Daines Works to Restore Veterans Retirement Benefits

Press Release

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Representative Steve Daines today joined the House in passing legislation to restore veterans' retirement benefits that were recently cut by the Ryan-Murray budget.

The legislation repeals the $6 billion in mandatory cuts to veterans' pensions implemented as part of the budget deal crafted by Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) and Representative Paul Ryan (R-WI), which Daines voted against.

"As the son of a Marine, I am deeply committed to ensuring our veterans receive the benefits and services they were promised. That's why I voted against cutting our veterans' retirement pay and have worked since to restore these deserved benefits," Daines stated. "Paying for Washington's spending addiction on the backs of our veterans is simply irresponsible, and I am pleased to see these senseless cuts to veterans retirement pay finally restored responsibly."

Daines, a vocal opponent of the reductions to veterans retirement pay, joined Representative Michael Fitzpatrick (PA-08) in December to introduce legislation restoring the Ryan-Murray budget's cuts to veterans retirement pay. The cuts, which have been opposed by numerous veterans groups, apply to all veterans who served the twenty year requirement needed to receive a pension and would reduce their annual COLA by one percentage point, causing nearly a 20 percent reduction in retirement pay before the age of 62.

The Military Coalition, an organization consisting of twenty-seven veteran organizations and associations representing more than 5.5 million current and former service members and their families and survivors, sent a letter to Speaker of the House John Boehner and Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi urging Congress to address the devastating financial impact this would have on veterans.

"The Coalition believes that service in uniform is unlike any other occupation. Roughly one percent of the nation's population is currently serving and shouldering 100 percent of the responsibility for our wartime and national security requirements. The benefits connected with this service have been earned through 20 or more years of arduous military service," the organizations wrote. "Ending the harmful effects of sequestration is a top priority for our nation's security and military readiness, but to tax the very men and women who have sacrificed and served more than others is simply afoul."

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