Posted: Tuesday, November 17, 2015 4:14 pm
Under federal law, a National Guard member who had served honorably at least 20 years could not be called a veteran unless that service member had been called up for a deployment, which is considered active duty.
A bill, sponsored by Congressman Tim Walz, D-1st District, was passed by the U.S. House of Representatives on Monday to change that.
Under the bill, any service member who serves honorably for at least 20 years in the National Guard or Reserves would be designated as a veteran.
“It is purely for the title and honor,” said Sara Severs, deputy chief of staff for the congressman. “In the way the congressman described it, those service members could have served for 20 years, but just by the nature of the time they served or the unit in which they served, they didn’t deploy.”
This change would not affect Walz’s status under federal law. During his 24 years in the National Guard, he deployed overseas as part of Operation Enduring Freedom.
But there were a number of people he served with who currently aren’t considered veterans, even though they served and qualified for a military retirement, Severs said.
According to House records, Walz has introduced similar legislation during each two-year term since 2009. It also passed the House in 2010 and 2011. It has not gotten through the U.S. Senate because of concerns it could add federal spending because of the new veteran designation.
But the language change does not extend any additional benefits, a news release from Walz’s office said.
There is a Senate-sponsored related bill with 23 co-sponsors, including Minnesota’s senators. Severs said there may be an opportunity for compromise language between the bills to come about in the coming weeks.