Issue Position: Defense/Veterans' Affairs - Defense

Issue Position

During the 107th Congress, we have consistently made efforts to improve the quality of life for our troops by increasing military pay, renovating substandard housing, and improving health care. United States military personnel deserve a standard of living equivalent to that enjoyed by the American public they are sworn to protect. It is an outrage and unacceptable that some members of our Armed Forces qualify for welfare.

The FY03 Defense Appropriations bill, as passed by the House, continues to make strides toward closing the 13 percent pay gap between the military and private sector. The bill includes a 4.1% across-the-board pay raise for military personnel, and targeted pay raises up to 6.5%. This increase is on top of the 6.9% basic pay increase that went into effect in January 2002. The bill also includes increases for housing allowances and health care. In addition, the FY03 Military Construction Appropriations bill, as passed by the House, includes $4.2 billion dollars for military family housing.

I am a co-sponsor of several bills in the 107th Congress to improve the quality of life for our service members and their families. H.R. 356 would amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to avoid punishing military servicemen who sell their homes. Thanks to the Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997, taxpayers who sell their homes at a profit were provided capital gains tax relief if they owned and used their home as their principal residence for two of the previous five years. Unfortunately, because our service personnel are required to move frequently, they are unable to qualify for this exemption. H.R. 356 would provide our military personnel with the same tax relief provided to other Americans.

I am also a co-sponsor of H.R. 1135, which would ensure that members of the Armed Services who are married and have minor dependents are eligible for military family housing containing more than two bedrooms. Common sense would dictate that this provision should already be in place, but unfortunately this is not the case.

I will continue to support measures that enhance and improve the quality of life for service personnel and their families. It is important that we attract and retain the best and brightest men and women to serve in the U.S. Armed Services. This can only be achieved by addressing the financial and personal needs of members of the uniformed services and their families.

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