[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 149 (2003), Part 7]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 9809]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




THE GUARD AND RESERVE SELECTIVE REENLISTMENT BONUS EQUITY ACT OF 2003. 
                             APRIL 11, 2003

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. SUSAN A. DAVIS

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, April 11, 2003

  Mrs. DAVIS of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to introduce the 
Guard and Reserve Selective Reenlistment Bonus Equity Act of 2003. 
Joining me today are my colleagues Rep. Mark Kirk, himself a Navy 
reservist, and Reps. Steve Buyer and Gene Taylor, Co-chairs of the 
House Guard and Reserve Caucus.
  This bill would correct an unfortunate situation affecting guard 
members and reservists across the country that were mobilized for 
service to their country. Many have found that they can no longer 
receive payments on their reenlistment bonuses because of their 
mobilization status.
  The primary purpose of the reenlistment bonus has been to maintain an 
adequate level of experienced and qualified enlisted personnel in the 
peacetime forces of the military services. In fact, legislative 
authority for a reenlistment bonus of one form or another has existed 
continuously since shortly after the Revolutionary War under a number 
of different names.
  However, our experience with Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation 
Iraqi Freedom has highlighted the fact that payments to mobilized guard 
members and reservists are suspended while they serve on active duty. 
For many, this creates a financial hardship and for others, a 
significant speed bump in their financial plans. This legislation would 
enable them to receive the payments due to them.
  Currently, for U.S. operations pertaining to Homeland Security, and 
deployments in Afghanistan, and Iraq, 275,000 reserve troops and 
National Guardsman have been mobilized. The activated troops serve 
along side active duty men and women.
  It surprises me that inequities still exist between reservists and 
active-duty service members serving side by side to protect the 
interests of the United States and I am pleased to work with my 
colleagues in correcting one of them.
  Knowing that the Senate has already acted on a similar measure, I am 
confident that this bill will enjoy swift approval by the House and 
will soon be at the President's desk for enactment into law.

                          ____________________