"I believe that our troops should be taken care of when we send them into battle and that they should be given our respect when we bring them home," said Hinojosa.  "The spouses of those we send into battle also make significant sacrifices.  That is why I joined my Democratic colleagues in fighting to provide military retirees and their spouses with the retirement benefits they earned serving our country." 

The "Survivor Benefit Penalty" will penalize over 200,000 elderly Americans, mostly widows, over the next 10 years, and hundreds of thousands in future years. Over one million military retirees pay premiums for years and anticipate that upon their death, their spouse will receive 55 percent of their retirement benefit. But when their spouse reaches 62, the benefit drops to a mere 35 percent - forcing these widows to give up more than one-third of their benefits.  Just 218 signatures would bring this bill to the floor for a vote. 

The Military Survivor Benefits Improvement Act (HR 548), which has 296 cosponsors, was introduced over a year ago.  But even with such wide bipartisan support, the Republican leadership has not brought it to the floor for a vote and has blocked efforts to include it in this year's budget resolution.  

"Over one million military retirees and their families will eventually be affected by the Survivor Benefit Penalty.  This bill deserves a fair and open debate on the House floor.
   
I will keep fighting to ensure that this nation keeps faith with our service men and women, their families and our veterans," said Hinojosa.  "Our men and women in uniform fight to protect our freedom and to keep America safe.  They shouldn't have to fight the government to get the benefits they earned through a lifetime of service."