United States Code, is amended in 
paragraph (3)--
            (1) by inserting ``(A)'' after ``(3)''; and
            (2) by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:
            ``(B) In addition to the period described in subparagraph 
        (A), transitional health care shall be available for an 
        additional 180 days, for mental health care only, to a member 
        of a reserve component described in paragraph (2)(B). The 
        additional 180 days shall begin at the end of the period 
        described in subparagraph (A).''.

SEC. 3. INCREASE IN AMOUNT OF BASIC EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE FOR MEMBERS 
              OF THE SELECTED RESERVE AND MEMBERS OF RESERVE COMPONENTS 
              SUPPORTING CONTINGENCY OPERATIONS.

    (a) Members of Selected Reserve.--
            (1) Increase in amount of assistance.--Section 16131(b) of 
        title 10, United States Code, is amended--
                    (A) in paragraph (1), by striking ``at the 
                following rates'' and all that follows through the end 
                and inserting ``at the rate provided under paragraph 
                (2).''; and
                    (B) in paragraph (2), by striking all and inserting 
                the following:
    ``(2)(A) Educational assistance provided under this chapter shall 
be paid at a rate equal the applicable percentage under subparagraph 
(B) of the rate provided under section 3015(a) of title 38 for an 
approved program of education pursued on a full-time basis.
    ``(B) The applicable percentage under this subparagraph is--
            ``(i) 50 percent for each month in which the individual 
        pursues an approved program of education on a full time basis;
            ``(ii) 37.5 percent for each month in which the individual 
        pursues an approved program of education on a three-quarter-
        time basis;
            ``(iii) 25 percent for each month in which the individual 
        pursues an approved program of education on a half-time basis; 
        and
            ``(iv) an appropriately reduced percent, as determined 
        under regulations which the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall 
        prescribe, for each month in which the individual pursues an 
        approved program of education on less than a half-time basis, 
        except that no payment may be made to an individual for a month 
        in which the individual pursues such a program on less than a 
        half-time basis if tuition assistance is otherwise available to 
        the individual for such pursuit from the military department 
        concerned.''.
            (2) Effective date.--The amendments made by paragraph (1) 
        shall apply with respect to an educational assistance allowance 
        under section 16131(b) of such title paid for months beginning 
        after the date of the enactment of this Act.
    (b) Reserve Components Supporting Contingency Operations.--
            (1) Increase in amount.--Section 16162(c)(4) of title 10, 
        United States Code, is amended--
                    (A) in subparagraph (A) by striking ``40 percent'' 
                and inserting ``60 percent''; and
                    (B) in subparagraph (B) by striking ``60 percent'' 
                and inserting ``70 percent''.
            (2) Effective date.--The amendments made by paragraph (1) 
        shall apply with respect to an educational assistance allowance 
        under section 16162(c)(4) of such title paid for months 
        beginning after the date of the enactment of this Act.

SEC. 4. NONREDUCTION IN PAY WHILE FEDERAL EMPLOYEE IS SERVING ON ACTIVE 
              DUTY IN A RESERVE COMPONENT OF THE UNIFORMED SERVICES.

    (a) In General.--Subchapter IV of chapter 55 of title 5, United 
States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new section:
``Sec. 5538. Nonreduction in pay while serving on active duty in a 
              reserve component
    ``(a) An employee who is also a member of a reserve component and 
is absent from a position of employment with the Federal Government 
under a call or order to serve on active duty for a period of more than 
30 days shall be entitled to receive, for each pay period described in 
subsection (b), an amount equal to the amount by which--
            ``(1) the amount of civilian basic pay that would otherwise 
        have been payable to the employee for such pay period if the 
        employee's civilian employment with the Government had not been 
        interrupted by the service on active duty, exceeds (if at all)
            ``(2) the amount of military compensation that is payable 
        to the employee for the service on active duty and is allocable 
        to such pay period.
    ``(b)(1) Amounts under this section shall be payable with respect 
to each pay period (which would otherwise apply if the employee's 
civilian employment had not been interrupted) that occurs--
            ``(A) while the employee serves on active duty for a period 
        of more than 30 days;
            ``(B) while the employee is hospitalized for, or 
        convalescing from, an illness or injury incurred in, or 
        aggravated during, the performance of such active duty; or
            ``(C) during the 14-day period beginning at the end of such 
        active duty or the end of the period referred to in 
        subparagraph (B).
    ``(2) Paragraph (1) shall not apply with respect to a pay period 
for which the employee receives civilian basic pay (including by taking 
any annual, military, or other paid leave) to which the employee is 
entitled by virtue of the employee's civilian employment with the 
Government.
    ``(c) Any amount payable under this section to an employee shall be 
paid--
            ``(1) by the employing agency of the employee;
            ``(2) from the appropriation or fund that would be used to 
        pay the employee if the employee were in a pay status; and
            ``(3) to the extent practicable, at the same time and in 
        the same manner as would civilian basic pay if the employee's 
        civilian employment had not been interrupted.
    ``(d) In consultation with Secretary of Defense, the Office of 
Personnel Management shall prescribe such regulations as may be 
necessary to carry out this section.
    ``(e)(1) In consultation with the Office, the head of each agency 
referred to in section 2302(a)(2)(C)(ii) shall prescribe procedures to 
ensure that the rights under this section apply to the employees of 
such agency.
    ``(2) The Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration 
shall, in consultation with the Office, prescribe procedures to ensure 
that the rights under this section apply to the employees of that 
agency.
    ``(f) For the purpose of this section--
            ``(1) the terms `active duty for a period of more than 30 
        days', `member', and `reserve component' have the meanings 
        given such terms in section 101 of title 37;
            ``(2) the term `civilian basic pay' includes any amount 
        payable under section 5304;
            ``(3) the term `employing agency', as used with respect to 
        an employee entitled to any payments under this section, means 
        the agency or other entity of the Government (including an 
        agency referred to in section 2302(a)(2)(C)(ii)) with respect 
        to which the employee has reemployment rights under chapter 43 
        of title 38; and
            ``(4) the term `military compensation' has the meaning 
        given the term `pay' in section 101(21) of title 37.''.
    (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the beginning of 
chapter 55 of title 5, United States Code, is amended by inserting 
after the item relating to section 5537 the following new item:

``5538. Nonreduction in pay while serving on active duty in a reserve 
                            component.''.
    (c) Application of Amendment.--Section 5538 of title 5, United 
States Code, as added by subsection (a), shall apply with respect to 
pay periods (as described in subsection (b) of such section) beginning 
on or after the date of the enactment of this Act.

SEC. 5. ASSISTANCE FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS THAT CONTINUE TO PAY 
              EMPLOYEES WHO SERVE ON ACTIVE DUTY IN A RESERVE COMPONENT 
              OF THE UNIFORMED SERVICES.

    (a) In General.--Chapter 17 of title 37, United States Code, is 
amended by adding at the end the following new section:
``Sec. 911. Assistance for State and local governments that continue to 
              pay employees who serve on active duty
    ``(a) Continuation of Civilian Basic Pay.--It is the purpose of 
this section to encourage States and local governments to continue to 
pay a portion of the civilian compensation of those employees who are 
also members of a reserve component and are absent from a position of 
employment with the State or local government under a call or order to 
serve on active duty for a period of more than 30 days so that the 
employees receive compensation in an amount that, when taken together 
with their military pay, is at least equal to their civilian 
compensation.
    ``(b) Reimbursement Offered.--(1) At the request of a State or 
local government that continues to pay all or a portion of the civilian 
compensation of an employee described in subsection (a), the Secretary 
concerned shall reimburse the State or local government for 50 percent 
of the civilian compensation paid by the State or local government for 
each pay period described in subsection (c), but not to exceed 50 
percent of the difference (if any) between--
            ``(A) the amount of civilian compensation that would 
        otherwise have been payable to the employee for such pay period 
        if the employee's civilian employment with the State or local 
        government had not been interrupted by the service on active 
        duty; and
            ``(B) the amount of military pay that is payable to the 
        employee for the service on active duty and is allocable to 
        such pay period.
    ``(2) If the pay periods described in subsection (c) extend more 
than nine consecutive months after the first day of the first month 
during which the employee began to serve on active duty for a period of 
more than 30 days, the reimbursement rate shall become 100 percent for 
the subsequent payments. However, as is the case under paragraph (1), 
reimbursement shall be provided only for the difference (if any) 
between--
            ``(A) the amount of civilian compensation that would 
        otherwise have been payable to the employee for such pay period 
        if the employee's civilian employment with the State or local 
        government had not been interrupted by the service on active 
        duty; and
            ``(B) the amount of military pay that is payable to the 
        employee for the service on active duty and is allocable to 
        such pay period.
    ``(c) Pay Periods.--Reimbursement shall be provided under this 
section with respect to each pay period (which would otherwise apply if 
the employee's civilian employment had not been interrupted) that 
occurs--
            ``(1) while the employee serves on active duty for a period 
        of more than 30 days;
            ``(2) while the employee is hospitalized for, or 
        convalescing from, an illness or injury incurred in, or 
        aggravated during, the performance of such active duty; or
            ``(3) during the 14-day period beginning at the end of such 
        active duty or the end of the period referred to in 
        subparagraph (B).
    ``(d) Effect of Failure To Return to Employment.--(1) If an 
employee described in subsection (a), with respect to whom 
reimbursement is provided to a State or local government under this 
section, fails to report or apply for employment or reemployment with 
the State or local government by the end of the period referred to in 
subsection (c)(3), the employee shall refund to the Secretary concerned 
the total amount of the reimbursement provided with respect to the 
employee.
    ``(2) Subject to paragraph (3), an obligation to refund moneys to 
the United States imposed under paragraph (1) is for all purposes a 
debt owed to the United States.
    ``(3) The Secretary concerned may waive, in whole or in part, a 
refund required under paragraph (1) if the Secretary concerned 
determines that recovery would be against equity and good conscience or 
would be contrary to the best interests of the United States.
    ``(4) A discharge in bankruptcy under title 11 that is entered less 
than five years after the end of the period referred to in subsection 
(c)(3) does not discharge the employee from a debt arising under 
paragraph (1). This paragraph applies to any case commenced under title 
11 after the date of the enactment of this section.
    ``(e) Regulations.--The Secretaries concerned shall prescribe 
regulations to carry out this section.
    ``(f) Definitions.--In this section:
            ``(1) The term `civilian compensation' means the wages or 
        salary that an employee of a State or local government normally 
        receives from the employee's employment by the State or local 
        government.
            ``(2) The term `local government' means an agency or 
        political subdivision of a State.
            ``(3) The term `military pay' has the meaning given the 
        term `pay' in section 101(21) of this title.
            ``(4) The term `State' means each of the several States of 
        the United States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth 
        of Puerto Rico, Guam, the Virgin Islands, and other territories 
        or possessions of the United States.''.
    (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the beginning of 
chapter 17 of title 37, is amended by inserting after the item relating 
to section 909 the following new item:

``911. Assistance for State and local governments that continue to pay 
                            employees who serve on active duty.''.
    (c) Application of Amendment.--Section 911 of title 37, United 
States Code, as added by subsection (a), shall apply with respect to 
pay periods (as described in subsection (b) of such section) beginning 
on or after the date of the enactment of this Act.

SEC. 6. ACTIVE-DUTY RESERVE COMPONENT EMPLOYEE CREDIT ADDED TO GENERAL 
              BUSINESS CREDIT.

    (a) Addition of Credit.--Subpart D of part IV of subchapter A of 
chapter 1 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (relating to business-
related credits) is amended by adding at the end the following new 
section:

``SEC. 45N. ACTIVE-DUTY RESERVE COMPONENT EMPLOYEE CREDIT.

    ``(a) General Rule.--For purposes of section 38, in the case of an 
employer, the active-duty reserve component employee credit determined 
under this section for the taxable year is an amount equal to 50 
percent of the compensation paid by the employer to an employee who is 
also a member of a reserve component during the taxable year when the 
employee was absent from employment for a reason described in 
subsection (b).
    ``(b) Limitation.--The amount allowed as a credit under subsection 
(a) shall not exceed 50 percent of the difference (if any) between--
            ``(1) the amount of compensation that would otherwise have 
        been payable to the employee during such absence if the 
        employee's employment with the employer had not been 
        interrupted by the employee's absence; and
            ``(2) the amount of military pay that is payable to the 
        employee during the absence.
    ``(c) Covered Pay Periods.--Subsection (a) shall apply with respect 
to an employee who is also a member of a reserve component--
            ``(1) while the employee serves on active duty for a period 
        of more than 30 days;
            ``(2) while the employee is hospitalized for, or 
        convalescing from, an illness or injury incurred in, or 
        aggravated during, the performance of such active duty; or
            ``(3) during the 14-day period beginning at the end of such 
        active duty or the end of the period referred to in paragraph 
        (2).
    ``(d) Days Not Taken Into Account.--No credit shall be allowed 
under subsection (a) with respect to an employee on any day on which 
the employee was not scheduled to work (for a reason other than such 
service on active duty) and ordinarily would not have worked.
    ``(e) Definitions.--For purposes of this section--
            ``(1) The terms `active duty for a period of more than 30 
        days', `member', and `reserve component' have the meanings 
        given such terms in section 101 of title 37, United States 
        Code.
            ``(2) The term `compensation' means any remuneration for 
        employment, whether in cash or in kind, which is paid or 
        incurred by a taxpayer and which is deductible from the 
        taxpayer's gross income under section 162(a)(1).''.
    (b) Credit To Be Part of General Business Credit.--Subsection (b) 
of section 38 of such Code (relating to general business credit) is 
amended by striking ``plus'' at the end of paragraph (30), by striking 
the period at the end of paragraph (31) and inserting ``, plus'', and 
by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
            ``(32) the active-duty reserve component employee credit 
        determined under section 45N(a).''.
    (c) Conforming Amendment.--The table of sections for subpart D of 
part IV of subchapter A of chapter 1 of such Code is amended by 
inserting after the item relating to section 45M the following new 
item:

``Sec. 45N. Active-duty reserve component employee credit.''.
    (d) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall 
apply to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2007.
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