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Congressional Democrats Call on Chairman Hunter to Help Military WidowsWashington, D.C. -- House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi and 168 House Democrats sent a letter today to Armed Services Committee Chairman Duncan Hunter calling on him to include the Widow’s Tax relief, supported by 328 Members of the House of Representatives, in the 2005 National Defense Authorization bill. The Members wrote: "This penalty overwhelmingly affects elderly women and has been referred to as the ‘Widow’s Tax.’ This reduction in benefits is currently causing severe hardship for many of the surviving spouses whose benefits have already been reduced. Unless corrected, the number of surviving spouses who will lose income over the next decade will increase dramatically as more and more survivors reach age 62." The full text of the letter follows: May 5, 2004 Chairman Duncan Hunter Armed Services Committee 2120 Rayburn House Office BuildingDear Chairman Hunter: We are writing to request that you include as part of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2005, legislation such as that provided in H.R. 548 to phase out the reduction in Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP) benefits suffered by surviving spouses of military retirees who reach the age of 62. This policy has broad bipartisan support as evidenced by the 328 Members of the House of Representatives who have agreed to cosponsor the bill. Despite such widespread support, H.R. 548 has not been brought to the floor of the House either as a stand-alone bill or as part of a Defense Authorization Act. We believe that it is time to do so. Many servicemembers who agreed to pay premiums to provide their spouses with an adequate retirement income in the event of their death were informed that the SBP benefit payable to their survivors would be 55 percent of their retirement benefit. The documents they signed did not include any information to indicate that the benefits would be reduced to 35 percent when the spouses attained age 62. This penalty overwhelmingly affects elderly women and has been referred to as the "Widow’s Tax." This reduction in benefits is currently causing severe hardship for many of the surviving spouses whose benefits have already been reduced. Unless corrected, the number of surviving spouses who will lose income over the next decade will increase dramatically as more and more survivors reach age 62. We have heard from surviving spouses who are struggling to meet basic living expenses and who must make painful choices concerning food, fuel and housing costs as the result of current law. These spouses were married to persons who gave 20 or more years of military service. In many cases, the survivors endured significant hardships, including months of separation from spouses who were serving around the world. The reduction is unfair, unnecessary and unworthy of a Nation that can afford tax breaks for wealthy individuals and corporations. We urge you to include language in the 2005 defense authorization bill to eliminate immediately or at least phase out the reduction over the next five years. Sincerely, Anibal Acevedo-Vila Gary Ackerman Rodney Alexander Tom Allen Robert Andrews Joe Baca Tammy Baldwin Frank Ballance Chris Bell Shelley Berkley Howard Berman Marion Berry Tim Bishop Sanford Bishop Earl Blumenauer Madeline Bordallo Leonard Boswell Rick Boucher Sherrod Brown Corrine Brown Lois Capps Mike Capuano Dennis Cardoza Brad Carson Julia Carson Ed Case Ben Chandler Donna Christensen William Lacy Clay Jim Clyburn John Conyers Jim Cooper Jerry Costello Joe Crowley Elijah Cummings Artur Davis Jim Davis Susan Davis Lincoln Davis Peter DeFazio William Delahunt Rosa DeLauro Norm Dicks John Dingell Lloyd Doggett Mike Doyle Chet Edwards Rahm Emanuel Elliot Engel Anna Eshoo Bob Etheridge Lane Evans Eni Faleomavaega Sam Farr Bob Filner Harold Ford Barney Frank Martin Frost Dick Gephardt Gene Green Raul Grijalva Luis Gutierrez Jane Harman Alcee Hastings Baron Hill Maurice Hinchey Ruben Hinojosa Joe Hoeffel Tim Holden Rush Holt Michael Honda Darlene Hooley Steny Hoyer Jay Inslee Steve Israel Jesse Jackson Shelia Jackson Lee Christopher John Paul Kanjorski Marcy Kaptur Patrick Kennedy Dale Kildee Carolyn Kilpatrick Ron Kind Dennis Kucinich Nick Lampson James Langevin Tom Lantos Rick Larsen John Larson Barbara Lee Sander Levin John Lewis Zoe Lofgren Nita Lowey Kenneth Lucas Stephen Lynch Denise Majette Carolyn Maloney Edward Markey Jim Marshall Robert Matsui Carolyn McCarthy Betty McCollum Jim McDermott James McGovern Mike McIntyre Martin Meehan Kendrick Meek Gregory Meeks Robert Menendez Michael Michaud Juanita Millender-McDonald Brad Miller George Miller Dennis Moore Jim Moran Jerrold Nadler Grace Napolitano Richard Neal Eleanor Holmes Norton James Oberstar Solomon Ortiz Major Owens Frank, Jr. Pallone William, Jr. Pascrell Donald Payne Nancy Pelosi Nick, II Rahall Charles Rangel Ciro Rodriguez Mike Ross Steven Rothman Lucille Roybal-Allard Dutch Ruppersberger Bobby Rush Tim Ryan Linda Sanchez Loretta Sanchez Bernie Sanders Max Sandlin Janice Schakowsky Adam Schiff David Scott Robert Scott José Serrano Brad Sherman Adam Smith Vic Snyder Hilda Solis Fortney Stark Charles Stenholm Ted Strickland Bart Stupak Ellen Tauscher Gene Taylor Mike Thompson John Tierney Edolphus Towns Jim Turner Mark Udall Tom Udall Chris Van Hollen Maxine Waters Henry Waxman Anthony Weiner Robert Wexler Lynn Woolsey Albert Wynn |
“ Democrats are united in presenting a New Direction for America, one that will make our nation as strong as its people, one that brings opportunity, security, and prosperity to all Americans. ” Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi |
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