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Bilirakis Supports Defense Bill with Important Provisions for Troops & Veterans |
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May 18, 2007
WASHINGTON -On
Thursday, U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) supported the passage of H.R.
1585, the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2008. This
bipartisan legislation will authorize defense-related funding for the fiscal
year 2008; including key provisions specifically advocated by Bilirakis
critical to the health and welfare of active duty and retired members of the United States
military.
"This is a strong piece of
bipartisan legislation that effectively addresses the needs of our warfighter
and veterans," said Bilirakis. "It was important to me that any defense
spending bill under consideration makes a substantial effort to improve
military health care, boost our soldiers' pay and living conditions, and
addresses serious concerns regarding America's retired veterans. The
defense authorization bill does just that."
H.R. 1585 works toward
reducing the current military civilian pay disparity by providing America's
uniformed men and women with a 3.5 percent pay raise in 2008 and guaranteed pay
raises in 2009, 2010 and 2011. In April, Bilirakis introduced H.R.
2027, the Military Pay Improvement Act, which would ensure that the
minimum 2008 increase would be 3.5 percent.
"I am glad that my colleagues
on the Armed Services Committee joined with me in supporting this 3.5 percent
pay increase," said Bilirakis. "It is important Congress addresses the pay gap
between the military and the private sector. This small step is the least we
can do, especially during wartime, to ensure that our uniformed men and women
are being properly compensated for their sacrifices."
On May 14, The Washington
Times published a letter from the Fleet Reserve Association (FRA) thanking
Bilirakis for introducing H.R. 2027. "The Fleet Reserve Association (FRA)
salutes Rep. Gus Bilirakis, Florida Republican, for introducing legislation to
close the pay gap between civilians and enlisted service members," wrote FRA
Executive Director Jon Barnes.
A Member of the House
Committee on Veterans' Affairs, Congressman Bilirakis was pleased that H.R.
1585 contained provisions that improve the eligibility of benefits for America's
veterans. "I am glad that this bill is continuing to make progress toward
restoring military retired pay," said Bilirakis. "Our veterans served this
nation with dedication and sacrifice to ensure our freedom. We owe it to these
heroes to provide them with the benefits they are due."
Military retirees are the
only group of federal retirees who must waive retirement pay in order to
receive VA disability compensation, also known as ‘concurrent receipt.'
Additionally, many veterans do not qualify for the Combat-Related Special
Compensation (CRSC) program because they were forced to medically retire before
attaining 20 years of service.
Congressman Bilirakis
introduced several bills in the 110th Congress to address the concurrent
receipt and CRSC issues. In January, Bilirakis introduced the Combat-Related
Special Compensation Act, H.R. 89, which eliminates the 20-year
requirement for the CRSC program. Although the NDAA does not go that far, its
does provide CRSC compensation to medically retired military personnel with at
least 15 years of service and a disability rating of 60 percent or higher.
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