Our Veterans

Veterans have access to the finest healthcare our nation has to offer.  However, there have been well-documented cases of a system that has failed to provide the level of care our veterans deserve and the American people expect.  We need to ensure that those of us in Congress, tasked with the duty of oversight, practice our due diligence and keep our nation's veteran hospitals in line with the highest standards.

There are other things we can do to respect the sacrifice that has been made by our veterans.  As a 31-year veteran of the Army Reserve and National Guard, I have a deep admiration for our Reserve and Guard members.  They are the citizen soldiers who serve as our teachers and local business owners, doctors and homebuilders, but who have chosen to wear the uniform of an American servicemember when their country calls upon them.  In the Global War on Terrorism, our Reserve and Guard members have taken on a larger and more active role in overseas operations.

To honor this new commitment, I have reintroduced the National Guardsmen and Reservists Parity for Patriots Act (HR 208), which will let Guard and Reserve members apply their active duty service since September 11th, 2001 to a new early retirement credit system that became law in 2008.  The credit allows that for every 90 days a member serves on active duty, they will be allowed to begin receiving retirement pay 3 months prior to the traditional retirement age of 60.  For example, a member who serves 12 months on active duty will begin receiving retirement pay at the age of 59.  Unfortunately, under current law, the credit only applies to service since the enactment of the new law and discounts the almost six years of service since September 11th.  I am proud to have reintroduced this legislation which will honor the 600,000 Reservists and Guardsmen who served heroically since September 11th.

Additionally, I have introduced legislation in the 111^th Congress, H.R. 4525, to expand concurrent receipt of retirement and disability pay to all Chapter 61 veterans.   Under this bill, all Chapter 61 retirees would become eligible for concurrent receipt over a five-year phase-in period beginning January 1, 2011.  Until Congress passes this bill, or similar legislation, if a veteran is forfeiting a dollar of retired pay for every dollar of disability pay, then our government is compensating them with basically nothing for the service-connected disability they suffer.