Hoeven, Daines back bipartisan bill improving National Guard promotions, raises

U.S. Sens. Steve Daines (R-MT) and John Hoeven (R-ND) have cosponsored a bipartisan, bicameral bill that would improve federal processes benefiting members of the National Guard.

“North Dakota National Guard members are ‘always ready and always there’ whenever they are called upon to serve,” said Sen. Hoeven. “This legislation will help to improve the federal process for recognizing their promotions or appointments to ensure that they receive both the recognition and compensation they have earned.”

The National Guard Promotion Accountability Act, S. 2801, would amend Title 10 of the United States Code to clarify the effective date of the promotion of commissioned officers of the Army National Guard and Air National Guard, to improve processes for federal recognition of the promotions of such officers, and for other purposes, according to a congressional record summary.

“Members of Montana’s National Guard put their life on the line for our freedom and safety,” Sen. Daines said. “It’s shameful that they have to wait around for government to do its job to be compensated for the work they have done and sacrifices they have made. This bipartisan bill will right this wrong and ensure Montana’s National Guard members are paid promptly and fairly.”

Sens. Daines and Hoeven cosponsored S. 2801, which U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) introduced on May 8. The measure has been referred to the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee for consideration.

Companion legislation in the House, H.R. 5713, which U.S. Rep. Carol Shea-Porter (D-NH) also introduced on May 8, counts U.S. Rep. Tom Cole (R-OK) among its eight cosponsors. The U.S. House Armed Services Committee has received H.R. 5713 for deliberation.

According to summaries of the bill provided by the senators’ offices, both the state and federal government must recognize promotions or appointments of National Guard members that, when delayed, negatively impact retention, recruitment and morale of Guard members.

The National Guard Association of the United States (NGAUS) conducted an informal survey showing that almost half of respondents reported delays in federal recognition beyond the target 180- to 195-day period, with some waiting more than a year for promotion, according to the summaries. And more senior Guard officers don’t receive commensurate pay and benefits while they await federal recognition of their promotions.

“It’s not right to make our junior officers wait months and months to receive the pay and benefits they have earned because of bureaucratic delays,” Sen. Warren said. “I’ve heard from Massachusetts Guard members who are frustrated by these delays – our bipartisan bill takes simple steps to fix the problem and do right by our dedicated men and women in uniform.”

If enacted, the proposal would compensate Guard officers awaiting federal recognition of their promotions by backdating their date of rank to the actual date the state recognized it, according to the summaries, and require the secretaries of the Army and Air Force to provide status reports of promotion scrolls that exceed their recognition date, as well as the reasons for any delays. A report to Congress that includes recommendations for further process improvements also would be required under the bill.

The proposed legislation is supported by NGAUS, said retired Brig. Gen. Roy Robinson, who is president of the organization.

“Countless Guardsmen have been waiting far too long for their promotions due to bureaucratic delays and antiquated processes,” Robinson said. “This bill not only does right by servicemembers by providing back pay and time in grade, but will require the Department of Defense to thoroughly review the promotion process as a whole.”