WASHINGTON, DC –U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) today introduced a bill to keep National Guard or Reserve members from having to sell their primary residence in order to fulfill a temporary mobilization order. Currently many National Guard and Reserve Members with dependents who are mobilized outside their local areas are unable to maintain payments on their primary residences. The Reserve Residence Protection Act of 2008 would provide a basic allowance for housing to cover the cost of maintaining the primary residence.
“Our National Guard and Reserve members know the sacrifices they need to make when they enlist,” said Casey. “But no Reserve member should be forced sell his or her primary residence in order to fulfill a temporary mobilization order. My legislation will help correct this unfair policy for our National Guard and Reserve.”
The 2007 National Defense Authorization Act included a provision providing a second basic allowance for housing to protect the primary residence of National Guard and Reserve members without dependents. However, this change in law did not apply to those members with dependents, an important oversight. Senator Casey’s bill provides a corrective measure to the National Defense Authorization Act by extending this coverage to all Reserve members activated in support of a contingency operation.
Col. Paul Groskreutz, USAF (Ret), President Reserve Officers Association said, “Senator Casey's legislation provides a solution for a potential retention problem by providing an additional housing allowance to those mobilized away from their homes.”
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“Our National Guard and Reserve members know the sacrifices they need to make when they enlist,” said Casey. “But no Reserve member should be forced sell his or her primary residence in order to fulfill a temporary mobilization order. My legislation will help correct this unfair policy for our National Guard and Reserve.”
The 2007 National Defense Authorization Act included a provision providing a second basic allowance for housing to protect the primary residence of National Guard and Reserve members without dependents. However, this change in law did not apply to those members with dependents, an important oversight. Senator Casey’s bill provides a corrective measure to the National Defense Authorization Act by extending this coverage to all Reserve members activated in support of a contingency operation.
Col. Paul Groskreutz, USAF (Ret), President Reserve Officers Association said, “Senator Casey's legislation provides a solution for a potential retention problem by providing an additional housing allowance to those mobilized away from their homes.”
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