Crapo, Cortez Masto Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Increase Paid Military Leave for Reserve Servicemembers

Washington, D.C.--U.S. Senators Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) and Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nevada) introduced the Supporting Employees in the Guard and Reserve Act to ensure reserve servicemembers can attend critical military trainings and fulfill their duties without losing pay.  This bipartisan bill will increase the number of days of paid military leave available to federal employees who are also reserve servicemembers, including those in the National Guard, the Army Reserve and the Air Force Reserve.

“As global threats against the United States increase, it is critical we maintain a strong and resilient military,” said Crapo.  “Further supporting National Guard and Reserves recruitment within the civilian workforce will better equip our nation’s military to protect our country at home and abroad.”  

“Reserve servicemembers in Nevada make countless sacrifices to serve our nation, and they deserve easy access to support, resources, and training,” said Cortez Masto.  “This legislation will update military leave policies to help ensure employees aren’t punished for their service to our country, and I’ll keep working across the aisle to strengthen our national security.”

Currently, a reservist must attend military trainings for 12 weekends and 14 days of annual training at a minimum.  However, federal leave policies often only allow for about two weeks of military leave annually.  This bipartisan legislation would increase the number of paid military leave days available to federal employees who are also reserve servicemembers from 15 days to 20 days, with additional days rolling over to the following year.  Increasing the number of days for military leave will help recruit and retain reserve servicemembers and provide them greater economic stability.  

U.S. Representative Chrissy Houlahan (D-Pennsylvania) has introduced similar companion legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives.  The Supporting Employees in the Guard and Reserve Act has also been introduced as an amendment to the 2025 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).