SLC Times

Today, the Senate approved the Guarding Readiness Resources Act, a bipartisan initiative led by Senator Mike Lee from Utah. The legislation aims to provide an exemption from the Miscellaneous Receipts Act for State Active Duty reimbursement payments. This change will allow funds to be returned to the National Guard units that incurred expenses, enhancing readiness and operational efficiency. The bill will now proceed to the House of Representatives for further consideration.

Senator Mike Lee commented on the importance of this legislative move: "The National Guard is essential to our national defense and emergency response system. This legislation eliminates unnecessary hurdles, ensuring that the funds used by states to reimburse the National Guard go directly to maintaining and preparing our equipment for future missions. I’m proud to see this bipartisan measure pass the Senate with unanimous consent."

The bill addresses a persistent issue faced by the National Guard. Federal law permits federal assets' use for state-directed missions, but reimbursements have traditionally been redirected to the U.S. Treasury instead of returning to the relevant Guard units, leading to funding shortfalls.

Key aspects of the bill include:

- Exemption from Miscellaneous Receipts Act for SAD reimbursement payments.

- Enabling U.S. Property and Fiscal Officer (USPFO) to allocate reimbursement money back to National Guard units.

- Ensuring available funding for maintenance, repair, and replacement costs of federal equipment when needed.

- Keeping National Guard equipment, property, and training funds ready for federal missions.