[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 19 (Friday, February 18, 2005)]
[Senate]
[Page S1722]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. ROCKEFELLER (for himself and Mr. Kennedy):
  S. 461. A bill to amend title 37, United States Code, to require that 
a member of the uniformed services who is wounded or otherwise injured 
while serving in a combat zone continue to be paid monthly military pay 
and allowances, while the member recovers from the wound or injury, at 
least equal to the monthly military pay and allowances the member 
received immediately before receiving the wound or injury, to continue 
the combat zone tax exclusion for the member during the recovery 
period, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Finance.
  Mr. ROCKEFELLER. Mr. President, I rise today with my colleague, 
Senator Kennedy, to introduce the Senate companion to the Crosby-Puller 
Combat Wounds Compensation Act.
  This legislation is designed to help our soldiers who are returning 
from combat with serious wounds to maintain their pay during their 
recovery. Too often, young wounded soldiers are struggling to recover 
from wounds of combat and, simultaneously struggling financially as 
well.
  A soldier's pay may be cut in half just as they are sent to the 
hospital. This adds to their stress and worries. It also can mean that 
family, including wives and children, cannot afford travel to the 
hospital to be nearby and support in the recovery.
  Congressman Markey introduced this bill during the last Congress, and 
he has introduced it this year. This legislation will maintain the full 
pay that the soldier received immediately prior to their injury, until 
they are discharged or regain active duty status.
  Over 5,700 soldiers have been seriously wounded in Iraq, and there 
have been others in combat areas around the globe, and sadly we must 
acknowledge that there will be more. Recovering soldiers and their 
families deserve our admiration and respect, and our full support. As 
they cope with the loss of a limb, or vision or mobility, they should 
not have to cope with bill collector or financial hardship. In my view, 
caring for our wounded soldiers and their families is a moral 
obligation and part of the cost of combat.
  I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the 
Record.
  There being no objection, the bill was ordered to be printed in the 
Record, as follows:

                                 S. 461

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Crosby-Puller Combat Wounds 
     Compensation Act''.

     SEC. 2. NO REDUCTION IN MONTHLY MILITARY PAY AND ALLOWANCES 
                   FOR MEMBERS OF THE UNIFORMED SERVICES WOUNDED 
                   OR INJURED IN COMBAT ZONES.

       (a) In General.--Subsection (b) of section 310 of title 37, 
     United States Code, is amended to read as follows:
       ``(b) No Reduction in Monthly Military Pay for Wounded or 
     Injured Members.--
       ``(1) Effect of wound or injury in combat zone.--For each 
     month during the period specified in paragraph (2), the total 
     amount of monthly military pay paid to a member who was 
     wounded or otherwise injured while assigned to duty in an 
     area for which special pay was available under this section 
     at the time the member was wounded or otherwise injured shall 
     not be less than the total amount of military pay paid to the 
     member for the month during which the member was wounded or 
     otherwise injured.
       ``(2) Duration.--Paragraph (1) shall apply with respect to 
     a wounded or injured member until the end of the first month 
     during which any of the following occurs:
       ``(A) The member is found to be physically able to perform 
     the duties of the member's office, grade, rank, or rating.
       ``(B) The member is discharged or separated from the 
     uniformed services.
       ``(C) The member dies.
       ``(3) Military pay defined.--In this subsection, the term 
     `military pay' has the meaning given the term `pay' in 
     section 101(21) of this title, except that the term includes 
     allowances under chapter 7 of this title.''.
       (b) Retroactive Effective Date.--Subsection (b) of section 
     310 of title 37, United States Code, as amended by this 
     section, shall apply with respect to any pay period ending on 
     or after September 11, 2001, for members of the uniformed 
     services described in paragraph (1) of such subsection who 
     were wounded or otherwise injured on or after that date.

     SEC. 3. REPEAL OF TIME LIMITATION ON EXCLUSION OF COMBAT ZONE 
                   COMPENSATION BY REASON OF HOSPITALIZATION.

       (a) In General.--Subsections (a)(2) and (b)(2) of section 
     112 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 are each amended by 
     striking ``; but this paragraph shall not apply for any month 
     beginning more than 2 years after the date of the termination 
     of combatant activities in such zone''.
       (b) Effective Date.--Subsections (a)(2) and (b)(2) of 
     section 112 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended 
     by this section, shall apply to compensation received for 
     months ending after September 11, 2001, for members of the 
     uniformed services described in such subsections who were 
     wounded or otherwise injured on or after that date.
                                 ______