To: EANGUS Members
From: EANGUS National Office
Please share the following Roll Call: Drill Weekend Talking Points with other unit members
As we turn the page on another year, we are at the beginning of a new Congress. One important factor to understand is that all the legislation we were tracking that didn’t pass in the last Congress needs to be re-introduced during the 118th Congress. Additionally, EANGUS has published the Annual Association’s Legislative Priorities derived from the Resolutions passed at the 2022 National Conference. Below is the final product.
EANGUS Legislative Priorities
1st Session, 118th Congress
As of 01/01/2023
Our primary mission is to safeguard the enlisted Soldiers and Airmen of the National Guard. The Enlisted Association of the National Guard of the United States (EANGUS) works to improve and protect the benefits of the men and women serving in the National Guard, veterans, retirees, and their families.
Since 1972, EANGUS has been the only voice wholly advocating for the enlisted men and women of the National Guard. EANGUS and the National Guard are strong because of the participation of our members and because Guardsmen live in every state, territory, and Congressional district.
Below are the issues our members have identified as critical areas that could be improved.
- National Guard educational program parity and employment issues
- GI Bill parity for National Guard and Reservists
- Civilian licenses and certificates are given for military training
- Pursue legislation to support fully funding States for personnel attendance at Army and Air Force Schools
- Tuition Assistance parity between Active Duty and all Reservists
- Improve Reserve Component medical readiness & TRICARE expansion
- Improve Reserve Component medical readiness & expand TRICARE coverage.
- TRICARE Reserve Select (T.R.S.) Extension for Surviving Families
- Improved access to mental health care and treatment
- Automatic re‐enrollment in TRICARE Reserve Select (T.R.S.) after Active Duty (A.D.) when TRICARE Prime was in effect
- Provide TRICARE Coverage for Infertility Treatments
- Legislate Tax incentives
- for employers to hire members of the National Guard and Reserves
- change to the above-the-line deduction
- tax penalties waver
- Equity of benefits for Guard/Reservists who perform a duty under Titles 32, 10, and State Active duty
- Revise USC Title 5, allowing service under Title 32 to be treated as Title 10 regarding Federal Civilian Employees
- Monitor Legislation on Equal Hazardous Duty Incentive Pay for NG/RC members
- The National Guard performs cyber security, focusing on state government, infrastructure, and financial institutions, including funding
- Increased funding for National Guard Counterdrug Program
- Legislation improving National Guard Family programs
- To include but not limited to:
- Childcare assistance programs
- Maternity Leave
- Spouse Employment
- Dependent Flex Savings funds
- National Guard Childcare Navigator Position Proposal
- Support modernization and improvement of Training simulators like the “Call-For-Fire” Trainer
- Space National Guard
- Codify DD 214 for NG/RC upon separation and career milestones with Legislation
- Legislate changes for increased USERRA protections for Guard/Reserve
- Legislate increased SCRA protection for Guard/Reserve
- Army & Air Force Appropriation request
- Increased funding for National Guard Youth Challenge Program
- National Guard Veterans Affairs concerns
- Supporting improved veterans’ healthcare
- Supporting veteran’s employment and housing programs for Guard/Reserve
- Toxic exposure issues with a focus on after-service care
- Guard/Reserve access to mental healthcare
- Eliminate 5-year requirement for VA healthcare
- VA infrastructure concerns
- National Guard Retiree Legislation
- TRICARE coverage with early retirement
- Elimination of the Concurrent Receipt offset for all classes of retirees
- Retiree continued contributions to the Thrift Savings Plan (T.S.P.)
- Affordable Healthcare for Gray Area Reserve Retirement
- N.G./Res Retiree Transition Assistance Program at separation
- Limited Federal Retirement Points for Non-Federal Service
- National Guard Physical Fitness
- ACFT
- Fitness program access
- Up-Date Total Force Policy
- Report on the Lifecycle cost comparison of G&R to Active Duty
- Support increased AGR (Active Duty Guard & Reserve) End Strength
For more information on this or any other issues concerning the National Guard, don’t hesitate to contact EANGUS’s legislative and military policy director Kevin Hollinger at (202) 670-1826 or kevin@eangus.org.
The upcoming year is going to be critical for the EANGUS Legislative Team. We have a lot of work ahead of us, in the legislative field. We have multiple pieces of legislation we were working on during the 117th. Now that the 118th is in session, we need YOUR HELP at the Legislative Workshop and continued help with responses to Calls-to-Action.
Legislative Events
EANGUS State Presidents/Legislative Workshop(s)
Location: National Guard Memorial Building – 1 Massachusetts Avenue NW | Washington D.C. 20001
Host Hotel: Phoenix Park Hotel | Reservation cut-off is 16 JAN 2023 | $169 + tax
When: 11-15 February 2023
Registration fee: State Presidents Workshop – $50
Legislative Workshop Early Bird – $100 until 28 NOV 2022
$125 until 16 JAN 2023; $150 thereafter
No Refunds after 16 JAN 2023
EANGUS Healthcare Survey
EANGUS invites you to take a brief 30-second survey to provide your feedback on the importance of healthcare and your military service.
EANGUS Resources
Donate now to help National Guard families affected by the hurricanes
The impact of Hurricanes Fiona and Ian is being felt throughout Puerto Rico, Florida, and the entire southeast. The hurricanes and their associated storms and flooding have devastated the lives of Americans across the region. National Guard Soldiers and Airmen are on duty and answering the call to help others in these areas, while many of their own homes and property were also affected. The Enlisted Association of the National Guard of the United States (EANGUS) is soliciting donations for the National Guard Relief Foundation so that we can help those National Guard members and families in need. We have already heard of at least a half dozen Soldiers in Puerto Rico who have lost their homes, and we’ve received grant applications from over 30 more Puerto Rico Soldiers and Airmen (so far) who need to replace basic household goods and food that was lost due to widespread power outages. With the most recent devastation that occurred across the State of Florida, we expect to receive a large number of grant applications from those Soldiers and Airmen over the next few weeks or more as they start their recovery process.
The National Guard Relief Foundation is here to help; however, with the significant losses caused by Hurricanes Fiona and Ian and projected future needs, we are asking for your help. Please consider making a donation to the National Guard Relief Foundation to show your support for our Guard Family. All disaster relief donations received will be used to provide direct support to those in need. The EANGUS We Care for America / National Guard Relief Foundation is a 501c(3) charitable organization so your donation is tax-deductible.
Donations for our Disaster Relief Program are being accepted on our website.
For more information about the National Guard Relief Foundation, or if you know of a National Guard member impacted by these hurricanes, or another catastrophic situation or financial hardship, please refer them to our website. Applications for grants and no-interest loans are being accepted now – eligibility criteria are shown on our website. Membership in EANGUS is not required to apply for assistance. Questions may be directed to director@eangus-wcfa.org
Thank you for your support!
The Foundation has received funding from USAA for the EANGUS We Care for America National Guard Emergency Relief Grant and Interest-Free Loan Program.
With thousands of National Guard members and their families facing financial hardships as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and other emergencies, the United Services Automobile Association (USAA), the Enlisted Association of the National Guard of the United States (EANGUS) and the We Care for America Foundation have teamed up to help National Guard members and families in need.
Go to the EANGUS-WCFA website for the criteria to apply for a WCFA Grants and Interest-Free Loans.
Did you know there are several ways to donate to the We Care for America Foundation?
Want to help make a difference while you shop in the Amazon app, at no extra cost to you? Simply follow the instructions below to select “EANGUS We Care for America Foundation Inc” as your charity and activate AmazonSmile in the app. They’ll donate a portion of your eligible mobile app purchases to us.
How it works:
1. Open the Amazon app on your phone
2. Select the main menu (=) & tap on “AmazonSmile” within Programs & Features
3. Select “EANGUS We Care For America Foundation Inc” as your charity
4. Follow the on-screen instructions to activate AmazonSmile in the mobile app
OPERATION VETCARE
Operation VetCare was established in 2017 by EANGUS as a program designed to assist Military Service Members, Veterans, and their families who face special issues or challenges associated with military service. This program has continued to grow over the last several years. Assistance provided through this program may vary based on the limited funds available but may assist by providing support in the form of gift cards for food, clothing, and other necessary items during a service-related crisis. Through this program, EANGUS has been able to assist hundreds of people during a time of significant need. Click the button for more information on how you can support this initiative through donations or to request assistance.
