Saxby Chambliss: “I rise today to submit a sense of the Senate resolution to address the issue of military retirement pay in this budget…”

“I rise today to submit a sense of the Senate resolution to address the issue of military retirement pay in this budget proposal. It is the responsibility of Congress to get our fiscal house in order and that all government spending should be examined to achieve that goal. However, this budget proposal disproportionately targets the retirees of the U.S. Armed Forces in the name of fiscal responsibility. We, as a body, acknowledge military retirees, both those who served full careers and those who have medically retired and their survivors. They have provided great service and sacrificed much for our country. Making decisions regarding future spending cuts would be difficult and painful, but the solution should require contributions from all Americans, not just our servicemembers who have sacrificed so much. Therefore, I, along with Senator Isakson--and I am pleased to say Senator Murkowski and Senator McCain--have joined in offering a sense of the Senate resolution that military retirees should not unfairly bear the burden of our excessive government spending. Our military retirees earned the benefits they were promised upon entering the military, and it is our duty to protect them.”