Raskin pushes House bill to broaden retirement benefits for NOAA and Public Health Service personnel

Legislation introduced by Rep. Jamie Raskin in the House seeks to expand military retirement benefits to members of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the Public Health Service, as noted by the U.S. Congress.

Filed as H.R.8732 on May 11, 2026, during the 119th Congress regular session, the legislation is analyzed here based on the official bill document, including clarifications for its main provisions.

This proposal would alter several statutes, allowing the Department of Defense Military Retirement Fund to provide retired pay to former NOAA and Public Health Service commissioned corps members. It revises title 10 of the U.S. Code, widening the scope of “uniformed services” so that both agencies’ personnel qualify for military retirement. An added requirement directs the Board of Actuaries to set up a timeline and an amortization plan for managing any resulting unfunded liabilities. The measure also makes related updates across affected statutes to standardize terminology about military retirement benefits, beginning Jan. 1, 2027.

Rep. Jamie Raskin (Democrat-MD-8th District) introduced the bill, joined by co-sponsors Rep. Don Bacon (Republican-MD-2nd District) and Rep. Maxine Dexter (Democrat-MD-3rd District).

Raskin has brought forward 15 additional bills since this congressional session started.

Congressional bills may originate in the House or Senate, except for those addressing revenue, which are required to start in the House. Upon their introduction, bills are referred to committees for evaluation, amendments, and debate before potentially reaching a vote in both chambers. When both chambers approve identical measures, the legislation moves to the president for signature or possible veto. Each two-year congressional term is numbered and divided into two annual parts. The U.S. Congress manages the complete legislative process, with records available via Congress.gov.

Jamie Ben Raskin serves Maryland in the House, first elected during the 115th Congress and continuing for four more terms. Previously, he was in the Maryland state senate from 2007 to 2016, acting as majority whip between 2012 and 2016.

After graduating from Georgetown Day High School in 1979, Raskin received his A.B. from Harvard College in 1983 and a J.D. from Harvard University in 1987. He served as an assistant attorney general in Massachusetts from 1987 through 1989 and later taught law at American University Washington College of Law from 1990 to 2017.

Information for this story was sourced from the U.S. Congress. The original data is available here.