Bob Filner: “the widows of our Nation's veterans are being misled and mistreated, misled and mistreated by our own Government.…”

“the widows of our Nation's veterans are being misled and mistreated, misled and mistreated by our own Government. Although I introduced legislation 2 years ago to terminate the confusing system that discriminates against surviving military spouses when they reach the age of 62, no action was taken on the bill, and the problem continues. I know you find it hard to believe, Mr. Speaker, that our Government condones a system that penalizes aging widows. I know I was shocked when the situation was first described to me. Let me share with the Members a sad story that is typical of the thousands of these cases. When a resident of my congressional district retired after many years of honorable military service, he elected to have a portion of his monthly retirement pay set aside under the military survivors benefits plan, so-called SBP, so that when he died his wife would have an income she could count on. He knew the enormous sacrifices she had made in order to maintain a home for their family during his military career, often in parts of the world not nearly as lovely as my town of San Diego. He understood and appreciated that his wife had served their country as surely as he had. He did not, however, understand that following his too early untimely death, the SBP would provide his wife with the financial cushion she needed, but only until her 62d birthday.…”