[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 145 (1999), Part 3]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 4377]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




   MILITARY RESERVE (DUAL STATUS) TECHNICIANS RETIREMENT EQUITY BILL

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. NEIL ABERCROMBIE

                               of hawaii

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 11, 1999

  Mr. ABERCROMBIE. Mr. Speaker, our National Guard and Reservists have 
performed admirably whenever called upon to assist our military at home 
and abroad and to aid federal, state and local emergencies. Serving 
side by side with active military personnel, fire fighters and other 
professional counterparts, some Guard and Reservists are exposed to 
hazardous and physically demanding duty as a routine part of their job. 
A well-earned and timely retirement should be a welcome relief from a 
job that requires youth, strength and virgo. Yet, for a select group of 
talented individuals, known as Dual Status Technicians, retirement 
eligibility is several years beyond that of their counterparts.
  Dual Status Technicians are held to the same physical and mental 
criteria as their military counterparts and the jobs they perform are 
likewise challenging. Although active military personnel, fire fighters 
and federal police can retire after 20 years of service, Technicians 
must work until age 55 with 30 years of service to receive full 
benefits. This bill gives Dual Status Technicians retirement 
eligibility equity with their counterparts.
  The Military Reserve (Dual Status) Technicians Retirement Equity Bill 
allows qualified National Guard and Reservists the option to retire 
under the same criteria as other professionals in similar challenging 
careers.