Subject: RELEASE: Senators Sessions, Clinton and Casey Introduce Legislation to Protect Bonuses for Wounded Veterans
From: "Clinton, Press Office (Clinton)" <[email-masked]>
Date: Tue, 4 Dec 2007 08:22:37 -0500

For Immediate Release

December 4, 2007

Contact:

Stephen E. Boyd (Sessions) 202-224-4124

Clinton Press Office 202-224-2243 or 

[email-masked]

Kendra Barkoff (Casey) 202-228-6367

Christina Stacey (Altmire) 202-225-2565

Michael Houston (IAVA) 212-982-9699 or 

[email-masked]

 

SENATORS SESSIONS, CLINTON AND CASEY INTRODUCE LEGISLATION TO PROTECT
BONUSES FOR WOUNDED VETERANS 

Senators Say Medically-Discharged Troops Should Not Be Penalized

Washington, DC - In response to recent reports of wounded troops being
asked to repay their enlistment bonuses, Senators Jeff Sessions (R-AL),
Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-NY) and Robert Casey (D-PA) introduced on
Monday legislation that guarantees full payment of bonuses and
incentives to veterans wounded in combat. The bipartisan legislation
also requires the Pentagon to conduct an audit to identify former
servicemembers who may have been affected by this practice dating back
to 2001 and to restore their rightful payments. Senators John McCain
(R-AZ), Bernard Sanders (I-VT), Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ), Byron Dorgan
(D-ND), Mel Martinez (D-NJ), and Jim Webb (D-VA) joined in cosponsoring
the bill.

"Our young men and women serve with incredible courage and bravery.
Their enlistment represents a commitment to serve and protect their
country. In return, the United States makes a commitment to them, and
the government must fulfill its end of the bargain," Senator Sessions
said. "It is unthinkable that the Department of Defense would fail to
provide the financial compensation promised to those willing to serve,
particularly when those same soldiers have suffered serious injuries in
combat. This legislation underscores the principle that the Department
of Defense must make good on promises made to new recruits."   

"Our wounded warriors have served and sacrificed for our country. It is
the least we can do to honor the promises made to them and guarantee
that they receive their full and deserved benefits. This legislation
will ensure that no man or woman in uniform who is wounded in service to
our nation will be forced to give up their enlistment bonus," Senator
Clinton said. "Penalizing soldiers wounded in combat is literally adding
insult to injury and is completely unacceptable."

"Tens of thousands of troops have been injured in Iraq with many of them
struggling to support themselves and their families. We owe these troops
our word and we must not drop our commitment to them at the U.S.
shoreline," said Senator Casey. "I am pleased to join this effort in the
U.S. Senate and would like to recognize the work of Congressman Jason
Altmire from my home state of Pennsylvania who helped bring this problem
to light when one of our constituents faced the loss of his enlistment
bonus."

The "Restoring Guaranteed Bonuses for Wounded Veterans Act of 2007"
would end a practice identified by the Dole-Shalala commission. The
legislation would:    

*	require payment of remaining bonus entitlement to servicemembers
within 90 days of retirement or separation due to a combat-related
injury; 
*	define 32 types of bonuses and special pay that would be covered
under this legislation; 
*	define combat-related injury for these purposes; 
*	include a provision that would direct the Department of Defense
to immediately stop collection actions on portions of bonuses already
paid out; 
*	provide a September 11, 2001 retroactive period for the payment
or repayment of bonuses that were stopped or not completely paid; 
*	and direct that DoD or another entity performs a financial audit
that identifies former servicemembers to be paid and the amount money
owed to each former servicemember. 

Congressman Jason Altmire (PA-4) introduced similar legislation to
protect the bonuses of wounded veterans in the U.S. House of
Representatives in October. It is now cosponsored by 245 members of
Congress.

"Current policy leaves room for error and has resulted in wounded
veterans continuing to fall through the cracks. Early discharge for a
combat-related injury should not result in the loss of any unpaid
portion of a service member's bonus," said Congressman Altmire. "I
commend my Senate colleagues for standing up for our nation's heroes and
working to see that all earned bonuses are guaranteed to them."

The Senate bill introduced Monday drew immediate praise from the Iraq
and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA).

"Denying wounded servicemembers their full enlistment bonuses is
outrageous and IAVA is grateful for Senator Clinton and Senator
Sessions' leadership to end this unfair practice. These injured heroes
deserve this country's respect and gratitude and the introduction of
S.2400 is a critical step in that direction," said Paul Rieckhoff,
Executive Director of Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA).

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