Political Quotes

“today I am introducing the Space Available Equity Act. Members and retirees of the National Guard and Reserve, their families, and surviving military spouses make great sacrifices for our Nation. However, too often these individuals do not receive the benefits they have earned for their service. For instance, members of the reserve components and "gray area" retirees, National Guardsmen or Reservists eligible for retirement but under the age of 60, have limited space-available travel privileges on Department of Defense aircraft under current regulation. Their space- available travel benefits are restricted to the continental United States and are not extended to their dependents, unlike active duty members and retirees. Surviving spouses of a military member eligible for retired pay retain no space-available travel privileges at all after the death of their spouse, despite having made a lifetime commitment to the military or in many cases, lost their loved one in war. To correct these inequities, I am introducing the National Guard, Reserve, Gray Area Retiree, and Surviving Spouse Space-available Travel Equity Act. This bill will give these deserving individuals comprehensive and equitable space-available travel privileges on Department of Defense aircraft. The bill is endorsed by the National Guard Association of the United States. I urge my colleagues to join me in giving parity to our reserve component members and surviving military spouses.”