FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 25, 2005

CONTACT: Brendan Daly/Jennifer Crider 202-226-7616

Pelosi: Bush Administration Should Not Pit Veterans Against Our Troops

Washington, D.C. -- House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi released the following statement today in response to comments in The Wall Street Journal by David Chu, Undersecretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness.  Undersecretary Chu was quoted this morning as saying that military pensions, health insurance, and other benefits for widows and retirees “have gotten to the point where they are hurtful. They are taking away from the nation’s ability to defend itself.”

"America has a sacred obligation to honor the sacrifices of the men and women who have answered the call to duty by serving in our armed forces.  This includes providing our veterans, military retirees, active duty personnel, and their families with the benefits they earned and that they deserve.  That is why Democrats have fought for, and overcome Republican opposition to, ending the Widows’ Tax, which penalizes aging survivors, mostly military widows.  We are still fighting to end the Disabled Veterans Tax for all military retirees.

"If Mr. Chu’s comments reflect Bush Administration policy, and President Bush believes that military and veterans’ benefits are detracting from the nation’s ability to defend itself, then what cuts in these benefits can we expect to see in the President’s budget?

"I hope that Mr. Chu’s statement does not reflect a decision by the Administration to pit veterans and military retirees against our active duty troops in a competition for limited resources.  A ‘divide and conquer’ approach is a harmful political ploy."

“ 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