Target: John Thune, U.S. Senate Majority Leader
Goal: Restore full retirement benefits to veterans wounded or sickened in the line of duty.
The United States has created multiple federal holidays to honor the nation’s military. The U.S. Army is poised to celebrate its 250th year of service. Yet for all the commemoration and ceremony, elected leaders are failing individuals who have served and sacrificed time and again. The aptly named wounded veterans tax is one glaring example.
Former service members who have literally sacrificed their bodies are being penalized by having their retirement pay docked. Under current law, if a veteran serves less than 2o years and is assigned less than a 50 percent disability ranking, then that veteran will have funds taken out of retirement payments equal to the amount of disability compensation received. This arbitrary and heartless rule can even affect service members who received significant, life-altering injuries, such as double amputees. As a consequence of this “tax,” over 50,000 wounded veterans lose roughly 2,000 dollars a month in support…or around 24,000 dollars a year.
Bipartisan efforts are under way to fix this grievous injustice. Sign the petition below to demand politicians put their money where their mouth is when it comes to supporting America’s military heroes.
PETITION LETTER:
Dear Senator Thune,
As America commemorates the sacrifices of its armed forces, let us remember that tens of thousands of Americans are living with the sacrifices they made every day. These veterans literally sacrificed pieces of themselves – both physically and mentally – so that their country could be safe and secure. How are they being repaid for their tremendous public service? For 50,000 veterans who have endured life-changing injuries, their “reward” is a less stable and more uncertain retirement.
The wounded veterans tax – in which a dollar is sucked out of retirement accounts for every dollar provided in disability compensation – is the ultimate slap in the face to individuals who were promised their nation would value and support them. Do not let cost-cutting come on the backs of military heroes. The Major Richard Star Act – named in honor of a man who passed away due in part to burn pit exposure – should not be an “add-on” or an “amendment,” nor should it meet the same fate it did previously, when it was denied even the dignity of a vote.
Demonstrate you mean what you say when you speak of high regard for military service. Bring this important proposal that could benefit the lives of thousands to a vote and give your full support.
Sincerely,
[Your Name Here]
Photo Credit: Christina Petsos
