Chris Dodd: “this is old business in the sense of what I am bringing up was a matter considered a little over a year ago on similar…”

“this is old business in the sense of what I am bringing up was a matter considered a little over a year ago on similar legislation. I regret that I have to come back again this year. My colleagues voted unanimously a year ago to adopt this amendment or an amendment very much like it. The other body as well agreed to this amendment during conference between the two bodies. It became the law of the land. The amendment basically said that for those men and women in uniform serving in Iraq and Afghanistan who purchased--or family members, neighbors, or others--essential equipment that they needed in their role as service men and women, it would be reimbursed up to a maximum amount of $1,100 over a relatively limited period of time. The amendment was straightforward, clear-cut, and enjoyed the strong support, I might add, of the chairman of the Armed Services Committee, Senator Warner, as well as others who believed this was the right thing to do. At the time, the Pentagon objected to the amendment, offered talking points against it, and said it was unmanageable to have a reimbursement program for equipment that our service men and women were having to either buy themselves or having bought for them by family members or others. Over the last year and almost a half, I have had some 15 or 16 exchanges and correspondence with the leadership of the Pentagon.…”