119-s1861

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 1861 Introduced in Senate

    (IS) ]

<DOC>

119th CONGRESS
 1st Session
 S. 1861

To amend title 10, United States Code, to allow members of the Selected 
 Reserve and National Guard holding employment within the Federal 
 Government the choice between military and civilian healthcare plans, 
 and for other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

 May 22, 2025

Mr. Blumenthal introduced the following bill; which was read twice and 
 referred to the Committee on Armed Services

_______________________________________________________________________

 A BILL

To amend title 10, United States Code, to allow members of the Selected 
 Reserve and National Guard holding employment within the Federal 
 Government the choice between military and civilian healthcare plans, 
 and for other purposes.

 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

 This Act may be cited as the ``Servicemember Healthcare Freedom Act 
of 2025''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

 Congress finds the following:

    (1) Thousands of members of reserve components and the 
 National Guard, in addition to their military service, work for 
 the United States Government in a civilian capacity.

    (2) Nearly all members of the Selected Reserve and the 
 National Guard, and their families, are entitled to purchase a 
 TRICARE Reserve Select

    (TRS) healthcare plan as a service-
 related benefit.

    (3) As of the day before the date of the enactment of this 
 Act, eligibility for Federal Employee Health Benefits

    (FEHB) prohibits members of the Selected Reserve and National Guard 
 from enrolling in TRS plans.

    (4) Removal of such prohibition for members of the Selected 
 Reserve and the National Guard will provide continuity of care 
 throughout mobilization cycles.

    (5) Providing members of the Armed Forces with the ability 
 to purchase comprehensive, low-cost health insurance increases 
 the readiness and lethality of the Armed Forces as a whole.

SEC. 3. MODIFICATION OF EXPIRATION DATE TO ALLOW MEMBERS OF THE 
 SELECTED RESERVE AND NATIONAL GUARD, ELIGIBLE FOR FEDERAL 
 EMPLOYEE HEALTH BENEFITS, TO ENROLL INTO TRICARE RESERVE 
 SELECT AS OF JANUARY 1, 2026.

 

Section 1076d

    (a)

    (2) of title 10, United States Code, is amended by 
striking ``January 1, 2030'' and inserting ``January 1, 2026''.
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