HR1423-119

What This Bill Does

The Guard and Reserve GI Bill Parity Act of 2025 expands Post-9/11 GI Bill education benefits to National Guard members who serve in "Title 32" status - meaning full-time National Guard duty or state active duty. Currently, only National Guard members serving under federal orders (Title 10) qualify for these education benefits, creating an unfair gap for those performing the same full-time service but under state control. The bill also makes this expansion retroactive to September 11, 2001, allowing National Guard members to claim benefits for past qualifying service.

Who Benefits and How

National Guard members are the primary beneficiaries. Those who have served or are currently serving in full-time National Guard duty or state active duty will gain access to Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits, which can cover tuition and fees at colleges and universities, provide monthly housing allowances, and pay for books and supplies. The retroactive provision means thousands of National Guard members who served since 2001 in state status can now claim education benefits they previously weren't eligible for, potentially worth tens of thousands of dollars per person.

Higher education institutions also benefit from this expansion. With more National Guard members eligible for federally-funded education benefits, colleges, universities, and vocational schools will see increased enrollment from students who can now afford their programs using GI Bill benefits.

Who Bears the Burden and How

Federal taxpayers will bear the cost of this expansion through increased spending on veterans' education benefits. The retroactive provision to 2001 is particularly significant, as it could create substantial unfunded liability for over two decades of past service that now qualifies for benefits.

The Department of Veterans Affairs faces increased administrative burden. VA staff must develop systems to verify Title 32 service eligibility (which is different from the federal active duty they currently process), handle a surge of new and retroactive benefit claims, and manage ongoing payments to a newly eligible population.

Key Provisions

• Amends the legal definition of qualifying service for Post-9/11 GI Bill to include National Guard members performing "full-time National Guard duty" under Title 32 (Section 101 of Title 32, United States Code)
• Includes National Guard members on "active duty" under Title 32, which covers state activations for emergencies, disasters, or other governor-ordered missions
• Makes the expansion retroactive to service performed on or after September 11, 2001, creating potential eligibility for decades of past National Guard service
• Takes effect one year after the bill is signed into law, giving the VA time to prepare systems and processes for the new eligibility criteria
• Applies existing Post-9/11 GI Bill rules (such as the 36-month cap on benefits) to the newly eligible National Guard population