Daines secures extended orders, benefits for National Guard during pandemic

U.S. Sen. Steve Daines (R-MT) last week said he helped successfully secure extended orders for America’s National Guard members to protect their benefits while serving during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Sen. Daines in a May 22 letter sent to President Donald Trump requested an extension of the orders. The president on May 28 announced on his Twitter account an extension of Title 32 orders for National Guard members, which were initially set to expire on June 24.

“I’m glad the president acted swiftly on my request to ensure our National Guard service members are put on orders long enough to protect their GI and retirement benefits during this crisis,” Sen. Daines said.

Members must be deployed for at least 90 days to qualify for federal benefits and the original June 24 expiration date would have fallen one day shy of that mark, leaving Guard members with fewer benefits without an extension.

“Our brave guardsmen and women working on the frontlines of this pandemic every day to protect the health and safety of our communities need the assurance their benefits will be protected as they serve,” said Sen. Daines.

In his original letter, which was signed by dozens of his colleagues, Sen. Daines noted that the national success in flattening the pandemic’s curve would not be possible without the contributions of the National Guard.

“We believe it is critical to ensure that all National Guard personnel are taken care of during this crisis and after, recognizing that the threat of COVID-19 will not immediately go away and the National Guard is likely to be called on again in the future,” the members wrote.