Guard and Reserve Gi Bill Parity Act of 2021

Floor Speech

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Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 1836, the Guard and Reserve GI Bill Parity Act. I thank Chairman Takano and Representative Levin for their important work on this legislation that finally acknowledges the undervalued service of our guard and reservists. The sponsors' sentiments ring true: Every day in uniform counts. At least it should count. It should count more.

In Ohio, there are over 11,400 National Guard members performing strategic and operational duties to whom we owe enormous gratitude.

Our National Guard protects our homeland and supports the mission of our troops abroad. It provides critical support to people in times of urgent need, from natural disasters to the public health COVID emergency we are in right now.

The National Guard and Reserves have been an invaluable readiness resource throughout the COVID-19 pandemic and are continuing to fill critical roles in response to the pandemic.

In my home State of Ohio, the Ohio National Guard has helped Ohio food banks distribute over 56 million pounds of food at 14 food banks and warehouses, including the Toledo Northwestern Ohio Food Bank. They have provided food banks the support they needed to keep children, seniors, veterans, and families fed during these very trying times.

They set up COVID-19 testing clinics and traveled the State to keep our communities safe. They are currently stationed at 12 testing locations across Ohio.

Thanks to President Biden's executive actions, 2,300 Guard members have been activated across Ohio to help hospitals and public health experts care for those most in need so all the omicron variant patients that are flooding our hospitals have some hope of survival.

The service and dedication of our National Guard and Reserves require that we appropriately recognize and appreciate their sacrifices. While the debt we owe them cannot be fully repaid, the legislation before us ensures that these honorable men and women will receive the proper access to the educational benefits they so rightly deserve.

Providing these important GI Bill benefits will undoubtedly aid the recruitment and retention of National Guard units at home and abroad while further investing in our servicemembers' futures.

With six National Guard sites in my own congressional district and several Reserve units nearby, I know that this legislation will have a deep and lasting impact on our State's residents and those who answer the call to serve.

It is certainly my privilege to represent these guard and reservists in Congress, and I am proud to support enhancing the benefits that they can have access to and deserve for their service. May God be with all our men and women in uniform.

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