President signed H.R. 1588 to remedy this inequity applicable to
career military personnel dating back to the 19th century; and
WHEREAS, Retired veterans with a minimum of 20 years were
denied concurrent receipt of hard-earned military longevity
retirement pay and veterans' awards for service-connected
disability; and
WHEREAS, Career military personnel earn retirement benefits
based on longevity of 20 years for honorable and faithful
service and rank at time of retirement; and
WHEREAS, Veterans' disability compensation serves a different
purpose from longevity retirement pay and is intended to
compensate for pain, suffering, disfigurement, chemical
exposure, wound injuries and a loss of earning ability, with a
minimum requirement of 90 days of active duty; and
WHEREAS, The prevailing idea that military retirement pay is
free is not only misleading but false because there is a
contribution to retirement pay, calculated to reduce military
base pay and retirement pay by approximately 7% when pay and
allowances are computed and approved by the United States
Congress; and
WHEREAS, Traditionally, career military personnel receive
lower pay and retirement than civilian counterparts and have
invested a life of hardships and long hours without the benefit
of overtime pay and lack of freedom of expression through
unions; and
WHEREAS, Allowances to dependents of veterans with a 30%
disability are increased with the amount of disability; and
WHEREAS, The Department of Defense deducts the entire amount
of dependents' allowances, essentially leaving the disabled
military retiree with no dependent allowance, a discrimination
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