[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 87 (Friday, June 13, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1244]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         SURVIVOR BENEFIT PLAN

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. KEN CALVERT

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, June 12, 2003

  Mr. CALVERT. Mr. Speaker, the Survivor Benefit Plan was, at one time, 
a good plan intended to provide for surviving spouses of veterans. 
Unfortunately, that intention has been lost.
  Now surviving spouses are experiencing the reality of a one-third 
drop in benefits when they turn 62 and Congress has yet to take any 
action on rectifying this wrong.
  Well, the time has come for Congress to step up to the plate and 
provide for our veterans what we already provide to our federal 
civilian retirees.
  I believe the message of this tragic inequality is best conveyed by 
those who must live with it. I would like to read a statement from a 
constituent of mine from Riverside, California, Mrs. Marilyn T. Owsley 
about her experience with the Survivor Benefit Plan:

       My husband would turn over in his grave had he known what 
     was happening to me with his annuity. He chose SBP for me to 
     have a decent income along with his Social Security. Also, he 
     liked the idea of this annuity because you get a cost of 
     living increase each year where other types of annuities did 
     not. Together with his Social Security and the SBP annuity, I 
     manage. I rent my apartment and pray they don't increase the 
     rent too much each year. I gave up driving my 1983 Chevy as 
     it was too costly to keep up with repairs and insurance. I 
     have to depend on someone else to go to the store or the 
     doctor. If not for my children, I don't know what I would do. 
     I will be 78 years old on October 9, 2003. They say the 
     Golden Years are good. I say my gold turned to rust. I pray 
     every night the government will do something about this 
     problem of the annuity reduction.

  Let's return the benefits to the Survivor Benefit Plan and keep our 
word to the millions of veterans who, in good faith, signed up for this 
plan with the expectation of taking care of their loved ones after they 
passed.

                          ____________________