U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines today announced that he successfully secured extended orders for National Guard members to protect their benefits while serving during the COVID-19 pandemic. The announcement follows Daines’ request to President Trump to extend the orders.
“Our brave guardsmen and women working on the frontlines of this pandemic every day to protect the health and safety of our communities need the assurance their benefits will be protected as they serve,” Daines said. “I’m glad the President acted swiftly on my request to ensure our National Guard service members are put on orders long enough to protect their GI and retirement benefits during this crisis.”
President Trump’s action follow Daines’ request to the President in support of extending orders long enough to protect benefits for National Guard service members responding to the COVID-19 outbreak.
Background:
Daines has been strong advocate in protecting National Guard members benefits including successfully securing healthcare benefits for service members activated to respond to COVID-19.
On May 14th, 2020, Daines sent a letter urging Senate leadership to temporarily lower the minimum requirement for a satisfactory year of service to accommodate National Guard personnel who are unable to drill and acquire points towards retirement because of the COVID-19 outbreak.
On April 14th, 2020, Daines brought lunch from Bozeman’s Chalet Market to Montana National Guard troops serving at the Bozeman airport to thank them for protecting Montana communities during the COVID-19 pandemic. He also shared news that following his request to President Trump, Montana National Guard members responding to the Coronavirus pandemic would be eligible for healthcare benefits (TRICARE coverage) and housing benefits and that he would be sending a letter to President Trump urging the administration to give hazard pay to National Guard troops serving during COVID-19.
On April 2nd, 2020, Daines sent a letter yesterday to President Trump urging him to permit National Guard members responding to the Coronavirus pandemic in our communities to be eligible for TRICARE coverage.
Daines has also been leading the efforts in Congress to respond to the coronavirus outbreak impacting the country. To read about Daines’ COVID-19 related efforts, click HERE.
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