WASHINGTON — U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan is co-sponsoring a bill to provide parity in GI Bill benefits for members of the National Guard and Reserves who have similar training and missions as other service members, but do not receive equal benefits.

The bill, if approved, would apply to reservists at the Youngstown Air Reserve Station, among others.

Ryan, D-Howland, introduced the bill with U.S. Reps. Mike Levin, D-San Juan Capistrano, Calif, and U.S. Rep. Steven Palazzo, R-Gulfport, Miss. It was introduced in the Senate by U.S. Sens. Jon Tester, a Montana Democrat, and Marsha Blackburn, a Tennessee Republican.

Since 9/11, the Guard and Reserves have been an integral part of the nation’s defense plans as an operational component, Ryan said. Service members often train and serve alongside active members for deployment missions, but do not receive equal benefits, he said. This bill would address the disparity by expanding eligibility for the Post-9/11 GI Bill to count every day that a service member is paid and in uniform toward benefit eligibility, he said.

“Our service members prove themselves daily serving our nation, and they should be compensated daily as well,” Ryan said. “That’s why a day on active duty should count as a day toward their GI benefits. Nothing can truly repay our servicemembers for their sacrifices, but this bill is an important step towards fairly compensating military men and women.”

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