[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 26]
[House]
[Pages 35562-35567]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                 VETERANS GUARANTEED BONUS ACT OF 2007

  Ms. SHEA-PORTER. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass 
the bill (H.R. 3793) to amend title 37, United States Code, to require 
the Secretary of Defense to continue to pay to a member of the Armed 
Forces who is retired or separated from the Armed Forces due to a 
combat-related injury certain bonuses that the member was entitled to 
before the retirement or separation and would continue to be entitled 
to if the member was not retired or separated, as amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

[[Page 35563]]



                               H.R. 3793

       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 ``Veterans Guaranteed Bonus 
     Act of 2007''.

     SEC. 2. CONTINUATION OF ENTITLEMENT TO BONUSES AND SIMILAR 
                   BENEFITS FOR MEMBERS OF THE UNIFORMED SERVICES 
                   WHO DIE, ARE SEPARATED OR RETIRED FOR 
                   DISABILITY, OR MEET OTHER CRITERIA.

       (a) Discretion to Provide Exception to Termination and 
     Repayment Requirements Under Certain Circumstances.--Section 
     303a(e) of title 37, United States Code, is amended--
       (1) in the subsection heading, by inserting ``; Termination 
     of Entitlement to Unpaid Amounts'' after ``Met'';
       (2) in paragraph (1)--
       (A) by striking ``A member'' and inserting ``(A) Except as 
     provided in paragraph (2), a member''; and
       (B) by striking ``the requirements, except in certain 
     circumstances authorized by the Secretary concerned.'' and 
     inserting ``the eligibility requirements and may not receive 
     any unpaid amounts of the bonus or similar benefit after the 
     member fails to satisfy the requirements, unless the 
     Secretary concerned determines that the imposition of the 
     repayment requirement and termination of the payment of 
     unpaid amounts of the bonus or similar benefit with regard to 
     the member would be contrary to a personnel policy or 
     management objective, would be against equity and good 
     conscience, or would be contrary to the best interests of the 
     United States.''; and
       (3) by redesignating paragraph (2) as subparagraph (B) of 
     paragraph (1).
       (b) Mandatory Payment of Unpaid Amounts Under Certain 
     Circumstances; No Repayment of Unearned Amounts.--Section 
     303a(e) of title 37, United States Code, is amended by 
     inserting after paragraph (1), as amended by subsection (a), 
     the following new paragraph (2):
       ``(2)(A) If a member of the uniformed services dies (other 
     than as a result the member's misconduct) or is retired or 
     separated for disability under chapter 61 of title 10, the 
     Secretary concerned--
       ``(i) shall not require repayment by the member or the 
     member's estate of the unearned portion of any bonus or 
     similar benefit previously paid to the member; and
       ``(ii) shall require the payment to the member or the 
     member's estate of the remainder of any bonus or similar 
     benefit that was not yet paid to the member, but to which the 
     member was entitled immediately before the death, retirement, 
     or separation of the member, and would be paid if not for the 
     death, retirement, or separation of the member.
       ``(B) The amount to be paid under subparagraph (A)(ii) 
     shall be equal to the full amount specified by the agreement 
     or contract applicable to the bonus or similar benefit as if 
     the member continued to be entitled to the bonus or similar 
     benefit following the death, retirement, or separation.
       ``(C) Amounts to be paid to a member or the member's estate 
     under subparagraph (A)(ii) shall be paid in a lump sum not 
     later than 90 days after the date of the death, retirement, 
     or separation of the member, whichever applies.''.
       (c) Conforming Amendments Reflecting Consolidated Special 
     Pay and Bonus Authorities.--
       (1) Conforming amendments.--Section 373 of title 37, United 
     States Code, as added by section 661 of the National Defense 
     Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008, is amended--
       (A) in subsection (a)--
       (i) in the subsection heading, by inserting ``and 
     Termination'' after ``Repayment''; and
       (ii) by inserting before the period at the end the 
     following: ``, and the member may not receive any unpaid 
     amounts of the bonus, incentive pay, or similar benefit after 
     the member fails to satisfy such service or eligibility 
     requirement''; and
       (B) by striking subsection (b) and inserting the following 
     new subsection:
       ``(b) Exceptions.--
       ``(1) Discretion to provide exception to termination and 
     repayment requirements.--Pursuant to the regulations 
     prescribed to administer this section, the Secretary 
     concerned may grant an exception to the repayment requirement 
     and requirement to terminate the payment of unpaid amounts of 
     a bonus, incentive pay, or similar benefit if the Secretary 
     concerned determines that the imposition of the repayment and 
     termination requirements with regard to a member of the 
     uniformed services would be contrary to a personnel policy or 
     management objective, would be against equity and good 
     conscience, or would be contrary to the best interests of the 
     United States.
       ``(2) Mandatory payment of unpaid amounts under certain 
     circumstances; no repayment of unearned amounts.--(A) If a 
     member of the uniformed services dies (other than as a result 
     the member's misconduct) or is retired or separated for 
     disability under chapter 61 of title 10, the Secretary 
     concerned--
       ``(i) shall not require repayment by the member or the 
     member's estate of the unearned portion of any bonus, 
     incentive pay, or similar benefit previously paid to the 
     member; and
       ``(ii) shall require the payment to the member or the 
     member's estate of the remainder of any bonus, incentive pay, 
     or similar benefit that was not yet paid to the member, but 
     to which the member was entitled immediately before the 
     death, retirement, or separation of the member, and would be 
     paid if not for the death, retirement, or separation of the 
     member.
       ``(B) The amount to be paid under subparagraph (A)(ii) 
     shall be equal to the full amount specified by the agreement 
     or contract applicable to the bonus, incentive pay, or 
     similar benefit as if the member continued to be entitled to 
     the bonus, incentive pay, or similar benefit following the 
     death, retirement, or separation.
       ``(C) Amounts to be paid to a member or the member's estate 
     under subparagraph (A)(ii) shall be paid in a lump sum not 
     later than 90 days after the date of the death, retirement, 
     or separation of the member, whichever applies.''.
       (2) Clerical amendments.--
       (A) Section heading.--The heading of such section is 
     amended to read as follows:

     ``Sec. 373. Repayment of unearned portion of bonus, incentive 
       pay, or similar benefit, and termination of remaining 
       payments, when conditions of payment not met''.

       (B) Table of contents.--The table of sections at the 
     beginning of chapter 5 of title 37, United States Code, is 
     amended by striking the item relating to section 373 and 
     inserting the following new item:

``373. Repayment of unearned portion of bonus, incentive pay, or 
              similar benefit, and termination of remaining payments, 
              when conditions of payment not met.''.

       (d) Condition on Implementation.--The implementation by the 
     Secretary of Defense and the Secretary concerned (as defined 
     in section 101 of title 37, United States Code) of sections 
     303a(e) and 373 of such title, as amended by this section, 
     during fiscal year 2008 shall be subject to the availability 
     of funds for this purpose included in an appropriations Act 
     enacted on or after the date of the enactment of this Act.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from 
New Hampshire (Ms. Shea-Porter) and the gentleman from South Carolina 
(Mr. Wilson) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from New Hampshire.


                             General Leave

  Ms. SHEA-PORTER. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all 
Members have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their 
remarks on the resolution under consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentlewoman from New Hampshire?
  There was no objection.
  Ms. SHEA-PORTER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I might 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, today the House has a unique opportunity to clarify the 
law to protect the financial security of wounded veterans, their 
families and the families of soldiers who have been killed in the line 
of duty. As recently as last month, we have heard a number of cases in 
the media suggesting that the Department of Defense has been requiring 
soldiers wounded in combat to pay back part of their enlistment bonuses 
if they hadn't yet served their full term, or even worse, that it would 
require these benefits to be paid back by the grieving families of 
soldiers who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country.
  Quite simply, this is wrong. If a soldier signed up to serve our 
country and is unable to serve out the full team of his or her 
enlistment due to wounds received in the line of duty, this soldier 
should not then be asked to return any part of their signing bonus. For 
a soldier who has faced the hardships and battle and is now facing the 
challenges of recovery, we should not add the additional burden of 
paying back money that is rightfully theirs.
  Mr. Speaker, H.R. 3793, the Veterans Guaranteed Bonus Act of 2007, 
ends the uncertainty about the policy and makes clear that this Nation 
will never attempt to recoup bonuses and benefits from wounded veterans 
or grieving families. It mandates that unpaid bonuses or similar 
benefits are paid in full, and it requires that this financial 
protection be provided not later than

[[Page 35564]]

90 days after the death of a soldier or the departure from the military 
due to disability from all active duty and Reserve component members.
  Finally, the act establishes firm guidelines to ensure that the 
military will act with fairness and equity when handling the question 
of such bonuses for all servicemembers.
  Mr. Speaker, I commend the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Altmire) 
for his diligence and timely work on this sensitive issue and for his 
commitment to bring this important legislation to the floor of the 
House. I strongly support H.R. 3793, the Veterans Guaranteed Bonus Act 
of 2007, and urge its immediate adoption.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I yield so much time as he 
may consume to the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Jones).
  Mr. JONES of North Carolina. I thank the gentleman from South 
Carolina.
  Mr. Speaker, in July, the President's Commission on Care for 
America's Returning Wounded Warriors reported that the Department of 
Defense was applying a rule that enlistees who leave the service early 
cannot receive their full enlistment bonus. The Commission was 
confident that this rule was not intended to apply to servicemen and 
women whose combat-related injuries forced them to leave the military. 
At that point, the Commission received assurances from the Department 
of Defense that this problem would be addressed. Today, the Congress 
will ensure that the problem is addressed by passing H.R. 3793, the 
Veterans Guaranteed Bonus Act of 2007.
  As Americans, we should never break our promises to our veterans, 
especially in time of war. To promise a significant amount of money to 
a young American and then demand its return or refuse to continue 
distribution when the man or woman is injured in combat and 
subsequently discharged is unacceptable. In early October, I joined 
Congressmen Altmire, Stearns and Murphy to remedy this problem.
  Today, over 270 of our colleagues and 36 veterans organizations have 
joined us to advance H.R. 3793, the Veterans Guaranteed Bonus Act of 
2007. This legislation guarantees that no servicemember who dies or is 
retired or separated for disability will be required to repay or 
forfeit their bonus. We cannot thank our veterans enough for the 
sacrifices they have made for our country. When our men and women come 
home from war, the cost of an enlistment bonus is low compared to the 
sacrifice that is made by our soldiers and Marines.
  I am certain this House will pass H.R. 3793, the Veterans Guaranteed 
Bonus Act of 2007.
  Ms. SHEA-PORTER. I yield 5 minutes to my friend and colleague, the 
original sponsor of this important piece of legislation, the gentleman 
from Pennsylvania (Mr. Altmire).
  Mr. ALTMIRE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of the bill 
we are debating today, H.R. 3793, the Veterans Guaranteed Bonus Act, 
which I introduced.
  This legislation will ensure that from this point forward, every 
combat-wounded veteran injured in Afghanistan or Iraq receives their 
full enlistment or reenlistment bonus. No longer will American 
servicemen and women who have served our country so bravely and 
honorably and have been injured in service to our country, no longer 
will they be served with a bill to repay their enlistment bonus, and no 
longer will those heroic men and women suffer the indignity of having 
their prorated bonus payments cut off if those payments are to be made 
in installments.
  Instead, my bill, which we are debating today, says that the full 
amounts due under the agreements and contracts that apply to a service 
combat disability be paid within 90 days of the separation of the 
servicemember. This legislation also applies to the family members and 
estates of servicemen and women who are killed in combat.
  This issue first came to my attention over the summer while reviewing 
the Dole-Shalala Commission Report, an independent panel put into place 
in the spring to investigate the disgraceful situation at Walter Reed 
Army Medical Center. The Commission uncovered instances of our wounded 
warriors being denied their bonuses after being injured in combat. And 
after studying this issue in more detail and learning of other 
documented instances of this injustice, on October 10, I introduced a 
Veterans Guaranteed Bonus Act, which is now before us.
  In the weeks after I introduced the bill, we continued to hear 
multiple reports of cases around the country where servicemen and women 
had been denied bonuses, including the high-profile case involving 
Private Jordan Fox from my home area of western Pennsylvania. It has 
become clear that these were not just isolated examples, but instead, 
some of the hundreds and perhaps thousands of examples of veterans 
being asked to return their bonuses or be denied the remaining portion 
of their bonuses after being injured in service to our country.
  And while some have made an issue of the expense of paying back these 
bonuses, let me be clear: There is no group that should stand ahead of 
our Nation's veterans when it comes time to making Federal funding 
decisions. Some may argue that because these servicemen and women were 
injured that they were unable to fulfill their contractual obligations 
and therefore should be denied the remainder of their bonuses. I want 
to be equally clear on this point. Members of our Armed Forces have 
made every conceivable sacrifice for our country, and those who have 
been injured in service to our country have more than fulfilled the 
obligations of their service contract. Paying them the bonuses that 
they have fought for and that they have earned is the very least we can 
do to repay them for their bravery and their sacrifice.
  Finally, I want to make clear that this is a bipartisan bill with 
more than 270 cosponsors. I want to thank my colleagues on the other 
side of the aisle, dozens of which have cosponsored this bill and some 
of whom will speak in favor of it today. I especially want to thank my 
colleagues, Mr. Stearns from Florida and Mr. Jones from North Carolina, 
the lead Republican sponsors of this bill. They joined me in support of 
this bill before it became a high-profile issue, and I thank them for 
their leadership. I also want to single out two of my Democratic 
colleagues, my lead Democratic cosponsor, Congressman Patrick Murphy 
from my home State of Pennsylvania, an Iraq war veteran himself, and 
Congressman Bart Stupak of Michigan who has fought as hard as any 
Member of this House for the right of veterans to keep their enlistment 
bonus.
  Most importantly, I want to thank Chairman Ike Skelton for his 
willingness to help bring this bill to the floor. Chairman Skelton's 
amendment has made this a better bill, and I thank him for his support 
and his continued leadership as chairman of the Armed Services 
Committee.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in voting for the 
Veterans Guaranteed Bonus Act before us today. I am sure that all my 
colleagues in the House would agree that we in Congress must support 
our troops with our actions and not just with our words. This bill will 
ensure that every military veteran gets the bonuses they deserve. 
During this holiday season when our thoughts and prayers are with the 
brave servicemen and women serving overseas and their families here at 
home, I can think of no greater tribute we can provide.
  Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I yield so much time as he 
may consume to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Broun).
  Mr. BROUN of Georgia. I thank the gentleman for yielding. Mr. 
Speaker, I rise in strong support today of H.R. 3793, the Veterans 
Guaranteed Bonus Act of 2007.
  As a former military officer and an enlisted marine, I take this 
matter very seriously, and I am a very strong supporter of our troops 
and their families. As Members of Congress, we have an obligation both 
to stand up for our troops that have been disabled and have to leave 
the military, as well as surviving families of soldiers who have made 
the final sacrifice to protect our Nation and our freedom.

[[Page 35565]]

  There is no greater insult to our wounded warriors and their families 
who have sacrificed so much than to deny or revoke their bonus because 
of a combat-related injury or death. This bill, the Veterans Guaranteed 
Bonus Act of 2007, would guarantee that no servicemember who dies, 
other than as a result of a member's misconduct, or is retired or 
separated for disability will be required to repay any portion of a 
bonus or similar benefit that they have received.
  Mr. Speaker, the Federal Government has broken too many promises to 
our veterans, and I consider that verging on criminality. We have an 
opportunity today to support our veterans and to support our troops and 
to fulfill a promise that was made to these veterans.
  I urge all of my colleagues of the House to support this measure and 
pass H.R. 3793, the Veterans Guaranteed Bonus Act of 2007.

                              {time}  1430

  Ms. SHEA-PORTER. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to my friend and 
colleague, the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Stupak).
  Mr. STUPAK. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding.
  I rise in support of the Veterans Guaranteed Bonus Act of 2007. 
Currently, when a servicemember is wounded in combat and cannot return 
to duty, the Department of Defense allows each military branch to 
determine, in their discretion, whether to pay a servicemember any 
portion of a bonus still due to them. As a result, some members of the 
Armed Forces, who have served their Nation bravely, sustaining severe 
injuries, are not receiving their full bonus.
  In the last month, I have written to the President on three occasions 
urging him to immediately terminate this disgraceful policy. In 
response, I received conflicting information from the Department of 
Defense regarding this policy. Deputy Under Secretary William Carr 
wrote me on December 12, in a letter, and he stated: ``The Army pays 
all unpaid enlisted and re-enlistment bonus installments.'' Not true.
  In conversations with the Department of the Army National Guard 
Bureau, my staff has been told that instead of paying the full bonus 
due, the Army prorates a soldier's bonus based on the number of months 
the soldier served before their medical discharge. It's still unclear 
as to what the policy is with the Army. This is why we need to enact a 
Veterans Guaranteed Bonus Act. We need to establish a uniform 
Department of Defense policy to ensure all outstanding bonuses are 
promptly paid to our deserving heroes. Bonuses should be paid in full, 
without question.
  I was first alerted to this program by an Iraqi war veteran in my 
district, Derek Gagne, from Wilson, Michigan. Derek, an Army National 
Guardsman, had been denied the remainder of his bonus after suffering a 
severe eye injury, losing part of his foot and his leg when his Humvee 
struck an IED in Iraq. Only after numerous calls and questions from my 
office is Derek now receiving his bonus. Our veterans should not need 
to fight so hard for something they are entitled to.
  I am pleased to join my colleague from Pennsylvania (Mr. Altmire) in 
cosponsoring the Veterans Guaranteed Bonus Act. This bipartisan bill, 
supported by over 200 Members of Congress, would require the Department 
of Defense to establish a uniform policy which provides veterans who 
are discharged from the military due to combat-related injuries or 
service-connected injuries their full payment of any bonuses within 90 
days of discharge.
  This legislation should not be necessary. As Commander in Chief, the 
President has the ability to correct this policy by requiring all 
military branches to provide severely wounded members with their full 
bonuses. This administration is quick to go to war, but slow to respond 
to the needs of our veterans.
  Our Nation must be committed to caring for and honoring our veterans 
not just with words, but with deeds. Ensuring that our soldiers receive 
the bonuses they were promised is the least we can do for those who put 
their lives on the line to protect our freedoms.
  Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time 
as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 3793, as amended, a bill 
to ensure that military personnel who die or who are retired or 
separated for medical reasons are paid their full enlistment or re-
enlistment bonuses and are not subject to repayment of any portion of 
those bonuses.
  Last month, media stories sparked outrage among Members of Congress 
and citizens alike when they highlighted what appeared to be a 
potentially widespread practice by the Army and Department of Defense. 
Media reports stated that wounded servicemembers who could no longer 
continue on active duty because of those wounds were being required to 
repay portions of their enlistment or re-enlistment bonuses because 
they had not fulfilled the terms of their contracts. In some cases, the 
Army was cited as demanding repayment of thousands of dollars from 
soldiers who, but for their wound or injuries in combat, continued to 
serve the Army in this Nation honorably.
  What the media failed to report completely was that the Department of 
Defense and the military services had an active policy in place that 
addressed this problem. The policy did the following: first, in cases 
where a servicemember died, not at the result of his or her own 
misconduct, the unpaid portions of an enlistment or re-enlistment bonus 
would be paid to the servicemember's survivors, and there would be no 
requirement to repay already paid bonuses.
  Second, when the servicemember was unable to complete an enlistment 
or re-enlistment due to circumstances reasonably beyond the service-
member's control, no already paid bonus would be recouped. Finally, the 
Secretaries of the military services had broad discretion, on a case-
by-case basis, to forego recoupment and pay out unpaid portions of 
bonuses.
  H.R. 3793, as amended, captures and codifies the most effective parts 
of the existing DOD policy, and goes beyond that policy. When enacted, 
H.R. 3793 will guarantee that a servicemember who dies or is retired or 
separated for medical disability will not be required to pay any 
portion of a bonus or similar benefit that they had received. It 
mandates that the full contracted amount of any unpaid bonus or similar 
benefit be paid, as appropriate, to the estates of servicemembers who 
die or to servicemembers who are retired or separated due to a 
disability. And it mandates that payments are to be made not later than 
90 days after the death, retirement, or separation of the 
servicemember.
  Additionally, if a service Secretary determines that requiring 
repayment or withholding payment of the unpaid bonus would be contrary 
to a personnel policy or management objective, against equity and good 
conscience, or be contrary to the best interests of the United States, 
then they would be allowed to waive repayment or to continue payment of 
unpaid bonuses. Discretion should be allowed for the most beneficial 
interpretation in favor of our courageous servicemembers.
  H.R. 3793 is a good bill, and I urge all my colleagues to join me in 
supporting it. Our servicemen and -women deserve our most humble 
thanks, and this bill would ensure that we are honoring their 
sacrifices by not denying them or their families their due pay.
  In conclusion, God bless our troops, and we will never forget 
September 11th.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. SHEA-PORTER. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to my friend and 
colleague, the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. McGovern).
  Mr. McGOVERN. I want to thank the gentlelady from New Hampshire for 
yielding me the time, and I appreciate her work on behalf of veterans 
and their families. I would also like to recognize my colleague from 
Pennsylvania, Representative Altmire, for championing this important 
legislation.

[[Page 35566]]

  Mr. Speaker, a little over a month ago we celebrated Veterans Day and 
were reminded of the men and women who have served our Nation and 
continue to wear our country's uniform. These brave men and women have 
volunteered for service with the assurances of health care and benefits 
for them and their families. But despite entering into this solemn 
pledge, far too often our government has unfairly shortchanged our 
veterans.
  With our readiness levels considered to be reaching all-time lows, 
our military has been attracting recruits via monetary incentives. The 
Department of Defense has been offering signing bonuses to soldiers in 
order to entice candidates for longer enlistment periods. But in too 
many cases, our wounded warriors are having their payments cut short 
or, in some instances, entirely taken away. Soldiers who sustain a 
combat-related injury and cannot serve out the entirety of their 
enlistment period are being forced to return part of or all of their 
bonuses. That is flat wrong. This is a shameful practice that is unjust 
and in no way reflects how our Nation's heroes ought to be treated.
  H.R. 3793, the Veterans Guaranteed Bonus Act, remedies this unfair 
practice by requiring the DOD to uphold their part of the deal and 
fully pay all bonuses to veterans medically discharged due to combat-
related wounds. Injuries sustained on the battlefield which prevent a 
soldier from completing their enlistment period should not be treated 
like some type of breach of contract. It is reprehensible to ask our 
wounded warriors to pay back any bonuses afforded them, as they have 
already sacrificed an amount for which no price can be named.
  Mr. Speaker, I stand in strong support of H.R. 3793 and encourage my 
colleagues to support its passage.
  Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of 
my time.
  Ms. SHEA-PORTER. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to my friend and 
colleague, the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Carney).
  Mr. CARNEY. Mr. Speaker, I, too, rise today in strong support of H.R. 
3793, the Veterans Guaranteed Bonus Act. As a lieutenant commander 
still serving in the U.S. Navy Reserve, I know full well the hardships 
and dangers our troops face.
  Our country has made a promise to these brave men and women; and this 
promise simply states that if you protect us and defend our freedom, we 
will provide you with the benefits you have earned. Unfortunately, that 
is not happening right now. These brave men and women and their 
families deserve their bonuses, especially if they were killed or 
wounded in action.
  The Veterans Guarantee Bonus Act ensures our soldiers will get the 
money they deserve and earned, and it does so in a timely manner. I 
applaud Congressman Altmire's leadership on this issue, and I urge all 
Members of Congress who care about our troops and the sacrifices they 
make to vote in favor of this legislation.
  Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of 
my time.
  Ms. SHEA-PORTER. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to my friend and 
colleague, the gentleman from Kentucky (Mr. Yarmuth).
  Mr. YARMUTH. Mr. Speaker, we have spent much of this year uncovering 
and correcting shortfalls in this country's treatment of our uniformed 
heroes. Reversing negligence is one thing, but today we address the 
reprehensible and willful act of docking a soldier's pay for being 
injured while answering the call of duty. This literally is our 
government adding insult to injury.
  These men and women left their homes and families, they paid with 
their time, bodies, and health for the security of our fellow citizens. 
Without them, we are defenseless. Thanks to them, we are the most 
powerful Nation in the world.
  To save the injured, that is not enough, and to ask them to pay once 
more is shameful at best. They volunteered to become part-time and 
full-time professional soldiers out of love of this country, and it is 
high time our leaders started to show some gratitude. We owe them the 
best medical care, respect, honor, forthrightness, and, at the very 
least, we owe them the payment they were promised.
  I urge my colleagues to restore honor to our injured heroes and, in 
so doing, restore honor to the Nation they fight for by supporting the 
Veterans Guaranteed Bonus Act.
  Mrs. TAUSCHER. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 3792, 
introduced by my good friend, Representative Altmire. This bill ensures 
that we keep our promises to our wounded soldiers who are injured in 
the line of duty by guaranteeing they receive full payment of their 
bonuses. Department of Defense rules deny enlistees their full 
enlistment bonus if they don't fulfill their entire military 
obligation. Members who were injured in combat and forced to retire or 
separate from the Armed Services before the end of their service 
commitment are forced to pay back the Department of Defense or do not 
receive the remaining portion of the bonus owed to them. This important 
legislation corrects this injustice and ensures that service members 
are not being financially penalized for their injuries after their 
patriotic duty to and sacrifice for their country. It comforts me 
knowing that Democrats are being elected to Congress who know and 
understand the problems that their constituents face and that they 
aren't wasting any time introducing bills that correct them. For that I 
commend Representative Altmire and his leadership in Congress on 
veterans' health care.
  Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 3793, the 
Veterans Guaranteed Bonus Act. I am proud to cosponsor this important, 
bipartisan legislation which will ensure that members of the Armed 
Services who are discharged as a result of combat-related wounds 
receive the full compensation to which they are entitled.
  H.R. 3793 was prompted by the recommendations of the Commission on 
Care for America's Returning Wounded Warriors, co-chaired by former 
Senator Bob Dole and former Secretary of Health and Human Services 
Donna Shalala. It will reverse a Department of Defense rule that 
unfairly penalizes wounded soldiers and prohibits them from receiving 
their full enlistment bonuses.
  While facing the threat of a hostile enemy, our veterans have too 
often returned home to find more trouble: gaps in health care services, 
limited educational assistance, problems finding employment and a lack 
of support for their families. Too often, our brave military men and 
women find that while they have been willing to serve their country, 
their country is not ready to serve them. We can take an important step 
in reversing that trend by ensuring that veterans receive all the pay 
for which they are entitled.
  According to Department of Defense rules, enlistees cannot receive 
their full enlistment bonus unless they fulfill their entire military 
obligation. Unfortunately, members of the Armed Services who are 
wounded while on active duty are not receiving their full bonuses 
because their service was prematurely cut short. The Veterans 
Guaranteed Bonus Act will correct this problem by requiring the 
Department of Defense to provide veterans who have been discharged due 
to combat-related wounds with full payment of remaining bonuses within 
30 days of discharge. This will ensure that America's wounded warriors 
receive the full compensation promised to them.
  These wounded veterans have earned their bonuses by answering the 
call to service. Now is the time to heed the recommendation of the 
Dole-Shalala Commission and fix this problem.
  I would like to thank Congressman Jason Altmire for introducing this 
legislation and Chairman Bob Filner for prioritizing the health and 
well-being of the Nation's veterans.
  Mr. STEARNS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of this bill that 
corrects a desperately ill-advised regulation hurting our Nation's 
heroic men and women in uniform. This Defense Department policy has 
resulted in several veterans being denied their full bonuses or being 
asked to repay funds they are entitled to, simply because their 
injuries prevented them from serving out their full term of service.
  Unfortunately, this is not a new problem. Back in October of 2004, 
Brian Ross of ABC News reported that Army Specialist Tyson Johnson, who 
was injured by an exploding mortar round in Iraq, later received a 
letter demanding repayment of his enlistment bonus while he was still 
recuperating in the hospital.
  Two months ago, National Public Radio highlighted the story of Army 
Specialist Ronald Hinkle, who suffered a traumatic brain injury after 
an IED explosion cut short his military career. Not only was Specialist 
Hinkle owed $2,500 in back salary, but two months after NPR's story 
aired, he was notified that a

[[Page 35567]]

$3,000 enlistment bonus would not be paid because he ``failed to 
fulfill his contract.''
  In yet another case, Tommy Guinn, who is a respected 14-year Army 
veteran, ended his term of service early when a helicopter accident in 
Pakistan left him paralyzed. Thank God he made it home safely to his 
family, but the military kept $1,000 out of his re-enlistment bonus.
  This is not the treatment our returning warriors deserve. I am proud 
to support this bill that finally changes this flawed policy. The 
Veterans Guaranteed Bonus Act makes the bonus payments automatic and 
requires the Secretary to pay any remaining portion of bonus payments 
within 90 days of medical discharge. During this season of Peace on 
Earth and goodwill towards men, let us show goodwill to those on the 
frontlines protecting our peace. I urge my colleagues to support this 
bill.
  Mr. DINGELL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 3793, the 
Veterans Guaranteed Bonus Act of 2007. I am proud to be a cosponsor of 
this legislation because I believe the men and women who bravely serve 
our country deserve everything they are promised when they sign up for 
the military. This bill ensures those forced to leave military service 
because of a combat injury will receive the bonuses they are entitled 
to. Moreover, this bill recognizes that the men and women injured in 
battle, in Iraq and Afghanistan, would much rather be with their 
brothers and sisters in the field than in a hospital nursing their 
wounds. The least we can do is afford them with the benefits, pay, and 
assistance to which they are already entitled.
  I would like to thank Congressman Altmire for his tireless work on 
this legislation. It is a fine example of how the Democratic Congress 
is keeping its promises to our dedicated men and women valiantly 
fighting on behalf of our country. I ask my colleagues to join me in 
supporting the Veterans Guaranteed Bonus Act.
  Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance 
of my time.
  Ms. SHEA-PORTER. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentlewoman from New Hampshire (Ms. Shea-Porter) that the House suspend 
the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 3793, as amended.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds 
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
  Ms. SHEA-PORTER. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the 
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be 
postponed.

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