Concurrent Reciept

[phuloi]

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NEWS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

June 20, 2002


Defense Bill Veto Threat Riles Disabled Veterans

Renewed threats of a presidential veto of legislation that would allow disabled military retirees to receive both disability and retirement benefits perpetuates a gross injustice against Americas disabled veterans.

At issue is the Senate's Defense Department authorization bill which has prompted renewed veto threats from the White House Office of Management and Budget. One of the provisions the White House finds strongly objectionable would repeal a century-old prohibition against the concurrent receipt of military longevity retired pay from the Department of Defense and disability compensation from the Department of Veterans Affairs.

"It is fundamentally wrong that military retirees must forfeit a dollar of their longevity retired pay for every dollar they receive in veterans' disability compensation," said George H. Steese, Jr., National Commander of the Disabled American Veterans.

In a June 18 meeting with President Bush, National Commander Steese voiced the DAV's strong support for concurrent receipt.

"It is unconscionable that the White House would perpetuate this gross injustice against those men and women who dedicated more than 20 years of their lives in the armed forces and who were disabled as a result of their service to our nation," said Commander Steese. "What message does this send to the brave men and women who today are serving this nation in the war against global terrorism?"

As approved by the Senate, the defense bill would authorize concurrent receipt of longevity retired pay and disability compensation for military retirees eligible for non-disability retirement.

The House version of the defense bill, which earlier drew a veto threat from the White House, also would authorize concurrent receipt of VA disability compensation and military retirement pay.

"The men and women who have dedicated their lives to serving our nation and became disabled as a result of their service deserve to be treated fairly," said Commander Steese. "They are counting on Congress and the White House for justice."

The nearly 1.3 million-member Disabled American Veterans, a non-profit organization founded in 1920 and chartered by the U.S. Congress in 1932, represents this nations disabled veterans. It is dedicated to a single purpose: building better lives for our nations disabled veterans and their families. For more information, visit the organization's Web site www.dav.org.

You can access the updated version of the alert and letter to the President by clicking here.

[Gimpy]

I got mine in the mail today also.

We GOTTA keep up the PRESSURE!

Write the Whitehouse and tell ol GW he will be another one-term President just like his daddy if he doesn't start showing some SUPPORT for this measure rather than saying he will VETO it!

[phuloi]

n/t

[sfc_darrel]

From what I've read this is not limited to the 60% and above but ALL the disabled.

Keep working on it. We just might finally win this one.