Congressional Corner from Representative Mike McIntyre: Fighting for Your Veterans’ Benefits

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Congressional Corner from Representative Mike McIntyre: Fighting for Your Veterans’ Benefits

By U.S. Representative Mike McIntyre (D-NC)

Recently, Congressman Mike McIntyre, along with one of his staffers, joined the TSCL Board of Trustees and staff at TSCL headquarters to discuss seniors’ and veterans’ issues. During that lunch, Vice Chair Dottie Holmes asked Congressman McIntyre to write a column for the TSCL newsletter. We are grateful for the Congressman’s time and tireless efforts.

Throughout my time in Washington, I have sought to work to improve veterans’ health care, provide full retirement and disability benefits, and increase benefits for the families of those who died in the line of duty. These brave servicemen and women answered the call to defend freedom and serve our country during its time of greatest need, and we should honor them for their dedicated service.

It is unfortunate that thousands of young men and women in uniform fighting overseas for our country will return home only to be turned away from VA medical facilities. Over the past several years, these hospitals have seen budgets squeezed and costs skyrocket, forcing over 100,000 veterans to wait six months or more for an appointment. These problems continue to grow as more veterans enter the system each year, including newly-discharged service personnel, military retirees, and veterans who have lost health insurance because of layoffs or plant closings.

We must make veterans health care a priority by fighting for mandatory funding and increased access. As a Member of the Armed Services Committee, I am working to enact the Assured Funding for Veterans Health Care Act, which would create a guaranteed funding stream for veterans' health care, improve access to health care, and improve funding for special VA programs.

We must also put an end to the disabled veterans tax which forces disabled military retirees to give up one dollar of their retirement pensions for every dollar of disability payment they receive. This tax, which is also known as “concurrent receipt”, is penalizing 25,900 of North Carolina's disabled veterans and costing them an estimated $155 million in benefits annually. That translates into hundreds of thousands of disabled veterans nationally. If we are to fulfill our commitment to those who helped build America's strength and security, we must enact legislation to provide all veterans with the full benefits they deserve.

Recently, the President signed into law a bill which allows veterans with a combat-related disability and military retirees with a disability rating of at least 50% to receive both their retirement and disability benefits at the same time. While this measure is helpful for some individuals, it is simply not enough. Congress must also enact the Concurrent Receipt bill to provide full retirement and disability pay to all disabled military retirees.

In addition to protecting our veterans, we must also provide sufficient benefits for the spouses and family members of those who have died serving our country. As a co-sponsor of the Military Survivor Benefits Improvement Act, I am working to increase the Survivor Benefit Plan's (SBP) minimum pension for surviving spouses age 62 and older. Although under the SBP, beneficiaries receive 55% of their deceased spouse's military pay, that figure is reduced to 35% once they turn 62. The Survivor Benefits Improvement Act would increase the 35% allotment over a period of time so that the full 55% is restored by October 2008.

It is time that we stand together to honor our nation's true patriots for their courage, character, and commitment to this country. These men and women have protected our families over the years, and now we must take care of them.

February 2004