WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congresswoman Susan Davis (D-CA) voted today for a one-year fix to ensure eligible veterans receive their full retirement and disability payments.  The Disabled Military Retiree Relief Act (H.R. 2990) was approved by the House of Representatives on a bipartisan, unanimous vote of 404-0.

Under current policy, there are disabled military retirees who have the amount of their disability benefits offset from their military pension, which is known as the “veterans tax.”  Tight budgets have prevented Congress from coming up with a permanent fix.

As Chairwoman of the Military Personnel Subcommittee, Congresswoman Davis and her colleagues on the House Armed Services Committee led the effort to find the necessary funding for this important measure.

“The disabled veterans tax has been an economic burden on our military retirees for far too long,” said Davis.  “What we are doing today will provide relief for many men and woman who were severely disabled during their service to our country.  But we need to find a permanent fix, and one that includes the retirees not covered by this bill.  I know my colleagues and I are committed to making this happen.”

Under the “pay as you go rules” of the House of Representatives, any spending increase must be matched by a revenue increase or spending decrease. Efforts are underway to find the $5.1 billion needed to achieve the goal of covering all military retirees who are victims of the “veterans tax.”

Davis is an original cosponsor of H.R. 2990.

###