2014 -- H 7199

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2014

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H O U S E   R E S O L U T I O N

RESPECTFULLY URGING THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS TO RESTORE THE COST

OF LIVING ADJUSTMENT FOR ALL MILITARY RETIREES

     Introduced By: Representatives Gallison, Mattiello, Azzinaro, Casey, and Fellela

     Date Introduced: January 23, 2014

     Referred To: House Veterans` Affairs

     WHEREAS, A bipartisan federal budget agreement, passed by Congress in December of

2013, made substantial cuts to military pensions by cutting cost-of-living adjustments to pensions

by 1 percentage point for military retirees who are not yet 62 years old, the cuts also applied to

disabled service members, many of whom have been wounded in combat; and

     WHEREAS, H.R. 3547, the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2014, introduced in

January of 2014, will exempt medically retired military retirees by repealing the 1 percent

reduction in the annual military pension cost-of-living adjustment for these disabled military

retirees and their survivors; and

     WHEREAS, The legislation, now passed by Congress, takes a step in the right direction

by ensuring that disabled veterans and surviving families receive the full benefits they are due,

but it fails to redact a provision from the original budget agreement that reduces cost-of-living

adjustments for working-age military retirees by 1 percent, starting in December 2015; and

     WHEREAS, This provision drastically affects retirees under the age of 62 and could

result in thousands of dollars in lost retirement benefits for these deserving patriots; and

     WHEREAS, Today military personnel on active duty and in the reserves face the very

real prospect of repetitive tours of duty in Afghanistan and other overseas areas. It is

fundamental that these men and women, who are currently wearing the uniform of the armed

services, know that their sacrifices are appreciated and they remain a priority in this country;

now, therefore be it

     RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island and

Providence Plantations hereby respectfully urges the United States Congress to restore the 1

percent cost-of-living adjustments for working-age military retirees; and be it further

     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to

transmit duly certified copies of this resolution to the Rhode Island Congressional Delegation.

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