WASHINGTON — Livingston County’s Congressional Representative, Chris Collins, is co-sponsoring legislation that cuts the retirement benefits for Members of Congress and redirects those funds to military retirement benefits.
Philly.com recently featured an article in which a retired Air Force Col. was living out of his van and according to a recent article in Yahoo.com they state that according to the National Coalition for Homeless Veterans, some 58,000 vets face life on the street each day, and “over the course of a year, approximately twice that many experience homelessness,” the organization says. “Only 7% of the general population can claim veteran status, but nearly 13% of the homeless adult population are veterans.”
Congressman Collins, who since being elected has constantly fought for more veterans benefits and less perks for elected officials is taking action with his proposed legislation.
“I believe the first people we must protect are our veterans, not our politicians. This legislation would prohibit Members of Congress who retire before the age of 62 from receiving cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) increase on their pension before hitting retirement age,” said Congressman Collins. “These funds will help make it possible to repeal the portion of the Ryan-Murray budget agreement that calls for a change to the COLA for military retirement benefits.”
This legislation (H.R. 3787) also calls for the Department of Defense and the Department of Veterans Affairs to pursue joint contracts for purchasing prescriptions, which will help offset the cost for reinstating the full military retiree COLA.
The Department of Defense and the Department of Veterans Affairs have previously tested joint purchasing of prescriptions to get the best prices for their patients. In 2005, this resulted in a $660 million savings for the VA.
“This legislative solution is a recommendation from numerous hearings, proposals and reports, but has never been implemented,” said Congressman Collins. “It offers a way to protect our veterans without increasing spending, reduces waste, and stops us from kicking the can down the road.”
This legislation is sponsored by Rep. James Lankford (OK-5). As passed in the Ryan-Murray budget agreement, the COLA adjustments for military retirees do not take effect until 2016 giving Congress more than enough time to pass a bipartisan fix.
According to the National Coalition for Homeless Veterans, some 58,000 vets face life on the street each day, and “over the course of a year, approximately twice that many experience homelessness,” the organization says. “Only 7% of the general population can claim veteran status, but nearly 13% of the homeless adult population are veterans.”
http://news.yahoo.com/retired-colonel-now-calls-van-home-155925743.html
http://articles.philly.com/2014-01-06/news/45885460_1_veterans-day-homeless-veterans-hogg