SHAME ON AMERICA SHAME ON AMERICA IF CONGRESS AND THE PRESIDENT WOULD SIGN BILLS TO CUT VETERANS BENEFITS THEN CONGRESS AND THE PRESIDENT AND THEIR FAMILIES SHOULD FIGHT THE WARS. Veterans Journal: Iraq, Afghanistan veterans group criticizes cuts to military retiree benefits January 20, 2014 01:00 AM The Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA) said last week in a news release that Congress broke its promise to veterans with its recent critical cuts to military retirees’ benefits. The action reduces the annual cost-of-living adjustment for military retirees and survivors, amounting to an estimated 20 percent cut in retirement benefits over the course of their lives. Last month’s congressional budget deal delivered a particularly hard hit to military retirees with at least 20 years of service, cutting their COLA adjustments by 1 percent a year until age 62. Veterans’ groups say the cut could amount to an average cash loss of $80,000 or more for each affected retiree. The cut, meant to save an estimated $6 billion over the next decade, does not take effect until 2015, but the battle over the provision has already started. Congress did announce its intent to restore COLA cuts for disabled military veterans and their survivors, but IAVA wants a full repeal of all cuts to military retirees. IAVA CEO and founder Paul Rieckhoff said, “Congress is crossing a line in the sand by failing to fully protect veterans benefits. Veterans nationwide continue to demand that Congress listen to us and repeal cuts to military retirees as quickly as possible.” IAVA has joined other leading veterans’ and military groups to fight the cuts, and more than 10,000 IAVA members have signed a petition (tinyurl/jwa72zk) calling for Congress to block the changes to military retirement. Also, veterans facing hardships while transitioning out of the military can contact an IAVA Rapid Response Referral Program case manager by calling (855) 91-RAPID (855) 917-2743, by e-mailing [email protected] or visiting IAVA.org/RRRP. Assistance is offered to veterans needing employment, education, housing, mental health care and other services. IAVA is the nation’s first and largest nonpartisan, nonprofit organization representing Iraq and Afghanistan veterans with more than 270,000 member veterans and civilian supporters nationwide.
Posted on: Tue, 21 Jan 2014 03:27:22 +0000
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