FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:  Russ Levsen, 202-225-2801

REP. HERSETH JOINS BIPARTISAN PUSH FOR VETERANS BENEFITS

Signs Discharge Petitions To End the Survivor Benefit Penalty and the Disabled Veterans Tax

June 10, 2004, Washington, DC - Rep. Stephanie Herseth (D-SD) yesterday joined bipartisan efforts to force the U.S. House of Representatives to consider issues important to veterans and their families across the country.  Fulfilling a promise made earlier in the year, Rep. Herseth signed Discharge Petitions to end the Survivor Benefit Penalty and the Disabled Veterans Tax, also called Concurrent Receipt. 

Rep. Herseth said, “I support these important pieces of legislation because they will help ensure that hundreds of thousands of military retirees and their families can keep the benefits they have earned.  I believe that a promise made should be a promise kept, and for far too long, the federal government has been breaking promises to our nation’s veterans.”

Herseth is joining more than 337 cosponsors of the Military Survivor Benefits Improvement Act (HR 548), which was introduced over a year ago. Under current law, over 200,000 elderly Americans, mostly widows, over the next 10 years, and hundreds of thousands in future years, will be penalized because of problems in the law.  These beneficiaries face a nearly 40% reduction in their benefits upon reaching the age of 62. Despite more than 130 Republicans supporting the bill, House Leadership has not brought it to the floor for a vote and has blocked efforts to include it in this year’s budget resolution.

Additionally, Herseth is supporting a repeal of the Disabled Veterans Tax.  Last year, Congress passed a limited repeal of the Disabled Veterans Tax, but Herseth noted much more work needs to be done.  “Currently,  three-quarters of disabled veterans pay the disabled veterans tax, and those receiving relief must wait 10 years to receive their full benefit,” noted Herseth.  “Those who have sacrificed for our country deserve better.” By signing the Discharge Petition, Herseth is adding to the pressure on Leadership to end the Disabled Veterans Tax immediately for all veterans.

This weekend, Herseth will attend the Veterans of Foreign Wars and American Legion state conventions in Spearfish and Pierre.  Herseth will continue to prioritize legislation in Congress that assists veterans and their families.

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