FOR RELEASE:  October 30, 2002

CONCURRENT RECEIPT BASIC FAIRNESS ISSUE
EVANS URGES BUSH ADMINISTRATION SUPPORT 

Washington, DC -- Calling passage of concurrent receipt legislation, “an issue of basic fairness for military retirees” who incurred a disability while serving the nation in uniform, Congressman Lane Evans (D-IL) today called on the Bush Administration to support passage by Congress of pending current receipt legislation.  Evans, a senior member of both the House Veterans’ Affairs and Armed Services Committees, said only Bush Administration opposition, including a Presidential veto threat, to concurrent receipt legislation is deadlocking efforts by Congress to reach agreement on the Department of Defense authorization bill, Evans said.  “Both the Senate and House passed versions of the Defense Authorization Act contain concurrent receipt legislation,” Evans explains, “but because of adamant Administration opposition to concurrent receipt, the Defense Authorization is being held hostage by a Presidential veto threat.  The Administration needs to support our military retirees and give Congress a green light on concurrent receipt,” Evans said. 

Concurrent receipt would permit servicemembers who are eligible for military retirement based on their length of service to also be eligible for compensation for disabilities incurred or aggravated during their military service.  Today servicemembers are barred from receiving both military retirement pay and service-connected disability compensation. 

“Concurrent receipt is an issue of basic fairness for our military retirees, nothing more and nothing less,” according to Evans.  “President Bush has repeatedly recognized the contributions made by our men and women in uniform.  It is time for this Administration to show our men and women support with action, not just words,” Evans said. 

The votes in both the House and Senate for enacting concurrent receipt legislation have been overwhelming.  The only obstacle to passing concurrent receipt legislation is the Bush Administration’s opposition.

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