Hoeven Meets with National Guard Bureau Chief to Outline Legislation to Improve Guard Benefits, Need fro New Facility in Fargo

Senator John Hoeven, a member of the Senate Defense Appropriations Committee, recently met with National Guard Bureau Chief General Joseph L. Lengyel and secured his commitment to support legislation to expand health care and education eligibility and benefits for National Guardsmen and Reservists. The senator also outlined the need for a new operations facility for the 119th Wing in Fargo to support the unit’s mission. The senator has been specifically working to:

• Extend eligibility for the TRICARE Reserve Select (TRS) program for all active and reserve members of the National Guard;
• Enable Guardsmen to concurrently use the GI Bill and Federal Tuition Assistance (FTA) programs to fund their education;
• Build a new MQ-9 Reaper facility for the 119th Wing at Hector Field.

“The men and women of our North Dakota National Guard do an incredible job protecting our state and nation,” said Hoeven. “We need to make sure they have access to the benefits they have earned. That’s why we’re working to increase their access to health care options and to improve tuition benefits. We’re also working to ensure construction remains on schedule for a new Reaper facility for the 119th Wing to support its important mission.”

Expanding Eligibility for TRICARE Reserve Select Program

            Currently, members of the National Guard and Reserve who are also federal employees cannot enroll in the TRS program because they are eligible to enroll in the Federal Employee Health Benefits Plan (FEHBP). Other servicemembers can use TRS instead of their employer-sponsored health care.

Hoeven helped introduce the bipartisan TRICARE Reserve Improvement Act with Senators Steve Daines (R-Mont.) and Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.). The legislation would correct this disparity and extend TRS eligibility to all Guardsmen and Reservists.

Article provided by Senator John Hoevens office.