Dear Friend,
Last week, I announced legislation I’ll be introducing to ensure National Guard members and their families retain health coverage when the member is temporarily called into duty to assist with a natural disaster, like the SR 530 landslide.
Dear Friend,
Last week, I announced legislation I’ll be introducing to ensure National Guard members and their families retain health coverage when the member is temporarily called into duty to assist with a natural disaster, like the SR 530 landslide.
Following last year’s tragic landslide, our community was very fortunate to have the assistance of highly trained Washington National Guard members aiding in search-and-rescue and decontamination efforts. That’s why I was shocked to learn that some of these members and their families were at risk of losing healthcare coverage because of their participation in the disaster response.
This problem arose because of the various legal statuses that National Guard members serve under. Some of the Guard members called into duty after the SR 530 slide serve on full-time Federal Duty status, and as a result, they cannot assist in a state emergency without losing their eligibility for health coverage. Unfortunately, current law prevents states from extending health coverage for these Guard members and their families during state disasters.
Congress must act to protect our brave men and women in uniform. That’s why, I will introduce legislation to allow states to extend health coverage for federal Guard members and their families when the member is temporarily called into duty to respond to a natural disaster or emergency.
My legislation will ensure our state leaders can respond to disasters without hesitation or delay, knowing that Guard members and their families will not face an unnecessary disruption in health coverage.
We must make this fix before the next disaster strikes.
As always, my office is here to serve you. If you have questions or comments about the topics that matter most to you, I encourage you to contact me through my website. You may also keep up-to-date on what I’m doing by following me on Twitter, Instagramand Facebook. If you need assistance dealing with a federal agency, such as the IRS or the VA, please do not hesitate to contact my Bothell office at (425) 485-0085.
