To further improve the Bipartisan Budget Act, Congressman John Carter (R-TX31) cosponsored two bills to eliminate changes to military retiree benefits. After four years of gridlock, Congress finally passed a budget that brings more than $30 billion back to the Department of Defense, and prevent future cuts that would be devastating to Fort Hood – all while lowering deficits without raising taxes.

“While the budget is far from perfect, it is a good first step to put our country back on the right path,” said Congressman John Carter, Representative of Fort Hood and member of the Veterans Affairs Appropriations Subcommittee. “Passing a budget is a necessary step towards fiscal sovereignty, but we must not balance our budget on the backs of disabled veterans.

 I have cosponsored two bills to improve the Bipartisan Budget Act. The first measure would remove the Bipartisan Budget Act’s COLA reduction for all military retirees. The second measure would eliminate the Act’s COLA reduction only for veterans who are medically retired, receiving Combat Related Special Compensation, and/or Concurrent Retirement and Disability Payments, as well the Survivor Benefits Program.

H.R. 3789: To amend title 10, United States Code, to exempt the retired pay of certain disabled veterans from the reduced adjustment of retired pay and retainer pay amounts for retired members of the Armed Forces under age 62, to prevent any adverse impact of the reduced adjustment on annuities under the Survivor Benefit Plan based on retired or retainer pay, and for other purposes.

H.R. 3790: To repeal of annual adjustment of retired pay and retainer pay amounts for retired members of the Armed Forces under age 62.