Terry Everett, April 19, 2004

The 108th Congress, which is in the middle of its second and final year, has been a very active one in terms of looking after our veterans and retired military. A number of important pieces of legislation affecting our former military have been introduced and many have already become law.

Perhaps the most significant benefits legislation to pass is last year's National Defense Authorization Bill (HR 1588). The new defense budget not only provides funding for our active duty military, but also authorizes $22 billion over ten years for an expansion of "concurrent receipt" benefits for disabled retired military.

Concurrent receipt is a dual benefit of full military retirement pay and full Veterans disability pay for disabled, retired military. This dual benefit has been denied to retired disabled military since 1891 when Congress passed a law prohibiting the payment of these benefits "concurrently". As a result, retired disabled military saw their retirement pay reduced by the amount of VA disability benefits they received.

In 2002, Congress passed legislation to end the ban on concurrent receipt for a segment of retired military - those with disabilities relating to combat. This was an important first step. Last year, the defense bill's inclusion of an expansion of concurrent receipt benefits includes all retired disabled military with a 50 percent or higher disability rating by the VA. This new benefit is also available to Reservists and National Guard members injured in the line of duty. I supported this expansion of concurrent receipt, and I am also a cosponsor of HR 303 in the 108th Congress - a bill to allow dual benefits for all retired disabled military.

On the subject of retired military, I am a cosponsor of the Early Retirement Bill (HR 742) which would reduce the minimum retirement age for the receipt of military retired pay for Reservists and National Guard personnel who have served at least 20 years. The minimum retirement age for benefits would be dropped from age 60 to 55. This legislation has not yet been voted on.

Another important bill passed this Congress is the Veterans Benefits Act of 2003. It became law in December. It allows surviving spouses of veterans killed as a result of military service to continue receiving VA dependency and indemnity benefits if they remarry after age 57.

Speaking of military survivors, I am also an original cosponsor of the Military Survivors Benefits Improvements Act (HR 3763). The legislation, which has not yet been voted on this Congress, would eliminate the reduction in Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP) annuities that now impacts military survivors age 62 and older. This legislation is a top priority for the Military Officers Association (MOAA).

It goes without saying that Congress has also paid attention to funding Federal veterans programs. In January, we passed the Consolidated Appropriations Act which is now law. This Federal budget bill included record funding to veteran programs - the largest VA appropriation level in the history of that agency. Such attention to veterans needs should not be surprising. Congress has provided for increased VA funding every year since Republicans gained control in 1995. VA budget authority has increased 58 percent and VA medical spending by 75 percent.

These are just some of the veteran and retired military benefits bills either passed or under consideration this Congress. America owes a debt of gratitude to our former military and Congress is making sure that debt is paid.

Congressman Terry Everett represents Alabama's 2nd Congressional District. He serves on the Armed Services Committee.