Matt Van Epps (R-TN)
Guard Equal Benefits for Federal Missions Act
A Republican bill with no cosponsors
Last activity — Referred to the Committee on Armed Services, and in addition to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
In committee
Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.
The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
This bill, titled the "Guard Equal Benefits for Federal Missions Act," aims to provide specific benefits to National Guard members. It seeks to ensure that those performing full-time National Guard duty in support of Federal law enforcement operations receive benefits equivalent to those provided for service during a national emergency. This applies to duty authorized by the President or the Secretary of Defense that supports various Federal law enforcement agencies. The duty must be carried out to address issues like significant criminal activity, drug trafficking, or organized crime. This change would treat such service as qualifying for specific federal benefits.
Yes· 3 of 5
- Scored +5
Would veterans be better off under this, taking everything together?
The bill expands several federal benefits, including retirement and educational assistance, for National Guard members performing specific full-time duties.
- Scored +5
Does this increase the pay, pensions or support veterans receive?
The bill expands eligibility for federal benefits like the Post-9/11 GI Bill and retirement age reductions for National Guard members serving in specific full-time roles.
- Scored +3
Would people over 65 be better off under this?
The bill allows for a reduction in retirement age for qualifying National Guard service.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Increased Benefit Eligibility: National Guard members performing specific full-time duties will be treated as having served in response to a national emergency (Section 2(a)). This helps ensure they receive benefits they might otherwise miss.
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Retirement Age Reduction: The bill specifies that this service would count toward a reduction in retirement age under section 12731 of title 10 (Section 2(b)(1)).
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Transitional Assistance: Service would be deemed qualifying for the Transitional Assistance Management Program under section 1145 of title 10 (Section 2(b)(2)).
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Educational Benefits: The bill allows this service to count toward benefits under chapter 33 of title 38, which is the Post-9/11 GI Bill (Section 2(b)(3)).
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Other Federal Benefits: The act ensures these members can access any other Federal benefit that requires service in response to a national emergency (Section 2(b)(4)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- No specific negative impacts are mentioned in the provided text.
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would veterans be better off under this, taking everything together? — The bill expands several federal benefits, including retirement and educational assistance, for National Guard members performing specific full-time duties. Would people over 65 be better off under this? — The bill allows for a reduction in retirement age for qualifying National Guard service. Would households on low incomes be better off under this? — By expanding access to the Post-9/11 GI Bill, the bill provides increased educational assistance opportunities.
- National Security And Foreign Policy
- Does this increase the pay, pensions or support veterans receive? — The bill expands eligibility for federal benefits like the Post-9/11 GI Bill and retirement age reductions for National Guard members serving in specific full-time roles.
- Education And Technology
- Does this reduce what student borrowers owe or repay? — The bill allows certain National Guard service to qualify for Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits.
- 4/14/2026
- Referred to the Committee on Armed Services, and in addition to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- Introduced in House
One bill Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.