National Guard and Reserve Bill of Rights Act of 2004

Bill: 108-s-2791
Sponsor: Sen. Daschle, Thomas A. [D-SD]
Introduced: 2004-09-10 in the Senate
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Administrative procedure
Afghanistan
Armed forces abroad
Armed forces reserves
Army
Child development
Claims
Congress
Congress and military policy
Congressional investigations
Congressional reporting requirements
Day care
Department of Defense
Education
Employee rights
Executive reorganization
Families
Family services
Federal employees
Federal officials
Finance and Financial Sector
Government Operations and Politics
Government liability
Governmental investigations
Health
Health insurance continuation
Higher education
Insurance premiums
Iraq
Iraq compilation
Labor and Employment
Law
Leave of absence
Legislation
Managed care
Middle East and North Africa
Military and naval supplies
Military dependents
Military medicine
Military operations
Military pay
Military pensions
Military readiness
National Guard
Rating of employees
Recruiting and enlistment
Salaries
South Asia
Veterans' education
Veterans' employment

Summary:
action_date: 2004-09-10
text: 
National Guard and Reserve Bill of Rights Act of 2004 - Requires the Secretary of Defense to limit the length of assignment of reservists during U.S. Central Command deployments of not less than one year.
 
Requires the Secretary to submit to specified congressional committees a report on Department of Defense policies and communications regarding the length of deployments for reservists in connection with Operation Iraqi Freedom.
 
Directs the Secretary of the Army to designate a senior level official of the Department of the Army to implement recommendations for executive action to address military pay problems.
 
Expands reenlistment bonus eligibility and the amount of such bonuses for members of the Selected Reserve.
 
Removes conditions on Ready Reserve members' eligibility for TRICARE enrollment. Makes such eligibility permanent.
 
Requires the Secretary concerned to pay applicable premiums to continue qualified health benefit plan coverage for family members of eligible reservists serving on active duty for the benefits coverage continuation period.
 
Authorizes the Secretary of Defense to fund child care for members of the Armed Forces on active duty for Operation Enduring Freedom or Operation Iraqi Freedom.
 
Requires employers to provide notice of rights and benefits under the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA).
 
Directs the Secretary of Labor and the Office of Special Counsel to carry out a demonstration project under which certain USERRA claims against Federal agencies are referred to the Office of Special Counsel.
 
Increases monthly educational assistance benefits for members of the Selected Reserve. Expands eligibility for such benefits to include reservists who have served on active duty for a cumulative period of 24 months during any five-year period.
 
Reduces from 60 to 55 the age at which members of Reserve components may receive military retirement pay.
 
Establishes the position of Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness (Reserve Affairs). Eliminates the position of Assistant Secretary of Defense for Reserve Affairs. Reduces the number of Assistant Secretaries of Defense.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2004-09-10
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services. (text of measure as introduced: CR S9078-9081)
action_date: 2004-09-10
text: Introduced in Senate