Washington, D.C.— Last week, the House passed H.R. 5658, the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2009 (FY2009), by a vote of 384-23. The NDAA provides the annual authorization for the Department of Defense, as well as national security programs administered by the Department of Energy. For FY2009, H.R. 5658 authorizes $531 billion for these two agencies and an additional $70 billion to support current operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.
This year’s NDAA includes an important provision authored by Congressman Geoff Davis that will increase disability retirement pay for some reservists who are severely and permanently disabled from being wounded in action. Congressman Davis was first alerted to this inequity in 2006, when he met a severely injured Kentucky National Guardsman from Tollesboro, Kentucky, who explained the disparity in disability retirement pay between active and reservist personnel who are wounded in action.
Under current law, a reservist only gets credit for the time he actually spends in uniform. For instance, a soldier who has spent thirteen years in the Kentucky Army National Guard may have only four years of service when his duty days are calculated. As a result, the reservist may receive less disability retirement pay than his active counterpart. Even if two personnel receive identical wounds from the same Iraqi firefight, the reservist may still receive less disability retirement pay.
Congressman Davis’ provision will eliminate this inequity between active and reserve personnel. Any reservist who earns the Purple Heart for wounds incurred in battle and is medically retired as a result of that action will have their disability pay calculated based on the total number of years served in the reserves or National Guard.
“I have so much respect for Congressman Davis’ work for the American military. He has the heart of a soldier, and that’s why he continues to work so hard for all those who have stood up for this country,” stated Major General Donald C. Storm (Retired), former Adjutant General of the Kentucky National Guard. “The role of the citizen-soldier has changed dramatically in fighting the global war on terror and the dedication and sacrifices of these great American patriots should be no less recognized than those of their active duty brethren. This legislation is critical.”
Congressman Davis said, “I am pleased that the House-passed version of NDAA includes language to resolve this inequity. A bullet doesn’t discriminate between an active and a reserve service member. Neither should we. Now is the time to compute disability retirement pay in the same way for both active and reserve members of our armed forces who are wounded in action.”
Among other things, H.R 5658 (NDAA FY2009) will:
• Increase the number of active duty personnel by 7,000 in the Army and 5,000 in the Marine Corps to support ongoing combat operations, help relieve the strain on our service members and their families and increase the size of the force available for contingencies outside of Iraq and Afghanistan;
• Provide a 3.9% pay raise for all members of the Armed Forces in 2009 to reduce the military-civilian pay disparity;
• Contribute more than $246 million for counter rocket, artillery and mortar capabilities;
• Provide an additional $800 million for National Guard and Reserve equipment;
• Extend the prohibition enacted last year on increases to TRICARE enrollment fees, co-pays and retail pharmacy cost shares;
• Include tuition assistance and support for military spouses; and
• Contribute $50 million to help local education agencies assist children of military members.
The NDAA for FY2009 now awaits consideration in the Senate.