[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 49 (Tuesday, March 16, 2021)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E249]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





         INTRODUCTION OF THE NATIONAL GUARD HOUSING EQUITY ACT

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                       HON. ELEANOR HOLMES NORTON

                      of the district of columbia

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, March 16, 2021

  Ms. NORTON. Madam Speaker, today, I introduce the National Guard 
Housing Equity Act, which would codify into law a new National Guard 
Bureau (Bureau) policy on housing allowances.
  Under federal law, National Guard members who are deployed on active 
duty for 30 days or less receive the Basic Allowance for Housing 
Reserve Component (BAH-RC). National Guard members who are deployed on 
active duty for 31 days or longer receive the Basic Allowance for 
Housing (BAH). BAH-RC is less than BAH. This can lead to unfair 
results.
  For example, when District of Columbia National Guard members were 
deployed to respond to protests in the District last summer, they were 
originally deployed on orders for less than 30 days, but ended up 
serving for over 30 consecutive days. However, they only received BAH-
RC.
  After I raised this issue with the Bureau, the Bureau informed me 
that it would change the policy to allow a National Guard member who 
served over 30 consecutive days, no matter the length of their initial 
deployment orders, to receive BAH. This bill would codify this new 
policy into law.
  This bill would ensure National Guard members receive the full 
benefits to which they are entitled and ensure that they are not 
shortchanged because of guesswork on how long a deployment might last.
  I urge my colleagues to support this bill.

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