Ayotte Efforts Result in Restoration of Benefits for Current Military Retirees

Press Release

WASHINGTON, DC - Having led the fight in Washington against unfair cuts to military retirees' pensions, U.S. Senator Kelly Ayotte (R-NH) voted today to approve legislation that restores military retirement benefits for current military retirees and protects service members who enlisted before January 1, 2014. The legislation was approved by a vote of 95 to 3.

With the strong support of veteran and military service organizations in New Hampshire, Ayotte was the only member of New Hampshire's congressional delegation to vote against the budget deal in December that unfairly singled out military retirees - including disabled veterans who retire because of their injuries - for $6 billion in benefit cuts. Ayotte noted at the time that the bill targeted retired and active duty service members, but protected existing federal civilian workers from an increase in pension contributions - resulting in a deal that lacked "shared sacrifice." She vowed to do everything in her power to restore military retirement benefits, and she introduced several pieces of legislation to do so. Her most recent bill, the Honor Our Promise Act (S. 1977), would have fully repealed the military pension cuts - paid for by preventing tax fraud.

"Military retirees shouldn't have been singled out for cuts in the first place, and this bill takes an important step to right a wrong," said Senator Ayotte. "I remain concerned that service members who recently joined are facing future benefit cuts even as Congress awaits the findings of a panel it commissioned to make recommendations on military compensation. Our brave military members put their lives on the line for our country, and I will continue my efforts to ensure they're not singled out for unfair benefit cuts."

In the Fiscal Year 2013 defense authorization bill, Congress established the Military Compensation and Retirement Modernization Commission - a panel of experts tasked with examining the military compensation and retirement systems and providing recommendations. The commission is set to report its recommendations by February 2015.

Paul Chevalier, USMC (Ret.), of Hudson, past state commander of the VFW, said: "It was a mistake for Congress to target military retirees in the budget agreement, and no one has worked harder to repeal these unfair cuts than Senator Ayotte - who fought them from day one. She has been the driving force behind congressional action to address this issue, putting forth her own proposal that would have fully repealed these cuts. The VFW is grateful for Senator Ayotte's tireless efforts to protect military retirees and for standing with New Hampshire veterans every step of the way."

The December budget deal that Ayotte voted against required a one percent annual reduction in the cost of living adjustment for military retirees. Under the legislation, a Sergeant First Class in the Army who qualifies for retirement at twenty years of service at age 40, and who has most likely deployed multiple times to war, would stand to lose approximately $72,000 between retirement and turning age 62.

PRAISE FOR SENATOR AYOTTE'S WORK TO RESTORE MILITARY RETIREE BENEFIT CUTS:

* The VFW called Ayotte "the real catalyst in Congress for making sure the COLA reduction was rectified. Without her speaking out early against this injustice we would not be where we are today."

* National Military Family Association: "The National Military Family Association appreciates your efforts to address this issue. Thank you for recognizing the sacrifices of our service members and their families and for standing up to protect the benefits they were promised and have earned."

* Military Officers Association of America: "From the beginning, you have helped lead the effort on repealing this provision that unjustly singles out working age military retirees...Thank you again for leading the charge on this very important repeal effort..."

* The Retired Enlisted Association: "Thank you for your leadership of the effort in the Senate to repeal the COLA provision in the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2013 that unfairly singled out and penalized military personnel and retirees..."

All of the following have endorsed this statement: "We applaud Senator Ayotte for helping to lead the effort from the beginning to repeal the cost of living adjustment (COLA) provision in the budget agreement that unfairly singled out and penalized our service members and retirees... "

* American Legion
* American Veterans
* Concerned Veterans for America
* Military Officers Association of America
* National Guard Association of the United States
* National Military Family Association
* Naval Enlisted Reserve Association
* The Retired Enlisted Association
* U.S. Army Warrant Officers Association
* U.S. Coast Guard Chief Petty Officers Association
* U.S. Coast Guard Enlisted Association

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