Landsman, Blunt Rochester Introduce Legislation to Support U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps Ready Reserve Members

Cincinnati, OH – Today, Congressman Greg Landsman (OH-01) and Congresswoman Lisa Blunt Rochester (DE-At Large) introduced legislation to provide equal benefits for U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps Ready Reserve members.

Congressman Landsman and Congresswoman Blunt Rochester have partnered to introduce the Parity for Public Health Service Ready Reserve Act – legislation that would ensure U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps Ready Reserve members receive similar employment benefits as the seven other uniformed services, including the military services.

The U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps (USPHS) Ready Reserve is part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services that was created after the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic. The Ready Reserve is comprised of public health professionals who are focused on advancing the health and safety of the American public serve as a sustainment force for the USPHS by augmenting and backfilling for active duty USPHS officers and by completing entire missions.

When the USPHS Ready Reserve was created by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act in 2020, the legislation did not authorize members of the Ready Reserve to receive certain employment benefits that are available tomembers of the reserve components of the Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, Space Force, or Coast Guard.

Congressman Landsman and Congresswoman Blunt Rochester’s Parity for Public Health Service Ready Reserve Act would rectify this by ensuring USPHS Ready Reserve members receive the same medical and dental benefits as other uniformed service members, the same military leave entitlements as other reservists, as well aseducation benefits available under the G.I. bill.

Congressman Landsman:

“A strong U.S. Public Health Service Ready Reserve is critical to our national security. This commonsense legislation will provide more support to the men and women on the frontlines of public health. They deserve full funding and benefits as they work day and night to protect and safeguard our country.”

Congresswoman Lisa Blunt Rochester:

“The pandemic taught us many lessons, one of the most important being the need to strengthen our public health infrastructure. That’s why we must ensure that our public health professionals receive the benefits they deserve. The Parity for Public Health Service Ready Reserve Act would provide equal benefits and privileges to members of the United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps—the only national uniformed service solely dedicated to maintaining public health and safety—who currently lack the same benefits as other servicemembers. It’s time for us to finally do right by them, and I’m proud to help champion this important legislation.”

Jacqueline Rychnovsky, Executive Director of the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Officers Association:

“Funding for the U.S. Public Health Service Ready Reserve (USPHSRR) must be reauthorized immediately to protect the health and safety of our nation. Without funding, these highly trained professionals will not be available for critical deployments, leaving the United States vulnerable to catastrophic public health events. The Commissioned Officers Association applauds Congressman Landsman and Congresswoman Blunt Rochester for their commitment to the U.S. Public Health Service Ready Reserve, andurges Congress to pass this critical legislation without delay.”

Lt. Gen. Brian Kelly (Ret), President and Chief Executive Officer of the Military Officers Association of America:

“The U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps plays an invaluable role serving on the front lines during disease outbreaks and other public health emergencies. The Parity for Public Health Service Ready Reserve Act would fix several gaps in personnel policy, compensation, and benefits and support recruitment and retention for the USPHS Ready Reserve Corps. We appreciate Congressman Landsman and Congresswoman Blunt Rochester’s efforts to address parity gaps and ensure our nation has the surge capacity necessary to address future public health emergencies.”

Matthew Schwartzman, Legislation and Military Policy Director at the Reserve Organization of America:

“The United States Public Health Service Ready Reserve Corps plays a crucial role in ensuring Total Force medical readiness and national public health preparedness. From supporting the National Guard Bureau’s medical teams to providing no-cost healthcare through the Department of Defense’s innovative readiness training missions, these dedicated public health professionals have demonstrated their value despite limited funding and inadequate benefits. The Parity for Public Health Service Ready Reserve Act is essential for recruiting and retaining qualified public health talent, thereby enhancing the capabilities of the Total Force’s medical corps. ROA thanks Representatives Landsman and Blunt Rochester for sponsoring this bill and urges Congress to promptly advance it to the President’s desk for signature.” 

Congressman Landsman and Congresswoman Blunt Rochester’s legislation is a companion to legislation introduced in the Senate by Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) earlier this Congress.

The full text of Congressman Landsman and Congresswoman Blunt Rochester’s Parity for Public Health Service Ready Reserve Act can be found here.

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