Jay Inslee: Washington's 1st Congressional District
Issues
Iraq
Resolving Reservists and Guard Personnel Equipment Shortages
20 November 2003
In the wake of reported equipment shortages among National Guard and Reserve units in Iraq, and increasing fatalities there, U.S. Rep. Jay Inslee cosponsored a congressional resolution (H.Con.Res. 335) urging Secretary of Defense Rumsfeld to address these shortages, and ensure that reserve components are provided with the same equipment as the regular component. This resolution follows an amendment to the Iraq emergency spending bill in October that would have provided $300 million for life-saving equipment to Guard and Reserve troops in Iraq.
Said Inslee, “It is unconscionable that many of the Guard and Reserve units are being sent to Iraq without crucial items such as guns, live-saving bulletproof Kevlar vests, and armored Humvees. National Guard and Reserve troops should not be giving second-hand equipment, and should not be denied readily available technology that could save their lives.”
There have been numerous reported accounts of Guard and Reserve units being sent to Iraq without necessary equipment. Many of the Humvees being used by Guard and Reserve units have not been strengthened to protect against enemy fire or roadside bombs, and reports indicate that 40,000 troops in the battle zone – many of them in Guard and Reserve combat support units – lack bulletproof vests. As a matter of policy, National Guard and Reserve troops have been given second-hand equipment no longer used by the active duty military.
Inslee has been a strong supporter of military personnel, families and veterans. In addition to ensuring that Reservists and Guard personnel receive necessary equipment, Inslee has:
- Supported the Armed Forces Tax Fairness Act, H.R. 1307. H.R. 1307 changes the tax code so that military and Foreign Service personnel can lower their real estate and capital gains taxes. It also improves tax breaks for military personnel when they travel for reserve duty, move residences, and pay child care costs. The bill additionally improves the tax treatment for membership in veterans' organizations and surviving spouse death benefits.
- Voted for the conference report for the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2004 (H R 1588). This legislation authorizes an average pay raise of 4.1 percent for troops, increases imminent-danger pay from $150 per month to $225 per month, and boosts family separation allowances from $100 per month to $250, through December 31, 2004.
- Supported a bill granting tax relief to military families. This legislation, the Fallen Patriots Tax Relief Act (H.R. 3365), would double, from $6,000 to $12,000, the death gratuity benefit for families of servicemen and women killed in action. The legislation also makes it easier for armed forces personnel serving overseas to be exempted from capital gains taxes on the sale of their residences.
- Cosponsored H.R. 2998, which will prohibit service members injured in combat or training from being billed for the food while hospitalized.
- Cosponsored H.R. 3474, The Keep Our Promise to America's Military Retirees Act, which would restore health care coverage to retired members of the uniformed services. This bill would allow Medicare eligible military beneficiaries to be covered by the Federal Employees Health Benefits Plan (FEHBP).
- Cosponsored H.R. 303, The Retired Pay Restoration Act of. H.R. 303 would permit retired members of the armed forces who have a service-connected disability to receive both military retired pay by reason of their years of military service, and disability compensation from the Department of Veterans Affairs for their disability.
- Cosponsored H.R. 548, The Military Survivor Benefits Improvement Act, which increases the minimum Survivor Benefit Plan basic annuity for surviving spouses aged 62 and older.