Washington, DC – Congressman Randy Neugebauer hailed passage of the Defense Authorization Bill as a victory for our troops on the front lines in the war on terror and all military veterans.

   The House passed the final version of the FY 2005 bill Saturday by a vote of 359-14.

   Among the bills highlights are a 3.5 percent across-the-board pay raise for all members of the armed forces, increases in imminent danger and family separation pay as well as increasing annuities paid to military survivors.

   “This legislation shows our commitment to our men and women who make sacrifices every day for our freedom,” Neugebauer said.  “It gives all the members of our armed forces a well-deserved pay raise, the equipment they need when they need it and it improves benefits for fully disabled veterans and military survivors.”

  The bill repeals the two-tier annuity computation system in the Survivor Benefit Program (SBP) so that the annuity is not reduced when a beneficiary turns 62 years old.  The provision balances equity and cost considerations by phasing out the SBP age-62 benefit reduction over ten years.  In order to offset part of the cost of the benefit increase, the bill authorizes an open-season provision that would allow more retirees to participate, generating SBP program savings and significantly reducing outlays.

   “This fix is long overdue.  It is simply the right thing to do and I am delighted to have been a part of it.  The sacrifices that our veterans have made for our country should not go unrewarded,” said Neugebauer, who cosponsored two bills to fix the SBP.

  The also legislation builds on last year’s efforts Neugebauer supported to allow veterans to receive “concurrent receipt” of their retirement and disability pay.  This past February, more than 142,000 retirees, representing about 90 percent of eligible veterans, started receiving increased benefits.  Under the new bill, veterans who are 100 percent disabled will be authorized to receive full benefits in January 2005.

   Additionally, the allows the Secretary of Defense to waive military acquisition regulations during an emergency to ensure that combat commanders and troops have the supplies and equipment they need more rapidly.  Neugebauer voted for separate legislation earlier this year to give the Secretary rapid acquisition authority.

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