Durbin: Senate Missed Opportunity to Make Military Retirement System More Equitable for Guard and Reserve

DURBIN: SENATE MISSED OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE MILITARY RETIREMENT SYSTEM MORE EQUITABLE FOR GUARD AND RESERVE

U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) said the Senate missed an opportunity to revise the military retirement system to make it more equitable to members of the National Guard and Reserve and a more powerful incentive to continued service.

Currently, a reservists who completes 20 years of service is eligible to receive retirement pay but not until the age of 60. Durbin's amendment, which received 40 votes during debate on the Department of Defense Authorization bill, offered a one-year reduction in the retirement age for every year of service beyond 20 years. Under Durbin's proposal, a reservist would have been able to begin to draw retirement pay as early as age 55 if he or she serves an additional five-years.

"Today, a member of the Guard or Reserve can retire at the age of 38 after serving for 20 years, but must wait until the age of 60 before receiving the first penny of any retirement pay. That's just too long. Our reserves are making enormous sacrifices, risking their lives in combat zones, and dying for their country. The age to draw retirement pay must be lowered," Durbin said.

"I am disappointed that the Senate did not pass this important measure, but the fight is far from over," Durbin added.

Durbin said he will continue to work with organizations that have publicly supported his amendment to get this measure passed by the Senate. Organizations that have endorsed the amendment include The National Guard Association of the United States; The Military Officers Association of the United States; The Reserve Officers Association; and The Enlisted Association of the National Guard of the United States.

http://durbin.senate.gov/record.cfm?id=248628&&