Veterans

IN DEPTH: Press Releases

Veterans have kept their promises to serve our nation, and we must keep our promises to protect our veterans. The men and women who are risking their lives for us should not be given first-class weapons in battle only to receive third-class benefits when they return home from war. While we may be divided on the war in Iraq, we must be united in seeing that every single member of the armed forces is welcomed back with benefits that are first-rate and uncompromised.

With my support, the 110th Congress has made great strides in reaching this goal. Through my position on the House Armed Services Committee, I was able to ensure that the National Defense Authorization Act for FY2008 (NDAA, H.R. 1585) adequately supports our veterans, military service members, and the Department of Defense (DOD)—including a pay raise for our troops exceeding what President Bush requested. In addition to ensuring that the DOD has the necessary funding to restore depleted resources, this vital bill also includes the Wounded Warrior Assistance Act (H.R. 1538), which addresses the problems and deficits in care at Walter Reed Army Medical Center.

The Wounded Warrior Assistance Act establishes an oversight board that will conduct annual evaluations to guarantee high quality and integrity in the medical care provided to our veterans. This includes an amendment I introduced that gives the Secretary of Veterans Affairs the power to appoint two members to this oversight board—ensuring that the voice of our veterans is heard. It also requires the DOD to develop a plan to help prevent mental health disorders such as Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.

I have also voted to support critical funding for our veterans, such as a $3.6 billion increase in VA funding to meet rising health care costs for our veterans (H.J.Res. 20; P.L. 110-5) and a bill to provide $5 billion for veterans’ care, including PTSD and brain-trauma injuries (the U.S. Troop Readiness, Veterans’ Care, and Iraq Accountability Act, H.R. 1591). I also voted in favor of the federal budget resolution for FY2008 (H.Con.Res. 99), which invests $43.1 billion in the Veterans Health Administration—the largest increase in history and $6.4 billion more than the President proposed.

My colleagues and I, under Democratic leadership, have made veterans a priority with landmark investments in funding their medical treatment and care. I will continue to fight to honor our veterans by providing them with the first-rate benefits they deserve.

Retroactive Stop Loss Pay.

The Defense Department plans to provide Retroactive Stop Loss Special Pay to service members who had their enlistment extended or retirement suspended due to Stop Loss between Sept. 11, 2001 and Sept. 30, 2009.  Eligible personnel will receive a payment of $500 per month for each month (or any portion of a month) that the member was retained on active duty due to Stop Loss. 

Service members, including members of the Reserve components, former and retired members, are eligible if they served on active duty between Sept. 11, 2001 and Sept. 30, 2009, while their enlistment was extended, or whose retirement was suspended due to Stop Loss. Service members who were discharged or released from the Armed Forces under other than honorable conditions are not permitted to receive Retroactive Stop Loss Special Pay.  

Service members may begin submitting their claim for Retroactive Stop Loss Special Pay on Oct. 21, 2009.  In accordance with the 2009 Supplemental Appropriations Act, all applications must be submitted to the respective services no later than Oct. 21, 2010.  Service members must provide documented proof they were Stop Lossed with their claim.  Family members of deceased service members should contact the appropriate military service for assistance in filing their claim.

The payments will only be taxed for the period that was not served in a combat zone.  For example:  If a member was Stop Loss for 7 months and 5 of those months were served in a combat zone, then only 2 months of the pay will be taxed.

Additional information can be found on the web sites below.

Army:  https://www.stoplosspay.army.mil

Navy:  send email to – NXAG_N132C@navy.mil

Marine Corps:  https://www.manpower.usmc.mil/stoploss

Air Force:  http://www.afpc.randolph.af.mil/stoploss  

GI Bill Advance Payment Initiative

The Department of Veterans of Affairs (VA) announced an Advance Payment initiative. Veteran students, who have applied for educational benefits and who have not yet received them, can be issued an advance educational benefit payment up to $3,000. Payments are made via check on the spot at one of the 57 Regional Offices or veterans can apply online at https://advancepaygibill.gov/. Online requests should receive a check within 5 days. These payments will be recouped from future housing and book payments once your claim is processed.

Check payments are made in the form of US Bank business checks. VA is soliciting the support of local and national banks to honor and cash these emergency checks written to our Nation’s Veteran-students. In many cases these checks are handwritten and could pose concerns of fraud from banks. Therefore, VA has established the following special customer service call-in number for banks to verify the validity of any US Bank check brought to them by a Veteran.

1-800-827-2166

Banks calling this number will be connected directly to a VA employee who can access all necessary information to verify who the check was issued to, the check number and dollar amount of the check, and whether the check was previously cashed or not.

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