releases: https://web.archive.org/web/20140301095902/http://orourke.house.gov/media-center/vote-explanations/military-retiree-pensions-legislative-update
Data license: MIT · Data source: dwillis/congress-press
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| https://web.archive.org/web/20140301095902/http://orourke.house.gov/media-center/vote-explanations/military-retiree-pensions-legislative-update | Military Retiree Pensions Legislative Update | 2013-12-20 | 2013 | 2013-12 | Democrat | House | TX | Beto O'Rourke | O000170 | web.archive.org | legacy | I am writing to you about the potential changes to the cost of living adjustment (COLA) for career military retiree pensions that were contained in the recently passed Ryan/Murray budget agreement (H.J.RES 59). I have heard from many of you with concerns about these changes and I want to let you know where I stand and what I am doing. First, the overall budget agreement is a step forward for our community and Fort Bliss in particular and for that reason, I voted for it. By passing a budget for the first time in over three years, we will have fiscal certainty and prevent another government shut-down. It also provides relief from the arbitrary cuts known as the sequester, which hit the Department of Defense particularly hard and have resulted in furloughs of DoD civilians at Fort Bliss and harmed troop readiness and training. However, like many large pieces of compromise legislation, the budget deal included items that I do not support. One such provision would reduce the annual cost of living adjustment (COLA) by 1% for some career military retirees who are younger than 62, beginning in December 2015. I want to let you know what I am doing to stop these cuts from taking effect and make you aware of three bills I helped to introduce earlier this week. The first measure (H.R. 3789) would clarify that all veterans who medically retire, all those who receive Combat Related Specialty Compensation (CRSC), all those who receive Concurrent Receipt Pay (CRDP), and surviving spouses receiving benefits under the Survivor Benefit Program (SBP) are exempt from the COLA reduction. This proposal has bipartisan support and I believe Congress could move quickly to pass it next year. The second measure (H.R. 3790) would simply strike the section in the budget agreement that provides for a 1% cost of living adjustment (COLA) reduction to all military retirees under 62, thereby restoring the full pension of retirees. The final measure (H.R. 3793) would also fully strike the COLA reduction, but would pay for it by closing tax loopholes that encourages companies to avoid paying their fair share of taxes. This bill restricts companies that are incorporated offshore, but managed and controlled from the United States, from claiming foreign status and avoiding U.S. taxes. As the COLA reduction will not go into effect until December 2015, Congress will have significant time to pass these bills. In addition, there is an independent panel—the Military Compensation and Retirement Modernization Commission— studying military compensation and Congress is awaiting their recommendations, which are due this spring. I appreciate hearing from you on this issue and I will continue to keep you updated. | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z |