Lawmakers from both parties introduced bills this week to repeal or reverse the cost of living adjustment (COLA) Representative Paul Ryan (R-Wisc.) and Senator Patty Murray (D-Wash.) heaved upon retired military personnel.
They pushed the cuts as a way to meet “$6 billion in sequester cuts to the Department of Defense’s budget.”
According to The Hill, Rep. Julia Brownley (D-Calif.) introduced legislation that will “completely repeal” the cuts to veterans’ pensions. In so doing she said, “These benefits are owed to them without equivocation. That is why I have introduced legislation to repeal the military retiree COLA reduction.”
Rep. Ted Poe (R-Texas) introduced a bill as well. And Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) introduced a bill which exempts “military retiree benefits” for disabled vets and “certain Survivor Benefit Plan annuities” from annual adjustments.
These bills and others will be considered and honed in January when House members resume legislative work.
Follow AWR Hawkins on Twitter @AWRHawkins