Will Congress Guarantee Veterans’ Bonuses?

A pending bill ‘will ensure that…every combat-wounded veteran…receives their full enlistment or reenlistment bonus,’ says House member Jason Altmire (D-PA). Will Congress Guarantee Veterans’ Bonuses?By Cliff Montgomery – Jan. 8th, 2007The Veterans Guaranteed Bonus Act of 2007 was introduced into the House by Representative Jason Altmire (D-PA), on Oct. 10th, 2007.This simple piece of legislation “would require the Department of Defense to establish a uniform policy which provides veterans who are discharged from the military due to combat-related injuries or service-connected injuries their full payment of any [enlistment or reenlistment] bonuses within 90 days of discharge,” as described by Rep. Bart Stupak (D-MI).Passed by the House with bipartisan support, the bill was received in the Senate on Dec. 19th, and placed on its “Legislative Calendar under General Orders.”Altmire gave a brief speech on the bills’ merits shortly before the House overwhelmingly passed the measure on Dec 18th, 2007. We quote his speech below.“[…] I rise today in strong support of the bill we are debating today, H.R. 3793, the Veterans Guaranteed Bonus Act, which I introduced.”This legislation will ensure that from this point forward, every combat-wounded veteran injured in Afghanistan or Iraq receives their full enlistment or reenlistment bonus.”No longer will American servicemen and women who have served our country so bravely and honorably and have been injured in service to our country, no longer will they be served with a bill to repay their enlistment bonus, and no longer will those heroic men and women suffer the indignity of having their pro-rated bonus payments cut off if those payments are to be made in installments.”Instead, my bill, which we are debating today, says that the full amounts due under the agreements and contracts that apply to a service combat disability be paid within 90 days of the separation of the servicemember. This legislation also applies to the family members and estates of servicemen and women who are killed in combat.”This issue first came to my attention over the summer while reviewing the Dole-Shalala Commission Report, an independent panel put into place in the spring to investigate the disgraceful situation at Walter Reed Army Medical Center.”The Commission uncovered instances of our wounded warriors being denied their bonuses after being injured in combat.”And after studying this issue in more detail and learning of other documented instances of this injustice, on October 10, I introduced a Veterans Guaranteed Bonus Act, which is now before us.”In the weeks after I introduced the bill, we continued to hear multiple reports of cases around the country where servicemen and women had been denied bonuses, including the high-profile case involving Private Jordan Fox from my home area of western Pennsylvania.”It has become clear that these were not just isolated examples, but instead, some of the hundreds and perhaps thousands of examples of veterans being asked to return their bonuses, or [who were] denied the remaining portion of their bonuses after being injured in service to our country.”And while some have made an issue of the expense of paying back these bonuses, let me be clear: There is no group that should stand ahead of our Nation’s veterans when it comes time to making Federal funding decisions.”Some may argue that because these servicemen and women were injured that they were unable to fulfill their contractual obligations and therefore should be denied the remainder of their bonuses.”I want to be equally clear on this point. Members of our Armed Forces have made every conceivable sacrifice for our country, and those who have been injured in service to our country have more than fulfilled the obligations of their service contract.”Paying them the bonuses that they have fought for and that they have earned is the very least we can do to repay them for their bravery and their sacrifice.”Finally, I want to make clear that this is a bipartisan bill with more than 270 cosponsors. I want to thank my colleagues on the other side of the aisle, dozens of which have co-sponsored this bill and some of whom will speak in favor of it today. […]”[…] I ask my colleagues to join me in voting for the Veterans Guaranteed Bonus Act before us today. I am sure that all my colleagues in the House would agree that we in Congress must support our troops with our actions and not just with our words. This bill will ensure that every military veteran gets the bonuses they deserve.”During this holiday season when our thoughts and prayers are with the brave servicemen and women serving overseas and their families here at home, I can think of no greater tribute we can provide.”Like what you’re reading so far? Then why not order a full year (52 issues) of thee-newsletter for only $15? A major article covering an story not being told in the Corporate Press will be delivered to your email every Monday morning for a full year, for less than 30 cents an issue. Order Now!