Legislation of Interest to Military Retirees

[Roberto T. Cast]

Subject: Legislation of interest to military retirees


Legislation of interest to military retirees

Both houses were scheduled to reconvene today to consider legislation including the following issues compiled by The Retired Enlisted Association as being of possible interest to members of the military community. More information on these bills are available at www.trea.org and www.troa.org.

S 56, Keep Our Promise to America's Military Retirees Act, a bill to restore health care coverage to retired members of the uniformed services. Introduced by Sen. Tim Johnson (D-SD) on 1/7/03. At this writing, there are 6 co-sponsors. Also on that date, HR 58, a companion bill, was introduced in the House by Rep Chet Edwards (D-TX). This bill currently has 152 co-sponsors.

S 392, Retired Pay Restoration Act of 2003, to amend title 10, United States Code, to permit retired members of the Armed Forces who have a service-connected disability to receive both military retired pay by reason of their years of military service and disability compensation from the Department of Veterans Affairs for their disability. Introduced by Sen. Harry Reid (D-NV) on 2/13/03. There are 53 co-sponsors. The House companion bill is HR 303, introduced by Rep. Mike Bilirakis (R-FL) on 1/8/03. At this time there are 258 co-sponsors.

S 445, Reservists Retirement and Retention Act of 2003, to amend title 10, United States Code, to revise the age and service requirements for eligibility to receive retired pay for non-regular service. (Reserve Components) This bill would set requirements for a combination of minimum age and years of service, to allow eligible retired members of the Reserve components to receive retired pay prior to age 60. This bill was introduced by Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-LA) on 2/25/03.

S. 451 (Olympia Snowe (R-ME) Military Survivor Benefits Improvement Act of 2003: to amend title 10, United States Code, to increase the minimum Survivor Benefit Plan basic annuity for surviving spouses age 62 and older, to provide for a one-year open season under that plan. A companion bill, HR 548, was introduced by Rep. Jeff Miller (R-FL).

S. 585 (Bill Nelson, D-FL) Military Retiree Survivors Relief Act of 2003: to amend title 10, United States Code, to repeal the requirement for reduction of SBP survivor annuities by Dependency and Indemnity Compensation.

S. 647 (Edward Kennedy, D-MA) To amend title 10, United States Code, to provide for Department of Defense funding of continuation of health benefits plan coverage for certain Reserves called or ordered to active duty and their dependents.

S. 715 (Lindsey Graham, R-SC) To amend title 10, United States Code, to repeal the calendar year limitations on the use of commissary stores by certain reserves and others.

HR 331 (Joe Wilson, R-SC) Armed Forces Retirement Equity Act: to amend title 10, United States Code, to provide that military retired pay for nonregular service (Reserve Components) shall be paid without regard to the age of a person otherwise eligible for such retired pay, rather than commencing when an otherwise eligible person attains age 60.

HR 742, to amend title 10, United States Code, to reduce the age for receipt of military retired pay for non-regular service (Reserve Components) from 60 to 55. Introduced by Rep. Jim Saxton (R-NJ) on 2/12/03.

HR 1059, to amend title 10, United States Code, to provide increased access to military commissary stores for members of the Ready Reserve, persons who would be eligible for military retired pay (but for the fact that they are under 60 years of age), and their dependents. Introduced by Rep. Martin Frost (D-TX) on 3/4/03.

H.R. 1111 (Cass Ballenger, R-NC) Uniformed Services Divorce Equity Act of 2003: To amend title 10, United States Code, to revise the rules relating to the court-ordered apportionment of the retired pay of members of the uniformed services to former spouses.

H.R. 1653 (Jim Saxton, R-NJ) to amend title 10, United States Code, to change the effective date for paid-up coverage under the military Survivor Benefit Plan from October 1, 2008, to October 1, 2003.

H.R. 1726 (Henry Brown, R-SC) Military Surviving Spouses Equity Act ,to amend title 10, United States Code, to repeal the offset from surviving spouse annuities under the military Survivor Benefit Plan for amounts paid by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs as dependency and indemnity compensation.

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S. 451 (Olympia Snowe (R-ME): Military Survivor Benefits Improvement Act of 2003: to amend title 10, United States Code, to increase the minimum Survivor Benefit Plan basic annuity for surviving spouses age 62 and older, to provide for a one-year open season under that plan.

S. 1000 (Graham, R-SC): National Guard and Reserves Reform Act for the 21st Century: To amend title 10, United States Code, to revise the age and service requirements for eligibility to receive retired pay for non-regular service; to provide TRICARE eligibility for members of the Selected Reserve of the Ready Reserve and their families; to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow employers a credit against income tax with respect to employees who participate in the military reserve components and to allow a comparable credit for participating reserve component self-employed individuals.

S. 1916 (Landrieu, D-LA): Military Survivor Benefits Act of 2003. This bill would eliminate the current age 62-annuity reduction—from 55% to 35%— phased in over a 10-year period beginning in October 2005.

H.R. 742 to amend title 10, United States Code, to reduce the age for receipt of military retired pay for non-regular service (Reserve Components) from 60 to 55. Introduced by Rep. Jim Saxton (R-NJ) on 2/12/03. A companion bill, S. 1035 was introduced in the Senate by Jon Corzine (D-NJ).

H.R. 995 (Walter B. Jones, Jr. R-NC): Military Retiree Dislocation Assistance Act, to amend title 37, United States Code, to provide a dislocation allowance under section 407 of such title to retired members of the uniformed services, including members placed on the temporary disability retired list, moving from their last duty station to their designated home.

H.R. 1111 (Cass Ballenger, R-NC): Uniformed Services Divorce Equity Act of 2003: To amend title 10, United States Code, to revise the rules relating to the court-ordered apportionment of the retired pay of members of the uniformed services to former spouses.

H.R. 1592 (Filner, Bob, D-CA) to amend title 10, United States Code, to repeal the two-tier annuity computation system applicable to annuities for surviving spouses under the Survivor Benefit Plan for retired members of the Armed Forces so that there is no reduction in such an annuity when the beneficiary becomes 62 years of age.

H.R. 1653 (Jim Saxton, R-NJ) to amend title 10, United States Code, to change the effective date for paid-up coverage under the military Survivor Benefit Plan from 1 October 2008, to 1 October 2003. Sen. Jon Corzine (D-NJ) introduced a companion bill, S 2177 on 3/9/04.

H.R. 1726 (Henry Brown, R-SC) Military Surviving Spouses Equity Act, to amend title 10, United States Code, to repeal the offset from surviving spouse annuities under the military Survivor Benefit Plan for amounts paid by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs as dependency and indemnity compensation.

H.R. 1917 (Bob Filner, D-CA) to amend title 10, United States Code, to authorize military recreational facilities to be used by any veteran with a compensable service-connected disability.

H.R. 2511 (Michael H. Michaud, D-ME) to amend title 10, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of Defense to provide veterans who have a 100% service-connected disability with space-available travel on military aircraft in the same manner and to the same extent as retired members of the Armed Forces.

H.R. 2611 (Michael H. Michaud, D-ME) to amend title II of the Social Security Act to exempt from the windfall elimination provision of such title individuals who are entitled to retired pay based on at least 20 years of service as a member of a uniformed service.

H.R. 3474 (Van Hollen, D-MD): Keep Our Promises to America’s Military Retirees Act, to restore health care coverage to retired members of the uniformed services.

H.R. 3730 (Bob Filner, D-CA) Immediate and Full Repeal of the Disabled Veterans Tax Act of 2004, to amend title 10, United States Code, to provide for immediate implementation of full concurrent receipt for retired members of the Armed Forces who have a service-connected disability of both military retired pay paid by reason of their years of military service and disability compensation from the Department of Veterans Affairs paid by reason of their disability.

H.R. 3763 (Miller, R-FL): Military Survivor Benefits Improvement Act of 2004. The measure would eliminate the current age 62-annuity reduction, from 55% to 35%, phased in over a 10-year period, and provide an open enrollment period, beginning in October 2005.

H.R. 4065 (G. Brown-Waite, R-FL): Veterans Housing Affordability Act of 2004. To amend title 38, United States Code, to increase the maximum amount of home loan guaranty available to a veteran, and to provide for annual adjustments to such amount.

Compiled from Semper Fidelis; Memorandum for Retired Marines Volume 48 Number 2 April-June 2004

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Representatives launch effort to eliminate SBP offset <br />
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Representatives Chet Edwards (D-TX) and Bob Filner (D-CA), joined by representatives from military and veterans' organizations held a press...