News Release
Congressman Bob Etheridge
North Carolina

April 28, 2004

                                       Contact: Sara Lang
                                       Phone: (202) 225-4531

Etheridge Fights for Families of Military Retirees

WASHINGTON - U.S. Rep. Bob Etheridge (D-Lillington) signed a petition this week to force the U.S. House of Representatives to vote on H.R. 548, "The Military Survivor Benefits Improvement Act," a bipartisan plan that would ensure that hundreds of thousands of families of military retirees can keep the benefits they have earned.

Over one million military retirees pay premiums for years and anticipate that upon their death, their spouse will receive 55 percent of their retirement benefit. But when their spouse reaches 62, the benefit drops to a mere 35 percent - forcing these widows to give up more than one-third of their benefits. The "Survivor Benefit Penalty" will penalize over 200,000 elderly Americans, mostly widows, over the next 10 years, and hundreds of thousands in future years.

"Our men and women in uniform fight to protect our freedom and to keep America safe," Etheridge said. "They shouldn't have to fight the government to get the benefits they earned through a lifetime of service."

This discharge petition is a procedural step to force a vote on this important legislation. Even though the legislation has 321 cosponsors in the House, both Republicans and Democrats, the Republican Leadership has refused to schedule the measure for a vote. If 218 Members sign the petition, under House rules the bill must be brought to the floor for a vote.

   
   
   
   

| About Bob Etheridge | Constituent Services | Contact Bob | Email Bob | Home |

| Just for Children | Legislative Issues | The 2nd District | Press Room | Visit Washington |

Privacy Policy