On the recordDecember 18, 2013
I am pleased to join Chairman Murray and Senator Isakson regarding our concern about the military retirement pay provisions in this budget proposal. As I mentioned yesterday on this floor, any pursuit of debt reduction should not come at the expense of our service men, women, and veterans. As we have discovered, these cuts will not only apply to working military men and women but also to military widows and soldiers who have been medically retired from wounds received in the line of duty. I recognize that in order to truly tackle our debt and deficit it will take all Americans making sacrifices, including our military. What we cannot do is ask those who have been injured defending our Nation to bear a disproportionate burden. I thank Chairman Murray again for the leadership she has shown, along with Chairman Ryan, on these complex and divisive budget issues, and I stand with Senator Isakson and Chairman Murray in making the necessary changes to this legislation to ensure our disabled retirees and survivors are taken care of. I thank the Chair.
