Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-Tn.) told local National Guard and Reserve members on Friday, during a visit to the McGhee Tyson Air National Guard Base, that he and a bipartisan group of senators have introduced legislation that would expand retirement benefits for members of the National Guard and Reserve who have served in the nation's war against terrorism.

Sen. Alexander said the National Guard and Reserve Retired Pay Equity Act of 2008 (S. 2836) would allow veteran reservists and guardsmen who have served on active duty since Sept. 11, 2001, to receive retirement pay three months earlier for every 90 days they spent on active duty.

"Nearly 14,000 Tennessee Guardsmen and Reservist have answered the call
of duty since our nation was attacked in 2001 - some have served two or three tours - and now we must ensure that these veterans receive the retirement benefits they deserve," said Sen. Alexander. He was speaking in the city that houses the headquarters of Tennessee's 278 Regimental Combat Team whose nearly 4,000 members spent a year in Iraq.

He said, "We not only owe these men and women of the National Guard and Reserve our thanks, but we also should recognize the families and communities supporting their sacrifice. The legislation I've helped introduce is a much-needed step toward letting our guardsmen and reservists collect their retirement pay sooner rather than forcing them to wait."

Currently, National Guard and Reserve members are the only military retirees who must wait until age 60 to collect retirement pay. But the legislation sponsored by Sen. Alexander would amend current law to include any duty performed after Sept. 11, 2001, as service qualifying for a reduction in the age they can begin to draw retirement pay for their military service.

Sen. Alexander said the National Guard and Reserve Retired Pay Equity Act builds upon legislation, which became law in January, that allowed reservists and members of the National Guard to draw their retirement pay before age 60.

The age for receiving retirement pay was reduced by three months for every 90 days a Guard or Reserve member spends on active duty in support of a contingency operation, or on active service for purposes of responding to a national emergency declared by the president or supported by federal funds.

However, that earlier legislation only counted service performed after the date the bill was enacted and was not retroactive to September 11, 2001.

"Tennesseans know these men and women need our full support in order to carry out their missions, and I will continue to make sure meeting their needs is a top priority of Congress," Sen. Alexander said.