Sponsor
Mike Kelly
Representative · R-PA
Representative · R-PA
The bill grants one retired officer an honorary promotion—recognizing his service without adding federal retirement costs—while risking beneficiary expectations and administrative clarification needs about benefits.
Thomas B. Hagen (a retired Navy captain) is formally authorized to hold the grade of rear admiral (lower half) on the Navy retired list, giving him official recognition and honor for his service.
The advancement is purely ceremonial/status-based and does not increase federal retirement costs, so taxpayers and the federal retirement system are not financially impacted.
This honorary advancement could create expectations among other veterans, survivors, or the public about adjusted survivor or service-connected benefits and require agencies to issue clarifications, adding administrative burden and potential confusion.
The authorization does not increase Hagen's retired pay or federal benefits, which may disappoint those who expect financial compensation tied to a higher rank.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Grants a retired Navy captain the entitlement to hold the grade of rear admiral (lower half) on the Navy retired list without changing pay or benefits.
Grants a retired Navy officer entitlement to hold the grade of rear admiral (lower half) on the Navy retired list while making clear this change is honorary only and does not alter retired pay or other benefits for the officer or for anyone else. The provision updates the officer's retired-grade listing without creating new financial or benefit entitlements.
Official title: To advance Thomas B. Hagen on the retired list of the Navy.
Introduced July 17, 2025 by Mike Kelly · Last progress July 17, 2025