Asa Hutchinson: “I rise today to join Senator Reid and Senator Warner in introducing a bill that will eliminate, once and for all, the…”

“I rise today to join Senator Reid and Senator Warner in introducing a bill that will eliminate, once and for all, the inequity that our Nation's veterans have been burdened with for 110 years. Across this great Nation there are over 400,000 disabled, military retirees that must give up their retired pay in order to receive their VA disability compensation. Military retirees are the only group of Federal retirees who are forced to fund their own disability benefits. Men and women who served our country, who dedicated their lives to the defense of freedom, have earned fair compensation. The issue has been before the Senate for years. Concurrent receipt legislation introduced earlier this year by Senator Reid and myself had 79 cosponsors. The Congress needs to act this year on this issue. This bill will honor Americans who answered our Nation's call for 20 years or more. They are veterans who stood the line, defending our Nation, during times of peace and times of war. Military retirement pay and disability compensation are earned and awarded for entirely different purposes. Current law ignores the distinction between these entitlements. Military retirees have dedicated 20 or more years to our national defense in earning their retirement, whereas disability compensation is awarded to compensate a veteran for injury incurred in service to our Nation. Our veterans have earned and deserve fair compensation.”