Saxton Reserve Bill Catching On

A month after H.R. 3831 unveiled, dozens of cosponsors, vet groups backing

WASHINGTON, D.C. - One month after introducing a bill that would lower the retirement age from 60 to 55 for members of the Reserves and National Guard who have served at least 20 years to begin to draw their retirement pay, Congressman Jim Saxton announced the legislation has rapidly gained strong momentum across the country. "This bill has caught on like wildfire," Saxton said. "H.R. 3831 has gained bipartisan support and done it very quickly. There's a reason for its acceptance. The age limit for the Reserve components was set decades ago when the Guard and Reserves were not relied upon the way they are today. In the war on terrorism and homeland defense, the Guard and Reserves perform critical missions hand-in-hand with active duty forces."

Agreeing to cosponsor H.R. 3831 are: Veterans Committee Chairman Chris Smith (R-NJ), U.S. Representatives Rob Andrews (D-NJ), Frank LoBiondo (R-NJ), Bill Pascrell (D-NJ), Frank Pallone (D-NJ), Rush Holt (D- NJ), Mike Ferguson (R-NJ), Marge Roukema (R-NJ), Tony Hall (D-OH), Ken Calvert (R-CA), Ron Paul (R-TX), Dale Kildee (D-MI), Corrine Brown (D-FL), Adam Smith (D-WA), Todd Platts (R-PA), Bob Filner (D-CA), Martin Frost (D-TX), James McGovern (D-MA), Tim Holden (D-PA), Bart Gordon (D-TN), Jim DeMint (R-SC), Darlene Hooley (D-OR), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Joe Baca (D-CA) and Joann Davis (R-VA). House Delgates Bob Underwood (R-Guam) and Eni Faleomavaega (D-American Somoa) also cosponsor the bill.

The bill has been backed by the Air Force Sergeants Association, VFW, the Air Force Association, the Naval Reserve Association, the Fleet Reserve Association, the Reserve Officers Association, the Retired Officers Association, the Retired Enlisted Association and the Marine Corps Reserve Officers Association.

Members of the Reserve components— the National Guard in all 50 states, the Navy Reserve, the Coast Guard Reserve, the Army Reserve, the Marine Reserve and the Air Force Reserve— would qualify at age 55 for retirement pay that is based on an individual's participation in the retirement plan.

"Lowering the age will help in retention and recruiting Reservists and Guardsmen," Saxton said. "The active duty military can already draw retirement pay after 20 years of service. The nation asks for a lot from the members of the Guard and Reserve. They are not asking a lot from us."

In peacetime and in wartime the 1.4 million-member Reserve Component is often deployed side-by- side with their active-duty counterparts and has taken on more missions than ever. It is generally accepted that the active force cannot sustain an adequate readiness posture without the Guard and Reserve, who both performed extremely well in the Gulf War, in the Balkans and in the war on terrorism.

Reserve Retirement Bill - HR 3831 IH

Source: Saxton Reserve Bill Catching On - Congressman Jim Saxton News Release, April 9, 2002.