Senator Webb Co-Sponsors Legislation To Protect Bonuses For Wounded Veterans

Says Medically-Discharged Troops Should Not Be Penalized

December 4, 2007 -- Washington, DC – Senator Jim Webb today joined Senators Jeff Sessions (R-AL), Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-NY) and Robert Casey (D-PA) to introduce legislation that guarantees full payment of bonuses and incentives to veterans wounded in combat. The “Restoring Guaranteed Bonuses for Wounded Veterans Act of 2007” (S.2400) was introduced in response to recent reports of wounded troops being asked to repay their enlistment bonuses.

The bipartisan legislation also requires the Department of Defense to conduct an audit to identify former servicemembers who may have been affected by this practice dating back to 2001 and to restore their rightful payments.

“Our men and women in uniform have earned these benefits and deserve every penny promised to them,” said Senator Jim Webb. “The way we treat our combat veterans speaks to the value we place on their service.”

The “Restoring Guaranteed Bonuses for Wounded Veterans Act of 2007” would end a practice identified by the Dole-Shalala commission. The legislation would:

· require payment of remaining bonus entitlement to servicemembers within 90 days of retirement or separation due to a combat-related injury;

· define 32 types of bonuses and special pay that would be covered under this legislation;

· define combat-related injury for these purposes;

· include a provision that would direct the Department of Defense to immediately stop collection actions on portions of bonuses already paid out;

· provide a September 11, 2001 retroactive period for the payment or repayment of bonuses that were stopped or not completely paid; and

· direct that DoD or another entity performs a financial audit that identifies former servicemembers to be paid and the amount money owed to each former servicemember.

Congressman Jason Altmire (D-PA) introduced similar legislation to protect the bonuses of wounded veterans in the U.S. House of Representatives in October that currently has 245 co-sponsors.

The Senate legislation has eight co-sponsors including Senators John McCain (R-AZ), Bernard Sanders (I-VT), Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ), Byron Dorgan (D-ND), and Mel Martinez (R-FL). It has received an endorsement from the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA), Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), and Veterans and Military Families for Progress.

Source: Senator Jim Webb