Issues: Strengthening the Military
Nebraska’s Senator Ben Nelson serves as Ranking Member of the Senate Armed Services Committee Subcommittee on Personnel. In that position his responsibility is to ensure that military personnel have the equipment, resources and other benefits they need.
Nelson has been a leader in pushing the Pentagon to increase the military end strength, or standing force, to meet the challenges of the global war on terror and military operations in Iraq and other hot spots around the world. Congress approved an increase of 20,000 troops in 2004.
Senator Nelson believes that the best way to maintain the highly trained and well equipped military we have, we need to support our troops with resources and benefits that make military service more attractive as a career choice. He also believes that we should provide adequate equipment and training to protect our troops and enable them to carry out their missions.
Improving Benefits for Soldiers
Senator Nelson has passed bills to create a new special pay for active-duty and reserve components of up to $1,000 per month during lengthy or repeated deployments. Senator Nelson also sought to amend the Soldiers and Sailors Civil Relief Act to protect the educational status and tuition payments and limit the interest rate on student loans of service members called to active duty. In addition, Senator Nelson hopes to authorize a new 401(k) type plan where members of Reserve Components can invest pre-tax dollars that can be withdrawn to supplement military income when a member is mobilized or completes his or her military career.
Senator Nelson continues to press DOD on providing service members and families the information they need regarding when deployments will begin and when they will end. Because of this, DOD has created a new policy for deployments including pre-deployment, deployment and post-deployment timetables.
Protecting Soldiers on the Battlefield
For soldiers in the field, Senator Nelson has pressured the Pentagon, through correspondence with the Secretary and Army Chief of Staff, to guarantee they are providing their soldiers the most advanced body armor for Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom. Senator Nelson has increased the death gratuity benefit from $6,000 to $12,000. Nelson also voted to ensure that troops returning home from deployments abroad do not have to pay for their own travel expenses.
Protecting Guard and Reserve Troops
For Guard and Reserve Troops, Senator Nelson is an original cosponsor of S. 2035, the Guard and Reserve Readiness and Retention Act. This legislation would enhance health care benefits for National Guard and Reserve members by making all Guard and Reserve families eligible for health coverage through TRICARE, the military health system regardless of their mobilization status. A compromise version of this was passed in the National Defense Authorization Act of 2005.
Sexual Assault in the Military
Senator Nelson has focused considerable time and energy through personal contact with DOD leadership and in hearings conducted by the SASC on the issue of Military Sexual Assault at the U.S. Air Force Academy among the cadet population and overseas among active duty members.
