New Bill Aims to Equalize Benefits for U.S. Public Health Service Ready Reserve Members
Reps. Greg Landsman and Lisa Blunt Rochester have proposed a new bill, H.R. 9870, titled the Parity for Public Health Service Ready Reserve Act. This legislation aims to extend crucial benefits to U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps Ready Reserve members, currently not eligible for these perks.
The bill seeks to provide USPHS Ready Reserve members with the same leave, medical and dental benefits, and education benefits as other military reservists. These professionals train one weekend per month and two weeks per year, with a six-year obligation and readiness for deployment in times of urgent or emergent public health needs.
Reps. Landsman and Blunt Rochester, the bill's sponsors, stress the importance of bolstering public health infrastructure and ensuring these dedicated professionals receive the health insurance benefits they rightfully deserve. Several officer organizations, including the Military Officers Association of America, the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Officers Association, and the Reserve Organization of America, have voiced their support for the bill.
H.R. 9870 has been referred to the House committees on Armed Services, Oversight and Accountability, Veterans' Affairs, and Energy and Commerce. If passed, it will rectify the current disparity, granting USPHS Ready Reserve officers the same health insurance benefits as other uniformed reservists.
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