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HR 838 109th Congress House Armed Forces and National Security Annuities Armed forces reserves Commerce Employee health benefits Employee rights Federal employees Government Operations and Politics Health Income tax Individual retirement accounts Labor and Employment Local employees Military pay Minorities National Guard Native Americans Pension funds Railroad retirement plans Salaries

HOPE at HOME Act

Introduced: February 16, 2005 See on congress.gov
This bill died when the 109th Congress ended
It never became law before the 109th Congress (2005–2006) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 3 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Feb 16, 2005
Introduced in House
Feb 16, 2005
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E261-263)
Feb 16, 2005
Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on Government Reform, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
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 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Help Our Patriotic Employers at Helping Our Military Employees Act or HOPE at HOME Act - Entitles a Federal employee who is a member of a reserve component and is absent from Federal employment under a call or order to active duty for a period of more than 30 days to the difference between the amount of the civilian base pay that would otherwise have been payable to such employee for such period and the amount of military compensation received for the active-duty service. Continues such entitlement: (1) while the employee is hospitalized for, or convalescing from, an injury or illness incurred in or aggravated during such active duty; or (2) during the 14-day period following the end of such active duty.

Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide as a general business credit for employers a Ready Reserve-National Guard employee credit equal to the lesser of: (1) 50 percent of the actual compensation paid with respect an employee who is absent from employment during the above periods; or (2) $30,000.

Provides for the tax treatment of differential wage payments made under this Act.

Provides an employer credit for income differential payments made with respect to the employment of activated military reservist and replacement personnel.

Permits, without loss of tax benefits, employer payments to an individual retirement plan while an employee is performing active duty military service for a period of more than 30 days.

What's happening now February 16, 2005

Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on Government Reform, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 2
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APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 838: HOPE at HOME Act. 109th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/109-HR-838/
MLA
"H.R. 838: HOPE at HOME Act." 109th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/109-HR-838/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 838, 109th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/109-HR-838/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 838: HOPE at HOME Act](https://openamerica.io/bill/109-HR-838/)
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