FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 02, 2005

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

Pelosi: We Must End the Disabled Veterans Tax for All Veterans

Washington, D.C. – House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi announced her co-sponsorship of H.R. 303 which fully ends the Disabled Veteran’s Tax:

“As Americans, we make a simple yet sacred promise to our courageous servicemen and women: 'You have taken care of us, so we will take care of you.'  The disabled veterans tax breaks that promise.  Denying full retirement and disability benefits to disabled veterans dishonors the sacrifice made by our brave men and women.

“Veterans and Democrats stood together last session and made some strides in fully eliminating this terrible tax. But the Republican majority failed our veterans and only ended the Disabled Veteran’s Tax for a few -- some veterans will not receive one penny of compensation for their disabilities.  Just yesterday, the Army Times reported that 15,000 veterans whose non-combat disabilities are so severe that they cannot work will not receive the benefits they earned and that they deserve. On the battlefields, our soldiers leave no one behind, and we must leave no veteran behind when they come home.  

“It is time to take up the fight again to fully end the Disabled Veteran’s Tax for all of our disabled veterans, and I am proud to add my name to the legislation that would end the Disabled Veteran’s Tax for all our veterans.

“H.R. 303 would authorize the full concurrent receipt of retired pay and veterans' disability compensation for retirees with regular or Guard/Reserve retirements. Currently, those with disabilities rated at 100 percent or attributed to combat are authorized full payment of military retired pay and compensation for their service-connected disabilities.  Those with 50 percent or higher non-combat disabilities will see their disability offsets phased out over the next 8 years.

“Democrats will continue to fight to ensure that America fulfills its moral obligations to those who have paid the high price for our freedom -- those who have worn our nation's uniform.  Our veterans and their families ask for nothing more. They deserve nothing less.”

“ 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