[Vision2020] No Debate on These Benefits Proposals

[Tom Hansen]

>From the Columns section of the December 5, 2005 edition of Army Times
(www.armytimes.com).

The writer of this column was not identified although his/her stated
convictions are strongly supported.

This is just another (of many) example of Congress' and the Whit House's
lack of concern.   

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No debate on these benefits proposals


As Congress moves to wrap up the 2006 defense authorization bill - more than
two months after the fiscal year began -it will make decisions on a variety
of new or improved benefits for active-duty members, reservists, retirees
and their families.

In this issue, we outline 10 of the most significant benefits proposals in
play, all of which are worthy ideas. But at least four are no-brainers -
changes that should be approved without delay.

These are:

. "Wounded-warrior pay." This proposed new special pay would provide $430 a
month to troops injured or wounded in combat. It would last as long as they
are hospitalized.

The money would offset the effect of losing various combat pays when wounded
troops are sent out of the war zone, a pay cut they can ill afford just when
their families face a variety of extra expenses.

A similar, but less generous, proposal would simply lift the current
three-month limit on continuing imminent-danger pay of $225 per month for
injured combat troops recovering outside the war zones.

Obviously, $430 a month goes further than $225. But either plan would go a
long way toward helping service members and their families when they need
that help the most.

. Increased weight allowances for household goods when senior enlisted
members relocate.

By the time most service members reach these ranks, they have spent over a
decade in uniform and often have acquired a large amount of personal
belongings as they have moved from place to place.

Boosting their household goods allowances by 500 to 1,000 pounds would be an
easy and low-cost way to reward the troops who are widely considered the
backbone of the military.

. Increased "death gratuity." This unfortunately named benefit goes to
families of service members who die on active duty.

For survivors of those who die in combat or combat training, the payment
recently was raised to $100,000 - but for those who die in accidents or for
other reasons, it remains a comparatively paltry $12,420.

Senior military officers are uneasy about this one, and for good reason. At
a hearing this summer, two of the four vice chiefs of staff said they think
the payment should be the same for all active-duty deaths.

This is a basic fairness issue. All lives have an incalculable value. All
families mourn the loss of a loved one. And while some deaths in combat
zones come as a result of valor, others result from accidents and even
health problems. Trying to differentiate between the two is unfair.

. Concurrent receipt. This is another basic fairness issue, one that must be
resolved in favor of the estimated 15,000 military retirees who have formal
disability ratings of less than 100 percent but still are considered fully
disabled because their medical conditions prevent them from holding a job.

These "unemployables" were left out of an agreement reached last year to
give 100 percent disabled retirees immediate concurrent receipt of full
military retired pay and veterans' disability compensation, without having
to wait 10 years as many other disabled retirees must do.

Since then, this group has become something of a political football, bounced
between the White House and Congress. This is inexcusable. These retirees
deserve their full retirement and disability incomes. 

One common trait links all of these proposals. All have met opposition,
either from the White House or various factions in Congress, because of
their costs.

But the cost to make the four changes outlined above is minuscule compared
to the amount of pork spending in a typical appropriations bill, such as the
$24 billion in pork that lawmakers stuffed into the federal highway bill
this summer.

Whatever else Congress does as it hammers out a compromise defense
authorization bill for 2006, these four items should be a part of that final
legislation.

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Take care, Moscow.

Tom Hansen
Moscow, Idaho


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Work like you don't need the money.
Love like you've never been hurt.
Dance like nobody's watching.

- Author Unknown
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