To advance Thomas B. Hagen on the retired list of the Navy.
- Bill Number
- H.R. 4547
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Armed Forces and National Security
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-07-17: Referred to the House Committee on Armed Services.
- Last Updated
- 2025-09-19T17:09:53Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
This bill (H.R. 4547) aims to honorably advance Captain Thomas B. Hagen, a retired U.S. Navy officer, to a higher rank on the Navy's retired list as a recognition of his service, without altering his financial benefits.
Key Provisions
- Advancement on Retired List: Captain Thomas B. Hagen is entitled to the honorary rank of rear admiral (lower half)—a one-star admiral position—while remaining on the Navy's retired list.
- No Impact on Benefits: The rank advancement does not change Hagen's retired pay, other monetary or non-monetary benefits he receives based on his military service, or any benefits that others (such as family members) may receive tied to his service.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- This legislation creates a specific exception for Hagen by elevating his retired rank from captain to rear admiral (lower half), which is not a standard procedure under general military retirement laws (such as those in Title 10 of the U.S. Code governing armed forces retirements).
- It modifies his personal status on the retired list without broadly amending retirement rank advancement rules, which typically require meeting certain criteria like years of service or performance.
Potential Impacts
- On Government Agencies: The Navy and Department of Defense will need to update administrative records to reflect Hagen's new honorary rank, but this involves minimal cost or operational change since no additional pay or benefits are granted.
- On Citizens: No direct impact on the general public; it is a targeted honor for one individual with no broader effects on military pensions or retiree programs.
- On International Relations: None apparent, as this is a domestic military personnel matter.
Main Stakeholders
- Primary: Thomas B. Hagen, the retired Navy captain who benefits from the honorary rank advancement.
- Secondary: The U.S. Navy and Department of Defense, responsible for implementing the change in retirement records.
- Others: Potentially Hagen's family or dependents, though their benefits remain unchanged.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: As a private bill (targeting a specific person), it exercises Congress's authority under Article I, Section 8 of the U.S. Constitution to regulate the armed forces, including ranks and retirements. It aligns with precedents for honorary advancements but does not set a binding precedent for others.
- Constitutional: No apparent conflicts; it respects separation of powers by directing the executive branch (Navy) without infringing on judicial roles.
- Political: Introduced by Representative Kelly of Pennsylvania, this may reflect local or personal recognition of Hagen's contributions, highlighting Congress's use of private legislation for individual military honors, which is rare but symbolically significant.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Recent Actions
- 2025-07-17: Referred to the House Committee on Armed Services.
- 2025-07-17: Introduced in House
- 2025-07-17: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- To advance Thomas B. Hagen on the retired list of the Navy. — issued 2025-07-17 — PDF (2 pages)