59–006 

114TH CONGRESS REPORT " ! HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 1st Session 114–302 

HONOR AMERICA’S GUARD-RESERVE RETIREES ACT 

OCTOBER 21, 2015.—Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State 

of the Union and ordered to be printed 

Mr. MILLER of Florida, from the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, 

submitted the following 

R E P O R T 

[To accompany H.R. 1384] 

[Including cost estimate of the Congressional Budget Office] 

The Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, to whom was referred the 

bill (H.R. 1384) to amend title 38, United States Code, to recognize 

the service in the reserve components of certain persons by honoring them with status as veterans under law, having considered 

the same, report favorably thereon without amendment and recommend that the bill do pass. 

CONTENTS 

Page 

Purpose and Summary ............................................................................................ 2 

Background and Need for Legislation .................................................................... 2 

Hearings ................................................................................................................... 2 

Subcommittee Consideration .................................................................................. 3 

Committee Consideration ........................................................................................ 3 

Committee Votes ...................................................................................................... 3 

Committee Oversight Findings ............................................................................... 3 

Statement of General Performance Goals and Objectives .................................... 3 

New Budget Authority, Entitlement Authority, and Tax Expenditures ............. 3 

Earmarks and Tax and Tariff Benefits .................................................................. 4 

Committee Cost Estimate ....................................................................................... 4 

Congressional Budget Office Estimate ................................................................... 4 

Federal Mandates Statement ................................................................................. 5 

Advisory Committee Statement .............................................................................. 5 

Constitutional Authority Statement ...................................................................... 5 

Applicability to Legislative Branch ........................................................................ 5 

Statement on Duplication of Federal Programs .................................................... 5 

Disclosure of Directed Rulemaking ........................................................................ 5 

Section-by-Section Analysis of the Legislation ...................................................... 5 

Changes in Existing Law Made by the Bill as Reported ...................................... 6 


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PURPOSE AND SUMMARY

H.R. 1384, the ‘‘Honor America’s Guard-Reserve Retirees Act,’’ 

was introduced by Representative Timothy Walz of Minnesota on 

March 16, 2015. H.R. 1384 would provide honorary veteran status 

to those members of the National Guard or Reserve who have 

served for 20 years and do not meet the full requirements for veteran status under title 38, United States Code. 

BACKGROUND AND NEED FOR LEGISLATION

The National Guard and Reserve components of the United 

States Armed Forces perform an invaluable role and are an important part of our overall force structure. They support the active 

duty component of the United States military by augmenting active 

duty forces with both combat and combat support units and by responding in times of local and national disasters. 

Section 101(2) of title 38, U.S.C., defines a ‘‘veteran’’ as ‘‘a person 

who served in the active military, naval, or air service, and who 

was discharged or released therefrom under conditions other than 

dishonorable.’’ Generally, persons not meeting that definition are 

ineligible for the full range of rights and benefits extended under 

the law. 

National Guard and Reserve members who completed twenty or 

more years of service wore the same uniform as active duty 

servicemembers, were subject to the same code of military justice, 

received the same training, and were available for call-up to active 

duty service at any time as has been demonstrated by the call up 

of thousands of reserve component forces during the first and second Gulf War eras. H.R. 1384 would confer honorary veteran status 

on those individuals who are entitled under chapter 1223 of title 

10, U.S.C., to retired pay for nonregular service or who would be 

entitled to retired pay, but for age. Further, this legislation would 

ensure that those who receive the honorary recognition as ‘‘veterans’’’ conferred in the bill would not be entitled to any benefit 

under the laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs 

solely by reason of such recognition. 

HEARINGS

On June 24, 2015, the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance 

and Memorial Affairs conducted a legislative hearing on various 

bills introduced during the 114th Congress, including H.R. 1384. 

The following witnesses testified: 

The Honorable Bill Johnson, U.S. House of Representatives; 

Mr. David R. McLenachen, Acting Deputy Under Secretary for 

Disability Assistance, Veterans Benefits Administration, U.S. 

Department of Veterans Affairs; Mr. Zachary Hearn, Deputy 

Director for Claims, Veterans Affairs and Rehabilitation Division, The American Legion; Mr. Paul R. Varela, Assistant National Legislative Director, Disabled American Veterans; Mr. 

Aleks Morosky, Deputy Director, National Legislative Service, 

Veterans of Foreign Wars; Ms. Diane Zumatto, National Legislative Director, AMVETS; and Mr. Chris Neiweem, Legislative 

Associate, Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America. 


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Statements for the record were submitted by the following: 

The Honorable Bob Latta, U.S. House of Representative; the 

Honorable Bill Shuster, U.S. House of Representatives; and, 

the Paralyzed Veterans of America. 

SUBCOMMITTEE CONSIDERATION

On July 9, 2015, the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and 

Memorial Affairs met in an open markup session, a quorum being 

present, and favorably forwarded H.R. 1384 to the full Committee. 

COMMITTEE CONSIDERATION

On September 17, 2015, the full Committee met in an open 

markup session, a quorum being present, and ordered H.R. 1384 

reported favorably to the House of Representatives. 

COMMITTEE VOTES

Clause 3(b) of rule XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives requires the Committee to list the recorded votes on the motion to report the legislation and amendments thereto. There were 

no recorded votes taken on amendments or in connection with ordering H.R. 1384 reported to the House. A motion by Ranking 

Member Corrine Brown of Florida to report H.R. 1384 favorably to 

the House of Representatives was agreed to by voice vote. 

COMMITTEE OVERSIGHT FINDINGS

In compliance with clause 3(c)(1) of rule XIII and clause (2)(b)(1) 

of rule X of the Rules of the House of Representatives, the Committee’s oversight findings and recommendations are reflected in the 

descriptive portions of this report. 

STATEMENT OF PERFORMANCE GOALS AND OBJECTIVES

In accordance with clause 3(c)(4) of rule XIII of the Rules of the 

House of Representatives, the Committee establishes the following 

performance related goals and objectives for this legislation: 

The Secretary will use the authority granted by this legislation to honor as a veteran, any person who served our nation 

and who is entitled to retired pay for nonregular service, or, 

but for age, would be entitled to retired pay. However, this legislation would not bestow any VA benefits on any individual 

who is recognized as a veteran based solely on this Act. 

NEW BUDGET AUTHORITY, ENTITLEMENT AUTHORITY, AND TAX

EXPENDITURES

In compliance with clause 3(c)(2) of rule XIII of the Rules of the 

House of Representatives, the Committee adopts as its own the estimate of new budget authority, entitlement authority, or tax expenditures or revenues contained in the cost estimate prepared by 

the Director of the Congressional Budget Office pursuant to section 

402 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974. 


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EARMARKS AND TAX AND TARIFF BENEFITS

H.R. 1384 does not contain any Congressional earmarks, limited 

tax benefits, or limited tariff benefits as defined in clause 9 of rule 

XXI of the Rules of the House of Representatives. 

COMMITTEE COST ESTIMATE

The Committee adopts as its own the cost estimate on H.R. 1384 

prepared by the Director of the Congressional Budget Office pursuant to section 402 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974. 

CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET OFFICE COST ESTIMATE

Pursuant to clause 3(c)(3) of rule XIII of the Rules of the House 

of Representatives, the following is the cost estimate for H.R. 1384 

provided by the Congressional Budget Office pursuant to section 

402 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974: 

U.S. CONGRESS, CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET OFFICE, Washington, DC, October 13, 2015. 

Hon. JEFF MILLER, Chairman, Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, 

House of Representatives, Washington, DC. 

DEAR MR. CHAIRMAN: The Congressional Budget Office has prepared the enclosed cost estimate for H.R. 1384, the Honor America’s Guard-Reserve Retirees Act. 

If you wish further details on this estimate, we will be pleased 

to provide them. The CBO staff contact is Dwayne M. Wright. 

Sincerely, 

KEITH HALL. 

Enclosure 

H.R. 1384—Honor America’s Guard-Reserve Retirees Act 

H.R. 1384 would grant certain retired reservists the status of 

honorary veteran. Individuals who served at least 20 years in the 

reserves and were never called to active duty would be eligible for 

this honorary status. Under H.R. 1384, those honorary veterans 

would not be eligible for additional benefits from the Department 

of Veterans Affairs based on this new status. Thus, CBO estimates 

that the bill would have no budgetary impact. 

Enacting H.R. 1384 would not affect direct spending or revenues; 

therefore, pay-as-you-go procedures do not apply. 

CBO estimates that enacting H.R. 1384 would not increase net 

direct spending or on-budget deficits more than $5 billion in any 

of the four consecutive 10-year periods beginning in 2026. H.R. 

1384 contains no intergovernmental or private-sector mandates as 

defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act and would not affect the budgets of state, local, or tribal governments. 

The CBO staff contact for this estimate is Dwayne M. Wright. 

The estimate was approved by H. Samuel Papenfuss, Deputy Assistant Director for Budget Analysis. 


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FEDERAL MANDATES STATEMENT

The Committee adopts as its own the estimate of Federal mandates regarding H.R. 1384 prepared by the Director of the Congressional Budget Office pursuant to section 423 of the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act. 

ADVISORY COMMITTEE STATEMENT

No advisory committees within the meaning of section 5(b) of the 

Federal Advisory Committee Act would be created by H.R. 1384. 

CONSTITUTIONAL AUTHORITY STATEMENT

Pursuant to Article I, section 8 of the United States Constitution, 

the reported bill is authorized by Congress’ power to ‘‘provide for 

the common Defense and general Welfare of the United States.’’ 

APPLICABILITY TO LEGISLATIVE BRANCH

The Committee finds that the legislation does not relate to the 

terms and conditions of employment or access to public services or 

accommodations within the meaning of section 102(b)(3) of the Congressional Accountability Act. 

STATEMENT ON DUPLICATION OF FEDERAL PROGRAMS

Pursuant to section 3(g) of H. Res. 5, 114th Cong. (2015), the 

Committee finds that no provision of H.R. 1384 establishes or reauthorizes a program of the Federal Government known to be duplicative of another Federal program, a program that was included in 

any report from the Government Accountability Office to Congress 

pursuant to section 21 of Public Law 111–139, or a program related 

to a program identified in the most recent Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance. 

DISCLOSURE OF DIRECTED RULEMAKING

Pursuant to section 3(i) of H. Res. 5, 114th Cong. (2015), the 

Committee estimates that H.R. 1384 contains no directed rule making that would require the Secretary to prescribe regulations. 

SECTION-BY-SECTION ANALYSIS OF THE LEGISLATION

Section 1—Short title; table of contents 

Section 1 would establish the bill’s short title as the ‘‘Honor 

America’s Guard-Retirees Act’’. 

Section 2—Provision of status under law by honoring certain members of the reserve components as veterans 

Section 2(a) would honor as a veteran any person entitled to retired pay for nonregular service or who would be entitled to retired 

pay, but for age. 

Section 2(b) would clarify that an individual’s recognition as ‘‘veteran’’ under this Act would not entitle that individual to VA benefits based solely on that recognition. 


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CHANGES IN EXISTING LAW MADE BY THE BILL, AS REPORTED

In compliance with clause 3(e) of rule XIII of the Rules of the 

House of Representatives, changes in existing law made by the bill, 

as reported, are shown as follows (new matter is printed in italic 

and existing law in which no change is proposed is shown in 

roman): 

TITLE 38, UNITED STATES CODE 

* * * * * * * 

PART I—GENERAL PROVISIONS 

* * * * * * * 

CHAPTER 1—GENERAL 

Sec. 

101. Definitions. 

* * * * * * * 

107A. Honoring as veterans certain persons who performed service in the reserve 

components. 

* * * * * * * 

§ 107A. Honoring as veterans certain persons who performed service 

in the reserve components 

Any person who is entitled under chapter 1223 of title 10 to retired 

pay for nonregular service or, but for age, would be entitled under 

such chapter to retired pay for nonregular service shall be honored 

as a veteran but shall not be entitled to any benefit by reason of this 

section. 

* * * * * * * 

Æ 


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