WASHINGTON – The bipartisan Veterans Guaranteed Bonus Act (H.R. 3793), a bill co-sponsored by Congressman McCarthy, passed the House last night by a 405 – 0 vote. The bill ensures that our troops, who are discharged due to combat-related injuries, receive the full compensation, including bonuses, which they were promised by the Department of Defense. The bill allows every injured soldier to keep bonuses already paid and receive outstanding bonuses promised to them.
“I was proud to be part of the fight to ensure that every combat- injured soldier receives the bonuses they were promised while serving to protect our country,” said Congressman McCarthy. “This bill would inscribe into law that we honor the bravery and sacrifice of the men and women that serve in uniform by ensuring they receive what was promised. Our soldiers have kept their promise to our nation, and I’m glad Congress is working to keep our promise to them.”
Earlier this year, the bipartisan Commission on Care for America’s Returning Wounded Warriors, co-chaired by former Senator Bob Dole and former Secretary of Health and Human Services Donna Shalala, recommended a solution to prevent wounded soldiers from being stripped of their full enlistment bonuses because they were wounded. (In March, Congressman McCarthy and his colleagues sent President Bush a letter supporting the formation of the commission and welcoming their recommendations.)
Several weeks ago, media reports highlighted the story of an injured soldier being required to repay his bonus because he was unable to carry out his military obligations due to his combat-related injuries. Congressman McCarthy joined a bipartisan group of colleagues, including the bill’s author, Congressman Altmire (D-PA), in cosponsoring H.R. 3793 to address this problem.
###