Retired Pay Restoration Act of 2001

By Butch Vaughan

For over 100 years, members of our Armed Forces that retire after serving 20 or more years and now receive disability compensation from the Veterans Administration (VA) are forced to surrender either part or all of their retirement pay equal to their disability compensation. Thus, the military retirees are the ONLY federal retirees to pay for their disability. The intent of this is to let others know what is happening to our veterans.

For years, U. S. Representative Michael Bilirakis (R-FL 9th) has sponsored bills to take away the requirement to surrender retirement pay in order to receive disability pay. This session, he has sponsored H. R. 303 that "Permits retired members of the armed forces with service-connected disabilities to be paid both military retired pay and veterans' disability compensation. Repeals a special compensation program for certain severely disabled military retirees. "As of 5/25/2001 there are 335 sponsor/cosponsors (168 Democrats, 2 Independents and 165 Republicans.

In the U. S. Senate, Senator Harry Reid (D-NV) has sponsored Bill # S. 170 that "Permits retired members of the armed forces with service-connected disabilities to be paid both military retired pay and veterans' disability compensation. Repeals a special compensation program for certain severely disabled military retirees." As of 5/21/2001 there are 60 sponsor/cosponsors (38 Democrats, 1 Independent and 21 Republicans.

(Source: Congress as of 5/28/01)

On May 21, 2001 on NBC Nightly News with Tom Brokaw "Fleecing of America" this subject was aired titled "Blind eye to disabled veterans?" In this segment, Rep. Bilirakis was interviewed and he stressed how he feels about this injustice and said "It's an insult to the veterans and I don't blame them for being angry about it. It's just appalling."

To end this injustice to our military retirees and to restore their pay without having to pay for their disability, we MUST contact our legislators and the committee chairpersons of the various committees (House Veterans Affairs and Senate Veterans Affairs.) And tell them how we feel about this grave injustice being done to our military retirees.

Update
to
Retired Pay Restoration Act of 2001

On NBC Nightly News with Tom Brokaw on 6/8/2001, "Fleecing of America" segment; there was an update to the May 21st segment. In this segment, Fred Francis of NBC News interviewed several veterans that have to give up part or all of their retirement pay. Senator Harry Reid, (D-NV) sponsor of S. 170 stated that "Every time there is a money bill that comes on the senate floor, I'm Going to be doing what I believe is the most important thing for the greatest generation." He also said, "It's going to pass. It's just a question of time." As of 6/2/2001 S. 170 has 63 sponsor/cosponsors and H.R. 303 has not changed in sponsor/cosponsors (335.) Now is the time to contact your Representatives and Senators on these two important bills that are before Congress.

Update - 6 May 2005

“The National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) of 2004 authorized PARTIAL Concurrent Receipt to those rated from 50 to 100% to be phased in over a 10 year period. (Those that were rated 10 to 40% were not recognized in this injustice). Then the NDAA for 2005 gave FULL Concurrent Receipt to those rated at 100%. HOWEVER, those that are rated 100% due to Unemployability CANNOT receive full Concurrent Receipt due to DOD playing word games. It is the intent of the wording in the 2005 NDAA that ALL those rated. at 100% receive full Concurrent Receipt. Now is the time to contact your Congressional Representatives and express your opinions on this play of words.

In addition, there is a group of Military Retiree’s that both DOD and the U.S. Congress have forgotten. It is those members that retired with less than 20 years and are now receiving disability compensation. This group is NOT eligible to receive ANY retirement pay. Basically, this boils down to one thing: EITHER YOU ARE PART OF THE PROBLEM OR YOU ARE A PART OF THE SOLUTION. Which are you? (This pertains to any and all who read this comment).

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