HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.R. NO.	23
TWENTY-SEVENTH LEGISLATURE, 2014
STATE OF HAWAII

HOUSE RESOLUTION

 

 

Urging congress and hawaii's congressional delegation to support the Veterans Health and Benefits Improvement Act of 2013 and support the recognition as veterans of those who serve in the national guard.

 

 

 

     WHEREAS, the National Guard's roots date back to 1636, when colonial militias made up of ordinary citizens would put down their plows and pick up weapons to protect families and towns from hostile attacks; and

 

     WHEREAS, commonly known as citizen-soldiers, members of today's National Guard hold civilian jobs or attend college while maintaining their military training part-time, always ready to defend the American way of life in the event of an emergency; and

 

     WHEREAS, while the National Guard originally focused on protecting local communities, it eventually grew into a force that complements the active-duty military when help is needed anywhere in the world, including serving overseas in combat-deployment roles; and

 

     WHEREAS, although the National Guard's primary area of operation is the National Guard unit's home state, National Guard members are often called on by the President of the United States to respond to, among other things, homeland security missions, domestic emergencies, counterdrug efforts, and reconstruction missions in addition to overseas combat missions; and

 

     WHEREAS, while many National Guard members have similar duties and perform similar functions to their counterparts in the active-duty military, Title 38, United States Code, excludes from the definition of veteran, career reserve-component members who have not served on active duty under Title 10, United States Code, for other than training purposes; and

     WHEREAS, a portion of the Veterans Health and Benefits Improvement Act of 2013, or S. 944, would honor as veterans "any person who is entitled under chapter 1223 of Title 10, United States Code, to retired pay for nonregular service or, but for age, would be entitled under such chapter to retired pay for nonregular service"; and

 

     WHEREAS, this cost-neutral provision would not bestow any benefits other than the honor of claiming veteran status for nearly 300,000 men and women who honorably served and sacrificed as career reserve-component members, giving these individuals the respect they deserve for their uniformed service to the United States; now, therefore,

 

     BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-seventh Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2014, that Congress, including Hawaii's Congressional delegation, is urged to support the Veterans Health and Benefits Improvement Act of 2013, particularly the section providing those serving in the National Guard with veteran status; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, President Pro Tempore of the United States Senate, and Hawaii's Congressional delegation.

 

 

 

	OFFERED BY:	_____________________________

Report Title: 

Urging Congress, as well as Hawaii's Congressional delegation, to support the Veterans Health and Benefits Improvement Act of 2013, particularly the section providing those serving in the National Guard with veteran status.