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Shown Here: Introduced in House (07/31/2008)
110th CONGRESS 2d Session
H. R. 6723
To provide benefits under the
Post-Deployment/Mobilization Respite Absence program for certain periods before
the implementation of the program.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
July 31, 2008
Mr. Braley of Iowa
(for himself, Mr. Kline of Minnesota,
Mr. Boswell,
Mr. Loebsack,
Mr. Latham,
Mr. King of Iowa,
Mr. Oberstar,
Ms. McCollum of Minnesota,
Mr. Walz of Minnesota,
Mr. Peterson of Minnesota,
Mr. Ellison,
Mr. Ramstad, and
Mrs. Bachmann) introduced the
following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Armed Services
A BILL
To provide benefits under the
Post-Deployment/Mobilization Respite Absence program for certain periods before
the implementation of the program.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1.Short title.
This Act may be cited as the
“Guaranteed Benefits for Our Troops
Act” .
SEC. 2. Benefits under
Post-Deployment/Mobilization Respite Absence program for certain periods before
implementation of program.
(a) In
general.—Under regulations prescribed by the Secretary of Defense,
the Secretary concerned shall provide any member or former member of the Armed
Forces with the benefits specified in subsection (b) if the member or former
member would, on any day during the period beginning on January 19, 2007, and
ending on the date of the implementation of the Post-Deployment/Mobilization
Respite Absence (PDMRA) program by the Secretary concerned, have qualified for
a day of administrative absence under the Post-Deployment/Mobilization Respite
Absence program had the program been in effect during such period.
(b) Benefits.—The
benefits specified in this subsection are the following:
(1) In the case of an
individual who is a former member of the Armed Forces at the time of the
provision of benefits under this section, payment of an amount not to exceed
$200 for each day the individual would have qualified for a day of
administrative absence as described in subsection (a) during the period
specified in that subsection.
(2) In the case of an
individual who is a member of the Armed Forces at the time of the provision of
benefits under this section, either one day of administrative absence or
payment of an amount not to exceed $200, as selected by the Secretary
concerned, for each day the individual would have qualified for a day of
administrative absence as described in subsection (a) during the period
specified in that subsection.
(c) Exclusion of
certain former members.—A former member of the Armed Forces is not
eligible under this section for the benefits specified in subsection (b)(1) if
the former member was discharged or released from the Armed Forces under other
than honorable conditions.
(d) Maximum number of
days of benefits.—The number of days of benefits providable to a
member or former member of the Armed Forces under this section may not exceed
40 days of benefits.
(e) Form of
payment.—The paid benefits providable under subsection (b) may be
paid in a lump sum or installments, at the election of the Secretary
concerned.
(f) Construction
with other pay and leave.—The benefits provided a member or former
member of the Armed Forces under this section are in addition to any other pay,
absence, or leave provided by law.
(g) Definitions.—In
this section:
(1) The term
“Post-Deployment/Mobilization Respite Absence program” means the
program of a military department to provide days of administrative absence not
chargeable against available leave to certain deployed or mobilized members of
the Armed Forces in order to assist such members in reintegrating into civilian
life after deployment or mobilization.
(2) The term
“Secretary concerned” has the meaning given that term in section
101(5) of title 37, United States Code.
(h) Termination.—
(1) IN
GENERAL.—The authority to provide benefits under this section
shall expire on the date that is one year after the date of the enactment of
this Act.
(2) CONSTRUCTION.—Expiration
under this subsection of the authority to provide benefits under this section
shall not affect the utilization of any day of administrative absence provided
a member of the Armed Forces under subsection (b)(2), or the payment of any
payment authorized a member or former member of the Armed Forces under
subsection (b), before the expiration of the authority in this section.