Veteran's Committee Passes a $1 Billion Cut in Wartime Elderly, Poor, Disabled Veterans' Benefits

Since 08-06-07

From: Lowell J Mix [mailto:ljmix@juno.com]
Sent: Saturday, August 04, 2007 12:30 AM
To: jon_mix@peoplepc.com; rocky.chilson@gmail.com
Subject: Veteran's Committee Passes a $1 Billion Cut in Wartime Elderly, Poor, Disabled Veterans' Benefits

Hey Guys 'n Gals,

Have you seen this one?   Now they not only want to take away our promised free medical care, but the Democrats want to come take the pension benefits from our 100% Disabled Vets!  Think they wouldn't do it?  Better think again.  With only 20,000 of us, our votes are but a blip on the political "write-off" screen when it comes re-election time.  And for any other doubters, look how they have responded to our push to get promises made, into promises kept!  Hey, don't know about you, but  I suddenly feel expendable.

Lowell J. Mix

Veteran’s Committee Passes a $1 Billion Cut in Wartime Elderly, Poor, Disabled Veterans’ Benefits

From: Congressmen Steve Buyer, Ranking Member, House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs

This mailing was prepared, published and mailed at taxpayer expense.

August 3, 2007

Dear Legionnaire:

The House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, on a party-line vote, passed legislation that would cut nearly a billion dollars in pension benefits for wartime, elderly, indigent, severely disabled or house-bound American veterans to fund unprecedented benefits for World War II Filipino veterans.

In the House of Representatives, H.R. 760, the Filipino Veterans Equity Act of 2007, as amended, would eliminate special monthly pensions for severely disabled veterans over 65 who are also receiving pensions for wartime service.  It would use nearly all of the $965 million saved by this unprecedented cut in veterans’ benefits to provide budgetary offsets to fund oversized pensions for non-citizen, non-resident World War II Filipino veterans.  Similar legislation, S. 1315, is being considered in the Senate.

Background: In 2006, the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims overturned a Department of Veterans Affairs decision that denied an 86-year-old, legally blind World War II veteran, Robert A. Hartness, a VA benefit called a “special monthly pension” (SMP).  The SMP provides an additional payment of up to $2,200 per year to the most severely disabled veterans. 

The Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims reversed VA’s denial of benefits to Mr. Hartness and required VA to begin paying SMP.  The court held that U.S. law requires an award of SMP to a veteran eligible for VA non-service-connected disability pension if, in addition to being at least 65 years old, he or she has a minimum disability rating of 60 percent or more, or is considered permanently housebound.  VA had determined Mr. Hartness to be 70 percent disabled due to loss of vision.

H.R. 760 was introduced by House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Chairman Bob Filner in January.  In July he amended the bill, adding a section which restricts SMP eligibility.  The amended H.R. 760 grants pensions for Filipino WWII veterans living overseas: $8,400 per year for a married veteran, $6,000 per year for a single veteran, and $3,600 per year for surviving spouses.  Budgetary offsets are necessary for such spending.  In restricting SMP eligibility, Chairman Filner “found” a $965 million offset. 

The median annual Filipino family income is about $2,500.  Adding insult to injury for those elderly, poor, disabled U.S. veterans whose benefits would be cut, the average married Filipino WWII veteran would thus receive the U.S. income equivalent of over $100,000, due to the income disparity between the two countries.

In July, committee Republicans offered an amendment to preserve SMP eligibility.  In a party-line vote, committee Democrats refused the amendment, voting to cut these veterans’ benefits by nearly $1 billion.  According to VA, more than 20,000 veterans could be affected by this unprecedented cut in benefits. 

The valor and courage of the Philippine Army, which fought alongside U.S. forces to defeat Imperial Japan in World War II, has been demonstrated beyond a shadow of a doubt.  Despite claims, no U.S. official during or immediately after the war was authorized to promise benefits to members of this army or to so obligate the U.S. government.  When the Philippines became an independent, sovereign nation after the war, the Philippine Army became the responsibility of the new government. 

It is unbelievable that the Democratic proposal would take benefits from elderly, indigent, severely disabled or house-bound American veterans – many from WWII – to finance a new entitlement program for Filipino veterans.

We could vote on these bills in September.  Please let The American Legion and your representatives in Congress know what you think of this plan to cut by nearly $1 billion the benefits of veterans who most need our support.

For more information, please go to: http://republicans.veterans.house.gov/.