Washington,
Oct 17, 2003 -
U.S. Rep. Steve Pearce says he feels the Republican package calling for an increase in veterans ’ disability benefits and full retirement could become a reality by the start of the new year.
“The Senate, the House and the White House have basically come to an understanding to take immediate action,” Pearce said.
The new package calls for $22-25 billion to allow veterans eligibility for both medical and retirement benefits. In addition, it asks for $3 billion to make Reserve and National Guard members eligible for veterans benefits.
Pearce, a Republican representing New Mexico’s 2nd Congressional District, said the package represented the first solution ever to the question of concurrent receipts.
“Neither party has dealt with it in a substantive way,” Pearce said. “But the Republicans have addressed it seriously.”
The previous law, enacted in 1892, made veterans of the civil war unable to concurrently draw both benefits.
Under the terms of the proposed package, there will be two categories, those with a purple heart and a disability rating of 10-100 percent, and those who are eligible for combat-related special compensation (CRSC). Veterans in both categories will be eligible for full concurrent receipts.
Reserve and National Guard members with a purple heart, combat-related injuries, or other injuries will be treated the same as active-duty military, Pearce said.
Remaining military personnel with 50 percent disability and above would be taken into a plan where they would receive full concurrent receipts at the end of 10 years. However, the remaining group (50 percent disability and under), would not be included in this package.
Also, Pearce said due to discharge petitions’ lack of success in congress, it was decided not to attach discharge petitions to the package. He said of the last 500 discharge petitions attempted, only two made it through the process, and neither were signed into law.
He did say he wanted his constituents to know their issues were being addressed.
“We’re working very seriously behind the scenes with (Speaker of the House Tom DeLay), to get a real solution,” Pearce said. He added he felt the White House gave up the most ground in agreeing to the terms of the deal.
“They did not think there would be room for it in the budget,” Pearce said. “They did a lot of compromising.”
In addition to the changes in benefit plans, the package calls for a bipartisan blue ribbon panel made up of 13 members, including a veteran representative, which will make recommendations about the 10-year phase-in and current veterans disabilities program. This panel would then decide whether any of those regulations need to be amended or changed.
Pearce said the bill would probably be attached to another bill going through Congress, instead of starting a new bill from scratch.
“If we can get it on an authorization that is in conference, then we can get a solution by the end of the year,” he said.
Pearce said he felt the package is both a solid step for veterans and a solid solution to the concurrent receipt question.
“Anytime we can take this big of a step in one year, when both parties have really pushed it off to the side for the past 100 years, I think that is a significant gesture,” he said.
