WASHINGTON, D.C. — On Wednesday, January 12, 2021, U.S. Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5) voted to pass the Guard and Reserve GI Bill Parity Act, which will help expand access to G.I. benefits for members of our military who serve in the National Guard and Reserve. Currently, the National Guard and Reserve, who often serve side-by-side with their active duty counterparts, do not receive the same access to vital G.I. Bill benefits. The bipartisan legislation Gottheimer helped pass out of the House today will address that and help ensure that all members of our military are honored with the benefits they have earned and deserve. 

Every day that our National Guard and Reserve service members sacrifice for their country should count toward their benefits,” said Congressman Josh Gottheimer. “Unfortunately, National Guard and Reserve members do not currently have the same access to G.I. benefits as other members of the military — even though they often do the same jobs, incur the same risks, and make the same sacrifices as those in active duty. This bipartisan legislation, which I was proud to help pass out of the House today, addresses this issue head on. It will ensure that all servicemembers, regardless of duty status, have the same access to the benefits they have earned. We must always get the backs of all those who bravely have ours.” 

Since the September 11th attacks, our brave National Guard members and Reservists have become even more integral to the United States’ national security strategy. These service members are increasingly seeing heavier training schedules and more frequent deployments. Reserve troops often serve side-by-side with their active-duty counterparts, and communities across the country have relied on National Guard deployments during the COVID-19 pandemic to help fight the virus, assist long-term care facilities, and staff vaccination and testing sites. 

That is why this legislation is so critical — current law falls short of ensuring that National Guard members and Reservists accrue the vital education benefits they have earned. The bipartisan Guard and Reserve GI Bill Parity Act closes eligibility gaps in the Post-9/11 G.I. Bill to ensure that members of the National Guard and Reserve have access to benefits that reflect their contributions to our national security. 

Since taking office, Gottheimer has been fighting for expanded access to services for local veterans and has been working diligently to protect them during the pandemic. 

###