FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 
April 21, 2004
Contact:  Adrienne Elrod
(202) 225-3772
 

Ross Votes to Allow Reservists and National Guard Soldiers Penalty-Free Access to IRA Accounts
But Stresses More Needs to Be Done to Help Reservists and Their Families
 
(Washington, D.C.)  Fourth District Rep. Mike Ross (D-AR) Wednesday voted for legislation (H.R. 1779) that would allow military reservists and guardsmen to make penalty-free withdrawals from their Individual Retirement Accounts. However, with this vote Ross stressed that while this may be needed, this by no means is a substitute solution for the low-pay reservists and guardsmen are receiving for serving our country.

“It’s a sad day in America when Congress has to pass a law that actually allows, without penalty,  our men and women in uniform to dip into their retirement accounts just to make ends meet,” said Ross. “Forty percent of reservists and national guard soldiers have taken pay cuts to serve our country, and that is wrong. I voted for this bill because our reservists and guardsmen serving our country need this money to provide for their families.”

Ross said Congress and the President must do more to provide increased pay, better health care and tax relief to our military families.  

“Those of us in Congress have fought hard – all along – to increase military pay to help our soldiers, and provide increased health benefits to reservists, national guard soldiers and their families. In fact, I am currently working on a bill that would extend TRICARE health coverage to all military reservists, guardsmen and their families. For their bravery and dedication toward protecting our country, providing them adequate health coverage is the least we can do for them.”


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