Supporting Disabled National Guardsmen Act
The Supporting Disabled National Guardsmen Act would extend two federal benefits to National Guard members who are injured while performing State active duty (SAD). First, it adds SAD to the types of service that can qualify a National Guard member for disability retirement under 10 U.S.C. §1204, and it requires a reduction in retired pay if it duplicates any other federal or state disability benefits. Second, it creates a new VA benefit (38 U.S.C. Sec. 1789A) to provide hospital care and medical services for disabilities incurred on SAD, with funding limited by appropriations and a requirement to pursue third-party payments before reimbursement. The bill defines SAD consistently with existing law (as in 38 U.S.C. §4303) and adds the new section to the table of sections. It was introduced in the House on March 4, 2025, and referred to the Armed Services and Veterans’ Affairs committees. In short, the bill would make National Guard members injured during state-ordered active duty eligible for federal disability retirement and for VA health care for their SAD-related disabilities, while ensuring benefit duplication is avoided and funding is required to be appropriated.
Key Points
- 1Adds State active duty (SAD) to the eligibility criteria for disability retirement under 10 U.S.C. §1204, alongside active duty and inactive-duty training.
- 2Establishes a retirement-pay offset: if a disability qualifies for SAD-based retirement, the retired pay may be reduced to the extent it duplicates other federal or state disability benefits.
- 3Creates new 38 U.S.C. Sec. 1789A: entitlement to hospital care and medical services from the Department of Veterans Affairs for National Guard members who incur disabilities while performing SAD.
- 4Sets funding and reimbursement rules for VA care: care is provided only to the extent of appropriations, and reimbursement to providers requires exhaust of third-party claims/remedies first.
- 5Defines SAD for purposes of this act as the term used in 38 U.S.C. §4303 and updates the structure accordingly by adding 1789A to the table of sections.