[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 50 (Tuesday, March 24, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E751]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             THE 60 TO 55 RESERVE COMPONENT RETIREMENT ACT

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                         HON. FRANK A. LoBIONDO

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, March 24, 2009

  Mr. LoBIONDO. Madam Speaker, I rise today to introduce the 60 to 55 
Reserve Component Retirement Act.
   Given the increasing demands placed on the brave men and women who 
serve as citizen soldiers in the Reserve Component, it is time to 
recognize and reward them in a more timely fashion. The current age 
requirement for Reserve Component to begin receiving retirement pay is 
60 years old, whereas the Active Duty may begin receiving retirement 
pay as soon as they serve their 20 years, which in some cases, may be 
as early as age 38. The age limitation placed on the Reserve Component 
was set in 1948, when the Reserve Component was a much different force. 
Since 9/11, the National Guard and Reserves have expanded beyond their 
traditional bounds into a fully functional, combat-ready, and 
deployable partner to the Active Duty Armed Forces. This shift in use 
to a full partner has placed tremendous strains on the men and women of 
the Guard and Reserves.
   The legislation I am introducing with Congresswoman Gabrielle 
Giffords of Arizona will lower the age at which Reserve Component 
servicemembers can begin receiving their retirement pay from age 60 to 
age 55. This vital legislation will help close the gap between the 
Active Duty and Reserve Component retirement age, which will improve 
recruitment efforts and be more fair to the men and women serving in 
the National Guard and Reserve.

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