Bill Summary
This legislation aims to amend Title 14 of the United States Code by introducing a new provision regarding the retention of enlisted members of the Coast Guard who have completed 18 or more but less than 20 years of service.
Key points of the bill include:
1. **Retention Requirement**: Enlisted members of the Regular Coast Guard facing involuntary separation or whose enlistment term expires (without the option to reenlist) will be retained on active duty until they qualify for retirement, provided they are within two years of reaching the 20-year retirement mark.
2. **Coast Guard Reserve Provisions**: Similar protections are extended to enlisted members of the Coast Guard Reserve in active status. These members cannot be separated or denied reenlistment without their consent if they have between 18 and 20 years of service, unless the separation is due to physical disability or cause.
3. **Timeline for Retention**: The bill specifies timelines for retention based on the member's years of service:
- For those with 18 to 19 years of service, retention is guaranteed until they reach 20 years or until three years after their scheduled separation date.
- For those with 19 to 20 years of service, retention lasts until they reach 20 years or two years after their scheduled separation date.
This legislation aims to provide job security and support for Coast Guard members nearing retirement, ensuring that they can complete their service without involuntary separation in the critical final years before retirement eligibility.
Possible Impacts
The proposed legislation regarding the retention of enlisted members of the Coast Guard who have completed between 18 and 20 years of service could have several significant effects on individuals and their families. Here are three examples:
1. **Increased Job Security for Service Members**: For enlisted members nearing retirement eligibility, this legislation would provide greater job security by preventing involuntary separation. Service members who have invested nearly two decades of service will have the assurance that they can continue their careers until they reach the 20-year mark, thus allowing them to retire with full benefits. This stability can lead to better mental health and morale among service members who would otherwise face uncertainty about their future.
2. **Enhanced Benefits and Retirement Planning**: The ability to serve until reaching 20 years allows members to qualify for retirement benefits, which can significantly impact their financial planning and security. Enlisted members who are retained under this legislation can accrue additional service time, which translates to increased retirement pay and benefits. This can positively affect their families by providing a more stable financial foundation post-service, allowing for better planning for education, housing, and other long-term goals.
3. **Impact on Recruitment and Retention**: By ensuring that experienced personnel can remain in service until they reach 20 years, this legislation may influence recruitment and retention within the Coast Guard. Potential recruits may see this as a commitment from the military to value and retain experienced members, making military service more appealing. Conversely, the retention of experienced personnel might affect opportunities for junior enlisted members to advance or be promoted, which could lead to a need for strategic adjustments within personnel management and career progression pathways.
Overall, the legislation could have broad implications for the lives of service members, their families, and the operational effectiveness of the Coast Guard.
[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2200 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 2200
To amend title 14, United States Code, to require the retention of
certain enlisted members of the Coast Guard who have completed 18 or
more, but less than 20, years of service, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
March 18, 2025
Mrs. Kiggans of Virginia (for herself and Ms. Tokuda) introduced the
following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Transportation
and Infrastructure
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend title 14, United States Code, to require the retention of
certain enlisted members of the Coast Guard who have completed 18 or
more, but less than 20, years of service, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. RETENTION OF ENLISTED MEMBERS AFTER COMPLETION OF 18 OR
MORE, BUT LESS THAN 20, YEARS OF SERVICE.
(a) In General.--Subchapter I of chapter 25 of title 14, United
States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new section:
``Sec. 2517. Retention of enlisted members after completion of 18 or
more, but less than 20, years of service
``(a) Regular Members.--An enlisted member of the Regular Coast
Guard who is selected to be involuntarily separated, or whose term of
enlistment expires and who is denied reenlistment, and who, on the date
on which the member is to be discharged, is within two years of
qualifying for retirement under section 2306 of this title shall be
retained on active duty until the member is qualified for retirement,
unless the member is sooner retired or discharged under any other
provision of law.
``(b) Reserve Members in Active Status.--An enlisted member of the
Coast Guard Reserve serving in an active status who is selected to be
involuntarily separated (other than for physical disability or for
cause), or whose term of enlistment expires and who is denied
reenlistment (other than for physical disability or for cause), and
who, on the date on which the member is to be discharged or transferred
from an active status, is entitled to be credited with at least 18, but
less than 20, years of service, may not be discharged, denied
reenlistment, or transferred from an active status without the consent
of the member before the earlier of the following:
``(1) If, as of the date on which the member is to be
discharged or transferred from an active status, the member has
at least 18, but less than 19, years of service--
``(A) the date on which the member is entitled to
be credited with 20 years of service; or
``(B) the third anniversary of the date on which
the member would otherwise be discharged or transferred
from an active status.
``(2) If, as of the date on which the member is to be
discharged or transferred from an active status, the member has
at least 19, but less than 20, years of service--
``(A) the date on which the member is entitled to
be credited with 20 years of service; or
``(B) the second anniversary of the date on which
the member would otherwise be discharged or transferred
from an active status.''.
(b) Clerical Amendment.--The analysis for chapter 25 of title 14,
United States Code, is amended by inserting after the item relating to
section 2516 the following:
``2517. Retention of enlisted members after completion of 18 or more,
but less than 20, years of service.''.
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