Tony Thurmond: “last year, I introduced S. 763, a bill that would correct a long-standing injustice to the widows of our military…”

“last year, I introduced S. 763, a bill that would correct a long-standing injustice to the widows of our military retirees. Although my bill was accepted by the Senate as an amendment to the fiscal year 2000 defense authorization bill, it was dropped during the conference at the insistence of the House conferees. Today, I am again offering S. 763 as an amendment to the national Defense authorization bill. My amendment would immediately increase the minimum Survivor Benefit Plan annuity from 35 percent to 40 percent of the Survivor Benefit Plan for survivors over the age 62. The amendment would provide a further increase to 45 percent of covered retired pay as of October 1, 2004. Mr. President, I am confident that each senator has received mail from military spouses expressing their dismay that they are not receiving the 55 percent of their husband's retirement pay as advertised in the Survivor Benefit Plan literature provided by the military.”