U.S. Rep. Bill Huizenga (R-MI) recently sponsored a bipartisan bill that would retroactively reimburse members of the National Guard an estimated $43 per day during their deployment to the U.S. Capitol.
Earlier this month, Rep. Huizenga also led a bipartisan contingent of 38 lawmakers in sending a March 4 letter to Acting Secretary of the Army John Whitley and National Guard Bureau Chief Gen. Daniel Hokanson requesting that the soldiers receive retroactive per diems, as well as further daily allowances throughout their deployment in Washington, D.C.
“It is clear there has been a serious issue with food being supplied to members of the Michigan National Guard deployed to the U.S. Capitol,” Rep. Huizenga said. “Our men and women answered the call to serve, leaving behind their loved ones and their jobs. They deserve to be provided a safe meal while serving on duty.”
Rep. Huizenga on March 11 introduced the GRUB Act, H.R. 1832, which has 20 cosponsors, including U.S. Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), John Moolenaar (R-MI), Jackie Walorski (R-IN), and Seth Moulton (D-MA). Rep. Huizenga said the bill would provide “a per diem for each day our men and women were serving in our nation’s capital and by reimbursing them for meals they paid for out of their own pocket.”
Introduction of H.R. 1832 is in response to a wave of constituent calls, media reports, and stories from the service members themselves about the undercooked and unsafe food they received while on deployment, according to the congressman’s office.