Cramer Helps Introduce Legislation to Eliminate Veterans Benefit Reductions in Budget

Press Release

Today Congressman Kevin Cramer helped introduce three pieces of legislation to reverse planned reductions to veterans benefits in the Ryan-Murray budget plan. The House and Senate-passed budget contains future reductions to the cost-of-living adjustment for military retirees under age 62, scheduled to begin December 1, 2015.

The first bill backed by Cramer eliminates the reduction altogether, the second bill does the same while replacing the savings with reforms to strengthen the integrity of the child income tax credit, and the third bill acts as a safeguard by exempting disabled veterans and surviving spouses from the change in the event both chambers cannot agree on eliminating the reduction.

"While the need to reduce our debt and deficit is urgent, it is unacceptable to make these reductions on the backs of men and women who served our country and were promised this benefit. I am hopeful both chambers can agree to repeal this provision before it is scheduled to take effect in 2015," said Cramer.

In June Congressman Cramer formed a Veterans Advisory Board, made up of North Dakota veterans organization leaders who provide guidance on important issues for retired service members. Last month, Cramer voted for a backlog task force to deal with delays in disability claim processing at the VA.

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