John Shaw: “Mr. Speaker, after the attacks of September 11, 2001, more than 85,000 reservists were recalled to Active Duty.…”

“Mr. Speaker, after the attacks of September 11, 2001, more than 85,000 reservists were recalled to Active Duty. America's brave men and women who serve the Reserves and National Guard willingly leave their jobs and families behind when called to Active Duty. Many of these service people receive a military salary that is much less than their civilian salary, and their families are the ones who suffer the difference in income during their absence. The house payments go on; the grocery bills continue to pile up. Of the nearly 200 reservists on Active Duty in Afghanistan, Iraq and around the world, one-third have taken a pay cut in order to serve their country. This bill will provide financial assistance to those reservists and guardsmen by allowing them to withdraw money from their IRAs without being penalized. By being able to use their savings when needed, they may avert some of the hardships that result from decreases in salary. This would allow servicemembers that extra bit of stretch in the family budget so they can avoid the financial squeeze that could challenge their ability to keep a business going, make rent payments and afford groceries. All of us know every bit helps, and when we think of the tremendous sacrifice these men and women are making to serve their country to keep us safe, this bill certainly deserves and is receiving great bipartisan support from both sides of the aisle.”