Archive: News

Rep. Tom Reed announced Wednesday that the House-passed consolidated appropriations act includes a provision that gives veterans who retired for medical reasons their full pension without reduction. Reed advocated for the fix in reaction to a provision in the Ryan-Murray budget agreement that impacted the annual cost-of-living adjustment for military retirees. Reed also co-sponsored legislation preventing that reduction in benefits.

“It is right and fair that our disabled veterans – those who gave so much for our country – should not see a reduction in benefits,” Rep. Tom Reed said. “The consolidated appropriations act is successful toward our goal of lowering Washington spending to save taxpayer dollars while improving the programs and initiatives we’ve been fighting for. This important fix for disabled veterans is an appropriate use of government funding to care for those who risked their lives to care for us.”

Reed has been working with Rep. Jeff Miller, Chairman of the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs on the measure to restore full cost-of-living-adjustment (COLA) benefits for those who medically retired from the military. “I’m glad our advocacy will make a difference in the lives of thousands of brave Americans and their families and takes a potential cut to their benefits completely off the table,” Reed continued.

The consolidated appropriations bill passed in the House Wednesday includes the fiscal year 2014 Defense Appropriations bill, which contains the fix for disabled veterans ensuring that medically retired armed forces personnel and survivor benefit plan recipients receive their full pensions. The bill contributes to the $165 billion in savings in discretionary spending since fiscal year 2010.

v10i2