Political Quotes

“I have gone through the report in support of this amendment issued by the Department of Defense. I find the history very interesting. There are four academies because the Coast Guard is very much included. Until the enactment of the Career Compensation Act of 1949, disability retirement was a prerequisite of commissioned officer services. The most significant reform of the provisions of this legislation was the inclusion of enlisted personnel within the group eligible for benefits. Prior to 1949, cadets and midshipmen, as well as the enlisted personnel in the Armed Forces, were denied disability benefits. It is amazing to think back about how that could have been possible. There is no record of cadet disability being seriously considered until the review of pay and benefits that led to the Career Compensation Act of 1949. At that time, however, it is clear that Congress established a policy that exists today.”