{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.blackburn.senate.gov/2026/4/military/blackburn-van-epps-introduce-legislation-to-ensure-national-guard-members-receive-federal-benefits", "Blackburn, Van Epps Introduce Legislation to Ensure National Guard Members Receive Federal Benefits", "2026-04-14", "2026", "2026-04", "Republican", "Senate", "TN", "Marsha Blackburn", "B001243", "www.blackburn.senate.gov", "blackburn", "https://www.blackburn.senate.gov/news/cc8c80c1-d564-4bbb-93a4-f1d772346ae0", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) and U.S. RepresentativeMatt Van Epps (R-Tenn.) introduced the Guard Equal Benefits for Federal Missions Act to ensure that National Guard members patrolling U.S. cities receive active-duty benefits for their service. Last month, President Trump announced National Guardsmen serving on the Memphis Safe Task Force and in other cities would receive deployment pay and benefits equal to those of active-duty troops.\n\n\u201cThe Memphis Safe Task Force has successfully driven crime down by 43%, and thanks to President Trump and Secretary Hegseth, Tennessee National Guardsmen are now receiving the federal benefits they have earned while restoring law and order,\u201d said Senator Blackburn. \u201cThe Guard Equal Benefits for Federal Missions Act would ensure National Guard members get the benefits they\u2019ve earned when they are called up to support federally directed public safety missions, regardless of how the operation is designated.\u201d\n\n\u201cAs an active member of the National Guard, I appreciate the impact of the Tennessee National Guard\u2019s work to make Memphis safe again. I applaud President Trump's directive extending national emergency-level benefits to Guardsmen serving in the Memphis Safe Task Force, and I am proud to co-lead the Guard Equal Benefits for Federal Missions Act with Senator Marsha Blackburn to codify that policy permanently into law. This legislation ensures that National Guard personnel serving full-time in support of federal agencies such as ICE, DEA, and ATF receive the benefits their service deserves,\u201d said Representative Van Epps.\n\nBACKGROUND\n\nThe Memphis Safe Task Force was established on September 29, 2025, to combat violent crime in the city of Memphis. This task force is being coordinated by local, state, and federal law enforcement as well as the Tennessee National Guard. Since its launch, the Task Force has driven down overall crime by 43 percent compared to a year ago.\n\nLast month, President Trump and Secretary Hegseth took action to ensure National Guard members serving on the Task Force receive the same benefits as active-duty troops. Prior to this, Tennessee National Guard members supporting \u201cRestoring Law and Order in Memphis\u201d were ineligible for benefits typically associated with extended, involuntary service because the mission was not designated as a national emergency. While the Trump administration\u2019s action resolves the issue for this mission, gaps remain in statute that could affect future operations.\n\nGUARD EQUAL BENEFITS FOR FEDERAL MISSIONS ACT\n\nThe Guard Equal Benefits for Federal Missions Act would ensure that any future deployment of National Guard members under 32 U.S.C. \u00a7 502(f) in support of federally directed public safety operations is treated as qualifying service for federal benefits, regardless of whether the mission is formally designated as a national emergency.\n\nThis bill would provide that full-time National Guard duty performed under 32 U.S.C. \u00a7 502(f) shall be treated as service in response to a national emergency if such duty is:\n\nAuthorized by the President or the Secretary of War;\n\nPerformed in direct support of federally directed public safety operations, including those conducted in coordination with federal agencies; and\n\nCarried out for the purpose of addressing significant criminal activity, drug trafficking, organized crime, or other threats to public safety as determined by the Secretary of War.\n\nRELATED\n\nBlackburn Joins President Trump in Memphis to Tout Success of Memphis Safe Task Force\n\nPHOTO: Blackburn Joins Attorney General Bondi for Memphis Safe Task Force Briefing, Serves Dinner to Task Force Members\n\nPresident Trump Is Making Memphis Safe Again\n\nClick here for bill text.", 1, "2026-04-15T05:46:42Z", "2026-04-15T05:48:27Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://www.blackburn.senate.gov/2026/4/military/blackburn-van-epps-introduce-legislation-to-ensure-national-guard-members-receive-federal-benefits"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 0.701448880136013, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}