Peters Cosponsors Bill Designating National Guard, Reserve Retirees as Veterans

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI) today announced that he is cosponsoring the Honor America’s Guard-Reserve Act of 2015, bipartisan legislation that would redefine the definition of a veteran to include National Guard and Reserve retirees.  Under current law, a veteran is only defined as servicemen and women who have served on active duty. Because no additional benefits are given under this law besides the title of veteran to National Guardsmen and Reserve retirees, there is no cost associated with this bill.

“America’s military is the strongest force in the world thanks in no small part to the support of National Guard and Reservists,” said Senator Peters. “The men and women of our National Guard and Reserve are leaders in their communities while always standing ready to defend our nation and our freedom, and designating them as veterans is an appropriate recognition of their military service.”

As a former Lt. Commander in the Navy Reserve, Senator Peters has been a strong voice in Congress for Michigan’s veterans and servicemembers. Earlier this year, Peters introduced bipartisan legislation with Republican Senator Joni Ernst (IA), a Lt. Colonel in the Iowa Army National Guard, to extend for five years a tax credit for small businesses that provide differential pay to military reservists and National Guard members called to serve on active duty.

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