I 
110TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 6723 
To provide benefits under the Post-Deployment/Mobilization Respite Absence 
program for certain periods before the implementation of the program. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JULY 31, 2008 
Mr. BRALEY of Iowa (for himself, Mr. KLINE of Minnesota, Mr. BOSWELL, 
Mr. LOEBSACK, Mr. LATHAM, Mr. KING of Iowa, Mr. OBERSTAR, Ms. 
MCCOLLUM of Minnesota, Mr. WALZ of Minnesota, Mr. PETERSON of 
Minnesota, Mr. ELLISON, Mr. RAMSTAD, and Mrs. BACHMANN) intro-
duced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Armed 
Services 
A BILL 
To provide benefits under the Post-Deployment/Mobilization 
Respite Absence program for certain periods before the 
implementation of the program. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Guaranteed Benefits 
for Our Troops Act’’. 
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
22:18 Aug 05, 2008
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00001
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H6723.IH
H6723
jlentini on PROD1PC65 with BILLS
SEC. 2. BENEFITS UNDER POST-DEPLOYMENT/MOBILIZA-
TION RESPITE ABSENCE PROGRAM FOR CER-
TAIN PERIODS BEFORE IMPLEMENTATION OF 
PROGRAM. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Under regulations prescribed by 
the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary concerned shall 
provide any member or former member of the Armed 
Forces with the benefits specified in subsection (b) if the 
member or former member would, on any day during the 
period beginning on January 19, 2007, and ending on the 
date of the implementation of the Post-Deployment/Mobi-
lization Respite Absence (PDMRA) program by the Sec-
retary concerned, have qualified for a day of administra-
tive absence under the Post-Deployment/Mobilization Res-
pite Absence program had the program been in effect dur-
ing such period. 
(b) BENEFITS.—The benefits specified in this sub-
section are the following: 
(1) In the case of an individual who is a former 
member of the Armed Forces at the time of the pro-
vision of benefits under this section, payment of an 
amount not to exceed $200 for each day the indi-
vidual would have qualified for a day of administra-
tive absence as described in subsection (a) during 
the period specified in that subsection. 
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
22:18 Aug 05, 2008
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H6723.IH
H6723
jlentini on PROD1PC65 with BILLS
(2) In the case of an individual who is a mem-
ber of the Armed Forces at the time of the provision 
of benefits under this section, either one day of ad-
ministrative absence or payment of an amount not 
to exceed $200, as selected by the Secretary con-
cerned, for each day the individual would have quali-
fied for a day of administrative absence as described 
in subsection (a) during the period specified in that 
subsection. 
(c) EXCLUSION OF CERTAIN FORMER MEMBERS.— 
A former member of the Armed Forces is not eligible 
under this section for the benefits specified in subsection 
(b)(1) if the former member was discharged or released 
from the Armed Forces under other than honorable condi-
tions. 
(d) MAXIMUM NUMBER OF DAYS OF BENEFITS.— 
The number of days of benefits providable to a member 
or former member of the Armed Forces under this section 
may not exceed 40 days of benefits. 
(e) 
FORM
OF
PAYMENT.—The 
paid 
benefits 
providable under subsection (b) may be paid in a lump 
sum or installments, at the election of the Secretary con-
cerned. 
(f) CONSTRUCTION WITH OTHER PAY AND LEAVE.— 
The benefits provided a member or former member of the 
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
22:18 Aug 05, 2008
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H6723.IH
H6723
jlentini on PROD1PC65 with BILLS
Armed Forces under this section are in addition to any 
other pay, absence, or leave provided by law. 
(g) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) The term ‘‘Post-Deployment/Mobilization 
Respite Absence program’’ means the program of a 
military department to provide days of administra-
tive absence not chargeable against available leave to 
certain deployed or mobilized members of the Armed 
Forces in order to assist such members in reinte-
grating into civilian life after deployment or mobili-
zation. 
(2) The term ‘‘Secretary concerned’’ has the 
meaning given that term in section 101(5) of title 
37, United States Code. 
(h) TERMINATION.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—The authority to provide 
benefits under this section shall expire on the date 
that is one year after the date of the enactment of 
this Act. 
(2) CONSTRUCTION.—Expiration under this 
subsection of the authority to provide benefits under 
this section shall not affect the utilization of any day 
of administrative absence provided a member of the 
Armed Forces under subsection (b)(2), or the pay-
ment of any payment authorized a member or 
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
22:18 Aug 05, 2008
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00004
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H6723.IH
H6723
jlentini on PROD1PC65 with BILLS
former member of the Armed Forces under sub-
section (b), before the expiration of the authority in 
this section. 
Æ 
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
22:18 Aug 05, 2008
Jkt 069200
PO 00000
Frm 00005
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6301
E:\BILLS\H6723.IH
H6723
jlentini on PROD1PC65 with BILLS