Bill · S. 4801· Senate(119-S-4801)
Duty Status Reform Act
- Introduced
- 6/16/2026
- Last activity
- 6/16/2026 — Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.
- Sponsored by
- Jerry Moran
- Cosponsors
- - 4 - 7
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
The Duty Status Reform Act updates how members of the National Guard and reserve components are ordered to duty by creating a new categorized system for active, reserve, and remote assignments. It aligns benefits, legal protections, and definitions for those serving in contingency operations to ensure consistency with active-duty members. The bill includes support for youth programs, expands survivor and education benefits, and provides early health care access. It also outlines the authority for involuntary call-ups and establishes a general implementation timeline.
Yes· 3 of 27
Would veterans be better off under this, taking everything together?+7
Comprehensive alignment of benefits, home loans, healthcare access, and survivor benefits for National Guard and reserve members.
Would people in their twenties and thirties be better off under this?+6
Establishes the National Guard Youth Challenge Program for school dropouts and improves student loan relief.
Would children be better off under this?+5
Provides support to youth organizations and expanded educational benefits for dependents of National Guard members.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
- Support for Youth and Charities: National Guard units can provide medical assistance, technical training, and transportation to organizations like the Special Olympics, Boy Scouts, and Girl Scouts (Section 514).
- Youth Opportunities: The National Guard Youth Challenge Program helps school dropouts earn high school diplomas through mentoring and residential programs (Section 515).
- Sexual Assault Victim Support: Victims of sexual assault can request to stay on active or full-time National Guard duty until a "line of duty" determination is made (Section 12352(g) and Section 552(e)).
- Early Health Care Access: Members with covered orders can access TRICARE up to 180 days before their duty begins (SEC. 14(a)).
- Expanded Access to Benefits: More service members may qualify for payments and protections via amendments to Title 37 (Pay) and Title 38 (Veterans' Benefits).
- Survivor Support: Survivor benefits are expanded to include "full-time National Guard duty" and "reserve component duty" (Section 8(a) and Section 8(b)).
- Financial and Legal Protections: Protections under the Fair Credit Reporting Act and the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act are extended to those on full-time National Guard duty in contingency operations (Section (s) and Section (i)).
- Education Assistance: Eligibility for benefits under the Defense Dependents' Education Act of 1978 and the Higher Education Act of 1965 is expanded to include full-time National Guard duty (Section (k) and Section (l)).
- Small Business Support: The scope of the Small Business Act and the Military Reservist and Veteran Small Business Reauthorization and Opportunity Act of 2008 is broadened to include full-time National Guard duty (Section (g) and Section (h)).
- Flexible Training: Category IV remote assignments allow members to complete approved work or courses at their own time and location (Section 12344 and Section 544).
- Benefit Alignment: Legal protections and benefits are expanded for those performing full-time National Guard duty during contingency operations (Section 7).
- Consideration for Involuntary Call-ups: The Secretary of Defense must consider national health and safety employment, previous service length, and family responsibilities when ordering members to active duty without consent (Section 12322(c)).
- Protection of Accrued Benefits: Benefits accrued from service before the effective date cannot be reduced (SEC. 14(c)(1)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- Involuntary Service: Members of the Retired, Selected, and Ready Reserves can be ordered to active duty without consent during national emergencies or for national security (Section 12312 and Section 12351).
- Limited Release Options: During national emergencies or war, reserve members may only be released from active duty if authorized by law, if they waive a board, or if a board of officers recommends it (Section 12313(b)).
- Service Extensions: The President can suspend laws regarding separation, retirement, or promotion for members deemed essential to national security (Section 12311(a)).
- Loss of Pay/Benefits for Remote Work: Members in Category IV remote assignments are not entitled to the same pay, immunities, or benefits as those on active or reserve component duty, with some exceptions for compensation or retirement points (Section 12354(c) and Section 554(c)).
- Loss of Specific Provisions: The repeal of Section 12503 of Title 10, Chapter 13 of Title 10, and Sections 114 and 115 of Title 32 removes existing rules or protections (Section 10).
- Payment Restrictions: Some compensations are limited to not exceed the rate otherwise applicable to the member (Section (p)(2)(A)(ii) and (III)).
- Specific Exclusions for Pay: Reserve component members are explicitly not entitled to compensation for certain courses of instruction or work under section 544 of title 32 or section 12344 of title 10 (Section (p)(2)(A)(C)).
- Delayed Implementation: The provisions may not apply for 10 years after enactment unless an earlier date is certified (SEC. 15(a)).
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Good For Veterans+7Good For Young Adults+6Good For Children+5Good For Students+5Good For Low Income Households+4Good For Retirees+4Good For Women+4Good For Business Owners+3Good For Middle Class Households+3Good For Seniors+3Good For Farmers+2Good For Immigrants+2Good For Middle Aged+2Good For Rural Residents+2
- National Security And Foreign Policy
- Improves Cybersecurity Defense+5Improves Veterans Benefits+5
- Education And Technology
- Improves Student Loan Relief+4Improves College Affordability+3
- Healthcare
- Improves Healthcare Access+4Improves Veterans Healthcare+3
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Improves Disaster Relief And F E M A+4Improves Rural Development+2
- Social Issues And Justice
- Improves Affordable Housing+3Improves Pathway To Citizenship+2Improves Social Security+1
- Economy And Finance
- Improves Small Business Support+3
- Governance And Ideology
- Increases Federal Power+3
- 9/28/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 7/28/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 7/27/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 7/22/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 6/16/2026
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.
- 7 Cosponsors added.
- Introduced in Senate
One bill Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
John BoozmanRepublican · Arkansas
Richard BlumenthalDemocrat · Connecticut
Cory BookerDemocrat · New Jersey
Lisa Blunt RochesterDemocrat · Delaware
Mike CrapoRepublican · Idaho
Tammy DuckworthDemocrat · Illinois
Amy KlobucharDemocrat · Minnesota
James RischRepublican · Idaho
Jacky RosenDemocrat · Nevada
Tim SheehyRepublican · Montana
Peter WelchDemocrat · Vermont