Ayotte, Veterans Groups Oppose Cuts to Veterans Benefits

Press Release

US Senator Kelly Ayotte joined Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA) in announcing her opposition to House legislation that passed in February that would cut benefits for servicemembers' dependent children by $773 million over the next ten years. H.R. 3016 would cut in half the housing allowance that servicemembers' dependent children could receive as part of a transfer of educational benefits from the Post-9/11 GI Bill, impacting 2,000 payments in 2016, but ramping up to 40,000 payments by 2025.

"Our troops - and their families - make great sacrifices every day in their service to our country, and we have a responsibility to deliver on the promises we made to them in return," said Senator Ayotte. "This cut is an unacceptable reduction in benefits for enlisted servicemembers and their families, and could mean a reduction of up to $11,000 per year for servicemembers' children in New Hampshire. I am strongly opposed to this misguided provision and will continue to stand up for our troops and their families to deliver the benefits they have earned."

"Today Senator Ayotte stepped up for our veterans and their families in a big way. When the post-9/11 generation of veterans issued a call for action, she answered, and her leadership will never be forgotten," said IAVA Founder and CEO Paul Rieckhoff. "As the wife of an Iraq war veteran currently serving in the Air National Guard, Senator Ayotte understands first-hand the sacrifice made by military families and her insights are brought to bear as chair of the Armed Services Subcommittee on Readiness. It is unfortunate that the President and more Senators have not yet stood up for those who have sacrificed for their country the way that Senator Ayotte has for the 113,000 New Hampshire veterans she represents. Platitudes don't count. At election time we don't want to hear "I support vets' if our elected officials do not make their voices heard now during this critical fight to protect the Post-9/11 GI Bill."

Currently, certain servicemembers who reenlist can transfer educational benefits to a spouse or dependent child. Included in their educational benefits is a housing allowance. H.R. 3016, which passed the House on February 9th, 2016, would reduce the housing allowance by 50% for dependent children, while spouse benefits are not affected. The reduction will have the greatest impact on Iraq and Afghanistan veterans, and would cut an estimated 220,000 payments to dependent children over the next 10 years.

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