WASHINGTON, DC –  House Armed Services Committee Chairman Ike Skelton (D-MO) introduced legislation today that includes a one-year fix to relieve the disabled veterans tax by expanding concurrent receipt.  This change would make more disabled veterans eligible to receive both military retired pay and veterans disability compensation. 

            H.R. 2990, the Disabled Military Retiree Relief Act of 2009, also extends special pays and allowances for certain members of the Armed Forces and makes several important changes to the retirement system for federal employees.
           
            “The disabled veterans tax prevents retirees from receiving the full benefits they have earned in military retired pay and veterans disability compensation.  Our veterans and their families have made tremendous sacrifices for our country, and this bill moves us closer to fulfilling the President’s pledge to give disabled veterans full access to the benefits they deserve,” said Skelton. 

            “Congress has been working to find a way to permanently eliminate the disabled veterans tax for many years, but fixing this entitlement program is an immensely difficult task.   I am grateful to all of my House colleagues who have worked to find the budget offsets needed to provide this temporary fix for our veterans.  As we pursue this legislation, we will continue to do all we can to honor our country’s debt to our veterans and their families,” said Skelton.

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