This bill would change Title 14 of the U.S. Code to add a new section (2517) about keeping certain enlisted Coast Guard members on active duty until they qualify for retirement. For regular enlisted members who are involuntarily separated or denied reenlistment, the Coast Guard must retain them if, on their scheduled discharge date, they are within two years of qualifying for retirement under section 2306. They remain on active duty until they qualify for retirement unless they are retired or discharged sooner under another law.
For enlisted members of the Coast Guard Reserve serving in an active status, the bill prevents involuntary discharge, denial of reenlistment, or transfer from active status (except for physical disability or for cause) if the member can be credited with at least 18 but less than 20 years of service on the discharge or transfer date. Those reserve members may not be discharged, denied reenlistment, or transferred from active status without their consent until the earlier of: (A) the date they are entitled to be credited with 20 years of service, or (B) a set anniversary date after the scheduled discharge or transfer (the third anniversary if they have at least 18 but less than 19 years, or the second anniversary if they have at least 19 but less than 20 years).
The bill also adds an entry for the new section to the chapter analysis. The measure was introduced in the Senate, read twice, and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
No publicly available information on budgetary costs or appropriations is included in the bill text or metadata.
No publicly available information on proponents' statements or reported arguments is included in the bill text or metadata.
No publicly available information on opponents' statements or reported arguments is included in the bill text or metadata.