Washington, D.C. — Today, Rep. Annie Kuster (NH-02) voted for H.R. 1836, the Guard and Reserve GI Bill Parity Act, bipartisan legislation which would level the playing field for National Guardsmen and reservists and ensure that they have the same access to GI Bill benefits as their active duty counterparts. 

“The bipartisan Guard and Reserve GI Bill Parity Act passed by the House today takes an important step toward ensuring that all members of the armed services receive the benefits they have earned,” said Rep. Kuster. “Since the GI Bill was enacted, reservists have not been eligible for benefits equal to active duty service members, even though they often serve side by side, doing the same jobs. I was proud to vote for this bipartisan legislation today to correct this oversight, and will continue working in Congress to deliver our veterans and service members the support they deserve.”

The National Guard has been utilized at unprecedented levels in recent years — in 2020, Guardsmen were used more and for longer than any time period since World War II. But, as these service members increasingly take on the same jobs with the same risks as their active duty counterparts, National Guard and reserve members do not earn the same GI benefits. The bipartisan Guard and Reserve GI Bill Parity Act corrects this oversight.

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