# Supporting Disabled National Guardsmen Act

This bill extends important benefits to National Guard members who get injured or become disabled while performing "State active duty"—which means when they're called up by their state governor to handle emergencies like natural disasters, civil unrest, or other crises within their home state. Right now, these guardsmen don't get the same federal benefits as those injured during federal military duty, even though they're serving their country. This bill aims to close that gap.

The first major change allows disabled National Guard members to retire from military service and receive retirement pay if they become disabled during state active duty. Previously, only those injured during federal active duty or training could access this benefit. However, there's an important catch: if a guardsman receives other federal or state disability benefits related to the same injury, the military will reduce their retirement pay to avoid them getting paid twice for the same disability. This prevents "double-dipping" while still providing meaningful support.

The second major change gives these injured guardsmen access to VA (Veterans Affairs) healthcare. National Guard members injured during state active duty can now receive hospital care and medical services from the VA to treat their disability and any related health conditions. This is significant because it opens up the VA's extensive healthcare network to people who previously had limited options. The VA can only provide this care if Congress has appropriated money for it, and they'll only pay for treatment after the guardsman has exhausted other insurance options first—meaning private insurance or workers' compensation must be tried before VA coverage kicks in.

Overall, this bill recognizes that National Guard members serving their states deserve federal support when they're injured in that service, bringing them closer to the same protections available to active-duty military personnel.

Supporting Disabled National Guardsmen Act

Bice, Stephanie I.

Supporting Disabled National Guardsmen Act This bill provides disability pay and medical care for members of the National Guard who were physically disabled as a result of state active duty. State active duty includes training or other duty in service to the governor of a state for which the member is not entitled to federal pay, but excludes required drills and field exercises. The bill expands eligibility for Department of Defense retired pay to such members who are physically disabled as a result of state active duty after September 23, 1996. Such pay must be reduced if it is determined to duplicate any other federal or state benefit to such members based on disability. The bill also makes such members eligible for hospital care and medical services from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to treat the disability and any illness or condition arising from the disability. The VA may provide reimbursement for hospital care or medical services provided to such members only after a member or the provider of care has exhausted (without success) all claims and remedies reasonably available against a third party.