[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 147 (Thursday, November 14, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2021]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                           CONCURRENT RECEIPT

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. ADAM H. PUTNAM

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, November 13, 2002

  Mr. PUTNAM. Mr. Speaker, as we enter the waning days of the 107 
Congress, action has finally been taken on the issue of concurrent 
receipt for America's military retirees. The National Defense 
Authorization Act for FY 2003 Conference Report that has come before 
this body does include language to provide concurrent receipt for some 
of our military retirees. Unfortunately, it falls far short of the 
proposal I supported in the House Budget Committee, and which passed 
this body by a vote of 221 to 209.
  On March 20 of this year the House Budget Committee, of which I am a 
Member, took the initiative to include funding for concurrent receipt 
in its budget for FY 2003. This budget, H. Con. Res. 353, A Wartime 
Budget to Secure America's Future, was endorsed by the Administration, 
and included over a half a billion dollars for partial repeal of the 
dollar-for-dollar offset of military retired pay and VA disability 
compensation. Specifically, H. Con. Res. 353 earmarked over $500 
million as a first step in FY 2003, with increasing amounts over the 
next five years, providing a cumulative total of $5.8 billion to fund 
concurrent receipt for America's most severely disabled military 
retirees.
  Just over one month ago, on October 10, 2002, the House reiterated 
its dedication to righting this long-standing injustice. We passed, by 
a vote of 391-0, instructions to the conferees to retain the concurrent 
receipt language during their negotiations with the Senate. 
Unfortunately, that was not enough to bring the conference to closure 
and give our military retirees what they deserve.
  I would like to thank Rep. Mike Bilirakis for his vigorous work on 
this issue. And I would like to thank the 402 members of this House, 
who in addition to myself, cosponsored his bill, H.R. 303 to provide 
full concurrent receipt for our veterans. Over 400 Members were 
committed to ending this unfair penalization of our military retirees 
who were disabled during their military service.
  I am disappointed that despite strong support for this initiative, 
and budget neutral funding for the program, the conferees were unable 
to keep the promise made to our military retirees. I will continue to 
work for just treatment for all disabled military retirees and I will 
continue to support legislation that will provide full funding of 
concurrent receipt for disabled military retirees.
  I have the highest respect for our departing friend Chairman Bob 
Stump, and it is because of my great admiration for him, that I will 
vote to send this legislation to the President.

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