U.S. Rep. John Kline today announced the presidential signing of the national defense bill, which included legislation he championed that would nationalize the Minnesota National Guard’s “Beyond the Yellow Ribbon” reintegration program.

Kline’s legislation would establish an Office for Reintegration Programs to administer all reintegration programs in coordination with the National Guard Bureau and state National Guard organizations.

A Center for Excellence also would be established that would collect and analyze “lessons learned” and suggestions from state National Guard organizations with existing or developing reintegration programs.State Deployment Cycle support teams would administer the program at the state level.

“The Yellow Ribbon Reintegration Program represents the best ideas of not only Minnesota, but also states and territories throughout the nation that have stepped in to provide reintegration services for our troops,” Kline said.  “With past experiences as our guide, we must change the way that returning soldiers are reintegrated back into our communities following months of difficult combat duty.”

Also included in the annual defense bill is legislation Kline introduced for Assignment Incentive Pay for Minnesota National Guardsmen denied this benefit. Congress created the pay to recognize the hardship of prolonged mobilization periods for Guard and Reserve members called up under partial mobilization authority.