Wounded Veteran Job Security Act

Floor Speech

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Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia. Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 466, the ``Wounded Veteran Job Security Act.'' I would like to thank my colleague Representative Lloyd Doggett for introducing this important piece of legislation, as well as the co-sponsors.

I stand in support of this legislation because it will prevent employers from discriminating against disabled veterans, who have to take a leave of absence from their jobs to receive medical treatment for illnesses, injuries, and other disabilities that they incurred during their time in the armed services. This bill will also entitle a disabled veteran to use vacation, annual, medical, or similar leave with pay before the beginning of their treatment.

Like all Americans, the 102,261 disabled veterans in the state of Georgia, rely upon the incomes that they earn from their jobs, because receiving disability payments alone is not enough. When veterans receive disability payments, the amount of their compensation is dependent upon the evaluation of the severity of their disabilities and then the severity of the injury is rated in increments of 10, ranging between 10 and 100 percent.

As of the beginning of the 2009 fiscal year, the largest category of veterans was at the 10 percent disability rate. These 782,000 veterans of the 2.9 million in total receiving disability payments are only being paid approximately $123 per month which totals to $1,476 a year. Presently, it is impossible to make a living and support a family on this amount of money, especially in Georgia's Fourth Congressional District. In the Georgia Fourth Congressional District the average yearly household income is approximately $49,000. The termination of a veteran because of their need to obtain medical treatment for an injury or injuries incurred while they were in the armed services of their country is not fair. We owe these individuals a great deal. These veterans have given so much to the United States, and were willing to pay the ultimate sacrifice--their lives for freedom. The least we can do is protect their well being after their service.

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