Veterans

During his tenure as U.S. Representative, Congressman Petri has supported legislation to provide veterans with the benefits they have been promised and, more importantly, that they deserve for their service and sacrifice protecting our great nation.

As we begin to responsibly scale back from the battlefields of Iraq, there will be an urgent demand to expand our capacity to provide medical, readjustment and housing benefits for veterans and their families, especially for our "Wounded Warriors." The House Veterans' Affairs Committee will be tasked to complete this endeavor, and Rep. Petri believes that Congress will adequately provide the funding and services necessary.

Rep. Petri will continue to follow developments and support efforts to improve care and service to our troops currently serving, as well as veterans in need. We are a free nation because of those who serve, and we must take concrete steps to demonstrate that we are a grateful nation as well.

Concurrent Receipt

One of the most important issues to disabled veterans across the country has been the concurrent receipt of military retiree and veterans disability benefits. For over a century, various laws have prohibited military retirees from receiving both a retirement pension and veterans disability compensation. Past law required that military retirees have their retirement benefits reduced dollar for dollar by any veterans disability compensation they receive. Only military retirees were subject to this reduction. Retirees who receive a pension from other employment, including civilian federal employment, can receive both their veterans disability benefits and their full retirement benefit.

The 109th Congress made an historic breakthrough on the issue of "concurrent receipt" for disabled military retirees. As a result of important legislation that passed in 2005, an estimated 250,000 disabled military retirees will receive $22 billion in additional retirement payments over the next ten years. This means that if you qualify you will see your retirement pay increase by approximately ten percent each year until the phase-in is complete in 2014.

Military retirees should not be treated differently than those who have earned retirement benefits through any other career in the federal government or the private sector.