Letter to Buck McKeon, Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, and Adam Smith, Ranking Member of the House Armed Services Committee - COLA for Military retirees

Letter

January 16th, 2014

The Honorable Buck McKeon
Chairman
House Armed Services Committee
2319 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515

The Honorable Adam Smith
Ranking Member
House Armed Services Committee
2264 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
 
Dear Chairman McKeon and Ranking Member Smith,

We are writing to express serious concern regarding Sec. 403 of the Murray-Ryan Budget Agreement, which reduces the cost of living adjustment (COLA) in military retiree pay by one percent beginning in 2015. While we understand the need to get our nation's fiscal house in order, we strongly believe our nation's budget should not be balanced on the backs of those who have given the most to protect and serve this great country. To this end, we urge action to eliminate Sec. 403 in this year's National Defense Authorization Act.

The Omnibus Appropriations bill which the Congress considered this week takes a first step in righting this wrong to our military retirees by exempting those who receive Department of Defense Disability Retirement pension payments. However, we must go further to eliminate the COLA reduction for the other approximately 700,000 servicemen and women who will be impacted by Sec. 403. It has been reported that retired sergeants could lose $3,700 per year, or $83,000, by the time they turn 62. This represents a severe cut to military retirees and should be stopped.

We do not dispute that reforms are needed at the Department of Defense to reduce spending, but this should not be done at the expense of those who have worn the uniform in defense of our nation, particularly at a time when America remains at war. We look forward to working with you and committee staff to come up with a bi-partisan solution that will remedy this problem before Sec. 403 takes effect in 2015, and hope the Committee can address it in this year's NDAA proceedings. Thank you for your time and consideration of this important issue.

Sincerely,