Rae Oliver Davis: “I also thank the chairman. It is a privilege to serve on a committee chaired by a fellow Army Ranger. Today, I rise in…”

“I also thank the chairman. It is a privilege to serve on a committee chaired by a fellow Army Ranger. Today, I rise in strong support of H.R. 5122 and to speak about a matter of importance to our men and women who serve in the Reserve component, in the National Guard and our Armed Forces. As a former enlisted soldier, West Point graduate and 11-year veteran of active duty, and serving a number of years in Reserve, this is an important issue and one of particular interest and concern to me. The bill which we are considering today includes an important provision that will for the first time establish equity in the computation of retired disability pay for all servicemembers, regardless of whether they were serving in the active military, Reserve or National Guard. I thank Chairman Hunter and Personnel Subcommittee Chairman McHugh for their support of my amendment in committee which ensured inclusion of this vital amendment in today's legislation. Earlier this year on one of my trips to Walter Reed Hospital, I visited a severely wounded member of the Kentucky Army National Guard from my district, Sergeant Carlos Farler of Tollesboro, Kentucky. I was stunned in talking with this great American, whose home is not far from mine, as he told me that his disability pay would be computed at a different level for Reservists and for Guardsmen than it is for active servicemembers who have the same wounds from the same battle.…”