House introduces Guard and Reserve Equal Access to Health Act

On Dec. 16, 2015, Representative Mike Coffman, R-Colo., along with 29 House colleagues, introduced H.R. 4251, the Guard and Reserve Equal Access to Health Act. The American Legion-initiated bill was based upon the legislative mandate in Resolution 182, which requires the Department of Defense to provide end-of-service physical examinations to all retiring and separating servicemembers within 90 days of the end of their military service. If passed, the bill will ensure servicemembers of the Guard and reserve obtain an end-of-service physical at completion of military service.

Today, both reservists and active-duty military are required to complete a physical examination when they are processed into the military. But under current law, only active-duty servicemembers are required to complete an end-of-service physical. Providing reserve component servicemembers with an end-of-service physical will document those health conditions that may be service connected to determine eligibility for VA health care. The end-of-service health records will also help expedite the disability compensation claims process for the veterans.

When he introduced the bill, Rep. Coffman, a Marine Corps combat veteran who was mobilized and deployed twice to the Middle East, said, "These reservists are often deployed and endure many of the hardships of war….citizen soldiers deserve the same consideration as their active-duty counterparts when they transition out of the military and this legislation is a further step in that direction." Rep. Coffman serves on both the House Armed Services and House Veterans’ Affairs committees, where he is the chairman of the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations. He is the only member of Congress to have served in both Iraq wars.

Since the introduction of this legislation, the Legion’s Legislative Division staff have held a number of face-to-face meetings with congressional staff, seeking additional cosponsors. If your representative is a co-sponsor of this bill, please contact them and thank them for their support and encourage them to pass this legislation. If your representative is not a co-sponsor, please contact them and ask them to become a co-sponsor by contacting the office of Rep. Coffman.