Lautenberg Introduces Legislation To Compensate Soldiers Forced Into Extended Military Service

Press Release

Lautenberg Introduces Legislation To Compensate Soldiers Forced Into Extended Military Service

For Troops Who Are "Stop-Lossed," NJ Sen's Bill Would Provide Monthly Bonus, Help Service Members Support Their Families

Today, U.S. Sen. Frank R. Lautenberg (D-NJ) introduced a bill to provide a monthly bonus to troops affected by "stop loss," a Pentagon policy that involuntarily extends military service beyond an enlistment contract. The bill would require the Pentagon to pay $1,500 to each service member for each month he or she is kept beyond the end of their enlistment period.

"After months and years of risking their lives, our troops are too often being told they cannot return home to their families when they were scheduled," Senator Lautenberg said. "The military made a deal with our men and women in uniform—and if our troops are forced to serve and sacrifice longer than that commitment, that sacrifice should be rewarded."

Lautenberg's legislation, the Stop Loss Compensation Act of 2008, applies both to service members who are forced to continue service after their enlistment is up and after their eligibility for retirement has been extended. This bill would also include a provision that would be retroactive to October 2001 to compensate any service member who has been stop-lossed since the start of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. The Senator's legislation is cosponsored by Senators Robert Menendez (D-NJ) and Bob Casey (D-PA), and is supported by leading veterans and military service organizations.

Senator Menendez said: "Times are extra tough for our troops and their families, who have to deal with extended deployments in a warzone overseas and a tanking economy here at home. The least we can do for them is give them some extra assistance to help them cope. Many in Washington often talk about supporting the troops, and they can back up those words by signing on to legislation like this."

"Our brave men and women have already made the commitment to sacrifice time away from their families, we should honor our commitments to them," said Senator Casey. "We can't underestimate the burden on families caused by having a loved one on extended tours of duty. Nothing can replace having a father, mother or spouse back home, but this legislation will provide a measure of financial support."

"Of all the abuses borne by our service members since the beginning of our wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, excessive reliance on stop-loss is one of the most egregious. Involuntary service negates the promise of our all-volunteer military. By forcing tens of thousands of troops to stay in the military, we have broken the contract that our service members willing entered into with their country. Senator Lautenberg's bill is an important step toward recognizing the incredible sacrifice that stop-loss creates," Bobby Muller, President of Veterans for America, said.

"Since early 2003, over 600,000 Guard and reserve members have fulfilled the ideal of citizen-soldier, leaving their civilian jobs and educational pursuits to take up arms to defend the country they love. Several thousand of them have been involuntarily retained beyond their normal term of service to continue to serve their country. In many cases these great Americans have monetary strains and a bonus such as this will not only help them financially, but will send a strong message that their service is valued," Michael Cline, Executive Director of the Enlisted Association of the National Guard of the United States, said.

"This bill will ensure that those members of the uniformed services that have been involuntary extended beyond their contracts are properly compensated and will act as an effective deterrent against the abuse of the stop loss policy," Paul Rieckhoff, Executive Director of the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, said.

The Army's stop loss policy can keep a soldier in service if his or her unit deploys within 90 days of the end of the soldier's commitment. However, soldiers are not currently compensated for that extra commitment. On average, soldiers affected by stop loss now serve an extra 6.6 months.

Between May 2007 and March 2008, the number of soldiers forced to remain in the Army increased to 12,235. And currently 3,879 Guard soldiers are affected by stop loss, which is the largest group of Guardsmen affected by the policy since November 2004. In total, 58,300 soldiers have been affected by stop loss since 2002, according to the Army, including active duty, Reserve and National Guard troops.

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