[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 32 (Wednesday, March 16, 2005)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2851-S2852]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. CORZINE (for himself, Mr. Lautenberg, Mrs. Lincoln,

[[Page S2852]]

        Mr. Leahy, Mr. Reid, Mr. Kerry, Mr. Johnson, Mr. Cochran, Mr. 
        Nelson of Nebraska, and Mr. Dayton):
  S. 639. A bill to amend title 10, United States Code, to reduce the 
age for receipt of military retired pay for nonregular service from 60 
years of age to 55 years of age; to the Committee on Armed Services.
  Mr. CORZINE. Mr. President, I rise today to introduce legislation 
lowering the retirement age for National Guard and Reserves from 60 to 
55. This legislation, which I introduced last year, is an extremely 
modest step toward treating our reservists fairly and in accordance 
with the enormous sacrifices they are making. This bipartisan 
legislation is co-sponsored by Senators Cochran, Lautenberg, Lincoln, 
Leahy, Reid, Kerry, Johnson, Ben Nelson and Dayton.
  This bill merely brings the retirement age for reservists down to the 
Federal civil servant retirement age, as was intended when the 
reservist retirement age was set fifty years ago. Our reservists are 
making enormous sacrifices, risking their lives in combat zones, and, 
in far too many instances, dying for their country. At the very least, 
they should have the same benefits as Federal civil servants.
  But, there are other, bigger reasons for giving our reservists more 
equitable benefits. America has never placed greater demands on its 
reservists than it does now. Since September 11, 2001, more than 
412,000 Guard and Reserve members have been called up, including 6,800 
New Jersey National Guard members and 2,240 New Jersey Reservists. Many 
of them have been sent for yearlong combat tours in Iraq or 
Afghanistan.
  We have entered a new era in which our reservists are no longer 
``weekend warriors.'' They are accepting the lengthy deployments and 
combat roles previously reserved to regular active duty forces. Well 
over forty percent of the troops currently serving in Iraq are members 
of the National Guard and Reserves. It is time that their benefits more 
closely reflect those granted to active duty servicemembers. Lowering 
the retirement age for reservists to 55, when active duty 
servicemembers receive retirement benefits after 20 years, regardless 
of age, is a modest step toward fairness and equity.
  At a time when reservist recruitment is falling short, an improvement 
in benefits will help fill critical gaps. According to recent reports, 
the Army Guard missed its recruiting goal by 12 percent in the last 
fiscal year. For the first four months of fiscal 2005, recruitment is 
24 percent behind. Just a few weeks ago, on February 24, Lt. Gen. Roger 
Schultz, director of the Army Guard, was quoted in the Dallas Morning 
News saying ``No doubt, if we kept up this pace for extended periods, 
our force would come apart.'' And, as the Baltimore Sun reported, the 
head of the Army Reserve, Lt. Gen. James Helmly, told the Army Chief of 
Staff that his arm of the service was in danger of becoming a ``broken 
force'' under the current operations tempo.
  By providing our reservists with the benefits they deserve, we can 
help reverse this course. We will also be sending a powerful message: 
that we value your service and recognize the incredible sacrifices you 
are making. And we will truly be honoring our heroes.
  This bill has broad support and has been endorsed by key members of 
the Military Coalition, including the Reserve Officers Association, 
Veterans of Foreign Wars, the Military Officers Association of America, 
the Air Force Sergeants Association, the Air Force Association, the 
Retired Enlisted Association, the Fleet Reserve Association, the Naval 
Reserve Association, and the National Guard Association.
  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. 639

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

     SECTION 1. REDUCTION IN AGE FOR RECEIPT OF MILITARY RETIRED 
                   PAY FOR NONREGULAR SERVICE.

       (a) Reduction in Age.--Section 12731(a)(1) of title 10, 
     United States Code, is amended by striking ``at least 60 
     years of age'' and inserting ``at least 55 years of age''.
       (b) Application to Existing Provisions of Law or Policy.--
     With respect to any provision of law, or of any policy, 
     regulation, or directive of the executive branch, that refers 
     to a member or former member of the uniformed services as 
     being eligible for, or entitled to, retired pay under chapter 
     1223 of title 10, United States Code, but for the fact that 
     the member or former member is under 60 years of age, such 
     provision shall be carried out with respect to that member or 
     former member by substituting for the reference to being 60 
     years of age a reference to the age in effect for 
     qualification for such retired pay under section 12731(a) of 
     title 10, United States Code, as amended by subsection (a).
       (c) Effective Date.--The amendment made by subsection (a) 
     shall take effect on the first day of the first month 
     beginning on or after the date of the enactment of this Act 
     and shall apply to retired pay payable for that month and 
     subsequent months.
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