WASHINGTON, D.C. – Yesterday, Senator Thom Tillis (R-NC) co-sponsored the National Guard and Reservist Debt Relief Extension Act of 2019 to reauthorize relief for qualifying members of the National Guard and Reserves experiencing financial hardship.

“The men and women who serve in the National Guard and Reserves should not be punished for serving our nation,”said Senator Tillis. “I am proud to co-sponsor this bipartisan legislation that will ensure protections for members if they fall on financial hardship.”

The National Guard and Reservists Debt Relief Act of 2008 created a temporary exception for members of the National Guard and Reserve who serve on active duty or in a homeland defense activity for at least 90 days. The current reauthorization expires in December 2019. This legislation would reauthorize the measure for four more years.

Members of the National Guard and Reserves frequently receive higher pay while on active duty than they do in their civilian jobs. Without this legislation, the individuals who file for bankruptcy would be evaluated based on their current income in addition to previous active duty pay, placing them in a higher pay bracket than they can afford with their post-active duty income. 

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